87-741: Táin Bó Flidhais , also known as the Mayo Táin , is a tale from the Ulster Cycle of early Irish literature . It is one of a group of works known as Táin Bó , or "cattle raid" stories, the best known of which is Táin Bó Cúailnge . Táin Bó Flidhais survives in two forms, a short version from the Old Irish period and a longer version found in the 15th century Glenmasan manuscript , which
174-546: A Bull (2011–2013) based around Queen Medb. The myth of Cú Chulainn was also adapted into graphic novels such as An Táin (2006) by Colmán Ó Raghallaigh and by Barry Reynolds and Hound (2014–2018) by Paul J. Bolger and Barry Devlin . The dramatic musical program "Celtic Hero" in the Radio Tales series for National Public Radio , was based on the Ulster Cycle story Tochmarc Emire . Deirdre
261-529: A call to return to the fort at Cruachan in the middle of Ireland. Munhin insisted on going on the trip with him. They set off on a black steed in torrential rain. They reached the small river which joins the Owenmore River leading from Carrowmore Lake which was in flood and they had to ford the river across one small stick. As they crossed the river, Fergus, fearing that Munhin would be as faithless to him as she had been to her former husband, gave her
348-478: A few Red Branch warriors, before Conchobar invoked their oath of loyalty to him and had Deirdre dragged to his side. At this point, Éogan mac Durthacht threw a spear, killing Naoise, and his brothers were killed shortly afterward. Fergus and his men arrived after the battle. Fergus was outraged by this betrayal of his word, and went into exile in Connacht . He later fought against Ulster for Ailill and Medb in
435-456: A happy life there, hunting and fishing and living in beautiful places; one place associated with them is Loch Etive . Some versions of the story mention that Deirdre and Naoise had children, a son, Gaiar, and a daughter, Aebgreine, who were fostered by Manannan Mac Lir . However, the furious, humiliated Conchobar tracked them down. He sent Fergus mac Róich to them with an invitation to return and Fergus's own promise of safe conduct home. On
522-400: A jealous woman. Bricne encouraged disquiet amongst everybody to make as much trouble as possible. Fergus decided he had to meet with Flidhais, this magnificent woman with a reputed sexual prowess to match his own, and he quickly set off to travel to the fort where he would find Flidhais. Oilill heard about Fergus lusting for his wife and he set out from his fort to meet Fergus's entourage. When
609-433: A lonely hollow, Without cerements in misery, May the hordes of hell follow you Round and round forever and forever Oilill died like a prince it was reported. His head was cut off by a triumphant Fergus and was impaled on a lance and brought back to the fort at Rathmorgan to prove to Flidhais that she was now a free woman. Fergus presented her husband's severed head as a courtship present to Flidhais. However, Flidhais
696-586: A long time past when Fergus had been a king in Ulster. Bricne related to Flidhais all the charms of Fergus while also telling her that he never met a better man than Oilill, Flidhais's husband. The next morning Bricne left Dún Flidhais and set off on the return journey to Cruachan. When he got back, he told Queen Maedbh that Flidhais's fort in Rathmorgan was the most magnificent palace he had ever visited. Fergus heard this and he lusted for Flidhais, making Maedbh
783-499: A man with the colours she had seen when a raven landed in the snow with its prey: hair the color of the raven, skin as white as snow, and cheeks as red as blood. Leabharcham told her she was describing Naoise mac Uisneach , a handsome young warrior, hunter and singer at Conchobar's court. With the collusion of Leabharcham, Deirdre met Naoise and they fell in love. Accompanied by his brothers Ardan and Ainnle (the other two sons of Uisneach ), Naoise and Deirdre fled to Scotland. They lived
870-634: A notable exception. It is probable that the oldest strata of tales are those involving the complex relationship between the Ulaid and the Érainn , represented in the Ulster Cycle by Cú Roí and the Clanna Dedad , and later by Conaire Mór . It was observed a century ago by Eoin MacNeill and other scholars that the historical Ulaid, as represented by the Dál Fiatach , were apparently related to
957-564: A push and she fell into the flooded waters. She flailed wildly but failed to be able to save herself and she was drowned. The river has ever since been known as the Munhin River. Following the murderous attack, Fergus continued on his way but at Barrooskey (a remote townland near Glenamoy in the east of Kilcommon parish in the Barony of Erris ). Ulster Cycle The Ulster Cycle ( Irish : an Rúraíocht ), formerly known as
