NAME Fachtna
GENDER M
CATEGORY druid
TYPE physician to the Ard Righ Eirinn
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd c
SEE ALSO Ailill Anubhaill / Eodhaidh Airemh / Etain
Echraidhe
REMARKS Fachtna was the physician to Eodhaidh Airemh,
the high chieftain of Ireland. He discovered that Ailill
Anubhaill was in love with Eodhaidh Airemh's wife Etain and
that this was the cause of Ailill's wasting sickness.
NAME Fachtna Fathach
EPITHET The Mighty / The Giant
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain / Red Branch
champion
CULTURE Goidel - Dal nAraide / Danann / Pictish
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
SITES Corann
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd / BC 165-140 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
BATTLES Ard Brestine / Leitir Ruaid
RELATIVES Cass (father); Maga (mother); Ness (wife);
Ferghus, Sualtaim, Genonn and Imrinn (half-
brothers); Dechtire, Elbha and Findchaem (half-
sisters); Conchobar (foster-son); Rudraige
(grandfather); Ir and Anghus (ancestors)
ENEMIES Eochaidh Feidhleach
SEE ALSO Anghus mac Og / Cathbad / Conchobar / Dechtire /
Elbha / Eochaidh Feidhleach / Ferghus /
Findchaem / Genonn / Imrinn / Ir / Maga /
Ness /
Rudraige / Sualtaim
REMARKS Fachtna Fathach, son of Cass, son of Rudraige a
descendent of Ir, became the high chieftain of Ireland when
he killed Dui Dallta Degaid, a descendant of Eber, during
the battle of Ard Brestine.
At the time, Cormac son of Laithech and Mochta son of
Murchad ruled Ulster jointly. Fachtna married Ness,
daughter of Eochi Salbuide of the Danann of Ulster.
Fachtna ruled Ireland as its high chieftain for 25
years before he was slain by Eochaidh Feidhleach during the
battle of Leitir Ruaid in Corann.
NAME Fagus
GENDER M
CATEGORY deity
TYPE god of beech trees
CULTURE Aquitani
COUNTRY France
TERRITORY Gaul / Aquitanica
LANDMARKS Pyrenees
AGE Iron
DATES BC 6th c
REMARKS Fagus, the god of beech trees, was venerated in
the Pyrenees. The Dragani, Volcae and the Tarusates tribes
were three of the main tribes to settle in the area since
BC 6th century.
NAME Fan
GENDER F
CATEGORY deity
CULTURE Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)
COUNTRY Wales
TERRITORY The Otherworld - Fan's Lake (Llyn y Fan)
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 6th c
REMARKS The goddess Fan met a young man by the lake Llyn
y Fan who fell in love with her and asked her to stay with
him in his land. Fan said she would agree to stay until he
offended her with 3 unmerited blows.
Their relationship flourished until one day he struck
her for refusing to attend a Christian baptism because she
said the ritual severed ties with supernatural abilities.
The second time she was hit by him was when she cried
during a wedding and the third was when she laughed during
a funeral.
NAME Fand
EPITHET Pearl of Beauty
GENDER F
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY deity
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY The Otherworld - Land of Promise (Tir
Tairnigire)
SITES Ibor Cind Trachta (The Strand of the Yew Tree)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Aed Abrat (father); Li Ban (sister); Aeonghus
(brother)
ENEMIES Eochaidh Iuil / Senach Siabarthe / Eogan Indber
SEE ALSO Aed Abrat / Aeonghus mac Aedh Abrat / Cu
Chulainn / Emer / Eochaidh Iuil / Eogan Indber /
Labhraidh / Li Ban / Manannan
REMARKS Fand was the goddess of Tir Tairnigiri (Land of
Promise) and Manannan was her champion. Fand had blond
hair and enchanting eyes and was described as the most
beautiful woman in The Otherworld.
Manannan sided with the Fomorians in a war against
Labhraidh Luathlam ar Cledeb. Because her sister Li Ban
was married to Labhraidh, Fand fled to her territory where
they were attacked by the 3 Fomorian chieftains Eochaidh
Iuil, Senach Siabarthe and Eogan Indber.
Fand and Li Ban changed into birds and flew to the
land of mortals to ask Cu Chulainn for his help in
defeating the Fomorian raiders. He came, fought, won and
fell in love with the beautiful Fand. When Cu Chulainn
returned to the land of mortals he still longed for Fand
and they planned a tryst at Ibor Cind Trachta.
Cu Chulainn's wife Emer prevented the meeting and
forced Fand to sacrifice her claim to him. Manannan shook
his supernatural cloak between Fand and Cu Chulainn so they
would forget each other and he and Fand returned to The
Otherworld.
NAME Fandall macNechta
EPITHET The Swallow / The Swan / The Weasel
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Boyne / Magh mBreg
CENTERS Dun Necht (fortress of Necht)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Necht Scene (mother); Fer Ulli (father); Foill
and Tuachall (brothers)
ENEMIES Ulster / Cu Chulainn
SEE ALSO Cu Chulainn / Fer Ulli / Foill macNechta / Necht
Scene / Tuachall macNechta
REMARKS Fandall lived at Dun Necht south of the Boyne on
Magh mBreg. His father was killed by Ulster warriors and
from that time he and his two brothers killed more Ulster
warriors than they left alive. He was known as the
swallow, the swan or the weasel because he was so at home
in the water.
Fandall was challenged by Cu Chulainn after his two
brothers had lost in combat to him. Fandall persuaded Cu
Chulainn to fight in the water but he was defeated and lost
his head to the young warrior of 7 years.
NAME Faruach
GENDER M
CATEGORY druid
TYPE ship architect
CULTURE Fianna - Clanna Ui Tarsigh
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Inna
SITES Allen Hill
CENTERS Raith Almu (Fort of Almain)
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
ACCESSORIES supernatural axe
SEE ALSO Abarta / Conan Maol / Fionn mac Cumhaill
REMARKS Faruach a son of the chieftain of Inna was a
druid who could fashion a ship with 3 strokes of his
magical axe. He constructed the vessel that took Fionn and
the Fianna in search of Conan Maol and the other warriors
who were captured by Abarta.
EPITHET The Flower
GENDER F
FESTIVAL Beltainn (Brilliant Fires)
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel (Milesian) - Artabri tribe
COUNTRY Spain / Ireland
REGION Galicia / Kerry
TERRITORY West Munster
LANDMARKS Corca Duibhne / Sliabh Mish
SITES Glenn Fáise (The grave of Fás)
CENTERS Brigantia (A Corunna)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 15th c
BATTLES Sliabh Mish
RELATIVES Un (husband)
ENEMIES Danann
REMARKS The Goidel warrior Fas was slain during the
battle of Sliabh Mish which raged for 3 days and nights.
She was buried at Glenn Fáise between Sliabh Mish and the
sea.
NAME Fea
EPITHET The First
GENDER M ?
CATEGORY child
CULTURE Partholean tribe
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Leinster
LANDMARKS Magh Fea
SITE Oilre (birth/burial site)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 19th c
RELATIVES Tortan (father); Partholon (cousin); Magog
(ancestor)
SEE ALSO Magog / Partholon
REMARKS Fea son (?) of Tortan, son of Sru, son of Esru,
was the first of the tribe to be born in Laigen and the
first to die. He was born and died on the hilltop of
Oilre on Magh Fea which was named after him. His death was
7 years after the people landed and 3 years before the
battle at Slemne on Magh Itha.
NAME Fea
EPITHET The Hateful
GENDER F
FESTIVAL summer solstice
CATEGORY deity
TYPE war goddess
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Connacht
LANDMARKS Plain of the Towers (Magh Tuireadh)
SITE Raith Ailig (died)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
BATTLES second battle of Magh Tuireadh (north Moytura)
RELATIVES Elcmar (mother); Neto (father); Ernmas
(grandmother/great-grandmother); Delbaeth and
Indui (grandfathers); Nemhain (sister); Corpre
Crom (half-brother); Babdh, Macha and Danu
(aunts); Nuadha (consort); Magog, Iarbonel,
Ordan and Net (ancestors)
SEE ALSO Badbh / Danu / Delbaeth / Elcmar / Iarbonel /
Indui / Macha / Maga / Magog / Nemhain /
Nuadha
/ Net / Neto / Ordan
REMARKS Fea was the daughter of Elcmar and Neto and a
descendant of Ordan and Net. Fea and her sister Nemhain
were referred to as Net's Beauties (Ailech Neit). Fea's
talent lay in the realm of creating hate and before the
second battle of Magh Tuireadh on summer solstice, Nuadha,
the head chieftain of the Danann, mated with her to help
ensure success against their enemy the Fomorii.
Fea died at Raith Ailig of sorrow for her white-haired
grandfather Indui, a month after he was was slain in the
battle of north Moytura in at Rath Ailig.
There were five war goddesses (moon phases) of
Ireland: Babdh, Fea, Macha, Morrighan and Nemhain. Each
goddess had her own area of expertise and when mortals went
to war, the goddesses had to be appeased.
NAME Fedelm
EPITHET The Prophet of Cruachan
ALTERNATIVE Fedelm / Fedelma / Fedilimid / Fedilmid /
Fedlaimid / Fedlim / Fedlimid {Falemid} / Felim
GENDER F
CATEGORY deity / warrior / filidh
TYPE virgin chariot goddess / poet / prophet / seer
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Roscommon
TERRITORY Connacht
LANDMARKS Magh Ai
CENTERS Sidhe Cruachu
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
ACCESSORIES 2 black horses / chariot / sceptre
SEE ALSO Medbh
REMARKS Fedelm was returning from Albainn where she had
been studying her arts when Medbh saw her riding across
Magh Ai standing on the hindpole of her chariot. Medbh
stopped her and asked her to divine the future of her force
of warriors she was about to lead into Ulster on a raid.
Fedelm was described by Medbh as wearing her blond
hair in 3 braids with 2 of the tresses wound around her
head and the third flowing down her back to her calves. She
had a wide brow, narrow jaw, black eyebrows, long black
eyelashes and her blue-gray eyes had 3 pupils each. She
had thin red lips and exceptionally white teeth, her skin
was very white and her long slender hands had sharp red
fingernails on each finger. She was wearing a white dress
and a green mantle held by a long gold pin. She carried a
silvered bronze rod with 7 gold bands, a symbol of her
status. Fedelm also carried weapons at her side.
Fedelm's voice was musical when she spoke but her
vision was not what Medbh wanted to hear. Fedelm saw
Medbh's warriors crimson-red and held at bay by a battle
dragon in his youth.
NAME Fedilimid Rechtmar
EPITHET The Lawgiver
ALTERNATIVE Fedelm / Fedelma / Fedilimid / Fedilmid /
Fedlaimid / Fedlim / Fedlimid {Falemid} / Felim
/ Feidlimid / Rechtaid / Rechtaidh
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain
CULTURE Goidel / Danann / Pictish
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath / Dublin
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
SITES Ath Cliath (Dublin area)
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES AD 2nd c / AD 109-119 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
RELATIVES Tuathal (father); Bane (mother); Medb Lethderg
(consort); Cahir and Conn (sons); Fithir and
Dairine (sisters); Eremon and Tea (ancestors)
SEE ALSO Cahir Mor / Conn Cetcathach / Eremon / Mal /
Medb
Lethderg / Tuathal Teachtmhair / Tea
REMARKS Fedilimid Rechtmar, son of Tuathal Teachtmhair,
descendant of Eremon and Tea, became the 96th high
chieftain of Ireland when he killed Mal in revenge for the
death of his father.
Fedilimid mated with Medb Lethderg before he could
become the next high chieftain. During Fedilimid's 10
years as high chieftain, he continued the Boramha Tribute
(cattle counting) against the province of Leinster.
NAME Fedilmid Chilair Chetach
EPITHET The Bright Flame
ALTERNATIVE Fedelm / Fedelma / Fedilimid / Fedilmid
Cilair
Chetaig / Fedlaimid / Fedlim / Fedlimid
{Falemid} / Felim
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior / Red Branch champion
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster / Callann
SITES Mound of Slane in Mide
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid / Gairech & Irgairech
RELATIVES Ilar Cetach (father)
ENEMIES Host of Connacht
SEE ALSO MacRoth
REMARKS During the Cualnge Cattle Raid, Fedilmid son of
Ilar Cetach of Cualnge led a large troop of warriors that
MacRoth described as the most notable in number, attendance
and apparel. Fedilmid was described as handsome, noble and
a wise man of the world.
NAME Fedlim mac Daill
ALTERNATIVE Fedelm / Fedelma / Fedilimid / Fedilmid /
Fedlaimid / Fedlin / Fedlimid {Falemid} / Felim
GENDER M
CATEGORY poet
TYPE storyteller to the Ri Ruirech
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster
CENTERS Emain Macha (Navan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Dall (father); Deirdre (daughter)
SEE ALSO Cathbad / Conchobar / Deirdre / Ferghus
REMARKS Conchobar, Cathbad, Ferghus and champions of the
Red Branch were feasting at the raith of Fedlim son of Dall
when a cry came from the womb of his wife. Cathbad
prophesied that a female of great beauty would be born and
her life would involve the death of many warriors of
Ulster. Cathbad's advice was to sacrifice her, but
Conchobar wished to keep her for a future wife.
EPITHET Of the Nine Forms
ALTERNATIVE Fedelm / Fedelma / Fedilimid / Fedilmid /
Fedlaimid / Fedlin / Fedlimid {Falemid} / Felim
/ Noichride
GENDER F
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)
CULTURE Goidel - Dal nAraide / Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster
LANDMARKS Dun Rudrige
SITES Tech Midchuarta
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Mughain (mother); Conchobar (father/consort);
Fiachna (son/half-brother); Loeghaire (husband);
Carbre Niafer (husband); Carbre and Erc (sons);
Cormac, Cuscraid, Fiachu, Fiachna (brothers); Cu
Chulainn (consort/half-brother); Findchad,
Naoise, Conall, Follomain, Glas, Mane, Conaing,
Diarmait mac Conchobar, Beann, Furbude Fer Bend,
Fiachra (half-brothers)
ENEMIES Dubthach
SEE ALSO Beann / Bricriu / Carbre Niafer / Conall
Cernacht / Conchobar mac Nessa / Cormac
Condloinges / Cu Chulainn / Cuscraid Menn /
Diarmait mac Conchobar / Dubthach Doel / Emer /
Erc / Fiachna / Fiachra / Fiachu /
Findchad /
Follomain / Furbude Fer Bend / Glas / Lendabair
/ Loeghaire Buadhach / Mughain / Naoise / Usna
REMARKS Fedlimid, daughter of Conchobar, son of Cathbad
and descendant of Ir, bore a child by her father. The boy,
Fiachna, was born while his mother was married to Loeghaire
Buadhach.
During the time of her marriage to Loeghaire Buadhach
she was told by Bricriu during his feast at Tech Midchuarta
on Dun Rudrige that she was the most beautiful and
intelligent of the women and of the best lineage, and
therefore should enter the feasting hall first. The same
suggestion was also given to Lendabair and Emer, providing
a good deal of humor and anxiety.
Next Fedlimid married Carbre Niafer and her son Carbre
was killed by Dubthach during the battle at the Red Branch
hostel when the sons of Usna were killed.
The night before Cu Chulainn began his historic
defence of Ulster, Fedlimid and he had a secret meeting at
Tara.
NAME Feildem
ALTERNATIVE Feldelma
GENDER F
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)
TYPE wife of the Ri Ruirech
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Carlow
TERRITORY Leinster
CENTERS Dinn Rig
AGE Ui Néill
DATES AD 6th c
RELATIVES Eochaidh (husband); Brandubh (son)
SEE ALSO Brandubh / Eochaidh of Leinster
REMARKS When Feildem gave birth she had twin boys. The
wife of Aidan, a head chieftain of Albainn, had twin girls
so they each fostered one child in order to have a male and
a female. The system of fosterage helped form ties between
families and tribes together.
ALTERNATIVE Foenius Farrsaid
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ri Ruirech
TYPE head cheiftain
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Russia / Ukraine / Iraq
TERRITORY Scythia
LANDMARKS Caspian Sea / Volga / Black Sea / Crimean
Peninsula / Euphrates
SITES Tower of Babel (Gates of God)
CENTERS Babylon
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 20th c
RELATIVES Baath (father); Nenual and Nel (sons); Rifath
Scot (grandfather); Iafeth (great-grandfather)
SEE ALSO Iafeth / Nel / Rifath Scot
REMARKS Feinius Farsaid son of Baath was a druid who
travelled from his home in Scythia to the Tower of Babel
which had been built on the Euphrates river at the ancient
city of Babylon in present-day Iraq.
Feinius sired a son called Nel who was born at the
tower. Feinius left his son Nel to study the arts at the
tower and he returned to Scythia (an area north of the
Caucasus streaching east around the Caspian Sea to the
Volga river and west around the Black Sea to the Crimean
Peninsula). Here he ruled his people until his death, when
his oldest son Nenual became the head chieftain of the
tribes.
NAME Feiss
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior / filidh
TYPE wizard for Conaire (Ard Righ Eirinn)
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Magh Liffey
SITES Da Derga's Hostel
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath
RELATIVES son of Meissiu Melimbor
ENEMIES Ingcel / sons of Donn Desa
SEE ALSO Conaire / Da Derga / Donn Desa / Ingcel
REMARKS Feiss, Feisse and Fessamon were triplet brothers
who were wizards. The three wore gowns and red mantles
fastened with golden fibulas. They had golden Luascas over
their foreheads and carried horn spears and ivory-hilted
swords. Each one of them killed an enemy trying to save
Conaire the high chieftain of Ireland during the
destruction at Da Derga's Hostel.
NAME Fer Caille
EPITHET Man of the Wood
GENDER M
SYMBOL 1 eye / 1 hand / 1 foot
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY druid filidh
TYPE diviner / supernatural / giant / artificer /
blacksmith
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Magh Liffey
SITES Da Derga's Hostel
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath
ACCESSORIES forked iron pole / boar
RELATIVES Cichuil (wife)
SEE ALSO Bodb Dearg / Conaire / Da Derga / Donn Desa /
Fruich / Ingcel / Tulchinne
REMARKS As Conaire and his entourage were on their way
to the Hostel of Da Derga, they were overtaken by a man of
one foot, one hand, one eye and with such unevenly-cut
(spiked) black hair that he could spear an apple if it was
dropped on his head.
His name was Fer Caille, one of the reincarnations of
Fruich, the swineherd of Bodb Dearg. Fer Caille had a huge
grotesque build and carried a squealing black singed boar
on his back and a forked iron pole in his hand. His wife
Cichuil was also a gross hideous woman whose pudendum hung
to her knees.
The two forebearers of misfortune refused Conaire's
attempt to turn them away and rushed to the hostel of Da
Derga to cook the boar for Conaire. This broke yet another
geis of Conaire's. Fer Caille's presence assured that
there was blood and destruction on the way. Later in the
evening, Tulchinne asked Fer Caille to divine the identity
of the warriors camped outside the hostel. This he did and
Conaire then knew he was about to be attacked by Ingcel and
the sons of Donn Desa.
NAME Fer Cerdne
ALTERNATIVE Feirceirthe / Feirceirtne / Fer Cerdne / Fer
Cherdne / Fer Chertnae / Fercherdne /
Ferchertnae / Ferchertne
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / bard
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Kerry
TERRITORY Munster
LANDMARKS Sliabh Mish / Dingle Peninsula / Corco Duibne
CENTERS Caherconree - Cathair Chonroi (stone fort of
CuRoi)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
ENEMIES Cu Chulainn
SEE ALSO Blathnat / Cu Chulainn / CuRoi macDaire
REMARKS When Cu Chulainn attacked CuRoi's stronghold,
Cathair Chonroi the Raith of Sleemish, he managed to kill
CuRoi and take Fer Cerdne captive. During the trip to
Ulster, Fer Cerdne found out that Blathnat had helped Cu
Chulainn gain entrance to the stronghold by pouring milk
into the stream so as to expose the secret entrance through
the waterways into the fortress.
Fer Cerdne waited his chance and when they were
resting by a cliff he ran at Blathnat, grabbed hold of her
and dove over the cliff, killing himself and her in revenge
for her having caused the death of his master.
