Ulster Cycle

Irish mythological hero

Lugh or Lug (; ) is a figure in Irish mythology. A member of the Tuatha Dé Danann, a group of supernatural beings, Lugh is portrayed as a warrior, a king, a master craftsman and a saviour. He is associated with skill and mastery in multiple disciplines, including the arts. Lugh also has associations with oaths, truth, and the law, and therefore with rightful kingship. He is also associated with intelligence. Lugh is linked with the harvest festival of Lughnasadh, which bears his name. His most common epithets are Lámfada ( ; "long hand" or "long arm", possibly for his skill with a spear or his

deity

Medb (), later spelled Meadhbh (), Méabh(a) () and Méibh (), and often anglicised as Maeve ( ), is queen of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Her husband in the core stories of the cycle is Ailill mac Máta, although she had several husbands before him who were also kings of Connacht. She rules from Cruachan (now Rathcroghan, County Roscommon). She is the enemy (and former wife) of Conchobar mac Nessa, king of Ulster, and is best known for starting the Táin Bó Cúailnge ("The Cattle Raid of Cooley") to steal Ulster's prize stud bull Donn Cúailnge.

thumb|"Macha Curses the Men of Ulster", Stephen Reid (artist)|Stephen Reid's illustration from [[Eleanor Hull's ''The Boys' Cuchulainn (1904)]] Macha () was a sovereignty goddess of ancient Ireland associated with the province of Ulster, particularly the sites of Navan Fort (Eamhain Mhacha) and Armagh (Ard Mhacha''), which are named after her. Several figures called Macha appear in Irish mythology and folklore, all believed to derive from the same goddess. She is said to be one of three sisters known as 'the three Morrígna'. Like other sovereignty goddesses, Macha is associated with the land,

sea god in Irish mythology

group of old Irish tales and legends

thumb|A painting of Deirdre in A book of myths (1915), by Helen Stratton Deirdre ( , ; ) is a tragic heroine in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. She is also known by the epithet "Deirdre of the Sorrows" ().

thumb|Scáthach, illustrated by Beatrice Elvery, from Heroes of the Dawn, 1914 Scáthach () or Sgàthach () is a figure in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. She is a legendary Scottish warrior woman and martial arts teacher who trains the legendary Ulster hero Cú Chulainn in the arts of combat. Texts describe her homeland as Scotland (Alpeach); she is especially associated with the Isle of Skye, where her residence Dún Scáith ("Fortress of Shadows") stands. She is called "the Shadow" and "Warrior Maid" and is the rival and sister of Aífe, both of whom are daughters of Árd-Greimne of Lethra.

legendary Irish king

archaeological site in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, UK

Legendary Irish hero

thumb|Ulaid during the 10th–11th century and its three main sub-kingdoms, along with some of its neighbouring kingdoms. These boundaries would be used as the basis for the dioceses created in the 12th century. ' (Old Irish, ) or (Modern Irish, ) was a Gaelic over-kingdom in north-eastern Ireland during the Middle Ages made up of a confederation of dynastic groups. Alternative names include , which is the Latin form of , and ', Irish for 'the Fifth'. The king of Ulaid was called the or .

thumb|Painting of Aoife by John Duncan (painter)|John Duncan ' (Old Irish), spelled ' () in Modern Irish and Scots Gaelic, is a character from the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. She appears in the sagas Tochmarc Emire ("the wooing of Emer") and Aided Óenfhir Aífe ("the death of Aífe's only son"). In Tochmarc Emire she lives east of a land called Alpi, usually understood to mean Alba (Scotland), where she is at war with a rival woman warrior, Scáthach. In Aided Óenfhir Aífe she lives in Letha (the Armorican peninsula), and is Scáthach's sister as well as rival – they are both daughters of Árd

Cathbad () or Cathbhadh (modern spelling) is the chief druid in the court of King Conchobar mac Nessa in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology.