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#17327811723531044-604: A series of plays – On Baile's Strand (1904), Deirdre (1907), The Green Helmet (1910), At the Hawk's Well (1917), The Only Jealousy of Emer (1919) and The Death of Cuchulain (1939) – and a poem, Cuchulain's Fight with the Sea (1892), based on the legends, and completed the late John Millington Synge 's unfinished play Deirdre of the Sorrows (1910), in collaboration with Synge's widow Molly Allgood. Literary adaptations of
1131-416: A treacherous plot so that they could be together. When Oilill returned, Flidhais gave him a strong drink and she continued to ply him with drink until he was well and truly intoxicated. When he was lying unconscious, Flidhais sent a message to Maedbh's troops to launch an attack on the fort. Oilill was unable to defend the fort and the prisoners inside the fort were released. Once Fergus had his freedom, he
1218-708: A wooden replica. There were always many 'guests' from various tribal factions at Cruachan for one reason or another. At the same time as Fergus was a guest there, there was another guest by the name of Bricne Nimhtheanga of whom it was said "he rejoiced in iniquity as much as in satire". It was he who initiated the battle which became known as the Táin Bó Flidhais . Flidhais had her precious 'Maol' penned at her fort of Dún Flidhais at Rathmorgan in Erris . She often lived at this fort in Erris while her husband stayed at
1305-404: Is a pagan, pastoral one ruled by a warrior aristocracy. Bonds between aristocratic families are cemented by fosterage of each other's children. Wealth is reckoned in cattle. Warfare mainly takes the form of cattle raids , or single combats between champions at fords. The characters' actions are sometimes restricted by religious taboos known as geasa . The stories are preserved in manuscripts of
1392-663: Is a prominent figure in Irish legend. American scholar James MacKillop assessed in 2004 that she was its best-known figure in modern times. Deirdre was the daughter of the royal storyteller Fedlimid mac Daill . Before she was born, Cathbad the chief druid at the court of Conchobar mac Nessa , king of Ulster , prophesied that Fedlimid's daughter would grow up to be very beautiful, but that kings and lords would go to war over her, much blood would be shed because of her, and Ulster's three greatest warriors would be forced into exile for her sake. Hearing this, many urged Fedlimid to kill
1479-592: Is an opera adaptation of the Ulster Cycle composed 1943-5, by the Canadian composer, Healey Willan , the text by John Coulter . It was the first full-length opera commissioned by the CBC, and was premiered 20 Apr 1946 on radio as Deirdre of the Sorrows , conducted by Ettore Mazzoleni and with Frances James as Deirdre. The myth of Cú Chulainn was adapted by Irish musician Gavin Dunne , better known as "Miracle of Sound," in
1566-461: Is buried just north of Inver in a tumulus which is marked on today's maps as a 'mound'. Maedbh's army then set about wreaking havoc on the Rathmorgan fort in retaliation for the death of several of Maedbh's children. When the fort was reduced to ruins, the army set off eastwards back to Cruachan. Domhnall , in his fort at Glencastle was devastated to hear of the death of his son. Fergus carried off both Flidhais and her Maol cow and anything else that
1653-667: Is held in the Advocates Library in Edinburgh. It is believed to be a copy of an earlier manuscript from the 12th century. The early version of Táin Bó Flidhais predates the Táin Bó Cúailnge . It is named for the heroine of the tale, Flidais . At the time that these legendary tales relate to (the second half of the Iron Age (approximately AD 50–500) and early Medieval Ireland (approximately 500–800), Ireland
1740-648: Is ignored. Naisi receives a warning from his childhood friend Levarcham. ‘It is not well for you, dear children,’ said she, ‘to have with you that (viz. Deirdre) which he (Conchobar) felt hardest to be taken from him, now that you are in his power. And it is to visit you that I have been sent,’ said Levarcham, ‘and to see whether her own form and figure remain to Deirdre. And sad to me is the deed that will be done this night in Emain, namely, treachery and guile and breach of faith to be wrought upon you, beloved friends.' When Conchobar receives word from another warrior that Diedre
1827-500: Is immediately put under a Geas . ‘I have a feast for you, Fergus,’ said Borrach, ‘and it is a tabu of yours to leave a feast until it is ended.’ ‘You have done ill, Borrach,’ said Fergus, ‘to put me under prohibitions, seeing that Conchobar made me pledge my word to bring the sons of Uisnech to Emain on the day that they should come to Ireland.’ ‘I put you under prohibitions,’ said Borrach, ‘prohibitions that true heroes suffer you not to escape unless you come to consume that feast.’ Fergus