NAME Fer Chertnae
EPITHET The Learned Master of Ulster / Ollamh of Ireland
ALTERNATIVE Feirceirthe / Feirceirtne / Fer Cerdne / Fer
Cherdne / Fer Chertnae / Fercherdne /
Ferchertnae / Ferchertne
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ollamh
TYPE Red Branch champion / master poet / rear guard
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster / Mide
LANDMARKS Sleive Mish
SITES Temair Luachra / Mound of Slane in Mide
CENTERS Emain Macha (Navan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Temuir Luarcha / Cualnge Cattle Raid / Gairech &
Irgairech
RELATIVES Iliu (grandfather); Coirpre (father)
ENEMIES Host of Connacht
SEE ALSO Ailill Miltenga / Athairne / Conchobar / Cromm
Deroil / MacRoth / Neide
REMARKS Fer Chertnae won a competition against another
poet named Neide to acquire the master poet's mantle
(Tugen) and the title of Ollamh.
Fer Chertnae was with Cu Chulainn on his mad chase
through Ireland that ended up at Temair Luachra in Munster.
Cromm Deroil described him as a fair man performing weapons
feats with two swords over the head of Conchobar.
During the Cualnge Cattle Raid, MacRoth observed Fer
Chertnae leading a company of poets. MacRoth described him
as a noble man with blond hair, wearing a tunic of raw silk
next to his skin. Over this he wore a dark-gray mantle
with golden fringes and held with a golden fibula, and on
his feet were lambskin boots.
Fer Chertnae travelled with Athairne and Ailill
Miltenga, two other poets. He carried an ivory-hilted
sword with gold coils in his right hand and performed
weapons feats over the heads of the other two. It is said
that when he was scornful, the waters subsided, and when he
was full of praise, the waters rose.
NAME Fer Doirich
GENDER M
CATEGORY filidh
TYPE sorcerer
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
SEE ALSO Sadb
REMARKS Fer Doirich was responsible for twice changing
Sadb into a fawn because she refused his affection.
NAME Fer Ferdaid
GENDER M
CATEGORY bard
TYPE singer / harper
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
SITES Inbhear Glas
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
ENEMIES Manannan
SEE ALSO Manannan
REMARKS Manannan ordered Fer Ferdiad to find Tuage, who
was a most beautiful woman, and bring her to him. Fer
Ferdiad found her, lulled her to sleep and took her to
Inbhear Glas. He then went looking for a boat and when he
returned, he saw that the beautiful Tuage had drowned. When
Manannan found out about Fer Ferdiad's carelessness, he
killed him.
NAME Fer Gar
ALTERNATIVE Fer Gair / Fer Ger
GENDER M
SYMBOL porcupine
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior / raider
TYPE chariot warrior / champion
CULTURE Baperi tribe (they of the porcupine)
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Magh Liffey
SITES Da Derga's Hostel
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath
ACCESSORIES gift of excellence
RELATIVES Donn Desa (father); Fer Lee, Fer Rogain and
Lomna (brothers); Conaire (foster-brother)
ENEMIES Host of Eirinn
SEE ALSO Conaire / Da Derga / Donn Desa / Fer Lee / Fer
Rogain / Ingcel / Lomna Druth / Mac Cecht
REMARKS The sons of Donn Desa were of the Baperi
(Porcupine) tribe and their oath was Banoku "by the
porcupine". Conaire was fostered by Donn Desa, so he, Fer
Gar and his two brothers all grew up together. The four
all wore similar clothing and armor, rode horses of the
same color and ate from the same cauldron. Each brother
was given one of Conaire's gifts of exceptional sight,
hearing, and judgment.
When Conaire became high chieftain of Ireland he
outlawed robbery, theft, plunder and slaughter. These
happened to be the gifts given to the sons of Donn Desa by
their ancestors. The brothers began to apply their talents
of thievery to test their foster-brother. Because he chose
not to punish them, they gathered about them 3x50 youths
and eventually were caught marauding in Connacht.
The three bothers were expelled from the country of
Ireland, and as they were sailing across the water to
Albainn they met a raider named Ingcel and his warriors.
The two groups of warriors decided to join together and
drew lots to see where they would go first to raid. The
luck of the draw said Albainn (Scotland/northern England)
was first, and Ingcel planned a raid which killed his
mother, father and 7 brothers. They then sailed to Ireland
to raid it.
The raiders landed in Ireland at the Strand of
Fuirbthe just as Mac Cecht was striking a fire in the
Hostel of Da Derga. The sound of the chieftain fire hurled
their 3x50 boats onto the shoulder of the sea.
NAME Fer Lee
ALTERNATIVE Fer Le / Gabur
GENDER M
SYMBOL porcupine
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior / raider
TYPE chariot warrior / champion
CULTURE Baperi tribe (they of the porcupine)
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Liffey-plain
SITES Da Derga's Hostel
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath
ACCESSORIES gift of excellence
RELATIVES Donn Desa (father); Fer Gar, Fer Rogain and
Lomna (brothers); Conaire (foster-brother)
ENEMIES Host of Eirinn
SEE ALSO Conaire / Da Derga / Donn Desa / Fer Gar
/ Fer
Rogain / Ingcel / Lomna Druth
REMARKS Fer Lee and his two brothers were foster-
brothers of Conaire. The four boys shared their youth
together. They ate the same food, wore similar clothing
and armor, and rode the same colored horses. Conaire gave
to each one of his gifts of exceptional sight, hearing, and
the gift of judgment.
When Conaire became high chieftain of Ireland he
outlawed robbery, theft, plunder and slaughter, and the
three foster-brothers found themselves unable to use the
gifts of their ancestors. The sons of Donn Desa reverted
to their ancient ways and were eventually caught and
expelled from the island of Ireland.
The brothers joined forces with a raider from Britain,
named Ingcel, and his warriors. The united force first
raided Albainn then sailed for Ireland where they landed on
the Strand of Fuirbthe just as Mac Cecht was lighting the
chieftain fire (boar-fire / Samhain fire). The force of
the sound of the fire hurled the 3x50 boats of the raiders
onto the shoulder of the sea.
When the raiders landed, they built a cairn, each
warrior adding his or her stone to the pile. When the
destruction was over, the surviving warriors would remove
their stones, and those left served as a marker for the
dead. If it had just been a rout, they would have raised a
pillar stone. The raiders then built a Samhain fire (boar-
fire / chieftain-fire) to warn Conaire of their presence.
NAME Fer Rogain
GENDER M
SYMBOL porcupine
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior / raider
TYPE chariot warrior / champion
CULTURE Baperi tribe (they of the porcupine)
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Magh Liffey
SITES Da Derga's Hostel
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath
ACCESSORIES gift of excellent hearing
RELATIVES Donn Desa (father); Fer Gar, Fer Lee and Lomna
(brothers); Conaire (foster-brother)
ENEMIES Host of Eirinn
SEE ALSO Conaire / Da Derga / Donn Desa / Fer Gar
/ Fer
Lee / Ingcel / Lomna Druth
REMARKS Fer Rogain and his two brothers were foster
brothers of Conaire and grew up together in the household
of Donn Desa. The four youths were inseparable and ate
together, wore the same clothing and armor and rode similar
horses. Conaire taught each of his foster-brothers one of
his exceptional gifts of sight, hearing, or judgment.
When Conaire was appointed high chieftain of Ireland,
he outlawed robbery, theft, plunder and slaughter. These
happened to be the gifts given to them by their ancestors.
The three brothers rebelled against their foster-brother
and high chieftain of Ireland and gathered about themselves
3x50 youths and began to raid around Connacht. Conaire did
not have the courage to hang them so he expelled them from
the Island.
As the sons of Donn Desa and their raiders sailed to
Britain they met Ingcel and his band of raiders. The two
groups joined together and drew lots to see where they
would go first to raid. The luck of the draw said Albainn,
then Ireland.
The raiders landed in Ireland at the Strand of
Fuirbthe on the eve of Samhain, in BC 38, just as Mac Cecht
was striking the chieftain fire in the Hostel of Da Derga.
The force from the sound of the Samhain fire hurled the
3x50 boats onto the shoulder of the sea. Ingcel inquired
of Fer Rogain, who had the gift of hearing, to explain the
sound. Fer Rogain replied that it was the boar fire of the
high chieftain of Ireland.
NAME Fer Ulli
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Boyne / Magh mBreg
CENTERS Dun Necht (fortress of Necht)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Lughaid (father); Necht Scene (wife); Fandall,
Foill and Tuachall (sons)
ENEMIES Ulster
SEE ALSO Fandall / Foill / Necht Scene / Tuachall
macNechta
REMARKS Fer Ulli son of Lughaid was killed by warriors
of Ulster. His 3 sons Fandall, Foill and Tuachall took
revenge by killing more warriors of Ulster than they left
alive.
NAME Feradach Fechtnach
ALTERNATIVE Feradach Finn-fechtnach
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain
CULTURE Goidel / Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES AD 1st c / AD 15-35 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
RELATIVES Crimthann (father); Nair (mother); Fiachu
Finnoilches and Tuathal (sons); Tuathal
Teachtmhair (grandson); Eremon and Tea
(ancestors)
SEE ALSO Crimthann Nia Nair / Eremon / Fiatach Finn /
Fiachu Finnoilches / Nair / Tea / Tuathal
Teachtmhair
REMARKS Feradach Fechtnach was a descendant of Eremon
and Tea. He became the high chieftain of Ireland after
Cairbre Caitcheann and ruled for 20 years until he died a
natural death.
The rule of Ireland was taken by Fiatach Finn for 3
years until his son Fiachu Finnoilches slew him and took
the position of high chieftain.
NAME Feradach Finn Fetnach
EPITHET The Fair and Righteous
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh / Meath
TERRITORY Ulster
LANDMARKS Sliabh gCuilinn (Gallion)
SITES Mound of Slane in Mide
CENTERS Nemed (the grove)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid / Gairech & Irgairech
ENEMIES Host of Connacht
REMARKS Feradach fought for Ulster against the cattle
raiders from Connacht. When he arrived at the Mound of
Slane in Mide MacRoth described him as having fair hair,
beard, eyebrows, eyes and clothing. He carried a rimmed
shield, a five-pointed spear and a hollow lance. He also
wore a golden-hilted sword on his left side. Feradach was
from Nemed in Sliabh gCuilinn (Gallion), county Armagh in
Ulster.
NAME Ferbaeth
EPITHET The Witless
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh / Roscommon
TERRITORY Ulster exile / cause of Connacht
LANDMARKS Magh Muirthemni
SITES Glenn Ferbaeth at Focherd Muirthemni (the good
cast of Muirthemni)
CENTERS Emain Macha (Navan) / Raith Cruachan
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid (died)
RELATIVES Ferbend (father) / Cu Chulainn (foster-brother)
ENEMIES Cu Chulainn / Cualnge / Pictland / Ulster
SEE ALSO Ailill / Cu Chulainn / Fiachna macFerfebe /
Finnabair / Medbh / Scathach
REMARKS Ferbaeth was summoned to the tent of Medbh and
Ailill and was promised Finnabair and his own territory for
his descendants if he could beat Cu Chulainn. They though
because Ferbaeth and Cu Chulainn had both studied with
Scathach that he was Cu Chulainn's equal at arms.
Ferbaeth did not want to fight with Cu Chulainn
because they were best friends and foster-brothers, but the
prize was great and he was plied with drink. Cu Chulainn
had sent his charioteer to the camp to ask Lugaid who was
to fight him tomorrow. When Cu Chulainn heard the news he
was very upset and sent for Ferbaeth to come to his camp
for a parley. Ferbaeth arrived with Fiachna son of
Ferfebe. Cu Chulainn tried to talk his foster-brother out
of the folly but he would not break his promise to Medbh
and Ailill.
Cu Chulainn stomped off in anger and tromped on a
holly spit which pierced his leg and came out by his knee.
This caused him to become frantic and draw the spit back
out. He yelled for Ferbeath to wait until he saw what he
had found. Ferbaeth said to throw it to him which Cu
Chulainn did, over his shoulder not caring where it landed.
The holly spit hit Ferbaeth in the back of the neck and
went out through his mouth and fell to the ground. Fiachna
thought it was a good throw and the hill was renamed Glenn
Ferbaeth at Focherd Muirthemni (the good cast of
Muirthemni).
NAME Ferchertne
ALTERNATIVE Feirceirthe / Feirceirtne / Fer Cerdne / Fer
Chertnae / Fer Cherdne / Fercherdne /
Ferchertnae / Ferchertne
GENDER M
CATEGORY poet
TYPE chanter of eulogy
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Carlow
TERRITORY Leinster / Aremorica
CENTERS Dinn Rig
AGE Iron
DATES BC 6th c
ENEMIES Cobhthach
SEE ALSO Cobhthach Coel / Craiphtine / Labraid Loingsech
/ Moriath / Scoriath
REMARKS Cobhthach was holding a feast and the druids
were praising him for his generosity. He asked them if
they knew anyone more generous and Ferchertne mentioned
that when he went to visit Labraid during the winter,
Labraid had sacrificed his only cow for the occasion.
Cobhthach flew into a rage and drove Labraid out of
Ireland.
When Ferchertne accompanied Labraid to Aremorica, his
life was endangered when he refused to reveal to the
chieftain Scoriath which male had slept with the
chieftain's daughter Moriath, because he knew it was his
master.
Ferchertne said people would not think highly of a
chieftain who killed his own people but Scoriath threatened
to take off his head if he did not tell who it was. Labraid
had Craiphtine the harpist tell the story for him.
NAME Ferchu Longsech
EPITHET The Exile
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Connacht
SITES Ath Aladh / Cenn-aitt Ferchon / Cinnit Ferchon
Longsig
CENTERS Loch Ce
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid (died)
ACCESSORIES 12 warriors
ENEMIES Ailill / Cu Chulainn / Medbh
SEE ALSO Ailill / Cu Chulainn / Medbh
REMARKS Ferchu Longsech and his warriors were exiled
from their home at Loch Ce in Connacht by Ailill and Medbh
at the time that they began to rule the province. Since
that time Ferchu plundered and raided them continuously.
When he heard that a single warrior was holding the host at
bay, he had an idea that he might have his lands restored
to him if he and his warriors were to kill Cu Chulainn for
Medbh and Ailill.
He and his warriors sped to Ath Aladh (speckled ford)
and attacked Cu Chulainn in mass. They also died in mass
except Ferchu, who was saved to the last but was finally
beheaded.
Cu Chulainn erected 13 standing stones for Ferchu and
his warriors. Ferchu Longsech's stone was called Cinnit
Ferchon and the site was called Cenn-aitt Ferchon (The
Head-place of Ferchu). Cu Chulainn sacrificed their
weapons and trophies by their standing stones.
NAME Ferdiad mac Damain
EPITHET The Battle-rock of Destruction / The
Irresistible Force
ALTERNATIVE Fear Diadh {Fair-dee-ah} / Ferdia {Fer-dee-ah} /
Ferdiad macDaman
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior
TYPE chariot warrior / champion
CULTURE Fir Domnann tribe
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Mayo
TERRITORY Connacht - Irrus Domnann
LANDMARKS Dee River
SITES Ardee (Ath Ferdiad)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid (died)
ACCESSORIES horned skin armor / Falchion sword (falcata) /
belly stone / charioteer Id
RELATIVES Daman mac Dairi (father); Ferdet (brother); Mann
(uncle); Dare (grandfather)
ENEMIES Dolb / Indolb / Cu Chulainn
SEE ALSO Aife / Ailill macMata / Cu Chulainn / Dolb /
Emer / Id macRiangabra / Mann / Medbh / Scathach
/ Uathach
REMARKS Ferdiad was the son of Daman, a chieftain of the
Fir Domnann from the Irrus Domnann territory. Ferdiad had
curly blond hair and wore a silver torc around his neck. He
was a foster-brother of Cu Chulainn and the two were
understudies of the great female warriors Scathach, Uathach
and Aife.
Ferdiad rode with Connacht during the Cualnge Cattle
Raid and commanded a company of Fir Domnann warriors who
were described as noisy giants who enjoyed war and strong
ale. He and Cu Chulainn were warriors of equal powers and
feats. Cu Chulainn had the exceptional weapon the Gae
Bulga (Barbed Spear) that he had received from Scathach and
Ferdiad had his horned-skin armor that could stop any
weapon. Medbh and Ailill tried to persuade Ferdiad to
fight his foster-brother and friend Cu Chulainn but he
refused even to answer their messengers.
Medbh finally sent her druids, poets and lampoonists
to disgrace Ferdiad with blistering speeches. They seduced
him in the usual way by offering him drink, the hand of
Finnabair and a promise of riches and land. Medbh lied to
Ferdiad, saying that Cu Chulainn had stated that he would
not mind at all if Ferdiad fell by his choicest feat.
Ferdiad did not believe her but made the mistake of
speaking before he thought. He blurted out that if what Cu
Chulainn had said was true then he would gladly fight him.
As he said this before many people, Ferghus went to warn
Cu Chulainn that Medbh was up to her old tricks and that he
and Ferdiad might have to fight.
Laeg suggested to Cu Chulainn that since Ferdiad would
be in his best fighting clothing with his hair cleaned and
his body washed, Cu Chulainn should go to his wife Emer who
was waiting at Sliab Fuait in the Meadow of the Two Oxen
(Cairthenn Cluana-Da-Dam) so that she might clean and dress
him properly for the battle. Cu Chulainn thought that was
a good idea and went to his wife Emer and stayed the night.
There was not much joy in the camp of Ferdiad when he
told of the deal he had made with Medbh: he could fight Cu
Chulainn or 6 Connacht warriors. He slept well for the
first part of the night but then awoke eager for combat and
the riches that would come with winning. He rode to the
ford and waited for Cu Chulainn.
Ferdiad's charioteer, Id, described Cu Chulainn's
oncoming chariot as being 5-pointed, wider at the top than
at the bottom. It was made of white crystal with stout
plates of copper, bronze shafts and wheel bands of bronze
covered with silver. The yoke and bridles were gold and
the pole was enamelled with tin. The two steeds were the
Gray of Macha and the Black of Sithleann and caused the
earth to tremble beneath their feet.
Cu Chulainn wore his purple cloak and held his flaming
red spear in his hand. He wore his hair in 3 colors: brown
at the roots, red in the centre and golden at the tips. He
had his hair in 3 coils: one down his back and one over
each shoulder. He had 7 toes on each foot, 7 fingers on
each hand, and his eyes glowed with fire.
His charioteer Laeg had his black hair shaved from his
head. He wore a gray cloak held by a silver fibula and a
cowl over his head. He carried a silver goad in one hand
and a golden horse-whip in the other. Laeg stopped the
chariot on the north side of the ford.
Ferdiad, who was on the south side, welcomed Cu
Chulainn's arrival. Cu Chulainn reminded him that it was
he who should be welcoming Ferdiad because he and the Host
of Connacht were trespassing on his land and it was his
women, children, horses and cattle that were fleeing.
Ferdiad asked Cu Chulainn what had brought him out to do
battle with him, reminding him that when they were being
taught by Scathach, Uathach and Aife, Cu Chulainn had been
the inferior warrior. Ferdiad also reminded Cu Chulainn
that he had served him by burnishing his sword and making
his bed. Cu Chulainn told Ferdiad that this was a
different day and that he would defend his land against
anyone. As they prepared for combat, Cu Chulainn said that
it was a pity he had abandoned their friendship for a woman
who had been promised to 50 other warriors who were now
dead.
Cu Chulainn gave Ferdiad the choice of weapons for the
first day. They fought a great battle that day and at
night they shared the same fire and the healers of the
Danann looked to both of their wounds. Cu Chulainn had the
choice of weapons on the second day and he chose chariots,
broad shields and lances. They fought throughout the day
then shared the same fire that night. Ferdiad had choice
of weapons for the third day and he chose long shields and
heavy swords. When the day's fighting ended, they slept by
separate fires.