Rathcroghan () is a complex of archaeological sites near Tulsk in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is identified as the site of Cruachan, the traditional capital of the Connachta, the prehistoric and early historic rulers of the western territory. The Rathcroghan Complex (Crúachan Aí) is an archaeological landscape with many references found in early Irish medieval manuscripts.

thumb|right|240px|Emer rebuking Cú Chulainn. (1905 illustration by [[H. R. Millar.)]] Emer (), in modern Irish ' or (with variations including , and ) and in Scottish Gaelic ', is the name of the daughter of Forgall Monach and the wife of the hero Cú Chulainn in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology.

Legendary Irish king

Irish king

Fand ("tear", "teardrop of beauty") or Fann ("weak, helpless person'") is an otherworldly woman in Irish mythology. The two forms of her name are not phonetic variants, but two different words of different meaning and the history of her name is debated.

thumb|200px|"Ferdia Falls by the Hand of Cuchulain", illustration by Stephen Reid (artist)|Stephen Reid from [[Eleanor Hull's ''The Boys' Cuchulain, 1904]] Ferdiad (; also Fer Diad, Ferdia, Fear Diadh), son of Damán, son of Dáire, of the Fir Domnann, is a warrior of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. In the Táin Bó Cúailnge, Ferdiad finds himself on the side of the war opposite to that taken by his best friend and foster-brother Cú Chulainn, with whom he had trained in arms under the renowned warrior woman Scáthach. He and Cú Chulainn are equal in all martial feats, with two exce

In Irish mythology, Deichtine or Deichtire was the sister of Conchobar mac Nessa and the mother of Cú Chulainn. Her husband was Sualtam, but Cú Chulainn's real father may have been Lugh of the Tuatha Dé Danann.

spear of Cúchulainn in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology

Étaín or Édaín (Modern Irish spelling: Éadaoin) is a figure of Irish mythology, best known as the heroine of Tochmarc Étaíne (The Wooing of Étaín), one of the oldest and richest stories of the Mythological Cycle. She also figures in the Middle Irish Togail Bruidne Dá Derga (''The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel''). T. F. O'Rahilly identified her as a sun goddess.

mythological Irish princess

In Irish mythology, Fragarach (or ), known as "The Answerer" or "The Retaliator", was the sword of the sea god Manannán mac Lir. The sword weakened its foes, and no mail or armour could block it.

legendary Irish hero

Irish mythological text

thumb|Illustration of Fergus mac Róich carrying Sétanta, with sword at his side. (George Denham, 1909) Caladbolg ("hard cleft", also spelled Caladcholg, "hard blade") is the sword of Fergus mac Róich from the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology.

The Connachta are a group of medieval Irish dynasties who claimed descent from the legendary High King Conn Cétchathach (Conn of the Hundred Battles). The modern western province of Connacht (Irish Cúige Chonnacht, province, literally "fifth", of the Connachta) takes its name from them, although the territories of the Connachta also included at various times parts of southern and western Ulster and northern Leinster. Their traditional capital was Cruachan (modern Rathcroghan, County Roscommon).

Legendary Irish king

Irish tale belonging to the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology

thumb|200px|Súaltam's head continues to cry out a warning: illustration by Stephen Reid (artist)|Stephen Reid, from T. W. Rolleston, Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race, 1911 Súaltam (Súaltaim, Súaldam, Súaldaim, Súaltach) mac Róich is the mortal father of the hero Cúchulainn in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. His wife is Deichtine, sister of Conchobar mac Nessa, king of Ulster. His brother is Fergus mac Róich.

Connla or Conlaoch is a character in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, the son of the Ulster champion Cú Chulainn and the Scottish warrior woman Aífe. He was raised alone by his mother in Scotland. He appears in the story Aided Óenfhir Aífe (''The Tragic Death of Aífe's Only Son), a pre-tale to the great epic Táin Bó Cúailnge''.

High King of Ireland

"The Sword of Light", in Irish Mythology

Flidas or Flidais (modern spelling: Fliodhas, Fliodhais) is a female figure in Irish Mythology, known by the epithet Foltchaín ("beautiful hair"). She is believed to have been a goddess of cattle and fertility.

