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STORIES
What follows is a series of short stories from the heroic period. TEAMHAIR = TARA
Muireann Ni Bhrolchain, Celtic Studies Professor at Maynooth College has presented the following for your pleasure -
1) CONAIRE MOR - A KING OF TARA
Conaire Mór was the offspring of the king Eadarscéal and Meas Buachalla. She was a huge evil-looking woman who could come and go in the fairy mounds by magic. She herded huge cattle.
Tara had a king's chariot. Two horses of the same colour were yoked to it that had never before been harnessed. The chariot would tilt up before any man who was not destined to receive the kingship of Tara, so that he could not control it and the horses would spring at him. There was a king's cloak in the chariot and the cloak was too big for the man who would not receive Tara's sovereignty. There were two flag-stones in Tara - Bloc and Bluighne. When they accepted a man they would open before him until the chariot went through. And the Lia Fáil (standing stone) was waiting for him at the end of the chariot-course. When the man destined to be the king of Tara came in the chariot, Fál screeched against his chariot-axle, so that it was heard by all. But if the man in the chariot were not the rightful king of Tara, the stones Bloc and Bluighne would not open for him. They were usually in such a position that a hand would pass sideways between them. If he was not the rightful King of Tara, the Lia Fáil would not screech against his axle.
"Do you know what is happening at Tara?" Meas Buachalla asked her son.
"I do not," he replied.
"They are choosing a king. You will have the followers for this."
They go to Tara together. Her long black hair was loose around her face. She has about her a druid, a shield bearer, satirists and horn blowers. A crowd was waiting with the chariot, horses and the cloak .
"A chariot for you!" said his mother.
Conaire enters the chariot and it received him.
"Put the cloak about you. " she said.
He puts on the cloak in the presence of the people and it fits him. He stands in the chariot - it moves under him. Bloc and Bluigne open before him. The Lia Fáil screams as the crowd and his mother watch.
"Fál has accepted him!" the crowd proclaims.
The crowd make submission to Conaire and give him his father's heritage.
2) CU CHULAINN AT THE BOYNE
Cú Chulainn was once beside the River Boyne in his chariot with his charioteer Laogh son of Rianghabhra. He was killing the salmon in Linn Féic. They saw a little man in purple clothing, sitting in a tiny bronze boat and travelling down the Boyne without rowing at all. He was Seanbheag the grandson of Ebhreac of the fairy mounds who came from the plain of Seaghais looking for the supernatural enlightenment that gives poetic inspiration.
There were nine fair-bearing hazels from whose nuts this inspiration could be received. These hazels dropped into the wells, the stream brought their poetic inspiration into the Boyne.
Cú Chulainn put tiny Seanbheag and his little boat on the palm of his hand.
Seanbheag pleaded with him: "I will give you my cloak and my tunic as a reward for my safety. They will fit anyone, whether big or small. No one will drown or burn so long as he wears them".
"I have them already", said Cú Chulainn.
"Take my shield, my spear and no battle will be seized against you. You will never be wounded as long as the shields protect you", said Seanbheag.
"I have them all in the hollow of my fist", said Cú Chulainn.
Seanbheag sang to him some of his learning. He sang him this song:
I am not a lad; I am not a man,
I am not a child of learning.
The mysteries of God
Have made me gifted.
I am Abhchán, a sage of learning,
A poet from Seaghais.
Seanbheag is my name,
Ebhreac's grandson from the fairy mounds. "
Then Seanbheag offered Cú Chulainn wonderful rewards if he would let him free. But Cú Chulainn did not want to grant his wish.
Then Seanbheag stretched out his hand and took his harp to himself. He began playing the three different types of music: he played him a geantraí (laughing song) so that Cú Chulainn was laughing; he played a goltraí (wailing song) so that he was wailed and he played a suantraí (sleeping song) so that he put Cú Chulainn to sleep.
As a result li ttle Seanbheag escaped and disappeared down the Boyne in his tiny brass boat.
3)THE BIRTH OF CU CHULAINN
Eamhain Mhacha in the kingdom of Ulster is besieged by a flock of birds. The king Conor and his heroes decide to attack them. Conor's daughter Deichtine drives his chariot and the birds lead them to Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange). When it begins to snow they decide to stay there for the night. They find a tiny house with a young couple living there who give them food and shelter for the night. The young woman of the house gives birth during the night and Deichtine helps her to deliver a little boy. Just as the child is born a mare at the door of the house gives birth to two foals. The Ulstermen look after the baby and give him the foals as a present. Deichtine nurses the child for the mother.
But when morning comes it has all disappeared except their horses, the baby and the foals. The house, the young couple and the birds have disappeared. They return home where Deichtine cares for the baby until he was a boy. But then he catches an illness and dies.
Deichtine is heartbroken and mourns his death. Then one day she is brought a goblet of water. But when she drinks from it a tiny creature slips into her mouth with the water. That night while she slept she had a dream that a man came to her.