Ferdiad rose early on the morning of the fourth day
and knew that this would be the decisive battle. He wore
his leather kilts over silk trousers with speckled gold
trim. He suspected that Cu Chulainn might use his Gae
Bulga so he attached his impregnable belly stone he had
brought back from Africa. Then over everything he wore his
high-quality iron kilt that was made of pure twice-melted
iron. He wore his leaf-shaped belt and a golden fibula. On
his head he set his crested war helmet decorated with 40
carbuncles, rubies, crystal, red enamel and shining stones
from the eastern world. Ferdiad carried a spear in his
right hand and on his left side he wore a single-edged
falcata, a much-feared weapon, that had a golden pommel and
red-gold hilt. He hung on his shoulder his massive gold-
rimmed buffalo shield with its 50 gold knobs around the
circumference and a huge red-gold knob in the middle.
Ferdiad then performed brilliant feats he had developed
himself or learned in his travels.
Cu Chulainn saw Ferdiad practicing his grand feats and
asked his charioteer to taunt him if he started losing, so
that he would become more fierce. On this fourth day of
battle, the choice of weapons fell to Cu Chulainn and he
chose the Feat of the Ford. It was with this feat that Cu
Chulainn had killed the most warriors in combat. Ferdiad
feared Cu Chulainn's intention was to use his dreaded Gae
Bulga, which was a water weapon thrown with the foot.
During the combat Cu Chulainn tried to stand on
Ferdiad's shield 3 times and 3 times he was flung off. Each
time, Laeg made fun of Cu Chulainn's failure and this sent
him into a frenzy. Ferdiad wounded Cu Chulainn and Dolb
and Indolb of the Danann, under a cloak of invisibility,
began to help Cu Chulainn. Cu Chulainn's two invisible
helpers caused a number of wounds to Ferdiad. Ferdiad
realized they were there and the unfairness of their
involvement sent Ferdiad into a fury and he killed Dolb who
stood on Cu Chulainn's right. Ferdiad was wounded twice
more and this time he attacked to Cu Chulainn's left and
killed Indolb. By this time he was so wild he gave Cu
Chulainn two blows to every one of his. Cu Chulainn's
charioteer Laeg began to jeer his master because he was
failing. Cu Chulainn became a dragon of combat and called
for his Gae Bulga. The Gae Bulga or belly spear made one
hole on entry, then opened, making another 24 or 30.
Laeg came to the stream to set the Gae Bulga into the
water but his brother Id attacked him. 3 times Laeg tried
to set the belly spear into the river and 3 times Id
spoiled his attempts. Ferdiad was winning the combat and
Cu Chulainn was starting to panic, so Laeg threw his
brother to the ground and bound him. then he sent the Gae
Bulga downstream to Cu Chulainn. Ferdiad saw the spear
coming and tried to protect himself by lowering his shield.
Cu Chulainn grabbed the spear with his foot and thrust it
with all his might under Ferdiad's shield, piercing the
iron kilt, shattering the belly stone into 3 segments then
entering Ferdiad's stomach and spreading throughout his
body.
As Ferdiad was dying, he accused Cu Chulainn of an
unfair fight. Cu Chulainn took him into his arms and
carried him to the north side of the ford so that he would
die advancing and not in retreat. Cu Chulainn sung
Ferdiad's lament, then Laeg cut the Gae Bulga from
Ferdiad's body. When Laeg had stripped Ferdiad of his body
armor, Cu Chulainn went to be healed by his physicians.
Ferdiad's body was then taken by his people who dug
his grave and held his funeral games. The ford where he
met his death was called Ath Firdead (Ferdiad's Ford),
present-day Ardee.
NAME Fergal Flaithemda
ALTERNATIVE Fergal mac Maile Duin
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE high chieftain
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
SITES Raith Almu (Fort of Almain)
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Ui Néill
DATES %AD 7th-8th c / AD 694-704 (Ard Righ - Kings
List) %
BATTLES Almu
RELATIVES Maelduin (father); Niall Frossach and Aed Allan
(sons)
ENEMIES Leinster / Murchad
SEE ALSO Maelduin
REMARKS Fergal mac Maile Duin became the high chieftain
of Ireland after the death of Congal Cind Magair. He
maintained the position for 10 years until he died trying
to collect the Boramha Tribute (cattle counting) against
the province of Leinster. He was killed by Murchad son of
Bron during an attack on the Raith Almu in Leinster.
His enemies treated his head with great reverence,
putting it on a head pole only after washing it and combing
his hair. During the feast that followed the victory, the
head of the youth Donn Bo, also on a pole, began to sing
praises of Fergal's deeds in battle.
Fergal left behind a son, Aed Allan, who ruled as high
chieftain for 9 years until he was killed by Bran Bec, son
of Muiredach during the battle of Sered Mag.
Another son, Niall Frossach (Niall the showery) was
named for the 3 showers during his birth: a shower of
silver, of wheat and of blood. He reigned as high
chieftain of Ireland for 7 years until he died during a
pilgrimage.
NAME Ferghus mac Roig
EPITHET Superior Choice / The Great Horse
ALTERNATIVE Feargus / Fearghus / Fergus (virility) / Fergus
mac Rossa / Roech / Roi / Roich / Roth / Roy
GENDER M
SYMBOL club of oak / bull / bird
CATEGORY hero / warrior / Ri Ruirech / warleader
TYPE fertility / chariot warrior / supernatural giant
/ champion of the Gamhanrhide (Connacht Military
Elite)
CULTURE Goidel - Dal nAraide / Danann / Pictish
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh / Roscommon
TERRITORY Ulster exile / cause of Connacht
CENTERS Emain Macha (Navan) / Raith Cruachan
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid / Gairech & Irgairech
ACCESSORIES supernatural sword named Caladcholg The Hard
Striker / enormous chariot
RELATIVES Ross (father); Maga (mother); Sualtaim
(brother); Fachtna, Bacc, Genonn and Imrinn
(half-brothers); Dechtire, Elbha and Findchaem
(half-sisters); Ness (1st wife); Conchobar
(step-son); Illann, Buinne and Fiacha (sons); Cu
Chulainn (nephew/foster-son); Naoise, Ainle,
Ardan and Conall Cernacht (nephews); Flidais
(2nd wife); Medbh (consort); Fergus mac Leti
(foster-brother); Rudraige (grandfather); Ir and
Anghus (ancestors)
ENEMIES Conchobar mac Nessa / Ailill macMata
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Anghus / Buinne / Cliodna /
Conall Cernacht / Conchobar mac Nessa / Cormac
Condloinges / Cu Chulainn / Dechtire / Deirdre /
Elbha / Fachtna Fathach / Fergus mac Leti
/
Ferloga / Fiacha / Findchaem /
Flidhais / Genonn
Gruadsolus / Illann Illarchless / Imrinn / Ir /
Macha / Maga / Magach of Connacht / Medbh /
Naoise / Ness / Sualtaim / Ross the Red /
Rudraige / Tuag / Usna
REMARKS Ferghus was the chieftain of Tola, a territory
in Ulster that streached from Traig Baile to Traig. When
Fachtna died, Ferghus asked his widow Ness if she would
marry him. She said she would agree only if Ferghus would
allow her son Conchobar to rule for a year and a day when
he came of age. Ferghus agreed to this and he and Ness
were married.
When Conchobar came of age he became the chieftain of
the territory and under the guidance of his mother won the
approval of his people as a leader. Conchobar then refused
to allow Ferghus to retake the position as chieftain and
Ferghus served Conchobar until he was manipulated by him to
extract vengeance on Deirdre and Naoise.
Ferghus had been sent to protect Deirdre, Naoise and
his brothers who had agreed to return to Ulster from
Scotland. Unknown to Ferghus, Conchobar had arranged for
him to be invited to a feast and it was a geis for Ferghus
to refuse. He left his sons Fiacha, Illann and Buinne in
charge of the warriors protecting Deirdre and the sons of
Usna. When Ferghus finally arrived at Emain Macha he found
that Conchobar had attacked the party while they had
immunity in the Red Branch hostel. Ferghus's son Fiacha
had been killed and Buinne had disgraced him by accepting a
bribe to run away. Naoise and his brothers were killed and
Deirdre had been taken prisoner.
Ferghus felt Ulster had been disgraced by Conchobar's
treachery, so he gathered an army of 3000 Ulster warriors
who also felt dishonored by Conchobar's actions. They laid
waste to Emain Macha and slaughtered 300 of Conchobar's
champions. Ferghus was a highly experienced warrior,
having fought the Carthaginians in Africa while in the
service of Esorb, a chieftain from the Iberian Peninsula.
Ailill and Medbh offered Ferghus the position of
champion of the Gamhanrhide (Connacht Military Elite).
Ferghus accepted the position and he and his warriors
continued a guerrilla war against Ulster for 17 years,
making sure that every night someone in Ulster felt their
anger.
Ferghus was described as having bushy golden-brown
hair and a beard that was forked and curly. It was said
that he ate 7 times as much as an ordinary man and that he
had the strength of 700 warriors. His nose, mouth, and
penis were 7 fingers in length and his scrotum was as big
as a sack of flour. He needed no less than seven women to
satisfy him when separated from his wife Flidais.
At the beginning of the march of the Tain Bo Cualnge,
Ferghus was in charge of the Ulster exiles and the warriors
of Munster and Leinster. He wore a purple mantle fringed
with gold over a bullhide cloak clasped with a gold fibula.
Under the cloak he wore a shiny shirt of mail with red-gold
designs and a helmet with a bird on the top. He carried a
gray-shafted lance with a red perforated head and a 3-
pronged spear with a broad head and a metal band running
the full length of the shaft. On his shoulder he carried a
curved plated shield with an engraved silver-bronze rim and
an ornamented red-gold boss. Ferghus directed the fight
against Ulster and set up his tent on the right side of
Ailill's. Only once did Ferghus have to use his oak club
to control his warriors and that was when they were
fighting amongst themselves.
Ferghus was one of the foster-fathers of Cu Chulainn,
teaching him the art of combat. He and Cu Chulainn pledged
never to fight each other. Ferghus considered Conchobar
and his supporters to be the enemy, and he was in no hurry
to have his army of warriors attack his foster Cu Chulainn,
so he led them in a roundabout way to give Ulster time to
defend itself. The warriors of Ulster were suffering the
pains inflicted on them by Macha but Cu Chulainn was not
affected, so he was defending the borders.
Ferghus deciphered the ogham that Cu Chulainn had left
at the pillarstone of Ard Cuillenn. When he went to parley
with Cu Chulainn, he was offered salmon, goose and
watercress to eat and water to drink. These were the terms
that were worked out: Connacht would send one warrior to
fight Cu Chulainn and when he killed that warrior they
could then send another or they could camp until sunrise.
They could only move forward if Cu Chulainn failed to win.
Cu Chulainn was not to be held responsible for the cost of
doctoring any of the fallen warriors but Connacht would be
responsible for feeding and clothing Cu Chulainn, and for
supplying physicians to look to his wounds. No cattle were
to be stolen by day or night while he was holding them off.
Any of the noble women who wished to be with him should be
brought forward with their purchase and bride price
supplied.
When Cu Chulainn drove the 4-pronged tree-branch into
the riverbed where he placed 4 heads of his victims,
Ferghus smashed 17 chariots trying to pull the tree-fork
out of the creek. Finally he called for his own massive
chariot which succeeded at the task.
Throughout the cattle raid, Medbh was constantly
bantering Ferghus to fight Cu Chulainn, and when the time
came that no one else would volunteer to fight him, Ferghus
went to parley with his foster-son. Ferghus convinced Cu
Chulainn to flee before him when he came to do combat. In
the near future, Ferghus prophesied, Cu Chulainn would be
covered in wounds and gore and he, Ferghus, would run from
him taking the Host of Connacht with him. Cu Chulainn did
not like the idea of running from anyone but he also knew
better than to argue with his foster-father whom he loved
and trusted. When the time came and Ferghus left the camp
to fight Cu Chulainn, the Host of Connacht saw Cu Chulainn
fly before him and they were satisfied.
When the battle of Gairech had commenced, Ulster
rolled forward 3 wooden war towers called Badbh's Hurdles.
The towers were 2 cubits high and rolled on 3 spiked
wheels. Each tower was hauled by 30 charger horses that
were hitched four abreast. The towers contained 30
heavily-armed battalions of warriors carrying large shields
and heavy spears.
Each tower had a flock of birds (pennants) flying over
it. The first tower had red birds, the second had white
and the third had black. Luckily, Ferghus had seen war
towers while fighting against the Carthaginians in Spain.
He had his warriors dig pits and cover them over with
camouflage. When the towers rolled over the pits, the
wheel fell in and the towers keeled over, spilling out
their contents.
During the battle, Medbh reminded Ferghus that he had
Conchobar to thank for losing his inheritance and land.
Ferghus swore an oath that if he had his supernatural sword
Caladcholg (the Hard Striker) he would slash, maim and
slaughter. Ferloga, Ailill's charioteer, was sent to
retrieve the sword which he had hidden away in the
floorboards of Ailill's chariot. He took his sword in both
hands and joined the fray. Ailill and his warriors joined,
then Medbh and her warriors, the 7 Manes and their warriors
and the sons of Magach and their warriors all went into the
battle with such fervor that Conchobar had to change his
position to see what had happened.
Conchobar saw Ferghus and charged him. Ferghus went
into a mighty battle rage and gave 3 blows on Conchobar's
supernatural shield Ochain (Fair-ear). The shield cried
out and the 3 chief waves of Erin gave answer. These were
the Wave of Cliodna, the Wave of Rudraidhe and the Wave of
Tuag. Ferghus's riastartha made him wilder and he was
about to strike his 3 fatal blows when Conchobar's son,
Cormac Condloinges the exile, intervened and asked him not
to. Ferghus had to strike something or he himself would
die. Conchobar hastily retreated to the other side of the
battle and Ferghus killed 100 warriors with the first slash
of his sword. Then Cormac suggested that Ferghus slash
sideways and smite the mountains. This he did and with a
mighty blow he created the 3 Maels (Balds) of Meath.
Cu Chulainn reminded his foster-father of their pact
and Ferghus withdrew, taking with him the exiles of Ulster.
The warriors of Munster and the severely-efficent battle-
line soldiers of Leinster also followed his command.
After the Cualnge Cattle Raid was over, Ferghus
recorded the battle on ogham sticks. These were eventually
stolen and taken to Italy. Ailill, who was always jealous
of Ferghus's relationship with Medbh, killed him with a
spear while he was swimming in a lake with Medbh.
NAME Fergna
ALTERNATIVE Fergnae
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain / hosteller
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel - Dal nAraide / Danann / Pictish
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster
SITES Temair Luachra / Mound of Slane in Mide
CENTERS Coronn in Burach
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Temuir Luachra / Cualnge Cattle Raid / Gairech &
Irgairech
RELATIVES Findchaem (mother); Amorgen (father); Mess Ded
(brother); Conall (half-brother); Iliach
(uncle); Cu Chulainn (cousin)
ENEMIES Host of Connacht
SEE ALSO Amorgen / Conall Cernacht / Cu Chulainn /
Ferghus / Findchaem / Iliach / MacRoth
REMARKS Fergna was a chieftain hosteller from Coronn in
Burach, Ulster and accompanied Cu Chulainn on the drunken
ride to Temair Luachra. He chided his cousin Cu Chulainn
about leaving Munster without making contact.
During the Cualnge Cattle Raid when he arrived at the
Mound of Slane in Mide, he was described by MacRoth as a
large sallow-faced man with a long jaw. He was black-
haired and wore a white linen shirt covered by a cloak of
curly red wool held by a silver fibula. He carried a gory
red shield with a golden boss and a gray, broad interwoven
spearhead with a shaft of ash wood. He also had a spear
with a golden shaft and a sharp-cornered head, and on his
left side he carried a sword with a hilt of silver. Ferghus
described him as the man of 3 shouts, 3 paths and 3
triumphs.
NAME Fergne
GENDER M
CATEGORY filidh
TYPE seer
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
SEE ALSO Anghus / Boann / Daghda
REMARKS Fergne the seer divined the reason for the
wasting sickness that was afflicting Anghus. He sent for
Boann to help Anghus find the girl and when she failed to
locate her, he sent for Daghda.
NAME Fergus Dubdetach
EPITHET Black Tooth (Dubh Fiacal)
ALTERNATIVE Feargus / Fearghus / Ferghus
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c / AD 200-201 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
BATTLES Crinna
RELATIVES Fergus Longhair and Fergus Fiery (brothers)
SEE ALSO Cormac macAirt / Lugaidh mac Conn
REMARKS After Cormac macAirt dethroned Lugaidh mac Conn,
Fergus Dubdetach seized the seat of the high chieftain of
Ireland. He ruled for a year until he was slain during the
battle of Cinna by Lugaidh mac Conn for Cormac macAirt.
NAME Fergus Finnbheoil
EPITHET Of the Pointed Word
ALTERNATIVE Feargus / Fearghus / Ferghus / Finnbheoil
(Fairmouth / Truelips)
GENDER M
CATEGORY filidh
TYPE poet / prophet / ambassador
CULTURE Danann / Goidel / Pictish / Fomorii / Fianna
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY Leinster
LANDMARKS Hill of Howth
SITES Allen Hill / Dun Kincorry
CENTERS Raith Almu (Fort of Almain)
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
ACCESSORIES sword of knowledge
RELATIVES Fionn (father); Samhair and Cebha (half-
sisters); Aedh, Ailbhinn, Cairell, Daire, Oisin
and Raighne (half-brothers)
SEE ALSO Ailbhinn / Cairell / Cebha / Daire / Fionn mac
Cumhaill / Goll mac Morna / Manus / Oisin /
Samhair
REMARKS Fergus was a son of Fionn who became a filidh of
the Fianna. He was involved in many of their adventures
and was once rescued by Goll mac Morna from a enchanted
cave where he was being kept prisoner.
He was the negotiator for the Fianna when Manus, a
chieftain of the Red Shields, arrived at Dun Kincorry near
the Hill of Howth. When negotiations failed to get Manus
what he wanted, he attacked the Fianna but was beaten and
tied in the 3 smalls (the smalls of his hands and the small
of his back). He was released after making peace with
Fionn and the Fianna.
After Fergus watched the warriors of the Fianna fight
throughout the night, he and his colleagues quietened the
warriors by chanting. By the end of the brawl there were
1100 dead male and female warriors of the Clanna Ui Tarsigh
and 11 dead male and 50 dead female warriors from the
Clanna Morna.
NAME Fergus Lethderg
EPITHET Half Red / Red Side
ALTERNATIVE Feargus / Fearghus / Ferghus
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Beltainn (Brilliant Fires) / Samhain (Night of
the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior / 2nd Ri Ruirech
TYPE champion / head chieftain
CULTURE Nemedian tribe
COUNTRY Turkey / Ireland / England
REGION Asia Minor
TERRITORY Phrygia / Munster / Connacht / Ulster / Leinster
/ Moin Conain
LANDMARKS Plateau of Phrygia / Black Sea / Cork Harbour /
Tory Island (island of towers)
SITE Great Island / Conann's Tower (Tuir Chonaind)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 19th-18th c
BATTLES Ros Fraechain / Murbolg / Cnamros / Magh Ceitne
RELATIVES Nemhedh (father); Eva (wife); Britan (son);
Starn, Iarbonel and Anind (brothers); Magog
(ancestor)
ENEMIES Fomorii / Conann
SEE ALSO Anind / Beoan / Beothach / Britan Mael / Conann
mac Faeboir / Erglan / Iarbonel / Magog / Morc
mac Deiled / Nemhedh / Semeon / Semul / Starn
REMARKS Fergus was one of the 5 chieftains of the
Nemedian who led their followers from Phrygia on the Black
Sea of Turkey to Ireland where they landed at Great Island
in Cork Harbour on the eve of a Beltainn.
Fergus led his warriors to victory in the 3 battles of
Ros Fraechain (Badbgna) in old Connacht, Murbolg in old
Ulster and Cnamros (Camross) old Leinster. After the death
of his father, Fergus was elected head chieftain.
Because of the devastating effects of the battle of
Cnamros and a plague on the Nemedian they were forced into
servitude by the Fomorii. The Fomorian Conann demanded an
annual tribute of 2/3 of their harvest, milk, calves and
newborn children to be delivered to Magh Ceitne on Tory
Island every Samhain.
