of women and the destruction of Ulster. Conchobor ordered that she be raised in complete seclusion until she was old enough to become his wife. Derdriu, however, falls in love with Noisiu, Uisliu's son. He tries to refuse her because of the prophecy and the king's decree, but she put him under a magical compulsion orgeasa, and they ran away together with his brothers and their followers. Eventually, Fergus, Dubthach and Cormac, Conchobor's son, give them their word that they could come safely back to Ulster and make their peace with the king. Conchobor had, however, tricked them all and had Noisiu and his brothers murdered. Fergus, Dubthach and Cormac burnt the king's stronghold at Emain Macha and went into exile with their warriors. Derdriu committed suicide rather than be given to Noisiu's murderer, Eogan mac Durthacht.

Donn Cúailnge
A bull belonging to Dáire mac Fiachna. Medb tried to buy and then to steal the bull so that her wealth would match Ailill's.

Dubthach
One of the Ulster warriors who stood surety (to stand in promise) for the return of Uisliu's sons. Dubthach went into Ulster with Fergus and Cormac.

Emer
The daughter of Forgall Monach. She becomes Cúchulainn's wife.

Etarcomol
A foster son of son of Ailill and Medb. Fergus was against Etarcomol coming along on the parley to establish the single combats, but took him there under his protection. Etarcomol picks a fight with Cúchulainn, who tried to avoid killing him, out of courtesy to Fergus, but must kill him in the end.

Fedelm
A poetess and prophetess of Connacht. She returns from study in Britain and meets Medb's army about to set out on the cattle raid. Medb demands that she prophesy the expedition's outcome. The girl predicts their slaughter at the hands of Cúchulainn.

Finnchad Fer Benn
Finnchad is called the Horned Man because of the silver horns he wore. He is Conchobor's son and was sent to call up the warriors of Ulster.

Finnabair
Finnabair is the daughter of Ailill and Medb. She had been promised to one warrior after another to induce them to fight Cúchulainn. She is eventually even offered to Cúchulainn and was sent to him in the disguise of her father. Cúchulainn saw through the disguise, cut off Finnabair's hair, and thrust a pillar stone under her cloak and tunic, shaming her without defiling her. She is said to have committed suicide when she learned of the killing of so many princes on her account. In a variant tradition, she goes off with Cúchulainn at the end of the Táin Bó Cúailnge.

Finnbennach
The bull of Ailill's herd and a calf of one Medb's cows. This bull would not stay with a woman's herd and switched sides.

Finnchaem
Finnchaem is the sister of Conchobor and Deichtine. She was Conall Cernach's mother and Cúchulainn's foster-mother.

Horned ManSee Finnchad Fer Benn.

Ferchu Loingsech
A Connachtman who had never accepted the rule of Ailill and Medb. He proposed to his band that they kill Cúchulainn and win their favor. All twelve attacked Cúchulainn but were killed.

Crunniuc mac Agnomain
Crunniuc is the husband of Macha. His boasting of his wife leads to her race against the king's chariot and her curse on the men of Ulster.

Buide mac Báin
Medb's cowherd. Cúchulainn kills him.

Bricriu mac Carbad
A mean-minded man who loved stirring up trouble; it was said of him that if he heard something unfavorable about any decent person he could not rest until he had told it. He was chosen to judge between the two bulls because it was well known that 'he favoured his friend no more than his enemy.' He was killed by the bulls.

Ferdia mac Damáin
Cúchulainn's foster brother and closest friend. He was the son of a king of Connacht. He did not want to fight Cúchulainn, but Medb shamed him into fighting by telling him that Cúchulainn had boasted, "he wouldn't count it any great triumph if his greatest feat of arms were your downfall." They fight for four days, and Cúchulainn finally defeats Ferdia with the gae bolg, a terrible javelin only he can use. He laments his friend. His beautiful lament for Ferdia is one of the high points of the Táin Bó Cúailnge with its repetition of the highest praise for Ferdia's ability.