He said: "You will bear my child. It was I who brought you to Brú na Bóinne. That boy you reared was mine and you will now give birth to my son and you will call him Séadanda. I am Lugh the son of Eithne. The foals that you brought from Brú na Bóinne should be given to our son".
Deichtine became visibly pregnant. The people of Ulster said that the father could have been Conor himself while he was drunk on the night she stayed with him at Brú na Bóinne. To put a stop to the rumours, Conor gave his daughter in marriage to Súaldamh the son of Roach, the brother of Fearghas son of Roach.
But Deichtine was embarrassed to go to bed with her new husband while pregnant. She pressed herself against the bedpost and there she was very sick. She was made virgin and whole again and went to her husband. Soon she is pregnant again. She bore a son and she called him Séadanda.
4)CU CHULAINN LOOKS FOR A WIFE
Once when the Ulstermen were performing feats at Eamhain Mhacha they noticed how all their women loved Cú Chulainn. They were worried and decided to find him a wife because he was too young, too bold and too beautiful. Conor ordered that they search the land for a suitable wife. The messengers search Ireland for a year without success. Cú Chulainn decides to search for a girl he heard of: Emer the daughter of Forghaill Monach who lived at Lughlocht of Lugh. He finds her sitting on the green surrounded by her friends.
"Why are you here?" she asks.
"To seek you as a wife," he replied.
After a long conversation they agree that they are a good match but her father objects to his visiting her. He sets him a task - to train in the Otherworld (in the hope that he will be killed).
Cú Chulainn sets off for Scotland and then further afield to the Otherworld to train with the female warrior Scáthach (The Shadowy one). Scáthach predicts a wonderful future for him. He defeats her enemy Aoife and makes her pregnant with his son.
While he is gone, Emer's father tries to marry her to someone but he vanishes when he hears of her engagement to Cú Chulainn.
Cú Chulainn completes his task, returns to Eamhain Mhacha and sets out to claim his bride. Her parents still object to the marriage. He kills her family and takes her with him regardless.
He is attacked at Áth Sceanmeann (Delvin River, Gormanstown) and at Crúfóid (Moyfenrath, Meath before reaching the Boyne River on his way to Eamhain Mhacha.
They are welcomed by all and a wedding feast is held. But Bricriu of the poison tongue causes a riot saying that Conor has the right to sleep with every bride on the first night after the marriage. Cú Chulainn will not agree to this so a compromise is reached. Conor will be in the same bed as Emer but Fergus and Cathbhadh the Druid will be in the bed also to protect Cú Chulainn's honour. Conor pays Emer's bride price the following day, Cú Chulainn sleeps with his bride and they do not separate until he dies.
5)DEATH AT THE SLOPING MOUNDS
The king of Tara, Tuathal Teachtmar son of Fiachu Findhfholaidh had as a queen Báine the daughter of Scál (shadow). She bore the king two daughters, Fithir and Dáirine. Eochu Áincheann king of Leinster came to woo one of them and Dáirine was given to him. But Eochu took a dislike to her. He went to woo the younger daughter, Fithir. He told her that Dáirine was dead. Fithir was given to him and he returned to his own territory. Dáirine came to welcome her sister for she did not know that she was replacing her. The younger of the sisters, that is Fithir, died of shame when she saw her sister. Then Dáirine died of grief for her.
When Tuathal heard this he went on a hosting into Leinster and bound the compensation for his daughters on the Leinstermen. Here is the amount of the compensation: 150 cows, and 150 pigs and 150 cloaks - all of them each year. That is called the cattle tribute of Leinster (Bóraimhe Laighean.)
Tuathal exacted it for 30 years and his son Feidhlimidh for 7 years, 20 years by Conn Chéadchathach and 12 years by by Art. Dúnlaing king of Leinster refused it to Cormac grandson of Conn.
Cormac went with his hosts into Leinster exactly at Samhain. Dúnlaing went around him with his host to Tara. They killed 30 daughters of the kings of Ireland and a further hundred maidens. These included the 10 daughters of Cormac himself, that is Ailbhe, Eithne, Gráinne, Lemhain, Scithe, Adhmhaer, Oenge, Tailinne and Indearbh along with the 8 daughters of Fearghas Foltleabhar the 12 daughters of Ailill Cindnathrach and the 3 Mámma.
Then Aonghas Fear Gaebuaibtheach blinded Cormac's eye. Dissension arose between him and Cormac in Tara when Aonghas said that a maiden of his kin would not be in bondage and he wounded Cormac's eye and killed his son. It is from this that Cormac was blind in one eye.