Fergus and his chieftains, Semul son of Iarbonel son
of Nemhedh and Erglan son of Beoan son of Starn son of
Nemhedh, decided to attack the Fomorians rather than to
continue to pay the tax. Fergus led the attack against
Tuir Chonaind (Conann's Tower), the Fomorian stronghold on
Tor Innis (Tory Island).
The 3 Nemedian champions led 30,000 landtroops and
30,000 warriors on the sea. Fergus killed Conann, the
Fomorii chieftain who was responsible for the death of his
two brothers Starn and Iarbonel and his nephew Beoan. His
warriors were victorious and captured the island.
The victory was short-lived when a Fomorii fleet of
3x20 ships arrived under the leadership of Morc mac Deiled.
A fierce battle took place with a mutual slaughter on both
sides. In the end only one ship with 30 Nemedian warriors
returned to Ireland.
After the battle of Magh Ceitne, Fergus divided
Ireland into 3 provinces with Britan Mael, Semeon and
Beothach as their 3 chieftains. In time Fergus and his son
Britan Mael left Ireland and led their people to England
where they settled in Moin Conain. Their descendants most
likely became known as the Fir Domnann of Devon.
NAME Fergus mac Leti
ALTERNATIVE Fearghus mac Leide / Fearghus mac Leite /
Ferghus mac Lete / mac Leda
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ri Ruirech
TYPE chariot warrior / head chieftain
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Down
TERRITORY Ulster
SITES Loch Ruaraidh (Lake Rury)
CENTERS Dun Rury (Dundrum castle)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid / Gairech & Irgairech
ACCESSORIES sword (Leochain) / watershoes
RELATIVES Leite (father); Loth mac Fergusa maic Leti
(son); Ferghus mac Roig (foster-brother); Bebo
(consort)
ENEMIES Host of Connacht
SEE ALSO Bebo / Eisirt / Eterscel / Ferghus mac Roig /
Iubdan / Loth mac Fergusa maic Leti
REMARKS Fergus mac Leti was the head chieftain of Ulster
when Eterscel became the high chieftain of Ireland in BC
113. While Fergus was head chieftain he was visited by
some people from the Faylinn and had an affair with an
elfin named Bebo after she and her husband Iubdan were
captured. Iubdan was a foolish chieftain who had arrived
at Fergus's raith on a dare from Eisirt, his court poet,
who had also visited Dun Rury.
Fergus was given supernatural shoes that allowed him
to travel over or under water. He used the shoes
considerably until one day while diving in Lake Rury he had
an encounter with Muirdris (river horse). The terror of
that meeting disfigured his face so badly that he had to
step down as the head chieftain.
During the Cualnge Cattle Raid, Fergus was described as
a man with enormous limbs, a heavily-scarred round face and
one proud eye. He carried a supernatural hacking sword
called Leochain and commanded a troop of youths with black
hair and black eyes who travelled under a red flaming
banner.
Eventually Fergus went back to the lake to kill the
monster. He donned his water shoes, took his sword and
dove into Lake Rury. He fought the water horse for a day
and a night, causing the lake to redden with their blood.
The next morning brought a blood-red sunrise and Fergus
surfaced from the lake holding the head of the Muirdris,
the terrible disfigurement gone from his face. He threw
the head of the monster onto the shore as a trophy for his
people, then he sank beneath the waves to be seen no more.
NAME Fergus macEirc
EPITHET The Great (Mor)
ALTERNATIVE Feargus mar mac Earca / Earghus / Ferghus
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ri Ruirech
TYPE head chieftain
CULTURE Goidel - Dal Riada / Danann / Pictish / Scotti
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland / England
REGION Argyll (Airer Ghaidheal)
TERRITORY Albainn
LANDMARKS Crinan Isthmus
CENTERS Dunadd
AGE Ui Néill
DATES AD 5th c / AD 470
RELATIVES Earc (mother); Muiredach (father); Domangart
(son); Comgall and Gabran (grandsons); Loarn,
Angus and Muirchertach (brothers); Eremon, Tea
and Cairbre Riada (ancestors)
ENEMIES Pictish - Caledonians
SEE ALSO Angus macEirc / Cairbre Riada / Domangart
/
Eremon / Golamh / Loarn macEirc / Muirchertach
/ Muiredach / Tea
REMARKS Fergus, son of Muiredach, son of Eogan, son of
Niall Noighiallach was a descendant of Eremon and Tea of
the Milesian (Goidel) invaders to Ireland.
Fergus and his two brothers Loarn and Angus gathered
their followers together and sailed to present-day Scotland
looking for new territory to settle. They landed in
Argyll, drove out the Picts and founded a sea colony on the
Crinan Isthmus with Dunadd as their center.
Fergus wanted to be made head chieftain properly and
asked his brother Muirchertach to send the Lia Fail (Stone
of Destiny). When the ceremony was over he refused to send
it back to Ireland. His son was appointed head chieftain
after him and joined the Dal Riada colonies together.
NAME Ferloga
ALTERNATIVE Fer Loga / Fer Logs
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / charioteer
TYPE driver for Ailill (Ri Ruirech)
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Rosscommon
TERRITORY Connacht
LANDMARKS Magh nAilbi
SITES Hostel (Bruidhean) / Farbill
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Mac Da Tho's / Cualnge Cattle Raid / Gairech &
Irgairech
ACCESSORIES 2 horses / golden bridles
ENEMIES Cualnge / Pictland / Ulster
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Conchobar / Ferghus mac Roig /
Mac Da Tho / Medbh
REMARKS During the feast at Mac Da Tho's, the hound
Ailbe sided with Ulster and chased after the warriors of
Connacht. Ferloga hit the dog with his chariot and speared
it with the shaft, impaling its head. The place was called
Magh nAilbi and the head stayed on until Farbill where it
fell off.
The Ulster warriors were gaining on those of Connacht,
so Ferloga jumped off Ailill's chariot and hid in the
heather until Conchobar rode by. He sprang into
Conchobar's chariot, put a knife to his throat and made two
demands: to be taken to Emain Macha and to have the women
and maidens call him their darling. A year later, Ferloga
left Ulster for home with a pair of horses wearing golden
bridles.
Ferloga was the charioteer for Ailill macMata, the
head chieftain of Connacht. During the Cualnge Cattle
Raid, Ferloga crept up on Ferghus and Medbh while they were
having a tryst and relieved Ferghus of his sword
Caladcholg. Ailill gave Ferloga instructions to hide the
sword beneath the floor boards, and it was not until the
battle of Gairech that Ailill gave it back to Ferghus.
NAME Fertedil
GENDER M
CATEGORY charioteer
TYPE driver for Orlam
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Connacht
SITES Orlam's gravestone / Ard Ciannacht
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid
ENEMIES Cu Chulainn / Cualnge / Pictland / Ulster
SEE ALSO Ailill mac Mata / Cu Chulainn / Medbh / Orlam
REMARKS Fertedil was at work fixing Orlam's chariot when
Chulainn came along and offered to help him fix it. When
Fertedil asked him his name, Cu Chulainn asked him where
his master was, and that he should warn him Cu Chulainn was
going to challenge him to single combat.
Fertedil raced to Orlam to warn him but Cu Chulainn
reached him first, challenged him and slew him. Fertedil
was then ordered by Cu Chulainn to carry Orlam's head on
his back to the camp of the Host of Connacht. The burial
place was called Orlam's gravestone.
The next day Fertedil was between Medbh and Ailill
when Cu Chulainn shot a stone from his sling and cracked
his skull causing his brains to fall out.
NAME Fiacail mac Conchinn
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE battle-line / champion
CULTURE Fianna - Clanna Baoisgne {Bascna}
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Munster
SITES Sidhe Breg Ele
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
ACCESSORIES supernatural spear
SEE ALSO Cumhal / Fionn mac Cumhaill
REMARKS Fiacail was a warrior who had served under
Cumhal of the Fianna - Clanna Baoisgne. One day Fiacail
set out to run to a meeting with the Fianna and Fionn, then
a young man, wanted to go with him. Because of Fiacail's
speed at running, he wore 12 lead balls around his neck to
slow himself down. As they ran along, he would
occasionally throw off one of the lead balls and when they
reached their destination they were all gone. Much to
Fiacail's surprise, Fionn arrived at the same time carrying
all 12 of the cast-off lead balls.
At the time, there was a beautiful maiden from Sidhe
Breg Ele who was being wooed by many of the males of
Ireland during Samhain when the sidhes were open to
mortals. Every Samhain the men wooing her were killed by a
mighty warrior of the Danann. Fionn asked the champion
Fiacail how he could stop this. Fiacail lent Fionn his
supernatural spear and advised the boy to sit between the
Paps of Anann on the eve of the next Samhain. Fionn did as
he was told and soon he saw the door to the two sidhes open
and heard the conversations of the people. Soon a man
appeared from one of the sidhes carrying a kneading board
and on it was a boar, a cooked calf and a bunch of garlic.
Fionn knew that this was the warrior doing the killing, so
he threw Fiacail's supernatural spear at him and killed
him.
NAME Fiacha
ALTERNATIVE Fiac / Fiacc / Fiachach / Fiachna / Fiachnae /
Fiachne / Fiachnu / Fiachra / Fiachu
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior
TYPE chariot warrior / Red Branch champion
CULTURE Goidel - Dal nAraide / Danann / Pictish
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster
SITES Red Branch hostel
CENTERS Emain Macha (Navan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Ferghus mac Roig (father); Ness (mother ?);
Illann and Buinne (brothers); Conchobar (half-
brother); Sualtaim (uncle)
ENEMIES Eogan mac Durthacht
SEE ALSO Buinne / Conchobar mac Nessa / Deirdre / Eogan
mac Durthacht / Ferghus mac Roig / Illann
Ilarchless / Naoise / Ness / Sualtaim macRoig /
Usna
REMARKS Fiacha and his brothers were left in charge of
protecting Deirdre and the sons of Usna when Ferghus was
tricked by Conchobar into attending a feast which he could
not refuse because of a geis.
The party arrived safely to the hostel of the Red
Branch (Bruidhean) but while they were there, Conchobar
hired Eogan mac Durthacht to kill Naoise. While the two
groups were parleying on the green of Emain Macha, Eogan
jabbed his spear into Naoise, breaking his back. Fiacha
threw himself onto Naoise to protect him but Eogan thrust
his spear through the two of them, killing both.
NAME Fiacha Cendfindan
ALTERNATIVE Fiac / Fiacc / Fiacha / Fiachach / Fiachna /
Fiachnae / Fiachne / Fiachnu / Fiachra / Fiachu
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / 6th Ri Ruirech
TYPE head chieftain
CULTURE Firbolg
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster
AGE Bronze
DATES BC
17th-16th c / BC 18th c / BC 1718-1713
(Kings
List)
RELATIVES Starn (father); Rudraige (grandfather); Dela
(great-grandfather); Magog and Semeon
(ancestors)
ENEMIES Sengann / Rinnal
SEE ALSO Dela / Magog / Rinnal / Rudraige / Semeon /
Sengann
REMARKS Fiacha Cendfindan, son of Starn, son of
Rudraige, son of Dela, took the position of 6th head
chieftain from Sengann by killing him. He then ruled the
Firbolg for a period of 5 years. During his rule all the
cattle of Ireland were white-headed. His rule ended when
he was killed by Rinnal.
NAME Fiacha Muilleathan
EPITHET of the Flat Head / Broad Crown
ALTERNATIVE Fiac / Fiacc / Fiachach / Fiachna / Fiachnae /
Fiachne / Fiachnu / Fiachra / Fiachu
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior / son of the Ri Ruirech
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Munster
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c / AD 250 ca.
RELATIVES Eogan (father)
REMARKS Fiacha's father Eogan, the head chieftain of
Munster, was on his way to the battle of Moy Muchruinne
when a druid asked him to sleep with his daughter because
he divined an auspicious result to the joining. The next
morning Eogan went off to battle and was killed.
When the druid's daughter's time was near, he told her
it would be better if the child was born on the following
day. Realizing the importance of the time of birth, she
straddled a boulder in the middle of a stream to stop the
birth. When she was helped off the boulder next day she
gave birth to a boy child with a flattened head, then she
died. The child grew to be a famous chieftain.
NAME Fiacha Sreabhtuinne
ALTERNATIVE Fiac / Fiacc / Fiachach / Fiachna / Fiachnae /
Fiachne / Fiachnu / Fiachra / Fiachu Sroiptine /
Sraibtine / Sraiphtene / Sreabhtuinne
{Srav-tinna} / Sroibtine / Sroiptine
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain
CULTURE Danann / Goidel / Pictish
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
SITES Dun Sreabhtainne
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd-4th c / BC 269-300 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
BATTLES Dubchomar {Dubh-Cumair}
ACCESSORIES Boramha Tribute (cattle counting)
RELATIVES Cairbre (father); Muiredach Tirech (son); Art
and Eochu Domplen (brothers); Sgeimh Solais
(sister); Colla Uais, Colla da Crich and Colla
Menn (nephews); Eremon and Tea (ancestors)
ENEMIES The 3 Collas
SEE ALSO Cairbre Lifechair / Colla Uais / Dubchommar /
Eremon / Muiredach Tirech / Sgeimh Solais / Tea
REMARKS Fiacha Sreabhtuinne was the son of Cairbre
Lifechair and a descendant of Eremon and Tea of the
Milesian (Goidel). He became the high chieftain of Ireland
when he hired the Clanna Baoisgne of the Fianna to kill
Fothaid Airgdech who had been high chieftain for a year
with Fothaid Cairptech. Fiacha continued the tax on
Leinster called the Boramha Tribute (cattle counting).
Fiacha had served as high chieftain for 31 years with
many battles in Leinster to secure the yearly tax. One day
he was south of Raith Tailtiu with his Host of warriors.
His nephews the 3 Collas were with him at the heads of
their troops and under his command. A messenger brought
the news that Fiacha's son Muiredach was victorious on his
campaign into Munster.
The good news was well-received among the warriors and
chieftains except by his nephews, who became apprehensive
that Muiredach's popularity would earn him the position as
high chieftain of Ireland after his father died. They
discussed this and decided to make war on their uncle and
kill him, win over the rest of the troops, then destroy
Muiredach.
Fiacha's druid Dubchommar prophesied that if he won
the battle against his nephews he would continue as high
chieftain of Ireland but his descendants would never rule.
On the other hand if he died in the battle his descendants
would rule Ireland forever. The druid could make sure they
would have victory but the choice was Fiacha's. Fiacha
decided to live forever by dying in battle.
NAME Fiachna
ALTERNATIVE Fiac / Fiacc / Fiacha / Fiachach / Fiachnae /
Fiachne / Fiachnu / Fiachra / Fiachu
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE chariot warrior / Red Branch champion
CULTURE Goidel - Dal nAraide / Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh / Roscommon
TERRITORY Ulster exile / cause of Connacht
SITES Cul Silinne
CENTERS Emain Macha (Navan) / Raith Cruachan
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid
RELATIVES Fedlimid Nocruthach (mother/half-sister);
Conchobar (father); Loeghaire Buadhach (step-
father); Carbre, Erc, Cu Chulainn, Findchad,
Naoise, Conall, Cormac, Cuscraid, Fiachu,
Fiachna, Follomain, Glas, Mane, Conaing,
Diarmait mac Conchobar, Beann, Furbude Fer Bend,
Fiachra (half-brothers)
ENEMIES Cualnge / Pictland / Ulster
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Beann / Conall Cernach / Cormac
Condloinges / Conchobar mac Nessa / Cu Chulainn
mac Conchobar / Cuscraid Menn / Diarmait / Erc
mac Cairbre / Fedlimid Nocruthach / Fiachna /
Fiachra / Fiachu / Findchad / Follomain /
Furbude Fer Bend / Glas / Ith / Loeghaire
Buadhach / Naoise
REMARKS Fiachna was a son of Fedlimid Nocruthach and
Loeghaire Buadhach. He was an important exiled Ulster
warrior who fought against Conchobar. At the beginning of
the Tain Bo Cualnge, when the Host of Connacht were camped
at Cul Silinne, Fiachna placed his tent in the fourth
position to the right of Ailill macMata, between Ith and
Conall.
NAME Fiachna
ALTERNATIVE Fiac / Fiacc / Fiacha / Fiachach / Fiachnae /
Fiachne / Fiachnu / Fiachra / Fiachu
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE battle-line / champion / dragon / thunderbolt /
boar / son of the Ri Ruirech
CULTURE Goidel - Dal nAraide / Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster
SITES Mound of Slane in Mide
CENTERS Emain Macha (Navan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid / Gairech & Irgairech
ACCESSORIES shield / spear / sword
RELATIVES Conchobar (father); Mughain (mother); Fiachu
(twin brother); Cormac and Cuscraid (brothers);
Fedlimid (sister); Cu Chulainn, Findchad,
Naoise, Conall, Follomain, Glas, Mane, Conaing,
Diarmait, Beann, Furbude, Fiachna, Fiachra
(half-brothers)
ENEMIES Host of Connacht
SEE ALSO Conall Cernacht / Conchobar / Cormac Condloinges
/ Cu Chulainn / Cuscraid Menn / Beann / Diarmait
mac Conchobar / Fedlimid Nocruthach / Fiachna /
Fiachra / Fiachu / Findchad / Follomain /
Furbude Fer Bend / Glas / Mughain / MacRoth /
Naoise
REMARKS When the clans and tribes were gathering at the
mound of Slane in Mide during preparation for the battle of
Gairech, MacRoth described Fiachna and his twin brother
Fiachu as two fair tender youths. Fiachna had curly brown
hair and wore a tunic of smooth yellow silk next to his
skin. Over the tunic he wore a green cloak held with a
bright silver fibula.
Fiachna carried a bright shield with figures of beasts
on it. He had a 5-pronged spear with veins of silver
winding around the shaft and a sword with a bright hilt
hanging from his belt. When the twins were marching, their
steps were always synchronized.
NAME Fiachna Finn
EPITHET The Fair
ALTERNATIVE Fiac / Fiacc / Fiacha / Fiachach / Fiachnae /
Fiachne / Fiachnu / Fiachra / Fiachu
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ri Ruirech
TYPE head chieftain
CULTURE Goidel - Dal nAraide tribe
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland
TERRITORY Ulster / Lough Neagh / The Otherworld -
Scandinavia (Lochlann)
AGE Ui Néill
DATES AD 6th c
BATTLES Lochlann
RELATIVES Mongan (step-son)
SEE ALSO Manannan / Mongan
REMARKS Fiachna Finn was the head chieftain of the Dal
nAraide tribe from the area of Lough Neagh in ancient
Ulster. He was visited by Manannan during a battle in
Lochlann. Manannan told him that if Fiachna gave him
permission to sleep with his wife, he would help Fiachna
win the battle and his wife would give birth to a son who
would be known as Mongan son of Fiachna Finn. Fiachna was
losing the battle and having a son in the family that was
sired by a god was good, so he agreed.
Manannan appeared to Fiacha's wife in the form of her
husband and spent the night with her. Later, when her
child was 3 nights old, Manannan came and took him to Tir
Tairnigiri (the Land of Promise) until he was 12, when he
was returned to his mother.
NAME Fiachna mac Retach
ALTERNATIVE Fiac / Fiacc / Fiacha / Fiachach / Fiachnae /
Fiachne / Fiachnu / Fiachra / Fiachu
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Tyrone
TERRITORY The Otherworld - Plain of Two Mists (Magh Da
Cheo)
SITES Bird Lake (Enloch)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Imchad (son); Der Greine (daughter); Laeghaire
mac Crimthann (son-in-law)
ENEMIES Goll mac Dolb
SEE ALSO Dolb / Laeghaire mac Crimthann
REMARKS Fiachna was a chieftain of The Otherworld whose
wife and daughter, Sun Tear, had been abducted and were
held by Goll mac Dolb, a chieftain of Magh Mell (Field of
Happiness). Fiachna went to the land of the mortals and at
Bird Lake he came across an assembly of warriors. Fiachna's
only chance of retrieving his loved ones was to offer gold
and silver for those who would fight for him.