Fráech (Fróech, Fraích, Fraoch) is a Connacht hero and demigod in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. He is the nephew of Boann, goddess of the river Boyne, and son of Idath of the men of Connaught and Bébinn (sister of Boann of the sidhe), and is renowned for his handsomeness and exploits. He belongs to the Fir Domnann.

Irish sovereign

In Irish and Scottish mythology, Uathach was Scáthach's daughter and thus the niece of her rival and sister Aífe. Cú Chulainn, who had recently arrived at Scáthach's fortress-home Dún Scáith (Fortress of Shadows) to be her pupil, accidentally broke one of Uathach's fingers, and Uathach's suitor, Cochar Croibhe, challenged him to single combat despite Uathach's protests. Cú Chulainn killed him and became Uathach's lover.

fictional human

Bricriu (also Briccriu, Bricne) is a hospitaller (briugu), troublemaker and poet in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology.

magical bull from Irish mythology

high King of Ireland

Mugain, daughter of Eochaid Feidlech, () (sugg. pron. /Moógen Ait-en-hai-rech/ (Leahy); mod. pron. /MOO-in/), is a legendary queen in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology; characterized as the "Strumpet wife of Conchobar mac Nessa", the king of Ulster. Also styled Mumain, she had a son with him named Glaisne. She was also a sister of Medb by paternity.

fictional human

mythical character

Celtchar, son of Uthechar or Uthidir, is a character from the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology. In Scéla Mucce Maic Dathó ("The Tale of Mac Dathó's Pig") he is described as "a grey, tall, very terrible hero of Ulster". When he challenges Cet mac Mágach for the champion's portion, Cet counters that he once emasculated Celtchar with a spear at Celtchar's own house. He lives in Dún Lethglaise, also known as the Mound of Down (Irish Dún), or Rathkeltair (Irish Ráth Celtchair or Celtchar's Fort) in Downpatrick, County Down. His wife is Findmór of Dún Sobairche (Dunseverick, County Antrim). He wields

mythological warrior from Ireland

thumb|250px|"Cuchulain in Battle", illustration by J. C. Leyendecker from T. W. Rolleston, Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race, 1911. Láeg is driving the chariot.

Athirne Ailgheasach ("the importunate"), son of Ferchertne, is a poet and satirist of the court of Conchobar mac Nessa in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, who abuses the privileges of poets.

Findabair or Finnabair (Modern , ) was a daughter of Ailill and Queen Medb of Connacht in Irish mythology. The meaning of the name is "white phantom" (etymologically cognate with Gwenhwyfar, the original Welsh form of Guinevere). The Dindsenchas also mention a Findabair who is the daughter of Lugaid Laigde.

Findchóem (also spelled Finnchóem, Findcháem, Finncháem, Fionnchaomh) is a character from the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology.

character in Irish mythology

Legendary Irish character

Cúscraid (; var. Cumscraid) (pronunciation guides: /'ku:skrid m'eN 'maxa / () /cŏŏs'crĭ/ () /KOOS-kridh/ (Paddy Brown)) known by the epithet Mend Macha (the "stammerer" or "inarticulate one" of Macha), is a son of Conchobar mac Nessa in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology.

In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, Culann was a smith whose house was protected by a ferocious watchdog. Culann's hound was a pup of Celtchar's hound Dael, and he was found in the skull of Conganchnes mac Dedad along with two other pups (Celtchar and Mac da Tho's hounds); Culann's hound was speckled, while Celtchar and Mac da Tho's hounds were black and grey, respectively.

Maeve, Meave, Maev or Maiv, Maiev, Mabh ( ) is a female given name of Irish origin. It comes from the Irish name Méabh, which was spelt or Maedhbh in Early Modern Irish (), or in Middle Irish, and in Old Irish (). It may derive from a word meaning "she who intoxicates", "mead-woman", or alternatively "she who rules". Medb is a queen in Irish mythology who is thought to have originally been a sovereignty goddess.

fictional human

legendary king of Tara