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#17327811723531914-412: Is indeed still beautiful, Conchobar fights the sons of Uisnech to win back Deirdre. The sons of Fergus take up arms against their king for the honor of their father who pledged to keep Naisin and Dierdre safe. Fergus's son Illann is killed. Fergus forsakes Ulster and defects to Cruachan . From here, the tale continues in a similar manner as the older Irish version, as follows. The Táin Bó Flidhais tells
2001-634: Is the epic Táin Bó Cúailnge (Cattle Raid of Cooley). The Ulster Cycle is one of the four 'cycles' of Irish mythology and legend, along with the Mythological Cycle , the Fianna Cycle and the Kings' Cycle . The Ulster Cycle stories are set in and around the reign of King Conchobar mac Nessa , who rules the Ulaid from Emain Macha (now Navan Fort near Armagh ). The most prominent hero of
2088-454: The Morrígan , Aengus and Midir also make occasional appearances. Unlike the majority of early Irish historical tradition, which presents ancient Ireland as largely united under a succession of High Kings , the stories of the Ulster Cycle depict a country with no effective central authority, divided into local and provincial kingdoms often at war with each other. The civilisation depicted
2175-616: The Red Branch Cycle , is a body of medieval Irish heroic legends and sagas of the Ulaid . It is set far in the past, in what is now eastern Ulster and northern Leinster , particularly counties Armagh , Down and Louth . It focuses on the mythical Ulster king Conchobar mac Nessa and his court at Emain Macha , the hero Cú Chulainn , and their conflict with the Connachta and queen Medb . The longest and most important tale
2262-449: The Táin and rise in popularity. Here follows a list of tales which are assigned to the Ulster Cycle, although it does not claim to be exhaustive. The classification according to 'genre' followed here is merely a convenient tool to bring clarity to a large body of texts, but it is not the only possible one nor does it necessarily reflect contemporary approaches of classifying texts. Most of
2349-470: The Táin , refer to Cairbre Nia Fer as the king of Tara , implying that no High King is in place at the time. The presence of the Connachta as the Ulaid's enemies is an apparent anachronism: the Connachta were traditionally said to have been the descendants of Conn Cétchathach , who is supposed to have lived several centuries later. Later stories use the name Cóiced Ol nEchmacht as an earlier name for
2436-518: The Táin Bó Cuailnge , but the story it relates is equally as complex and intricate. It includes many of the most important characters of Irish saga literature who appear in many of the cycles of legends from the period. Queen Maedbh , the Queen of Connacht, is one such individual, as are Cú Chulainn and the irresistible hero, Fergus mac Róich . The story of the Táin Bó Flidhais is set in
2523-477: The 12th to 15th centuries but, in many cases, are believed to be much older. The language of the earliest stories is dateable to the 8th century, and events and characters are referred to in poems dating to the 7th. The earliest extant manuscripts of the Ulster Cycle are Lebor na hUidre , "The Book of the Dun Cow", dating to no later than 1106, and The Book of Leinster , compiled around 1160. The events of
2610-563: The 20th and 21st centuries include Rosemary Sutcliff 's children's novel The Hound of Ulster (1963), Morgan Llywelyn 's Red Branch (1989), Patricia Finney 's novel A Shadow of Gulls (1977), and Vincent Woods ' play A Cry from Heaven (2005). Randy Lee Eickhoff has also created a series of six novelistic translations and retellings, beginning with The Raid (2000). Parts of the cycle have been adapted as webcomics , including Patrick Brown's Ness (2007–2008) and The Cattle Raid of Cooley (2008–2015); and M.K. Reed's unfinished About
2697-598: The Clanna Dedad. T. F. O'Rahilly later concluded that the Ulaid were in fact a branch of the Érainn. A number of the Érainn appear to have been powerful Kings of Tara , with a secondary base of power at the now lost Temair Luachra "Tara of the Rushes" in West Munster, where some action in the Ulster Cycle takes place and may even have been transplanted from the midland Tara. Additionally it may be noteworthy that
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2784-472: The Gamhanraidh tribes to defy the oncoming army. Dressed in regal splendour and presenting a magnificent sight, Queen Maedbh offered the leaders of Oilill's army the kingship of the Gamhanraidh and permanent quarters at her royal rath at Cruachan if they fought on her side. To a man, they accepted her bribes and deserted Oilill's army. Single handed combat followed between the troops of Queen Maedbh and
2871-467: The Gamhanraidh tribes who popped out of every crevice along the way, attacking the retreating troops trying to return to Cruachan. There were so many of these attacks that while the army was still in the Glenamoy hills, the melee turned into a full-scale battle again. The indomitable Gamhanraidh made a grotesque pile of Irish warrior heads on the ground. At this stage, Domhnall from Glencastle arrived on