Fiachna hired Laeghaire mac Crimthann and 50 warriors
to return with him to Magh Da Cheo (Plain of Two Mists) in
The Otherworld. During the battle that followed, Laeghaire
killed Goll and defeated his warriors. Fiachna was so
happy at having his wife and daughter back that he further
rewarded Laeghaire by offering him his daughter in
marriage.
NAME Fiachna macFerfebe
EPITHET The Generous Daring (Fialdana)
ALTERNATIVE Fiac / Fiacc / Fiacha mac Firaba / Fiachach
/
Fiachnae / Fiachne / Fiachnu /
Fiachra / Fiachu
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE chariot warrior / Red Branch champion
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh / Roscommon
TERRITORY Ulster exile / cause of Connacht
SITES Glenn Forchaine / Imroll Belaig Eoin (Misthrow
at Bird Pass) / Fuil Iairn (Blood of Iron)
CENTERS Emain Macha (Navan) / Raith Cruachan
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid
RELATIVES Fer Febe (father); Fiachu (brother)
ENEMIES Cualnge / Doche / Pictland / Ulster
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Calatin Dana / Cu Chulainn /
Doche macMagach / Dubthach Doel / Fiachu
macFerfebe / Mane Andoe / Medbh
REMARKS Fiachna's mother was a sister of Medbh and
during the Cualnge Cattle Raid he fought on the side of
Connacht. He was sent by Medbh to parley with Cu Chulainn
and ask him if he could be bought to serve Ailill and
Medbh. Cu Chulainn's reply was that he would not be a
traitor to his mother's brother.
Fiachna was also used to set up a meeting between Cu
Chulainn and Medbh and Ailill at Glenn Forchaine. Medbh
tried to buy Cu Chulainn with cows and women but he accused
them of stealing the cows and women of Ulster. The two
parties parted in anger and Cu Chulainn went back to using
his sling at night, killing warriors by the hundreds.
One day during the cattle raid, Fiachna was with
Dubthach when they met up with his cousin Mane Andoe and
Doche macMagach. Doche macMagach, who disliked Fiachna,
threw a spear at him but hit Dubthach. Fiachna threw a
spear at Doche mac Magach but hit his cousin Mane Andoe.
The place was named Imroll Belaig Eroin (The Mis-throw at
Bird Pass).
Medbh sent the Clanna Calatin as 1 person against Cu
Chulainn because they were all of the same blood. Fiachna
told Ferghus that he would go to watch the combat for him.
What he saw put him into a warrior's rage, and he jumped
from his chariot to rescue his foster-brother by cutting
off the hands of the 29 warriors of the Calatin Clan.
Fiachna said that if even one member of the Clan reached
the camp, they would turn on the exiles for his having
aided Cu Chulainn. Cu Chulainn killed all but the grandson
Glass who ran into the camp and yelled "Fiach" just before
Cu Chulainn cut off his head.
Glass had tried to say "Fiachna" but he only managed
to say "fiach" which means "debt" before he lost his head.
At that place, the warriors of Connacht raised 29 pillar
stones and called the site Fuil Iairn (Blood of Iron).
NAME Fiachra
ALTERNATIVE Fiac / Fiacc / Fiacha / Fiachach / Fiachna /
Fiachnae / Fiachne / Fiachnu / Fiachu
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior / Red Branch champion
CULTURE Goidel - Dal nAraide / Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster
SITES Red Branch hostel
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
ACCESSORIES Ochain (moaner)
RELATIVES Conchobar (father); Fedlimid Nocruthach (half-
sister); Cu Chulainn, Fiachna, Findchad, Naoise,
Conall, Cormac, Cuscraid Menn, Fiachu, Fiachna,
Follomain, Glas, Mane, Conaing, Diarmait, Beann,
Furbude (half-brothers)
ENEMIES sons of Usna / Conall / Fiacha
SEE ALSO Beann / Conchobar / Conall Cernacht / Cormac
Condloinges / Cu Chulainn / Cuscraid Menn /
Diarmait mac Conchobar / Fedlimid Nocruthach /
Ferghus mac Roig / Fiacha / Fiachna /
Fiachu /
Findchad / Follomain / Furbude Fer Bend / Glas /
Naoise / Usna
REMARKS Fiachra led the attack on the Red Branch hostel
against the sons of Usna. He was engaged in combat with
Fiacha, a son of Ferghus mac Roig, and was being beaten so
badly that his father's shield which he was using began to
moan loudly.
Conall Cernach was nearby and heard Conchobar's shield
Ochain. Conall attacked Fiacha until he was informed of
the treachery against Naoise, and then Conall turned on
Fiachra and slew him.
NAME Fiachu
ALTERNATIVE Fiac / Fiacc / Fiacha / Fiachach / Fiachna /
Fiachnae / Fiachne / Fiachnu / Fiachra
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / 7th Ri Ruirech
TYPE head chieftain
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
AGE Bronze Age
DATES BC 15th c / BC 16th c / BC 1556-1546 (Kings List)
RELATIVES Delbaeth (father); Ernmas (mother/consort);
Eire, Fodhla and Banbha (daughters/half-
sisters); Olloman and Indui (brothers); Macha,
Danu, Badbh and Elcmar (sisters); Brénos,
Iuchar, Iucharba, Glonn, Gnim, Coscar and Neto
(half-brothers); Corpre Crom (half-brother/
nephew); Fea and Nemhain (nieces); Ai (nephew);
Oghma and Etarlam (grandfathers); Magog,
Iarbonel, Ordan and Net (ancestors)
ENEMIES Eogan
SEE ALSO Ai mac Ollamain / Badbh / Banbha / Brénos / Danu
/ Delbaeth / Elcmar / Eire / Ernmas /
Esaire /
Fea / Fodhla / Iarbonel / Indui /
Macha / Magog
/ Nemhain / Net / Neto / Oghma / Olloman / Ordan
REMARKS Fiachu was the son of Delbaeth, son of Etain,
daughter of Diancecht, son of Esaire, daughter of Net, and
was also the son of Ernmas, daughter of Etarlam, son of
Ordan.
Fiachu revenged the death of his father and brother by
slaying Caicher son of Namadach. After the death of his
father, Fiachu ruled the Danann for 10 years before he and
his nephew Ai were killed by Eogan of Imbir Mor.
NAME Fiachu
ALTERNATIVE Fiac / Fiacc / Fiacha / Fiachach / Fiachna /
Fiachnae / Fiachne / Fiachnu / Fiachra
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE battle-line / champion / dragon / thunderbolt /
boar / son of the Ri Ruirech
CULTURE Goidel - Dal nAraide / Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster
SITES Mound of Slane in Mide
CENTERS Emain Macha (Navan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid / Gairech & Irgairech
ACCESSORIES shield / spear / sword
RELATIVES Conchobar (father); Mughain (mother); Fiachna
(twin brother); Cormac and Cuscraid (brothers);
Fedlimid (half-sister); Cu Chulainn, Findchad,
Naoise, Conall Cernacht, Follomain, Glas, Mane,
Conaing, Cormac, Cuscraid, Diarmait, Beann,
Furbude Fer Bend, Fiachna and Fiachra (half-
brothers)
ENEMIES Host of Connacht
SEE ALSO Beann / Conall Cernacht / Conchobar / Cormac
Condloinges / Cu Chulainn / Cuscraid Menn /
Diarmait mac Conchobar / Fedlimid Nocruthach /
Fiachra / Fiachna / Findchad / Follomain /
Furbude Fer Bend / Glas / Mughain / MacRoth /
Naoise
REMARKS During the arrival of the warriors loyal to
Ulster, MacRoth described Fiachu as a youth with curly
blond hair. He wore a tunic of smooth yellow silk next to
his skin and a green cloak held together with a bright
silver fibula.
Fiachu carried a bright shield decorated with figures
of beasts. He was armed with a 5-pronged spear which had
veins of silver winding around the shaft, and carried a
bright hilted sword on his belt. When he and his twin
brother marched, their steps were always synchronized.
NAME Fiachu Findoilches
ALTERNATIVE Fiac / Fiacc Findollcheis / Fiacha Cendindan /
Fiachach / Fiachna / Fiachnae / Fiachne /
Fiachnu / Fiachra / Fiachu Cendfinnan / Fiachu
Cennfinnan
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn and Albainn
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland / England
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 11th c / 1051-1021 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
RELATIVES Finachta (father); Fiacc (son); Geide Ollgothach
(grandfather); Ir (ancestor)
ENEMIES Geide Ollgothach / Berngal
SEE ALSO Fodhla / Ir
REMARKS Fiachu Findoilches, son of Finachta and
descendant of Ir of the Milesian (Goidel), became the high
chieftain of Ireland when he slew his grandfather Geide
Ollgothach.
During Fiachu's 30 year reign all the flowers (cattle)
of Ireland had white heads which he taxed (Cenannas). He
built the fortresses of Cul Sibrille. Fiachu was killed by
his uncle Berngal who then reigned as high chieftain of
Ireland and Albainn (Scotland/northern England) for 21
years until war became so abundant that the harvest of
grain failed and milk became scarce. He was killed by his
cousin Ailill, son of Slanoll.
NAME Fiachu Finnoilches
ALTERNATIVE Fiac / Fiacc Findollcheis / Fiacha / Fiachach /
Fiachna / Fiachnae / Fiachne / Fiachnu / Fiachra
/ Fiachu Finnolach (Finnalach/Finnfolaid)
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain
CULTURE Goidel / Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron (late)
DATES AD 1st c / AD 38-55 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
BATTLES Magh Bolg
RELATIVES Feradach Fechtnach (father); Eithne Imgel
(wife); Tuathal (son); Tuathal (brother);
Crimthann Nia Nair (grandfather); Eremon and Tea
(ancestors)
ENEMIES Elim
SEE ALSO Crimthann Nia Nair / Eithne Imgel / Elim /
Eremon / Feradach Fechtnach / Fiatach Finn /
Golamh / Tuathal Teachtmhair / Tea
REMARKS Fiachu Finnoilches was a son of Feradach
Fechtnach and a descendant of Eremon and Tea. He became
the high chieftain of Ireland when he killed Fiatach Finn.
Fiachu ruled Ireland for 15 years till he was killed by
Elim, son of Conrai, of the Firbolg at the battle of Magh
Bolg.
Fiachu's wife Eithne escaped the battle and bore her
son, Tuathal, in the safety of Albainn (Scotland/northern
England).
NAME Fiachu Labrainne
ALTERNATIVE Fiac / Fiacc / Fiacha / Fiachach / Fiachna /
Fiachnae / Fiachne / Fiachnu / Fiachra
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 14th-13th c / BC 1301-1277 (Ard Righ –
Kings
List)
BATTLES Carman / The Swamp / Sliabh Femen / Murdrucht /
Sliabh Belgatain (died)
RELATIVES Smirgoll (father); Oengus Olmucaid (son); Eremon
and Tea (ancestors)
ENEMIES Eochu Faebuir / Eochu Mumu
SEE ALSO Conmael / Eber / Eochu Mumu / Eremon / Iriel
Faid / Oengus Olmucaid / Tea
REMARKS Fiachu Labrainne was the son of Smirgoll and
descendant of Eremon and Tea of the Milesian (Goidel). He
became the 9th high chieftain when during the battle of
Carman he killed Eochu Faebuir, son of Conmael, of the
progeny of Eber of the Milesian.
Fiachu fought a sea battle against the sons of Eber,
the battle of The Swamp in which Mofemis the son of Eochu
Faebarglas died, and the battle of Sliabh Femen. He also
fought battles against the the Mairthine, the Ui
Cremthainn, the Carn and the battle of Murdrucht against
the Erna of the Firbolg.
During the battle of Sliabh Belgatain, Fiachu was
killed at the hands of Eochu Mumu, a descendant of Eber.
NAME Fiachu macFerfebe
EPITHET The Bloody (Fuilteach)
ALTERNATIVE Fiac / Fiacc / Fiacha / Fiachach / Fiachna /
Fiachnae / Fiachne / Fiachnu / Fiachra
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE chariot warrior (young)
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster
LANDMARKS Armagh (Plain of slaughter)
SITES Lia Toll
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid
RELATIVES Ferfebe (father); Fiachna (brother)
ENEMIES Host of Connaght
SEE ALSO Cu Chulainn / Fiachna macFerfebe / Medbh
REMARKS Fiachu's mother was a sister to Medbh and during
the Cualnge Cattle Raid he fought for Ulster, the land of
his father. He led a troop of boy-warriors to back up Cu
Chulainn, but they were cut off by a troop of Connacht
warriors and every one of them was slaughtered. This
inflamed Cu Chulainn to even greater acts of valor.
NAME Fiatach Finn
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain
CULTURE Goidel - Dal Fiataich tribe
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES AD 1st c / AD 35-38 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
RELATIVES Daire (father); Eremon and Tea (ancestors)
ENEMIES Fiachu Finnoilches
SEE ALSO Eremon / Feradach Fechtnach / Fiachu Finnoilches
/ Tea
REMARKS Fiatach Finn son of Daire was the progenitor of
the Dal Fiatach tribe. He was the head chieftain of Ulster
during the reign of Feradach Fechtnach and became the high
chieftain of Ireland when Feradach died.
Fiatach ruled Ireland for 3 years until he was slain
by Fiachu Finnoilches.
NAME Fib
ALTERNATIVE Fibaid / Fibh / Fibhach / Fiboh / Fiobh
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Brenin
TYPE head chieftain
CULTURE Pictish / Danann
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland
REGION Fife and Kinross
TERRITORY Albainn / Fife Cum Forthreve
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 15th c
RELATIVES Cruithnechan (father); Fidach, Fotla, Fortrenn,
Cat, Circinn and Ce (brothers); Luchtine
and Hercules (ancestors)
SEE ALSO Belenos / Cat / Ce / Circinn / Cruithnechan /
Fidach / Fortrenn / Fotla / Luchtine
REMARKS Fib, son of Cruithnechan was the chieftain of
the territory of Fife Cum Forthreve (Fife and Kinross) for
24 years. He and his brothers settled the 7 territories of
Albainn (Scotland/northern England).
Fib was the great-great-grandson of Luchtine of the
Danann and a descendant of Hercules (Belenos) of the Picts.
NAME Fidach
ALTERNATIVE Fedach / Fidac / Fidaich / Fidhach
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Brenin
TYPRE head chieftain
CULTURE Pictish / Danann
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland
REGION Moray and Ross
TERRITORY Albainn / Muref et Ros
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 15th c
RELATIVES Cruithnechan (father); Fib, Fotla, Fortrenn,
Cat, Ce and Circinn (brothers); Luchtine (great-
great-grandfather); Hercules (ancestor)
SEE ALSO Belenos / Cat / Ce / Circinn / Cruithnechan /
Fib / Fortrenn / Fotla / Luchtine
REMARKS Fidach, son of Cruithnechan, was the head
chieftain of the territory of Muref et Ros (Moray and Ross)
and ruled for 40 years.
He and his brothers settled the 7 territories of
Albainn (Scotland/northern England). Fidach could chant
his lifeline to Luchtine of the Danann and Hercules
(Belenos) of the Picts.
NAME Figol
EPITHET Son of Subservience
ALTERNATIVE Figol mac Mamois
GENDER M
FESTIVAL summer solstice
CATEGORY filidh
TYPE sorcerer
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Sligo
TERRITORY Connacht
LANDMARKS Plain of Towers (Magh Tuireadh)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
BATTLES second battle of Magh Tuireadh (north Moytura)
RELATIVES son of Mamos; Gamal (son)
ENEMIES Fomorii
SEE ALSO Lugh
REMARKS When Lugh asked Figol mac Mamois what he could
do to help defeat the Fomorians, Figol replied that he
would cause fire to rain down on the faces of the Fomorians
and he would rob them of two thirds of their valor, bravery
and strength. On top of this he would bind the urine in
the bodies of the enemy warriors and their horses. He also
claimed that he would cause the Danann warriors to increase
their valor, bravery and strength with every breath they
took. His son Gamal mac Figail was a doorkeeper at Tara.
NAME Findchad
EPITHET The Man of the Bronze Staghorns (Fer Bend Uma) /
The Antlered Man (Fer Benn)
ALTERNATIVE Finnchad
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior / messenger
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel - Dal nAraide / Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster
CENTERS Emain Macha (Navan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Conchobar (father); Froeglethan (mother);
Fedlimid (half-sister); Cu Chulainn, Fiachna,
Naoise, Conall, Cormac, Cuscraid, Fiachu,
Fiachna, Follomain, Glas, Mane, Conaing,
Diarmait, Beann, Furbude and Fiachra (half-
brothers)
SEE ALSO Beann / Conall Cernacht / Conchobar mac Nessa /
Cormac Condloinges / Cu Chulainn / Cuscraid Menn
/ Diarmait mac Conchobar / Fedlimid Nocruthach /
Fiachna / Fiachra / Fiachu / Findtan / Follomain
/ Furbude Fer Bend / Glas / Naoise
REMARKS Findchad was a son of Conchobar and a descendant
of Ir of the Milesian (Goidel). He recieved his name
because he wore silvered antlers on his head. Conchobar
sent Findchad to fetch Findtan for the Samhain festival at
Emain Macha. Conchobar also sent Finchad to round up his
chieftains to prepare for the battle of Gairech and
Irgairech.
NAME Findchaem
ALTERNATIVE Findchoem
GENDER F
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)
CULTURE Danann - Dal nAraide / Goidel / Pictish
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Cathbad (father); Maga (mother); Conchobar
(consort/half-brother); Conall (son); Amorgen
(husband); Fergna and Mess Ded (sons); Dechtire
and Elbha (sisters); Genonn and Imrinn
(brothers); Ferghus, Sualtaim and Fachtna (half-
brothers); Cu Chulainn (nephew/foster-son); Cet
(foster-brother)
SEE ALSO Amorgen / Cathbad / Cet mac Magach / Conall
Cernacht / Conchobar / Cu Chulainn / Dechtire /
Elbha / Fachtna Fathach / Ferghus mac Roig /
Fergna / Genonn / Imrinn / Maga / Sualtaim
macRoig
REMARKS When Findchaem was pregnant with Conall, she was
told that she would bear a noble son. She went to the
local holy well and washed in it and drank some of the
water. There was a worm in the water which reached her
womb where it pierced the boy's hand.
When Conall was born, Findchaem's foster-brother Cet
who had guarded her throughout her pregnancy put the boy's
neck beneath his foot and bruised it. "Wolfish (conda) is
the treachery (feall) of your work, brother" was
Findchaem's reply, and Conall (Confeall) became the child's
name.
NAME Findlam
ALTERNATIVE Fedlimthi Rechtaidi
GENDER M
CATEGORY herder / chieftain
TYPE cowherd
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Sliabh gCuilinn (Gallion) / Magh mBreg
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Mess Buachalla (foster-daughter); Conaire
(foster-son)
SEE ALSO Conaire Mor / Cormac Condloinges / Eterscel /
Etain Oig / Mess Buachalla
REMARKS When the servants of Cormac, chieftain of
Ulster, came to Findlam's door on Sliabh gCuilinn (Gallion)
with the baby daughter of Etain Oig there was no one home.
They left the baby in the dog kennel and when Findlam and
his wife came home they found a fair-haired girl. The
couple accepted the responsibility of raising the child.
Findlam built her a special home of mud and wattle without
doors or windows but with a skylight so she would never be
discovered. Mess grew to be a beautiful maiden of many
talents, excelling in needlepoint.
When Eterscel the high chieftain of Ireland found out
about Findlam's foster daughter, he wanted to marry her.
Eterscel made Findlam a chieftain and gave him the new name
Fedlimthi Rechtaidi. He also gave him land and paid a
bride price of 7 cumals of cattle (3x7 cows). When Mess
gave birth to a boy, Findlam was chosen as one of his
foster-fathers.
NAME Findmor
EPITHET The Fair-Large
GENDER F
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster
SITES Mas na Righna (Queen's Buttock)
CENTERS Dun Sobairche
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid (died)
RELATIVES Celtchair (husband); Niam (daughter)
ENEMIES Medbh
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Celtchair mac Uthechar / Medbh
/ Niam
REMARKS During the Connacht cattle raid Findmor was at
home when Medbh attacked her raith "Dun Sobairche". Medbh
challenged Findmor to single combat. When Findmor lost,
Medbh destroyed her fortress and captured fifty women.