Eogan mac Durthacht
Eogan is the king of Fernmag. He came to make peace with Conchobor and was chosen to kill Noisiu and his brothers.

Dáire mac Fiacha
The owner of the Bull of Cooley. He was going to lend the bull until he learns that had he not accepted Medb's offer, the bull would have been taken by force.

Fiacha mac Fir Febe
Fiacha is the son of Conchobor's daughter. He was one of the Ulster exiles with Medb's army. Fergus sent him to bring news of the fight when Gaile Dána and his twenty-seven sons and his sister's son simultaneously attacked Cúchulainn's with their poisoned weapons and fists. Fiacha broke the compact of the Ulster exiles and went to the hero's aid. To protect the Ulstermen from Medb's wrath, Cúchulainn and the two sons of Ficce killed all twenty-nine.

Lugaid mac Nois Allchomaig
Lugaid is the king of Munster. He goes to parley with Cúchulainn on several occasions on the behest of Ailill. He is on good terms with Cúchulainn. At his request his brother Láréne is the only man who escapes alive from single combat with Cúchulainn.

Laeg mac Riangabra
Laeg is Cúchulainn's charioteer. He was the hero's confidant, counselor, and right-hand man.

Sualdam mac Roich
Cúchulainn's mortal father who died when he cut his head off on the rim of his own shield trying to rouse the warriors of Ulster.

Mac Roth
Mac Roth is the messenger of Ailill and Medb. He is sent to borrow the Bull of Cooley from Dáire mac Fiacha.

Noisiu mac Uislenn
Noisiu is Derdriu's lover and one of the finest men in Ulster. He tries to escape the love of Derdriu but she puts a geasa on him, binding him to do as she requires. Despite a safe conduct from Conchobor, the king of Ulster, he and his brothers were murdered by Eogan mac Durthacht on Conchobor's orders, despite Fergus's own son throwing himself across Noisiu to save him.

Lug mac Ethnenn
Cúchulainn's síde father, he comes to take his son's place holding the ford against the invading army when Cúchulainn is on the edge of collapse from his wounds and lack of sleep.

Macha
Macha is the daughter of Sainrith mac Imbaith. She gave birth to twins after the race against the King of Ulster's chariot. She curses the men of Ulster with labor pains for their cruelty towards a woman in childbirth. Her story not only explains why Cúchulainn had to stand alone against the combined forces of three provinces of Ireland, but also explains the name of the royal fortress, Emain Macha, "the twins of Macha."

Medb
Medb is the daughter of the High King of Tara who gave her the province of Connacht for her own. Originally, Medb was the goddess of sovereignty, the patroness of every true king. In the Táin Bó Cúailnge, she is a cold, amoral, power-hungry woman who treats her own daughter as a commodity to be bargained with for a moment's advantage. Her own adulteries are merely a form of leverage. She is, however, one of the most fully realized and internally consistent of the characters.

Morrígan
Morrígan is the goddess of war. She was a presence on the battlefield but did not participate in combat. She caused panic in the Connacht army and attempted to seduce Cúchulainn. It is worth noting in reference to the setting of most of Cúchulainn's fights that she was traditionally associated with fords where she would be seen washing the clothing of those fated to die in a coming battle. This manifestation has passed into Scottish Highland folklore as the Bean-nighe, who is seen washing the clothing of those about to die.

Nes
The mother of Conchobor by the druid Cathbad. She marries Fergus on the understanding that her son Conchobor can be king for a year, ensuring that his children will be the children of a king and giving them both status and a place in the succession. She then manipulates the situation to ensure that the warriors of Ulster will not allow Fergus to resume the throne.

Scáthach
A woman warrior and prophetess of Albu, the island of Britain. She completes Cúchulainn's education as a warrior. He defeats her greatest enemy, the woman warrior Aife, by whom he has a son, Connla. Scáthach prophesied to him that he would have a short life, but everlasting fame.

SetantaSee Cúchulainn.

Warped OneSee Cúchulainn.

White HornedSee Finnbennach.