2958-431: The Gamhanraidh. Despite their losses, the Erris warriors won most of the combats and Maedbh was devastated once again when three of her closest fosterlings lost their lives. Oilill and his entire household, except for Flidhais, went up the ramparts of the fortress at Rathmorgan to monitor the situation below, leaving Fergus and the other prisoners alone with Flidhais in the fort. During this time Fergus and Flidhais hatched
3045-490: The Stutterer, became the leader of the Gamhanraidh and continued the attack on Maedbdh's troops until he recovered Flidhais and her Maol. Some versions relate that Muireadhach later married Flidhais, others that she lived out the rest of her life in obscurity. Despite being faced with dangers along the entire route of their journey, the battle-weary Maedbh along with Ailill and Fergus finally made it back to Cruachan and that
3132-650: The Ulaid's prize bull, Donn Cúailnge , opposed only by the seventeen-year-old Cú Chulainn. In the Mayo Táin, the Táin Bó Flidhais it is a white cow known as the 'Maol' that is the object of desire. One of the better known stories is the tragedy of Deirdre , source of plays by W. B. Yeats and J. M. Synge . Other stories tell of the births, courtships and deaths of the characters and of the conflicts between them. The stories are written in Old and Middle Irish , mostly in prose, interspersed with occasional verse passages, with
3219-535: The album A Celtic Tale: The Legend Of Deirdre (1996) by Mychael Danna & Jeff Danna . and the song Of The Sorrows from the album The Wanderlings Volume Two by Leslie Hudson. LÉ Deirdre , a ship in the Irish Naval Service from 1972 to 2001, was named after her. A version of Deirdre appears in the show Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog as the main character, and she is the daughter of King Conchobar and an unknown woman (believed to be
3306-465: The antiquity of these records was a matter of politicised debate; modern scholars have generally taken a more critical stance. Some scholars of the 19th and early 20th centuries, such as Eugene O'Curry and Kuno Meyer , believed that the stories and characters of the Ulster Cycle were essentially historical; T. F. O'Rahilly was inclined to believe the stories were entirely mythical and the characters euhemerised gods; and Ernst Windisch thought that
3393-401: The baby at birth, but Conchobar, aroused by the description of her future beauty, decided to keep the child for himself. He took Deirdre away from her family and had her brought up in seclusion by Leabharcham , a poet and wise woman, and planned to marry Deirdre when she was old enough . As a young girl, living isolated in the woodlands, Deirdre told Leabharcham one snowy day that she would love
3480-487: The bravest awarded the curadmír or "champion's portion", the choicest cut of meat. Kings are advised by druids ( Old Irish druí , plural druíd ), and poets have great power and privilege. These elements led scholars such as Kenneth H. Jackson to conclude that the stories of the Ulster Cycle preserved authentic Celtic traditions from the pre-Christian Iron Age . Other scholars have challenged that conclusion, stressing similarities with early medieval Irish society and
3567-446: The burial the army continued on their way and eventually reached Carrowmore Lake and the fort at Rathmorgan. Oilill and Flidhais were both there at the fort waiting for the arrival of Queen Maedbh's army. Fergus MacRoigh was being held as a prisoner and had been trussed up and put on display in sight of the exasperated lovelorn Queen Maedbh. Oilill found himself surrounded by the troops of Queen Maedbh and called on all his support of
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3654-484: The cow did not get up on her feet. Bricne came then and said that he could make the 'Maol' get up if he got enough gifts and payment in return for that favour. Fergus agreed to that and the Maol rose to her feet and led the captured herds away from Erris on the long journey towards Cruachan. Queen Maedbdh's army had set off in the same direction towards Barrooskey but to their surprise they met opposition from small bands of
3741-615: The cycle are traditionally supposed to take place around the time of Christ . The stories of Conchobar's birth and death are synchronised with the birth and death of Christ, and the Lebor Gabála Érenn dates the Táin Bó Cúailnge and the birth and death of Cú Chulainn to the reign of the High King Conaire Mor , who it says was a contemporary of the Roman emperor Augustus (27 BC — AD 14). Some stories, including