Findmor's maidens were taken to the territory of the
Dal Riada where she hanged and crucified them as
sacrifices. The hill became known as Mas na Righna
(Queen's Buttock). Medbh then arranged a rendezvous with
Ailill and the captured bull.
NAME Fingin
ALTERNATIVE Finegas / Finegeen / Fingen
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / druid
TYPE prophet / seer-leech / head physician to
Conchobar (Ri Ruirech)
CULTURE Danann ?
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster
LANDMARKS Sliabh gCuilinn (Gallion)
SITES Imorach Smiromrach (Edge of the Marrow Bath) /
Mound of Slane in Mide
CENTERS grave-mound of Leccan (The Brow)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid / Gairech & Irgairech
ACCESSORIES medicinal herbs
ENEMIES Host of Connacht
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Broen / Bun / Cethern mac
Fintan / Conchobar mac Nessa / Cormac Colomon
Rig / Ferghus mac Roig / Illann Ilarchless /
MacRoth / Mane Athramail / Mane Gaib Uile / Mane
Mathramail / Mecconn / Medbh / Oll
REMARKS Fingin was the chief leech (physician) for
Conchobar, head chieftain of Ulster. When Cethern mac
Fintan made his famous attack on the Host of Connacht with
an iron spit, Cu Chulainn sent Fingin to the grave-mound at
Leccan (The Brow) of Slievegallion to look at his wound and
do what no other leech could do.
When Fingin was brought to the camp of Cu Chulainn,
Cethern pointed out the first wound and Fingin said it was
a slight wound such as given by a friend. Cethern
described the man and Cu Chulainn said it was Illann
Ilarchless, son of Ferghus mac Roig, who did not want to
harm Cethern but did not want to betray the Host of
Connacht.
After studying the second wound, Fingin decided it was
given by a female warrior, and from Cethern's description
Cu Chulainn knew it was Medbh. Fingin then looked at the
next wound and realized that it was actually two wounds by
two different warriors who inflicted them as one. Cethern
described them and Cu Chulainn named them as Oll and
Othine, two of the bodyguards of Ailill and Medbh.
Fingin decided by the next wounds that they were also
given by two different warriors and after Cethern described
them, Cu Chulainn knew that they were a pair of young
warriors of the Fianna named Bun and Mecconn, who were also
bodyguards of Ailill and Medbh.
The next wounds inspected were inflicted by Broen and
Brudni, then by Cormac Colomon and Cormac son of Mael Foga,
two more of the bodyguards of Ailill and Medbh. The next
wounds Fingin inspected were inflicted by two brothers and
from the description Cethern gave, Cu Chulainn knew they
were Mane Mathramail and Mane Athramail.
Cethern had been wounded by 2 warriors of the Fianna
who were tall and wearing foreign garments. Their spears
struck at his heart and severed the veins and arteries so
that his heart bounced about like an apple in motion.
Fingin then found a wound that was given by a father and a
son and from the description Cu Chulainn knew it was Ailill
and his son Mane Gaib Uile.
After inspecting these wounds, Fingin told Cethern he
would not profit from the new calves this springs and was
rewarded with a kick from the ancient warrior. Fingin then
told him that if he took his special 3-day cure he would
have the strength to take revenge on those who killed him.
Cethern thought he should get his own revenge, so for 3
days and nights he soaked in a vat of marrow mash made from
the skin, flesh and bones of herds and flocks. Afterwards,
Fingin made Cethern sleep for a day and a night. He then
used the front of Cethern's chariot for a belly pad to keep
his entrails in. Cethern was then ready to attack Connacht
one last time.
Later, when Fingin arrived at the Mound of Slane in
Mide, he was described by MacRoth as a white-haired man
with a bull-like face leading a company of leeches to the
Battle of Garech. He had a dragon-like eye in his head. He
wore a ribbed tunic with gold threads and a black cloak
with purple trim held with a leaf-shaped brooch containing
many gems. He carried a sword of hard metal with a sharp
edge and gold handle, and wore a little bag on his wrist
that carried his medicines.
Fingin inspected the brainball that Cet had shot at
Conchobar and which had lodged in his forehead. He
diagnosed that if Conchobar remained calm, he would
continue to live. Fingin was the most notable physician of
his time.
NAME Fingin mac Lughta
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior / Ri Ruirech
TYPE head chieftain
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Tipperary
TERRITORY Munster
SITES Sidhe Cruachu / Sidhe Uisneach / Sidhe Findacha
CENTERS Raith Cashel (Caisel)
AGE Iron
RELATIVES Luchta (father)
REMARKS Fingin was visited by a filidh on Samhain and
she told him where the 3 chieftain artifacts of Ireland lay
hidden. The Crown of Brion was concealed in a well at the
Sidhe Cruachu in the province of Connacht. The fidchell
game of Crimthann's was hidden in the Sidhe of Uisneach in
Mide. The Crown of Loeghaire lay hidden in Sidhe Findacha
(Fionnachaidh) in the province of Ulster.
ALTERNATIVE Finn File
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ri Ruirech
TYPE chariot warrior / head chieftain
CULTURE Gailioin
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Carlow
TERRITORY Leinster
CENTERS Dinn Rig
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Ross Ruad (father); Maga Muresc (mother);
Conchobor Abrat-ruad (son); Ailill and Carbre
(brothers)
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Carbre Niafer / Crimthann Nia
Nair / Maga Muresc / Medbh / Ross Ruad
REMARKS Finn macMata was refused marriage by Medbh but
he did become the head chieftain of Leinster. Warriors of
the Leinster Fianna fought for Connacht during the Cualnge
Cattle Raid. His son Conchobor was high chieftain of
Ireland until he was killed by Crimthann Nia Nair.
NAME Finna
ALTERNATIVE Findbec
GENDER F
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster
CENTERS Dun Da Benn (Fort of the Two Gables)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid
RELATIVES Eocho Salbuide (father); Cethern (husband);
Ness (sister); Conchobar (nephew)
ENEMIES Host of Connacht
SEE ALSO Cethern / Conchobar / Cu Chulainn / Eocho
Salbuide / Ness
REMARKS During the Cualnge Cattle Raid, Finna arrived at
Cu Chulainn's camp with the armor and weapons of Cethern,
her husband. When Cethern died, she dug his grave, raised
his stone and chanted:
I care for naught, care for naught;
Ne'er more man's hand 'neath my head,
Since was dug the earthly bed,
Cethern's bold, of the Dun Da Benn!
Kingly Cethern, Fintan's son;
Few were with him on the ford.
Connacht's men with all their host,
For nine hours he left them not!
Arms he bore not - this an art -
But a red, two-headed pike;
With it slaughtered he the host,
While his anger still was fresh!
Felled by double-headed pike,
Cethern's hand held, with their crimes,
Seven times fifty of the hosts,
Fintan's son brought to their graves!
Willa-loo, oh, willa-loo!
Woman's wandering through the mist.
Worse it is for him that's dead.
She that lives may find a man!
Never I shall take a man
Of the host of this good world;
Never shall I sleep with man;
Never shall my man with wife!
Dear the homestead, "Horse-head's Dun",
Where our hosts were wont to go.
Dear the water, soft and sweet;
Dear the isle, "isle of the Red!
Sad the care, oh, sad the care,
Cualnge's Cow-raid brought on me:
Cethern, Fintan's son, to keen.
Oh that he had shunned his woe!
Great the doings, these, oh, great,
And the deed that here was done:
I bewailing him till death,
Him that has been smitten down!
Finna, Eocho's daughter, I
Found a fight of circling spears.
Had my champion had his arms;
By his side a slaughtered heap!
"The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Tain Bo Cualnge"
translated by Joseph Dunn - pages 281-282
NAME Finnabair
EPITHET Fairbrow
ALTERNATIVE Findabair / Findbhair / Finnabair {finn-av-eer,
fin-nu-ur}
GENDER F
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)
CULTURE Goidel / Gailioin
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Roscommon (Rathcrochan)
TERRITORY Connacht
SITES Cronech / Finnabair Slebe (Finnabair's Mountain)
CENTERS Raith Cruachain (Rathcroghan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid
ACCESSORIES beauty
RELATIVES Medbh (mother); Ailill (father); Rochad
(husband); Sabd Sulbair (sister); Andoe,
Athramail, Gaib Uile, Mathramail, Milscothach,
Mingor, Morgor and Orlam (brothers); Furbaide
(half-brother)
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Cu Chulainn / Flidhais / Froech
/ Furbaide / Mane / Medbh / Orlam / Rochad mac
Faithemain
REMARKS Finnabair was a beautiful and desirable young
maiden, daughter of Medbh and Ailill, the head chieftains
of Connacht. Finnabair's home was Raith Cruachain, the
chieftain raith of Connacht. The main building was
circular and constructed of oak and pine. It had a roof of
shingles with copper shutters for the 16 window-holes and
copper grating for skylight. The house had a vaulted roof
with 7 rows and 7 apartments in the circle between the
outer wall and the central fire.
All the apartments had bronze facades and were divided
laterally by highly-ornamented red yew with 3 strips of
bronze at the base of each apartnment. 7 copper tubes ran
from the ceiling to the house vat. The royal apartment for
Ailill and Medbh was in the center of the house with copper
pillars and bronze ornamentation in abundance. It had two
borders of gilded silver around it and a silver molding
from the headboard to the crossbeams. Ailill had a wand of
silver in his facade which ran to the rafters.
Finnabair was wooed by Froech, a chieftain of the
Sidhe. He arrived in splendor and with much wealth, and
althought the wooing went not too well, Finnabair and
Froech fell madly in love. Unfortunately, before they
could be married, the Cualnge Cattle Raid began and Froech
was killed in combat with Cu Chulainn.
During the Cualnge Cattle Raid when the Host of
Connacht pitched their tents at Cu Silinne, Finnabair had
her tent to the left of her mother, and next to her was
Flidhais. Finnabair was promised to most warriors who had
been courageous enough to go against Cu Chulainn in single
combat. Because none had returned from facing Cu Chulainn,
Medbh offered Finnabair to Cu Chulainn when they parleyed
at Cronech.
One day Finnabair was sent with the fool who was
dressed as her father Ailill in the hope of tricking Cu
Chulainn. Cu Chulainn realized that it was the fool
dressed as Ailill and hit him with a sling-stone. The
contents of the fool's head emptied out through the hole at
the back of his skull. Cu Chulainn then approached
Finnabair and cut off the 2 tresses of her hair, then
suspended her from a standing stone by her cloak and tunic.
He then took another standing stone and drove it through
the middle of the fool. Cu Chulainn would make no deals
with them after this trickery.
When Rochad and his warriors rode toward the Connacht
camp, Finnabair told her mother and father that she had
always loved Rochad and he was her own personal choice to
woo. Medbh decided to send Finnabair to spend the night
with Rochad in order to secure an agreement with him to
hold off his attack until the big battle between the two
groups. Finnabair and Rochad married without dowry,
marriage gifts or bride-price.
When Finnabair returned to her camp the next day, she
found out that 800 warriors had died fighting over her
because of her mother's politicking. Finnabair was so
distraught that she committed suicide. She was buried at
Finnabair Slebe (Finnabair's Mountain).
NAME Finnegas
ALTERNATIVE Finegas / Finneces
GENDER M
CATEGORY filidh
TYPE poet / teacher
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Leinster
SITES Fec's Pool / Boyne
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
ACCESSORIES Fintan "The Salmon of Knowledge"
SEE ALSO Fionn mac Cumhaill
REMARKS Finnegas was a poet who lived by Fec's Pool at
the headwaters of the Boyne river in Leinster. Finnegas
had Fionn as a student. After a 7-year search Finnegas
finally caught Fintan "The Salmon of Knowledge, Inspiration
and Wisdom". The salmon had fed on the hazelnuts from the
9 trees of knowledge and whoever ate it would gain its
knowledge.
Finnegas had Fionn cook the salmon for him on a spit
over an open fire. While Fionn was turning the salmon he
touched it to see if it was cooked and burned his thumb
which he immediately put into his mouth to soothe the pain.
When Finnegas had Fionn serve him the salmon, he
realized the boy had changed and asked him if he had eaten
any of the fish. When Fionn explained what had happened,
Finnegas told him to eat the whole fish because the
prophecy had been fulfilled and Fionn had gained the sight
and not himself.
NAME Fintan
ALTERNATIVE Findtan
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster
SITES Imorach Smiromrach
CENTERS Dun Da Benn (Fort of the Two Gables)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid / The Tooth Fight / Gairech
& Irgairech
ACCESSORIES spears with heads on each end
RELATIVES Niall Niamglonnach (father); Cethern and
Crimthann (sons)
ENEMIES Host of Connacht
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Cethern macFintain / Conchobar
mac Nessa / Crimthann macFintan / Cu Chulainn /
Medbh / Niall Niamglonnach
REMARKS The territory of Ulster was divided into 3 parts
and Fintan was chieftain of one third and had his center at
Dun Da Benn. His territory covered the area from Traig
Tola to Latharnai and Rind Semni. Cu Chulainn was
chieftain of another third and Conchobar was the chieftain
of the final third.
Conchobar asked Fintan and Cu Chulainn if they would
allow him to rule over the whole of Ulster for one year,
and they agreed. At the end of the year, Conchobar had
proven to be such a powerful chieftain that he was elected
head chieftain of Ulster.
On the eve of Samhain, both Fintan and Cu Chulainn
prepared a feast for Conchobar, and when both chieftains
arrived at Emain Macha they began to quarrel as to whose
party they should attend. The decision was made to attend
the feast of Fintan for the first part of the night, then
that of Cu Chulainn for the second half.
Dun Da Benn was prepared with fresh rushes on the
floor of the sleeping quarters, halls and balconies. Much
food and drink was prepared, music and poetry was
performed, and precious presents were distributed.
At a certain point, Conchobar raised his buffalo horn
and everyone fell silent. It was time for the party to
shift to the raith of Cu Chulainn. It was decided that all
the champions, warriors, fighters, singers, poets and
musicians would leave with Cu Chulainn, while the young,
the ancient and the women looking after them would stay at
Fintan's.
During the Cualnge Cattle Raid, Fintan received word
of the glorious battle and death of his son Cethern. He
left the north with a force of 150 warriors and gave the
Host of Connacht 3 battles in which they slaughtered 3
times the number of their losses. The battle was savage
and after their weapons were spent, they resorted to fist-
fighting and biting. The battle became known as the Tooth-
Fight at Imorach Smiromrach.
The end of the fight came when Fintan's son Crimthann
was captured. Ailill and Medbh then forced a truce with
Fintan. He was to return home and await the great battle
that was to come at Gairech and Irgairech. The Host of
Connacht would retire a day's journey to the north and make
camp. This was agreed upon and Crimthann was returned to
his father.
EPITHET Son of The Ocean
GENDER M
SYMBOL 1 eye / salmon / falcon / eagle / hawk
CATEGORY filidh
TYPE shapechanger
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Munster
LANDMARKS Tul Tuinde
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 21st c
RELATIVES Bochra (mother); Labraid (father); Cessair and
25 women (consorts); Ebliu (wife)
SEE ALSO Banba / Cessair / Diarmuid mac Cearbhail / Ebliu
/ Tuan mac Cairill / Tuan mac Starn / Ladra
REMARKS Fintan, son of Labraid, son of Bethach, son of
Lamech, was born 7 years before the flood and sailed with
Cessair and her followers to Ireland. The women divided
into three groups with 1 man to each group. Fintan was
shared by 17 women but after Ladra died they divided into
two groups with 25 women each.
Fintan survived the Deluge by hiding in a cave on the
mountain Tul Tuinde. This was the same mountain to which
Banba had fled to escape the tidal wave.
When Fintan died he was reincarnated as a salmon,
falcon, eagle and a hawk, remembering all he saw. Fintan
was born again 300 years later as Tuan mac Starn of the
Partholeans.
He was also reborn as the one-eyed husband of Ebliu,
then again as Tuan mac Cairill, son of Muiredach Muinderg,
in the 7th year of the reign of Diarmuid mac Cearbhail.
NAME Fionn mac Cumhaill
EPITHET The Solver of Questions / Fair Son of One-eye
(Fionn mac Cumhaill) / Son of Hazel (mac Coll) /
Fair Foreigner (Scotland) / Mac Looäch (Son of
the Loch)
ALTERNATIVE Deime / Demna / Demne / Fin / Fingal / Finn /
Fionn {Fewn} / mac Cuill / mac Cumhaill
{cumm-al, co•-al} / mac Umall (old)
GENDER M
SYMBOL dog / salmon / boar / flag
CATEGORY hero / warrior / filidh / hunter / Rigfeinnid
TYPE battle-line / supernatural / seer / poet /
head chieftain of the Fianna
CULTURE Danann / Goidel - Eoganachta / Pictish / Fomorii
/ Fianna - Clanna Ui Tarsigh
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland
REGION Offaly / Laois / Antrim / Connacht
TERRITORY Leinster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Sliabh Bladhma (Bladh's mountain) / Boyne / Isle
of Staffa / Arran Island
SITES Allen Hill / Ath-Brea / Raith Sithe / Sheemore
Hill Cairn / Fingal's Cave / Finn's Seat /
Fingal's Cauldron Seat
CENTERS Raith Almu (Fort of Almain)
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c / AD 283 (died)
BATTLES Ventry (Cath Fionntragha) / Brea (died)
ACCESSORIES dogs - Bran and Sgeolan / craneskin bag / boar-
skin belt / spear / shield / helmet / sword -
Mac an Luin (son of the spear) / wisdom tooth
(Deud Fios) / clay cup (Cup of Victory)
RELATIVES Cumhal (father); Murna (mother); Tuireann
(sister); Los Lurgann (aunt/foster-mother);
Sadb, Saar, Ailbe, Smirgat, Tasha, Grainne
(wives); Ailbhinn, Oisin, Fergus, Aedh, Daire,
Raighne, Cairell (sons); Samhair and Cebha
(daughters); Oscar (grandson); Diarmuid
(nephew); Cethren (foster-father); Eber, Ethniu,
Nuadha, Eremon, Tea and Cahir Mor (ancestors)
ENEMIES sons of Uigreann / son of Duibhdrean
SEE ALSO Ailbe / Ailbhinn / Aillen mac Midhna / Cahir Mor
/ Cairell / Cebha / Cormac macAirt /
Cumhal /
Daire / Diarmaid ua Duibhne /
Ethniu / Fergus
Finnbheoil / Fiacail mac Conchinn / Finnegas /
Goll mac Morna / Grainne / Lia / Los
Lurgann /
Murna / Oisin / Oscar / Sadb / Samhair / Smirgat
/ Tadhg mac Nuadat / Tasha / Tuireann / Uigreann
REMARKS Fionn's original name was Demna. He was the son
of Cumhal, son of Trein Mor, son of Finn, son of Art, son
of Cahir Mor, the high chieftain of Ireland. His mother
was Murna of the White Neck and he was conceived just
before his father died in battle. Because of a prophecy
his mother's father, Tadhg mac Nuadat, had him thrown into
a lake when he was born. He floated to the surface holding
a salmon in his hand and this is why he was called "Son of
the Loch".
Demna was rescued from the lake by his father's
sister, Los Lurgann, and she became his foster-mother. Los
Lurgann raised him in the safety of the forest of
Slievebloom (Sliabh Bladhma) on Slaibh-na-mban-fionn
(mountain of the fair-haired woman) in the counties of
Offaly and Laois in Leinster. Los Lurgann taught her
foster-son the art of weapons. He became one of the 5
masters of every art and an excellent fidchell player.
After his first kills when he received his name Fionn
(fair), his step-mother Los Lurgann died.
Fionn's next teacher was the poet Finnegas and one of
Fionn's duties was to serve Finnegas. Finnegas had caught
a beautiful salmon from Fec's pool and instructed Fionn how
he wanted it cooked and warned him not to eat any of the
fish. While turning the salmon on the spit a blister rose
on the skin of the salmon and Fionn pushed it with his
finger and burnt his finger. When he put his finger into
his mouth to soothe the pain, he touched his wisdom tooth.
As soon as he touched his tooth, he realized who had killed
his father and that his mother was the ugliest woman in
Ireland.
After Fionn left the service of Finnegas he revenged
his father's death, then found his mother and sister at the
smithy of her father. When the smithy asked him who he
was, Fionn replied that he was a good servant in search of
a master. Fionn hired himself to the Ulster smith for a
year and a day and his claim would be a sword that would
fit his hand. When payday came, Fionn broke all the
smith's swords trying to find one that would fit him. The
smith then made Fionn's famous sword, Mac-an-Luin, which
had been quenched in the blood of a dog.
Mac-an-Luin's first duty was to kill its maker and
after Fionn struck off the smith's head with one blow he
went in search of his father's warriors. The survivors of
the Clanna Baoisgne had been reduced to surviving off
shellfish and living in a cave, so Fionn brought them meat,
and shaved them with his sword. Fionn's father claimed
descent from the Milesian bloodline Eremon and Tea but
Fionn claimed descent from the line of Eber through his
mother.
His father's warriors joined him and they formed the
Clanna Ui Tarsigh of Leinster. Their flag was a sunbeam
with gems of gold, 9 chains of gold and 9 warriors about
every chain. Fionn then killed Lia, the treasurer for the
Fianna, and confiscated the craneskin bag which held their
treasures.
Every eve of Samhain for 23 years, Aillen mac Midhna
had burned Tara. Fionn decided he would put an end to
this. He borrowed the supernatural spear from Fiacail and
waited outside the cave from which Aillen would come. He
kept himself awake by pushing the point of the spear
against his temples. When Aillen came through from The
Otherworld, Fionn killed him with the spear.
The high chieftain of Ireland, Cormac macAirt, made
Fionn head chieftain of all the Fianna. Fionn made peace
with Goll mac Morna of the Clanna Morna of Connacht. Raith
Almu (Fort of Almain) in Leinster had been built by his
ancestor Cahir Mor and Fionn claimed this as his
headquarters. The Fianna had numerous forts and hunting
camps around Ireland and Scotland, such as their Ulster
stronghold Raith Sithe in Antrim.
The Fianna were battle-line or foot soldiers, experts
in the use of the spear and sword. They were clanless and
landless and, when needed, were the personal army and
hunters for the high chieftain of Ireland. They spent the
better part of their time hunting and roaming the woods.
The Fianna were also known for their vocal drone called
Dord Fain.
Fionn and the Fianna were involved in many adventures.
Fionn's grandson Oscar became the chieftain of his father's
Fianna in Munster, Goll was the chieftain of the Connachta
Fianna, Ceutach was the leader of the Colla men of Ulster
and Fionn was chieftain of the Leinster Fianna and head
chieftain (Rigfeinnid) of all the Fianna. The battle of
Ventry was fought with Daire Donn (King of the World). They
had numerous fights among themselves, such as the one at
Raith Almu (Allen Hill) which started when Goll mentioned
that he had beaten Fionn's father in single combat.
Fionn had two special hounds named Bran and Sgeolan
who were in fact his nephews that were unlucky enough to
have been born while Fionn's sister Tuireann was in the
form of a bitch. Bran had yellows paws, red ears, black
fur on his sides and white on his belly. He also had a
spur on one of his heels that contained a deadly venom
which he used to kill a giant's dog and a number of
warriors.
In later life, Fionn fell in love with Grainne, who
rejected him and eloped with one of his younger warriors
Diarmaid. He spent most of his later years hunting them
until he was finally forced to pardon them. He eventually
cause Diarmaid's death and married Grainne.
Smirgat, one of his wives, prophesied that he would
die shortly after drinking from a horn. Fionn was speared
by the 5 sons of Uigreann and a son of Duibhdrean at Ath-
Brea (Ford of Brea) on the Boyne. As he lay bleeding and
covered in gore he was given a drink of water from a horn.
Fionn knew he had fought his last battle. He was buried at
Sheemore Hill Cairn at Leitrim in Connacht.
Many sites still bear the name of Fionn, such as
Fingal's Cave on the Isle of Staffa, Finn's Seat at
Slievenamon and Fingal's Cauldron Seat on Arran Island.
NAME Fionnbharr
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE substitute
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Galway
TERRITORY Connacht
CENTERS Sidhe Meadha (Knochma)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
BATTLES Danann Civil War
RELATIVES Onagh (wife); 17 sons
SEE ALSO Bodb Derg / Ilbhreach / Lir / Manannan / Midhir
/ Ochall Ochne
REMARKS Fionnbharr was given the Sidhe of Meadha, now
called Knochma, west of Tuam in county Galway. He fought
in the Danann civil war as the chieftain of Manannan's
people, replacing Manannan after he was killed at the
battle of Cuillenn. The other main chieftains involved in
the war were Bodb Dearg, Ilbhreach, Lir, Midhir and Ochall
Ochne.
NAME Fionnula
EPITHET The Maid of the Fair Shoulder
ALTERNATIVE Fionuala / Fionula
GENDER F
SYMBOL Swan
FESTIVAL Feast of Aise (Feast of Age)
CATEGORY hero / rigbean (noble woman)
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Almagh / Tipperary / Mayo
TERRITORY Ulster / East Munster
LANDMARKS Loch Derg (Dergdherc) - Lake of the Red Eye /
Straits of Moyle / Erris and Innis Gloire
SITES Innis Gloire
CENTERS Sidhe Fionnachaidh
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
RELATIVES Lir (father); Aebh (mother); Fiachra (sister);
Aedh, Conn (brothers); Aoife (step-mother/aunt)
ENEMIES Aoife
SEE ALSO Aebh / Aoife / Bodb Dearg / Lir
REMARKS Fionnula and Fiachra were the first twins to be
born to Aebh and Lir, and Aedh and Conn were the last. Aebh
died giving birth to the two boys, and so the four were
raised by their stepmother Aoife who was also their aunt.
The four children were loved dearly by their father
and when he remarried, his new bride Aoife loved the
children as if they were her own. In time, however, Aiofe
became jealous of her sister's children because of the
attention they received from her husband.
Aoife was taking the children to the sidhe of Bodb
Dearg for a Feast of Age. It may have been for Fionnula
and her twin Fiachra, because Bodb Dearg was the foster-
father of their mother and the head chieftain of the
Danann. As they were travelling, the party stopped to wash
the dust from themselves at Loch Dergherc (Lake Derg) in
county Tipperary so as to be respectable when they arrived
at Sidhe ar Femuin. While the children were in the water
their stepmother, who was a sorcerer, turned them into
swans and cursed them to spend their time in 3 different
places for a total of 900 years.
Their first home for 300 years was on the waters of
Lake Derg and was a happy one. They retained their human
speech and were visited by the people of the Danann who
came to talk with them and to hear their beautiful voices.
When their time was up they had to leave for the
waters of the Straits of Moyle between Scotland and
Ireland. Here they stayed for 300 lonely years with only
themselves for company. In the winter the wind would howl
around and throw them against the hard rock cliffs. They
were miserable and only survived because Fionnula spread
her heavily feathered wings about the boys and protected
them from the wind and frost.
When their time was over they flew to a treacherous
part of the Atlantic between Erris and Innis Gloire in
county Mayo. Their time there was also miserable, and
after 300 years had passed they were free to fly to their
home, only to find the buildings were all gone. There was
nothing but green fields and bushes where their home had
once stood. Their father who had loved them so dearly and
their friends had all turned to dust.
It so happened that a chieftain of the north from
Connacht was to wed the daughter of the head chieftain of
Munster. She asked him to give her the four singing swans
as a wedding gift but when he did, they transformed into
four withered white-haired humans. As they died, Fionnula
asked that they be buried at Innis Gloire in a single grave
with Fiachra on her left, Conn on her right and Aedh at her
breast. This was how they had slept for 900 years. This
was the tale of the Children of Lir (Oidheadh Cloinne Lir).
NAME Fis
EPITHET Seeker of Knowledge
ALTERNATIVE Fios
GENDER ?
FESTIVAL Beltainn (Brilliant Fires)
CATEGORY druid
TYPE scholar
CULTURE Partholean tribe
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Munster
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 19th c
BATTLES Magh Ibha
ENEMIES Fomorii
SEE ALSO Fochmart / Partholon / Tath
REMARKS Fis was one of three druids who came to Ireland
with Partholon. The other two were Fochmart and Tath and
they fought the Fomorians in the battle of Magh Ibha.
NAME Flidhais Foltchain
EPITHET Of the Lovely Hair
ALTERNATIVE Flidais
GENDER F
CATEGORY deity
TYPE chariot goddess / goddess of animal fertility
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY cause of Connacht
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid
ACCESSORIES sword (Ochnech) / deer / chariot
RELATIVES Ailill (1st husband); Ferghus (2nd husband)
ENEMIES Cualnge / Pictland / Ulster
SEE ALSO Ailill Finn / Ailill macMata / Ferghus mac Roig
/ Finnabair / Medbh
REMARKS Flidhais was the goddess who ruled over the
beasts of the forest. She rode in a chariot drawn by deer,
and the animals of the forest were called the herds of
Flidias. She accompanied the warriors of Connacht and
every 7th night she brought enough milk to feed the
warriors on the march.
When her husband Ailill Finn was killed, Flidhais
married Ferghus mac Roig and her position was to the left
of Finnabair, second from Medbh, equal to the position of
Ferghus in relation to Ailill macMata.
NAME Fochmare
EPITHET The Questioner
ALTERNATIVE Fochmart
GENDER ?
FESTIVAL Beltainn (Brilliant Fires)
CATEGORY druid
TYPE philosopher
CULTURE Partholean tribe
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Munster
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 19th c
BATTLES Magh Ibha
ENEMIES Fomorii
SEE ALSO Fis / Partholon / Tath
REMARKS Fochmare, Tath and Fis were three druids who
came to Ireland with Partholon and were involved in the
battle of Magh Ibha.
NAME Fodbgen
ALTERNATIVE Fodbgenid / Foidbgen / Odbgen
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / 8th Ri Ruirech
TYPE head chieftain
CULTURE Firbolg
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY West Munster
LANDMARKS Ben Bulben
SITES Eba Choirpre / Magh Muirthemni (died)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 17th
c / BC 18th c / BC 1707-1703 (Kings
List)
BATTLES Craeb
RELATIVES Sengann (father); Anust (mother); Sreng
(brother); Dela (grandfather); Magog and Semeon
(ancestors)
ENEMIES Rinnal / Eochaid
SEE ALSO Dela / Eochaid mac Erc / Magog / Rinnal / Semeon
/ Sengann / Sreng
REMARKS Fodbgen, son of Sengann, son of Dela, became the
8th head chieftain of the Firbolg when he killed his cousin
Rinnal on a plain north of Ben Bulben called Eba Choirpre
in the Battle of Craeb.
Fodbgen ruled the Firbolg for 4 years and it was said
that in his time knots grew on trees. He died at Magh
Muirthemni in Ulster by the hand of Eochaid mac Erc.
NAME Fodhla
ALTERNATIVE Fodla / Fotla
GENDER F
FESTIVAL Beltainn (Brilliant Fires)
CATEGORY deity
TYPE earth goddess / fertility goddess of birth
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
LANDMARKS Slieve Eelim (Sliabh nEblinne)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
RELATIVES Ernmas (mother); Fiachu (father/half-brother);
Banbha and Eire (sisters); Macha, Danu, Badbh
and Elcmar (half-sisters); Neto, Olloman, Indui,
Glonn, Gnim and Coscar (half-brothers); Iuchar
and MacCecht (consorts); Magog, Iarbonel, Ordan
and Net (ancestors)
ENEMIES Etan
SEE ALSO Badbh / Banbha / Danu / Eire / Elcmar / Ernmas /
Fiachu / Iarbonel / Indui / Macha /
MacCecht /
Magog / Net / Neto / Olloman / Ordan
REMARKS Fodhla was the goddess of birth and fertility
and mated with Iuchar and MacCecht of the Danann to insure
the fertility of their people, animals and crops.
Fodhla was one of the three fertility goddesses of
Ireland and she met the invading Milesian (Goidel) on
Sliabh Eiblinne (Slieve Eelim). Like her sister Banbha she
told them that their invasion was not right, but when
Amhairghin told her that it was necessary she then asked
them a favor. Fodhla asked that the island would be called
after her. Her name became a poetic name for Ireland.
Fodhla died in combat by the hand of Etan.
NAME Fodhla
EPITHET Eochaid Ollom / Ollamh Fodhla / Ollom Fotla
ALTERNATIVE Colman / Fola / Fotla / Ollam
GENDER M ?
FESTIVAL Feis Temrach (festival of Tara)
CATEGORY warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn / Ollamh
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain / master bard
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
SITES Loughcrew Cairns
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES BC 12th c / BC 1149-1109 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
RELATIVES Fiachu Finnscothach (father); Finnachta, Slanoll
and Geide Ollgothach (sons); Ir (ancestor)
SEE ALSO Bile / Eremon / Ir / Slanoll
REMARKS Fodhla, son of Fiachu Finnscothach and
descendant of Ir of the Milesian (Goidel), became the 18th
high chieftain to rule Ireland after Eremon when he slew
Faildergdoit. Fodhla attained the highest level for a bard
and received the epithet Ollamh Fodhla.
During his reign, Ollamh Fodhla instigated the great
festival (Assembly of Temair) that was held every 3 years
at Tara in county Meath. Here the the chieftains, druids
and people met to settle disputes, develop laws, develop
the genealogical records of the clans and have a good time
feasting with plenty of drink, games and songs. No
fighting was allowed, by punishment of death.
Fodhla was also reputed to have organized the Brehon
Law system (brithem) which had its roots in Indo-European
law. He constructed the Scholars' Rampart and gave Ulster
(Ulaid) its name which means "great side" or "a great side
with them".
After forty years of rule he died of natural caused
within his rampart of Tara and was buried in the Loughcrew
Cairns in Meath. His line of descent were of the Dal
nAraide in the Lough Neagh area of Ulster. His son
Finnachta became the new high chieftain of Ireland and
ruled for 20 years.
NAME Foenglinde mac Dedaid
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY filidh
TYPE advisor
CULTURE Goidel - Clanna Dedad (The Degads)
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Kerry
TERRITORY Munster
CENTERS Temair Luachra (Tara of the Rushes)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Temuir Luachra
RELATIVES Dedad (father); Dare, Conganchness, Gabalglinde,
Li and Echbel (brothers); CuRoi (nephew); Eremon
and Tea (ancestors)
ENEMIES Ulster
SEE ALSO Conganchness mac Dedaid / Cromm Deroil / CuRoi
macDaire / Dare mac Dedaid / Dedad / Echbel mac
Dedaid / Eremon / Gabalglinde mac Dedaid / Li
mac Dedaid / Tea
REMARKS Foenglinde of the Clanna Dedad was present on
the Samhain eve when the drunken warriors of Ulster arrived
at Temair Luachra looking for a place to stay the night.
Foenglinde and Cromm Deroil were sent to the depths of
the raith to speak to his brother Gabalglinde about a plan
to protect the raith from an invasion from the champions of
Ulster. Foenglinde was then sent as a representative of
CuRoi macDaire and the champions of the Clanna Dedad to
ascertain whether the Ulster warriors had come for war or
on a peaceful mission.
NAME Foill macNechta
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Boyne / Magh mBreg
CENTERS Dun Nechta (fortress of Nechta)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Necht Scene (mother); Fer Ulli (father); Fandall
and Tuachall (brothers)
ENEMIES Ulster / Cu Chulainn
SEE ALSO Cu Chulainn / Fandall / Fer Ulli / Necht Scene /
Tuachall macNechta
REMARKS Foill could not be harmed by the point nor the
edge of any weapon. He claimed that in revenge for the
death of their father, he and his brothers had killed more
Ulster warriors than they left alive.
One day a boy of 7 came to Dun Nechta on Magh mBreg
and read the ogham on the iron band of his pillar stone.
The ogham challenged any warrior who came onto the green to
single combat. The boy, whose name was Cu Chulainn, lifted
the pillar stone and threw it into the moat. When Foill
came to challenge Cu Chulainn, the boy threw his apple of
twice-melted steel (lath-trick) at Foill's shield so that
it glanced off and hit his forehead, putting a hole through
it. Cu Chulainn then cut off his head and carried it away
with him.
NAME Follomain
ALTERNATIVE Follaman
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior / leader of the boy warriors
CULTURE Goidel - Dal nAraide / Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster
SITES the fair-green of Emain
CENTERS Emain Macha (Navan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid (died)
RELATIVES Conchobar (father); Fedlimid (half-sister); Cu
Chulainn, Fiachna, Findchad, Naoise, Conall,
Cormac, Cuscraid, Fiachu, Fiachna, Glas, Mane,
Conaing, Diarmait, Beann, Furbude and Fiachra
(half-brothers)
ENEMIES Host of Connacht / Ailill
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Beann / Conall Cernacht /
Conchobar mac Nessa / Cormac Condloinges / Cu
Chulainn / Cuscraid Menn / Diarmait mac
Conchobar / Fedlimid Nocruthach / Fiachna /
Fiachra / Fiachu / Findchad / Furbude Fer Bend /
Glas / Laeg / Lugh / Naoise
REMARKS Follomain was the leader of the thrice 50 male
foster-children at the time that Cu Chulainn barged in and
established himself as the top warrior of the youths. The
fair-green of Emain was their playing field. There they
played hurley, ran races, threw javelins and learned the
arts of combat. Cu Chulainn joined into the game without
asking for their protection, breaking a geis among the
fosters. They attacked him and were defeated by his making
them ask for his protection.
During the Cualnge Cattle Raid, when Lugh was healing
Cu Chulainn, Follomain led 150 youths against the Host of
Connacht in 3 battles before the youths were all killed.
Follomain escaped the destruction and went after Ailill's
head but was caught and killed by the 2 sons of Bethe. The
death of Follomain and the 150 youths of Ulster while Cu
Chulainn was in his healing sleep sent him into a blood
rage when he awoke, and he had Laeg prepare the war chariot
with its scythes.
NAME Foltor
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE battle-line / head tracker
CULTURE Fianna - Clanna Ui Tarsigh
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Leinster
SITES Allen Hill / The Otherworld
CENTERS Raith Almu (Fort of Almain)
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
SEE ALSO Abarta / Conan Maol / Fionn mac Cumhaill
REMARKS Foltor was the son of the chieftain of Inna and
head tracker of the Fianna. He was reputed to be able to
follow a track either on land or on the water. He led
Fionn and the Fianna to The Otherworld in search of Conan
Maol and the other warriors who were captured by Abarta.
NAME Fordui
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY bard
TYPE poet for Conaire (Ard Righ Eirinn)
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath / Dublin
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Magh mBerg / Magh Liffey
SITES Da Derga's Hostel
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath
RELATIVES sons of Maphar
ENEMIES Ingcel / sons of Donn Desa
SEE ALSO Conaire Mor / Da Derga / Donn Desa /
Ingcel
REMARKS Fordui, Rodui and Sui, the triplet sons of
Maphar (The Mighty Song), were poets for Conaire Mor, the
high chieftain of Ireland. The 3 wore linen shirts with
red design and speckled mantles held by golden fibulas.
They wore plates of gold on their heads and carried wooden
darts. During the destruction at da Derga's hostel they
killed six raiders.
NAME Forgall Manach
EPITHET The Wily
ALTERNATIVE Forgal Monach / Forghall
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain / hosteller
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Fomorii
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
CENTERS Luglochta Loga (The Garden of Lugh)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Emer and Fial (daughters); Scibur, Ibur and Cat
(sons); Scenmed (sister); Tethra (ancestor)
ENEMIES Cu Chulainn
SEE ALSO Aife / Blai / Cu Chulainn / Domhnall / Emer /
Scathach / Scenmed / Tethra
REMARKS Forgall was a Fomorian chieftain who ran a
Bruidhne (hostel) called Luglochta Loga on Magh mBreg near
present-day Lusk (Lusca) just north of Dublin. He was one
of the five Hostellers of Ireland.
Cu Chulainn came to court his daughter Emer, but
Forgall did not want her to marry him. He suggested that
since Cu Chulainn was not a full warrior, he should go to
study with Domhnall the Warlike in Albainn
(Scotland/northern England).