3828-534: The cycle is Conchobar's nephew, Cú Chulainn . The Ulaid are most often in conflict with the Connachta , led by their queen, Medb , her husband, Ailill , and their ally Fergus mac Róich , a former king of the Ulaid in exile. The longest and most important story of the cycle is the Táin Bó Cúailnge or "Cattle Raid of Cooley", in which Medb raises an enormous army to invade the Cooley peninsula and steal
3915-473: The cycle, while largely imaginary, contains little genuine myth. Elements of the tales are reminiscent of classical descriptions of Celtic societies in Gaul , Galatia and Britain . Warriors fight with swords, spears and shields, and ride in two-horse chariots, driven by skilled charioteers drawn from the lower classes. They take and preserve the heads of slain enemies, and boast of their valour at feasts, with
4002-451: The earliest extant versions dated to the 12th century. The tone is terse, violent, sometimes comic, and mostly realistic, although supernatural elements intrude from time to time. Cú Chulainn in particular has superhuman fighting skills, the result of his semi-divine ancestry, and when particularly aroused his battle frenzy or ríastrad transforms him into an unrecognisable monster who knows neither friend nor foe. Evident deities like Lugh ,
4089-666: The east shore of Broadhaven Bay , in Kilcommon . The chieftain of the peninsula, Ciortán, from Dún Chiortáin in Glengad , assured Oilill that he would have his swiftest ship ready and waiting to take them safely out to sea away from the Cruachan invaders. When Queen Maedbh's troops discovered the fort at Dún Flidhais deserted, they pursued their prey up the shores of Carrowmore Lake into Inver and Ciortán's waiting boat. However, when Chiortain saw them coming he pulled his boat out of
4176-464: The fort on Lough Conn. They had large herds of cattle at both places and this suggests they were very wealthy as ownership of cattle was the main indicator of power and wealth prevailing in the economy at the time. Bricne Nimhtheanga decided to set off for Dún Flidhais fort in Erris . His plan was to cause trouble. Travellers associated with the Queen of Connacht were treated with great courtesy everywhere they went so when Bricne arrived at Rathmorgan he
4263-448: The harbour, leaving Oilill stranded on the shoreline. Oilill had forgotten that Chiortain still held a grudge against him for seducing his wife some time previously. Despite the pleas of Oilill for Chiortan to help him, Chiortan refused to come back into the shore and took his boat out further into Broadhaven Bay, The furious Oilill placed a large rock into his slingshot and fired it at Chiortain's boat. The deadly aim struck Chiortain in
4350-537: The hospitalities of his fort, Dún Domhnall at Glencastle . It is alleged that Fergus was such a magnificent manly specimen that no woman could look on him without desiring him. In comparison with her husband, whose body was scarred with battle scars, the young Fergus was like a God who women found irresistible. Munhin found the young stud an exciting bedmate and he found that she was like nine women to him. Domhnall had an enchanted sword which gave him his strength and which he carried everywhere with him. An enchantress had
4437-517: The important Ulster Cycle tales can be found in the following publications: The Ulster Cycle provided material for Irish writers of the Gaelic revival around the turn of the 20th century. Augusta, Lady Gregory 's Cuchulain of Muirthemne (1902) retold most of the important stories of the cycle, as did Eleanor Hull for younger readers in The Boys' Cuchulain (1904). William Butler Yeats wrote
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#17327811723534524-475: The influence of classical literature, while considering the possibility that the stories may contain genuinely ancient material from oral tradition. J. P. Mallory thus found the archaeological record and linguistic evidence to generally disfavour the presence of Iron Age remnants in the Ulster and Mythological Cycles, but emphasised the links to the Corlea Trackway in the earlier Tochmarc Étaíne as
4611-414: The kings over territorial boundaries and, as is demonstrated in this story, when one "king triumphed over another, he cut off his victim's head to parade it as a prestigious trophy, proving that he was no longer alive. Terrible things were done to the conquered king's remains by the victorious king. Brehon Laws were the order of the day and armies consisted of both men and women who fought side by side. At
4698-611: The lady of Oilill, Dear to me the name of the spouse, Domhnall Dualbhuidhe's warrior son, Bounteous the lady who will not forsake me When we came out of Eamhain Our quarrel left no slight track The cause of Fergus whose exploits are many Brought us in numbers to Cruachain Flidhais asked Bricne to describe Fergus mac Róich to her. He played up to Flidhais knowing that she had a great knowledge of and interest in Fergus from tales from
4785-497: The most common versions, the fort of Dún Domhnall in Glencastle is taken by a surprise attack and the forts of Dún Chiortain and Dún Chaochain, the two main promontories in Kilcommon parish, also fall to the raiders. Munhin watching the ensuing battles from a distance is most impressed by the leader of the invading army, none other than Fergus. She requested that a truce be called and Domhnall invited his enemy, Fergus, to enjoy
4872-431: The neck and such was the force that his head was severed from his body and the boat, Chiortain and his crew sunk to the bottom of Broadhaven Bay . The bay between Barnatra and Inver is known as Trá Chiortáin to this day. The Queen's army caught Oilill at Log na Fola, (the bloody hollow) leading to the following “ rann ”: May you have wet arses Munster scum, evil rogues, Without benefit of sun, Or bee or flower, In
4959-581: The province of Connacht in Ireland in the late Iron Age . The royal fort of Cruachan , near Tulsk in Roscommon was the seat of the Queen of Connacht, Maedbh and her husband, King Ailill MacMáta. The most notable addition provided by the Glenmasan manuscript to the Táin Bó Flidhais is the precursor story of the death of the sons of Uisnech . Conchobar mac Nessa sends Fergus mac Róich to bring
5046-526: The province of Connacht to get around this problem. However, the chronology of early Irish historical tradition is an artificial attempt by Christian monks to synchronise native traditions with classical and biblical history, and it is possible that historical wars between the Ulaid and the Connachta have been chronologically misplaced. Along with the Lebor Gabála Érenn , elements of the Ulster Cycle were for centuries regarded as historical in Ireland, and
5133-509: The same time in Ireland, small churches were being built, some being the provenance of just a single monk (usually nowadays referred to as "saints"). The townlands where small religious communities existed are often now known by the name of the 'saint' who founded them – e.g.: Cill Ghallagáin (Church of St. Galligan) or Cill Chomáin . Some of these small churches grew into religious communities of monks which got larger and more prosperous; others remained small and fairly insignificant. This period
5220-445: The scene again with a new army which consisted of vicious wolfhounds. Their handlers released the dogs and they tore into Maedbh's army, tearing the soldiers limb from limb. Then Fergus came in face-to-face combat with Domhnall Duabhuidhe and he died at Glenamoy by the sword of Fergus. More troops to support the Gamhanraidh were coming to the scene from Croagh Patrick. After the death of his grandfather, Muireadhach, known as Muireadhach
5307-406: The secret to the sword. Munhin's lust for Fergus grew by the day and his for her. One night they appealed to the enchantress by the use of a magic spell. The enchantress saw the passion they had for one another and she imparted the secret of wresting the sword away from Domhnall. At this, a thunderclap shook the glen and Munhin was afraid for what she had done. A few days later, Fergus said he
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#17327811723535394-421: The several small cycles of tales involving the early dominance of the Érainn in Ireland generally predate the majority of the Ulster Cycle tales in content, if not in their final forms, and are believed to be of a substantially more pre-Christian character. Several of these do not even mention the famous characters from the Ulster Cycle, and those that do may have been slightly reworked after its later expansion with
5481-418: The shield of the name and fame of Queen Maedbh and her consort, King Ailill mac Máta . Fergus was a fine figure of a man and it did not take long for the "shameless" Queen Maedbh to fall hopelessly in lust with her equally promiscuous guest. Her consort Ailill, however, observed the daily infidelity and one night, in retaliation, he stole Fergus's enchanted sword from his guest's scabbard and replaced it with
5568-427: The song "Tale of Cú Chulainn" on his 2020 album Level 11. Deirdre Deirdre ( / ˈ d ɪər d r ə , - d r i / DEER -drə, -dree , Irish: [ˈdʲɛɾˠdʲɾʲə] ; Old Irish : Derdriu [ˈdʲerʲðrʲĭŭ] ) is a tragic heroine in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology . She is also known by the epithet "Deirdre of the Sorrows" ( Irish : Deirdre an Bhróin ). Deirdre
5655-464: The sons of Uisnech back from exile in Scotland so that they might help Conchobar 'defend the province of Ulster against every other province in Ireland.' Deirdre has an ill-omened dream that her husband Naisi , son of Uisnech, will be betrayed. Fergus insists he will let no harm come to them. Naisi trusts Fergus and the sons of Uisnech return to Ireland. They arrive at Borrach's fortress, where Fergus