When Cu Chulainn returned, Forgall charged him with
not having his hundred kills and sent him away again. When
Cu Chulainn returned next, it was from studying with
Scathach and her sister Aife.
This time Cu Chulainn had his 100 heads and when he
arrived at Luglochta Loga the scythes were attached to the
wheel-hubs of his chariot and he performed the "Feat of
Thunder of Three Hundred and Nine Warriors". With 3
thrusts of his spear, Cu Chulainn killed 3x8 champions
while sparing Emer's 3 brothers. He then leaped over the 3
ramparts and abducted Emer and her sister Fial plus their
weight in gold and silver. Forgall died when he fell off
the rampart running from Cu Chulainn.
NAME Forgemen
GENDER M
CATEGORY cowherd
TYPE herder of the Brown Bull and his cows
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster / Cualnge
SITES Forgemen Hill
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid
ENEMIES Host of Connacht / Bruide
SEE ALSO Bruide / Cu Chulainn
REMARKS Forgemen was the cowherd of the Brown Bull of
Cualnge. He would not let Bruide and his warriors from
Connacht drive off the Brown Bull. The warriors then beat
their swords on their shields, making enough noise to
stampede the cattle. Forgemen was crushed beneath their
feet and was driven thirty feet into the ground. When Cu
Chulainn caught up with Bruide, he challenged him to an
exchange of spears and Forgemen was revenged.
NAME Fortrenn
ALTERNATIVE Fortreann / Fortrend / Fortriu
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Brenin
TYPE head chieftain
CULTURE Pictish / Danann - Fortrinn tribe
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland
TERRITORY Albainn / Sradeern cum Meneted
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 15th c
RELATIVES Cruithnechan (father); Fib, Fidach, Fotla, Cait,
Ce and Circinn (brothers); Lughtine (great-
great-grandfather); Hercules (ancestor)
SEE ALSO Belenos / Cat / Ce / Circinn / Cruithnechan /
Fib / Fidach / Fotla / Luchtine
REMARKS Fortrenn and his brothers settled the 7
territories of Albainn (Scotland/northern England).
Fortrenn, son of Cruithnechan, became the chieftain of the
territory of Sradeern cum Meneted (Strathearn and Menteith)
and ruled for 70 years.
Fortrenn was a descendant of Luchtine of the Danann
and Hercules (Belenos) of the Pict.
NAME Fotla
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Brenin
TYPE head chieftain
CULTURE Pictish / Danann
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland
TERRITORY Adtheodle and Goverin
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 15th c
RELATIVES Cruithnechan (father); Cat, Ce, Circinn, Fib,
Fidach and Fortrenn (brothers); Luchtine (great-
great-grandfather); Hercules (ancestor)
SEE ALSO Belenos / Cat / Ce / Circinn / Cruithnechan /
Fib / Fidach / Fortrenn / Luchtine
REMARKS Fotla and his brothers settled the 7 territories
of Albainn (Scotland/northern England) and he was the head
chieftain of the territory of Adtheodle et Goverin (Atholl
and Gowrie).
Fotla was a descendant of Luchtine of the Danann and
Hercules (Belenos) of the Pict.
NAME Fovor
EPITHET Of the Mighty Blows
GENDER M
SYMBOL club
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE giant
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY The Otherworld - Land of Youth (Tir na nOg)
CENTERS Druim-loghach
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
ACCESSORIES iron club / clothing of deer skins
ENEMIES Oisin
SEE ALSO Oisin
REMARKS Fovor was a giant in The Otherworld who held the
daughter of the head chieftain of the Land of the Living
captive in his raith Druim-loghach. One day he returned to
find that his captive had found a new champion, so battle
was declared between the two champions.
Fovor and Oisin fought for 3 nights and days, iron
club against sword. Then Oisin cut off Fovor's head and
they buried him in a deep wide grave and raised his ogham
stone.
NAME Froech
EPITHET Wrath / Fury
ALTERNATIVE Fraech mac Fidaig / Fraich / Fraoch / Friach
GENDER M
SYMBOL heather
CATEGORY hero / warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland
TERRITORY Ulster / cause of Connacht
SITES Dublind Froich (the Brei river in Connacht) /
Raith Cruachain / Ath Froich (Froech's Ford) /
Sid Fraeich (Froech's Mound)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid (died)
RELATIVES Idath (father); Be Find (ancestor)
ENEMIES Ailill / Medbh / Cu Chulainn
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Be Find / Boann / Conall
Cernacht / Cu Chulainn / Finnabair / Medbh
REMARKS Froech was a handsome young chieftain of the
Danann. He was without a wife and he heard that Finnabair,
the daughter of Ailill and Medbh, was in love with him. He
was persuaded by his people to woo her because the Danann
were always trying to get their blood line into the leading
Goidel families. Because he was from the family of Be
Find, he went to the family of her sister Boann and was
given gifts from The Otherworld to take to Raith Cruachain.
Froech arrived at Raith Cruachain with these items: 50
blue mantles with gold fibulas; 50 white tunics with
animals embroidered in gold; 50 golden-rimmed shields; 50
golden candle holders; 50 spears with butts of carbuncle
and blades of precious stones; 50 dapple gray horses with
golden bits, silver breast plates and golden bells; 50
warriors with gold-hilted swords; 50 hounds with silver
chains; 7 horn-blowers with horns of gold and silver; 3
fools with silver diadems and shields with spiral
decorations; 3 harpers of the highest rank.
On the way to Raith Cruachain, Froech and his party
hunted and caught 7 deer, 7 foxes, 7 hares, 7 boars and 7
otters. They arrived at Raith Cruachain in such splender
that Ailill and Medbh set aside a quarter of the house for
their guests.
After Froech and his company had settled in, he began
to play fidchell with Medbh. They played for 3 days on
Froech's board that was made from white gold with gold
edges. The pieces were of gold and silver, and a candle of
precious stone provided light. While they were playing, no
one dared interrupt and so the assemblage of people went
without food.
After two weeks of hunting and feasting, Froech had
still not met Finnabair, the reason for his visit. One
morning he arose early and went to the river for a swim. At
the riverside he found Finnabair with her maidens.
Finnabair agreed that it would be good for them to be
married. As a token, she gave Froech her thumb ring which
had been given to her by her father. If or when Ailill
noticed that it was missing, she would claim that she had
lost it.
Froech went to Ailill and Medbh and asked the bride
price. Without hesitation Medbh quoted the price as 60
gray horses with golden bridle bits, 12 milch cows with
white red-eared calves, and the promise of his musicians
and troops for their cattle raid into Cualnge. Froech
refused the bride price, saying he would not give that for
Medbh herself.
Medbh and Ailill decided to get rid of Froech and
invited him to swim in the river. While Froech was
swimming, Ailill looked into Froech's pouch and found his
own thumb ring that he himself had given to his daughter.
He threw it into the river and it was swallowed by a
salmon.
Froech saw all of this and caught the salmon and,
unknown to Ailill, hid it in the bushes. Ailill told
Froech to get him a branch from the rowan tree on the other
side of the river. The berries were delicious and Ailill
asked Froech to get him another. Unknown to Froech, there
was a monster in the River Brei who guarded the magical
rowan tree. The monster seized Froech, and he yelled for a
sword so he could protect himseld.
When Finnabair saw that none were going to help
Froech, she threw off her clothes and swam to him with a
sword. In a rage, Ailill threw his five-pointed spear at
her but it only passed through the tresses of her hair.
Froech grabbed the spear and threw it back at Ailill and it
passed through his mantle and shirt. Froech then took the
sword from Finnabair and cut off the monster's head but he
himself was near death. Ailill promised Medbh that their
daughter would die for the treachery and not because of the
sword.
A healing bath of chopped bacon and heifer flesh was
prepared for Froech. As Froech was soaking, 3x50 women
dressed in scarlet and green and wearing silver animal
bracelets on their wrists came to the gates of Raith
Cruachain. Froech was taken outside on a stretcher and the
women took him to the Sidhe Cruachu where he was healed
without blemish and returned to the Raith Cruachain the
same time the following evening.
Ailill and Medbh, remembering who their guest was and
not wanting to make enemies with the people of the sidhe,
apologized for their actions and held a feast. Froech had
one of his servants retrieve the salmon from its hiding
place and give it to Finnabair. At the feast, Ailill
demanded that Finnabair give him his thumbring if she
valued her life. Finnabair swore that if the ring was
found she would not remain under his protection for long.
Ailill retorted that if the ring was found he would not
refuse her request. A serving maid brought the salmon into
the feast and on top of it was the ring. Finnabair was
promised to Froech and he and his people went home to
prepare for a wedding.
When Froech arrived home, he found that his cattle,
his woman and 3 sons had been captured in a raid by Picts
of Albainn. Froech set out to retrieve them with 27
warriors, a falcon and a hound on a leash. He met Conall
Cernacht, who went with him to help retrieve his cattle.
When they were close to the raith, they met a slave-woman
who was from Ulster. She warned them of the serpent that
guarded it, then helped them into the fort. She also told
them that there was a prophecy that Conall Cernacht would
come to the raith and destroy it. They plundered the
raith, freed the woman and her 3 sons and retrieved the
cattle.
Froech and Conall then went back to Ireland and became
involved in the cattle raid of Cualnge. During the cattle
raid, Froech was asked by Medbh and Ailill to dispose of Cu
Chulainn.
Froech found Cu Chulainn swimming in the river at Ath
Fuait. Froech stripped down and met Cu Chulainn in the
middle of the river and they wrestled. Cu Chulainn got the
better of him and held his head under water. Cu Chulainn
asked Froech once to give up and he declined. Cu Chulainn
then drowned him and dragged his body ashore where the Host
of Connacht retrieved it. While the warriors of Connacht
were keening over the body there suddenly appeared 3x50
women dressed in green. They picked up Froech's body and
carried it into a sidhe. Thereafter, the mound was called
Froech's Mound and the the ford was called Froech's Ford.
NAME Fruich
EPITHET Boar's Bristle / The Squinter With The Left Eye
ALTERNATIVE Nar (Shame) / Nar Thuathcaech
GENDER M
SYMBOL 1 eye
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY herder / filidh / shapechanger
TYPE supernatural swineherd
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY Munster / Mide
LANDMARKS Magh Liffey
SITES Da Derga's Hostel
CENTERS Sidhe ar Femuin
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c / BC 1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath / Cualnge Cattle Raid
ACCESSORIES a squealing boar's head
ENEMIES Rucht Chnint (rival)
SEE ALSO Bodb Dearg / Da Derga / Dare macFiachu / Fer
Caille / Ochall Ochne / Rucht Chnint
REMARKS Fruich was the swineherd for Bodb Dearg,
chieftain of the Sidhe ar Femuin. He and Rucht Chnint,
swineherd for Ochall Ochne, were great friends. When there
was a large crop of beechnuts and acorns in the south,
Rucht would take his boars and visit Fruich in Munster, and
when there was a crop of nuts in Connacht, Fruich would
bring his swine there to feed.
The two swineherds were both versed in the arts of
sorcery and could change themselves into any shape. Many
people of both provinces were jealous of the good
relationship between the two and began to brag that their
swineherd was the more powerful.
The two friends decided that they would test their
powers and Fruich suggested that he should cast a spell
over the swine of Ochall Ochne's so that even though they
ate well they would not gain any weight. When Rucht
returned home with his pathetic-looking animals he was the
object of ridicule.
When Fruich drove his swine to Connacht to feast,
Rucht put the same spell on the animals of Munster and they
returned home thin and barely alive. The two swineherds
were driven out by the head chieftains and they continued
the contest in the form of ravens called Ingen (Talon) and
Eitte (Wing). The two sorcerers spent a year in each of
the two provinces causing unrest and war.
The two sorcerers then changed forms and became Bled
(Whale) and Blod (Seabeast), one entering the Sinann river
and the other the Siuir. After two years they reincarnated
and fought as stags, as warriors known as Rinn (Point) and
Faebur (Edge), as phantoms called Scath (shadow) and Sciath
(shield) as well as dragons and water worms called
Cruinniuc and Tuinniuc.
Fruich, in the reincarnation of Fer Caille, was
present during the Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel on Magh
Liffey. He cooked a black squealing boar continuously over
a fire for Conaire the high chieftain of Ireland. When he
was present at a feast, there was always combat and spilt
blood.
In the form of a water worm, Fruich fell from the sky
and landed in the spring of the Cronn river in Cuailnge,
Ulster. He was swallowed by a cow belonging to Dare
macFiachu and was reborn as the Donn (Brown) of Cualnge.
When the two bulls fought during the Cualnge Cattle Raid,
Fruich was the last to die.
ALTERNATIVE Faut
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Beltainn (Brilliant Fires)
CATEGORY hero / warrior
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel (Milesian) - Artabri tribe
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Galicia / Meath / Donegal / Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster
LANDMARKS Sliabh Fuait (Fuad's mountain)
SITES Teltown (Tailltenn) / Drumleene
CENTERS Brigantia (A Corunna)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 15th c
BATTLES Sliabh Mish / Taillcenn / Druim Lighean
RELATIVES Bregon (father); Liben (wife); Brego, Bladh,
Murthemne, Cualgne, Cuala, Eibleo, Nar, Ith and
Bile (brothers); Brath (grandfather); Rifath
Scot (ancestor)
ENEMIES Danann
SEE ALSO Bile / Bladh / Brath / Bregon / Ith / Rifath
Scot
REMARKS Fuad son of Bregon was a Milesian warrior who
was killed during the Goidel invasion either in the battle
of Taillcenn or Druim Lighean. He had the mountain Slieve
Fuad (Sliabh Fuait) in county of Armagh named after him.
The mountain was later changed to Sliabh gCuilinn (Slieve
Gullion) and is also referred to as Slievegallion or
Gallion.
NAME Fuamnach
EPITHET The Resonant
ALTERNATIVE Fuaimnech / Fuaimneach
GENDER F
CATEGORY filidh
TYPE sorcerer
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster / Mide
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
SITES Sidhe Bri Leith / Sidhe Brugh na Boyna
CENTERS Raith Oenach Bobgnai
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
ACCESSORIES rowan wand
RELATIVES Bresal (foster-father); Midhir (husband); Bri
(daughter); Donn (son); Anghus (foster-son);
Magog and Iarbonel (ancestors)
ENEMIES Be Find / Anghus
SEE ALSO Anghus mac Og / Be Find / Bresal Etarlam /
Daghda / Etar of Echrade / Iarbonel / Lugh
/
Magog / Midhir / Oghma
REMARKS Fuamnach was a direct descendant of the Nemedian
chieftain, Beothach, who was known as the "Father of The
Danann". Fuamnach had married Midhir, chieftain of the
Ulster Danann and of the Sidhe Bri Leith. She was a foster
of the filidh Bresal and was also under the protection of
her own foster-son Anghus against any misdoings by the
Danann.
When Midhir brought his second wife home, Fuamnach was
not overjoyed and accused Be Find of occupying the seat of
a good woman. She used her spell-binding wand to turn Be
Find into a puddle of blood and then sought refuge with her
foster-father. From the blood of Be Find, maggots formed
and one became a scarlet fly as big as the head of a man.
The sound of the fly's voice was sweeter than that of
the pipes, harp or horn. Its eyes were of precious stones
and glowed in the dark, its aroma could satisfy hunger and
the drops from its wings could cure the sick. Midhir knew
this fly was Be Find because it accompanied him wherever he
went.
One day Fuamnach visited Midhir under the protection
of Lugh, Daghda, and Oghma. She said that she was not
sorry for what she had done and that she preferred to look
out for herself than for anyone else. Then she used her
sorcery to create a wind that blew for 7 years and kept Be
Find in the air until she was finally found by Anghus.
Anghus placed Be Find in his arbor at Sidhe Brugh na Boyna
where she was surrounded by the scents of herbs which
helped cure her.
When Fuamnach heard of the relationship that grew
between Be Find and Anghus, she had Midhir summon Anghus to
Bri Leith and then she caused another wind which blew Be
Find into the future where she landed in the golden wine
cup of the wife of Etar.
When Anghus realized what Fuamnach had done, he went
to the raith of the filidh Bresal Etarlam and killed both
Bresal and Fuamnach. Anghus brought Fuamnach's head back
to Sidhe Brugh na Boyna on Magh mBreg in Mide.
NAME Furbaide
ALTERNATIVE Firbaide / Forbai / Forbay / Furbude
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel / Gailioin
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Mide
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara on Magh mBerg
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Ethne (mother); Ailill (father); Finnabair and
Sabd Sulbair (half-sisters); Andoe, Athramail,
Gaib Uile, Mathramail, Milscothach, Mingor,
Morgor and Orlam (half-brothers)
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Clothra / Ethne / Finnabair /
Mane / Orlam
REMARKS Furbaide's mother Ethne was drowned by her
sister, Clothra, while he was still in the womb so he had
to be born by caesarean section.
NAME Furbude Fer Bend
ALTERNATIVE Firbaide / Forbai / Forbay / Furbaide Ferbenn /
Furbaide Fur Bend / Furbude
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain / hero
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel - Dal nAraide / Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Galway / Westmeath
TERRITORY Ulster / Munster / Connacht
LANDMARKS Inchclearaun in Lough Ree
SITES Temair Luachra / Mound of Slane in Mide / Loch
Riabhach (The Gray Lake)
CENTERS Raith Sil in Magh nInis
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid / Gairech & Irgairech
ACCESSORIES sword (Orderg) / sling
RELATIVES Conchobar (father); Cu Chulainn (foster-
father/half-brother); Fedlimid (half-sister);
Fiachna, Findchad, Naoise, Conall, Cormac,
Cuscraid, Fiachu, Fiachna, Follomain, Glas,
Mane, Conaing, Diarmait, Beann and Fiachra
(half-brothers)
ENEMIES Host of Connacht / Medbh
SEE ALSO Beann / Conall Cernacht / Conchobar mac Nessa /
Cormac Condloinges / Cuscraid Menn / Cu Chulainn
/ Diarmait mac Conchobar / Fedlimid Nocruthach /
Ferghus mac Roig / Fiachna / Fiachra / Fiachu /
Findchad / Fintan / Follomain / Glas / MacRoth /
Mane Milscothach / Medbh / Naoise / Sencha
macAilella
REMARKS During Samhain festivities, the Ulster champions
began to fight about whether the feast should be at the
raith of Cu Chulainn or at the raith of Fintan. Furbude,
who was a young lad and foster-son to Cu Chulainn, began to
lament that they would destroy the province for a night of
fun when it had thus far been successful.
Sencha the Wise Counsellor suggested that the warriors
should feast for the first half of the night at the raith
of Fintan and the second half at the raith of Cu Chulainn.
They all agreed to this and after feasting the first half
of the night they took to their chariots and drove off,
following Cu Chulainn. Although Cu Chulainn's birth name
Setantae means "One Who Knows The Way", he appeared to
become lost, eventually leading his intoxicated comrades to
the other side of the country and ending up at Temair
Luachra in the province of Munster where a party was in
progress for the first birthday of Mane Milscothach.
Eventually a fight began and Furbude, who was a young
lad of great beauty, was angry because he could not find
anyone who would fight with him. Then a warrior of
Connacht complained that he had been hit by a spear thrown
by Furbude. This made the warriors of Ulster so angry that
they looted and destroyed Temair Luachra.
Years later during the Cualnge Cattle Raid, MacRoth
described a handsome white-breasted warrior who led his
troop of 3000 warriors to the Mound of Slane in Mide. He
wore a tunic with red ornamentation covered by a fine cloak
held with a gold fibula. He carried a blue striking shield
with a golden boss and a 5-pronged spear with gold
decoration. On his left side, hung from the shoulder, he
wore a sword with a gold hilt, and on his head was a golden
diadem. Ferghus identified the chieftain as Furbude, the
foster-son of Cu Chulainn from Sil in Magh nInis.
Furbude was responsible for killing Medbh after she
had been ruler for 88 years. He killed her with a shot to
the forehead from his sling while she bathed in a pool
called Loch Riabhach (The Gray Lake) on Inis Clothrann
(Inchclearaun) in Lough Ree, counties Galway and Westmeath.
Furbude thus revenged the death of his foster-father by
killing the one person who was really responsible for his
death.