5742-723: The tale of a punitive raid by them on one of the Gamhanraidh tribe who lived in County Mayo , a tribe as well respected in Connacht as the Red Branch Knights were in Ulster . The heroine of the tale is Flidhais Fholtchain ("Flidhais of the lovely soft hair"), a ravishing beauty who was married to Oilill Fionn , a king of the Gamhanraidh tribe and the son of a powerful chieftain called Domhnall Dualbhuidhe ("Donal of
5829-468: The thought of losing her young lover to Flidhais, mustered an army consisting of her tribe and all its supporters and family. Maedbh's army set out on the predatory incursion to Erris which became known as the Táin Bó Flidhais. They approached from the south defeating all the tribes who challenged them along the way and leaving a trail of blood in their wake. Queen Maedbh's daughter, Red Cainner,
5916-409: The tuatha were usually the extended family of the king. They would have included many generations of relatives and also children of other tuatha who were given “ fosterage ” by a different tuatha and treated with as much love as if they were the children of the king. This extended family was the army with which the territorial battles were fought between kings. Táin Bó Flidhais is not as well known as
6003-415: The two entourages met there was a heated argument. Oilill Fionn bluntly asked Fergus "are you coming here to take my wife?" Fergus admitted that that was his intention. They challenged each other to a combat to sort out the matter. First the two chiefs met in hand-to-hand combat, then their supporters joined in the battle. Blood flowed and over 1,000 men were killed. Fergus drew out his magic sword, but it
6090-561: The war of the Táin Bó Cúailnge (the Cattle Raid of Cooley), sometimes referred to as "the Irish Iliad ". After the death of Naoise, Conchobar took Deirdre as his wife. After a year, angered by Deirdre's continuing coldness toward him, Conchobar asked her whom in the world she hated the most, besides himself. She answered "Éogan mac Durthacht", the man who had murdered Naoise. Conchobar said that he would give her to Éogan. As she
6177-399: The way back to Emain Macha , Conchobar had Fergus waylaid, forced by his personal geis (an obligation) to accept an invitation to a feast. Fergus sent Deirdre and the sons of Uisneach on to Emain Macha with his son to protect them. When they arrived, Conchobar sent Leabharcham to spy on Deirdre, to see if she had lost her beauty. Leabharcham, to protect Deirdre, told the king that Deirdre
6264-485: The way west of the Shannon from North Mayo as far down as County Clare . Flidhais and Oilill had a legendary white cow, the Maol, which, it was reputed, gave vast quantities of milk every day – said to be enough milk to satisfy three hundred men together with their women and their children in one milking. They also owned several other enormous herds of cattle and deer. Flidhais and Oilill had four daughters, one of whom
6351-571: The yellow locks") who lived at Glencastle in Erris and operated the gates to the Mullet Peninsula . Flidhais and Oilill owned two forts in Co. Mayo, one at Rathmorgan, known as Dún Flidhais, situated at the southern end of Carrowmore Lake in Erris, and another west of Lough Conn near Nephin , known as Dún Átha Féan, further south. The Gamhanraidh tribe, of which Flidhais and Oilill were part, owned large stretches of territory, stretching all
6438-407: Was a country divided up into hundreds if not thousands of territories known as tuatha . This tale is likely to relate to incidents around 100 AD before the arrival of people bringing Christian teachings with them. Each tuath had at its head a king. Some kings were higher ranking than others and some, like Medb were the head of an entire province such as Connacht . There was constant battling amongst
6525-492: Was being taken to Éogan, Conchobar taunted her, saying she looked like a ewe between two rams. At this, Deirdre threw herself from the chariot , dashing her head to pieces against a rock. There are many plays and other stage productions based on Deirdre's story, including: Novels about her include Deirdre (1923) by James Stephens , The Celts (1988) by Elona Malterre, On Raven's Wing (1990) by Morgan Llywelyn and The Swan Maiden by Jules Watson. Music about her includes
6612-486: Was courteously welcomed, wined and dined by Flidhais and her entourage who all turned out in their best finery for the occasion. Flidhais had the fort heavily perfumed and decorated with mistletoe and herbs and they wined and dined in great style. Later everyone was tired and went to sleep apart from Flidhais and Bricne. He sang to Flidhais: From Cruachan we have come To Erris in the west of Elga. In every Dún we passed, we heard Of Flidhais and her cow, Flidhais
6699-475: Was determined to get his own back on Oilill for his ill-treatment while he had been held prisoner. A bloody battle ensued and eventually Oilill and his remaining troops retreated behind the walls of the Rathmorgan fort. His Gamhanriadh army now numbered only 97 individuals. As morning dawned, the troops mustered again and the Gamhanriadh decided to make a break for Trá Chinn Chiortain , close to Inver on
6786-408: Was forced to remain with Borrach, and so sent his two sons on to Emain Macha with Naisi and Dierdre. Dierdre has another dream in which she sees all of her companions without their heads. She advises them ‘To go to Dundalk where Cú Chulainn is, and remain there until Fergus comes, or go to Emain under Cú Chulainn's safeguard.’ Otherwise, 'treachery and ruin will be wrought upon you.’ Again her advice
6873-607: Was killed by a spear when Maedbh herself ducked to avoid being struck, and this gave her great sadness and remorse. Her lamentation: Dig ye the grave of Cainner lying here on the mound, slain Fermenn, son of Dara Dearg, threw the spear, which caused her death. Red Cainner, daughter of Ailill and Maedbh. She is the victim at the mound of the shade. The darling of the warriors of Enian. The spouse of Lughaid Mac Conroc. During seven short days of delight and valour. Raise her pillar above her grave stone. Dig ye her grave After
6960-461: Was leaving the Dún at Glencastle and himself and Domhnall drank a lot of liquor. Domhnall fell asleep he drank so much. Munhin cut his sword off using the secret magic from the enchantress. Fergus took the sword and with one fell swoop he cut off Domhnall's head. The next morning, Fergus's flag flew over Dún Domhnall's fort. Fergus and Munhin then lived together as man and wife. One day Fergus received
7047-509: Was now ugly and aged. Conchobar then sent another spy, Gelbann, who managed to catch a glimpse of Deirdre but was seen by Naoise, who threw a gold chess piece at him and put out his eye. The spy managed to get back to Conchobar, and told him that Deirdre was as beautiful as ever. Conchobar called his warriors to attack the Red Branch house where Deirdre and the sons of Uisneach were lodging. Naoise and his brothers fought valiantly, aided by
7134-495: Was of value from Dún Flidhais fort and also her great herds of cattle and deer. Fergus tried to get the 'Maol' cow to rise and walk but she refused to get up. His men believed that the Maol was in grief and sorrow due to the death of her Master. Fergus lost his temper then and prodded the Maol with his sword. When she still refused to get up, he beat her nine rhythmic blows across her back. She bellowed and lowed so loudly that her agonies could be heard for many miles around. Still
7221-487: Was only the wooden replica placed there by Ailill, the consort of Queen Maedbh, and his sword failed to give him the special powers Fergus expected it to. Oilill's troops emerged triumphant. Fergus was captured by the Gamhanraidh and kept at the cells in Dún Flidhais fort, his remaining troops returned to the royal rath at Cruachan, filthy and exhausted. Back at Cruachan, troops were mustered and Queen Maedbh, angry at
7308-513: Was overcome with guilt as she looked in Oilill's unblinking all-knowing eyes and she was horrified at what had happened to her husband. She burst into tears and demanded his body be brought back to their fort. The troops retrieved Oilill's body and when Flidhais looked at his body, gashed all over and covered in blood, she was again filled with such remorse she began to recount his every worthy action during his lifetime. Tradition maintains that Oilill
7395-511: Was said to be the adulterous lover of the hero Cú Chulainn . Flidhais had a reputation of having a voracious sexual appetite herself and she harboured a lust for the Ulster hero Fergus mac Róich who, having fought with and killed so many tribal chieftains in Ulster, was lying low at Cruachan , the royal rath of Maedbh and Ailill in Roscommon, for his own safety. Fergus had gone to Cruachan after his triumphant bloody battles in Ulster, to gain
7482-683: Was the Golden Age of making illuminated manuscripts and craftworking of relics with gold and silver filigree in the monasteries. Some items, like the Cross of Cong or the Ardagh Chalice can be seen in Irish museums today. The Early Christian and the tuatha communities existed side by side across the Irish landscape, sometimes in harmony, sometimes not. Often the kings of the tuatha found it advantageous to become patrons of their local religious community as it gave them prestige. The people of
7569-399: Was the end of the tale of the Táin Bó Flidhais. The tale of Táin Bó Flidhais is also known as 'The Mayo Táin' and there are several local versions with minor differences in the story. In local versions, Flidhais is known as Munhin and Domhnall Dualbhuidhe from Dún Domhnall fort in Glencastle takes the place of Oilill Fionn, being Flidhais's lover, rather than her lover's father. In one of
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