Cairbre Lifechair took the kingship of Tara in place of his father, for it would not be proper that a king with a blemish should rule there. Eithne, moreover, was the mother of that Cairbre. That is the death of the women of Tara. (At the Sloping Mounds/Trenches)
6)IRELAND’S FIRST JUDGEMENT AT TARA
The Milesians, the sons of Míl, arrived in Ireland and did battle with the Tuatha Dé Danann. A woman of their people died in the battle, she was Scota the daughter of Pharaoh of Egypt and the wife of Érimhón son of Míl. After her death the Sons of Míl including their poet Aimhirghin, travelled to Sliabh Mis. There they met the goddess Banbha. "A gift from me to you", she said. "What gift is that?" they asked. "That my name be upon this island", she replied. "And what is your name," they asked. "Banbha", she said. "Your name will be on the island then", said Aimhirghin.
They had the same conversation with her sisters Fódhla and Ériu. They met Ériu at Uisneach and she said: "Welcome warriors! Your coming has been foretold long ago. This island will be yours forever and no race will ever be more numerous than yours and my name should be on this island". "That will be the island's principal name", said Aimihrghin.
The sons of Míl reached Teamhair where there they meet the three kings of the Tuatha Dé Danann Mac Cuill, Mac Céacht and Mac Gréine. They made a judgement against the sons of Míl - the Tuatha Dé Danann should have the island for three days without attack, without battle or without giving hostages. The Tuatha Dé Danann were sure that the invaders would not return because their druids had cast spells upon them so that they would not return.
"We will allow your own judge Aimhirghin to make the judgement", they said. "He will not give a false judgement. If he does - he will die at our hands".
Aimhirghin makes the judgement: "Let the island be left to them and we shall go past nine waves on the sea".
This was the first judgement to be made in Ireland.
The Sons of Míl took to sea and the spells of the Tuatha Dé Danann brought them far away from Ireland and they were close to destruction by the vicious winds and storms. Some of their people drowned but they were eventually victorious and claimed the land as their own.
7) HOW TEAMHAIR GOT HER NAME
The Book of Invasions tells us how Érimhón son Míl deserted his first wife Odhbha and travelled to Spain where he met a woman called Tea and he took her to Ireland as his wife. He wanted to give her a wonderful present as her marriage portion and allowed her to choose the land. Tea decided to choose the place then called Druin Chaín, the mound that is called Teamhair. It was called Teamhair from then on: the Wall of Tea, that is from the words múr (wall) and Tea (her name). She persuaded him to bury her there when she died.
Another version says that Érimhón found Tea in Thebes and brought her to Ireland. After a time she was dying with homesickness and she told him that she wanted to return to Thebes. Érimhón begged her to stay and told her that he would give her anything she wanted if only she would remain in Ireland. He promised that he would build her the most wonderful dwelling in the country on the most beautiful hill that could be found.
Érimhón seized Teamhair and built three walls on its upper part and named the place Teamhair so that it was called by that name by everyone ever afterwards. His wife's homesickness disappeared.
TEAMHAIR - a poem
How did Teamhair of Breagh get its name?
Please tell us you poets!
When was that place named?
When did Teamhair become Teamhair?
A boundary ditch was built around her house,
By great Tea the daughter of Lughaidh;
She was buried beyond the wall,
So that from her Teamhair is named.
I am Fintan the poet,
I am not a salmon of one stream;
There I was raised to renown,
On the territorial abode, above Teamhair.
TEAMHAIR - another poem
Tea of Breagh, a large household,
It is famous because she was a noblewoman,
A funeral mound of great standards,
The burial ground was not ransacked.
Tephi gave her name to the beautiful dwelling,
The king's beautiful and lucky wife,
The wall ofTephi, it confronts an army,
Who would dare any feat without fear.
8) THE SETTLEMENT OF TARA
Once during the reign of king Diarmaid mac Cearbhaill, the Uí Néill held a meeting in Magh Breagh to discuss the settlement of Teamhair. It seemed too large for them, that is the sweeping plain with seven views on every side. They talked about reducing the green as it appeared wasteful to them to have that amount of land without houses, farming and of no service to anyone.
Diarmaid invited them to a feast but they refused until the green of Teamhair was decided as it was before their day and how it would be forever more.
"I will take advice from Fintan son of Bóchra son of Bith son of Noah who survived the Flood", says Diarmaid. Fintan arrives at Teamhair. He tells them that the first judgement ever made in Ireland was given by Amhairghin at Teamhair.
"The first judgement in Ireland was given here", said Fintan. "I got my knowledge from the learned Tréfuilngidh Trí-eochair who causes the sun to rise and set. Call the men of Ireland to me. As you have no storytellers I will tell you the stories of the four quarters of Ireland and of the hearth of Teamhair with the four quarters of Ireland around it. I explain all that is unknown".
"This is the division", said Fintan, "west for knowledge, north for battle, east for prosperity, south for music, and the centre position for kingship. Here in the centre we find Ireland's kings, stewards, honour, sovereignty, entertaining, defenders, destructions, violence, warriors, charioteers, soldiers, high-kings, poets, mead, ale fame and prosperity".
"Where are these?" asked the people. "The lordship of Teamhair stretches from Meath to Newgrange to Moynalvey to Uisneach to Slane, to Kells, to Teathba. Remember that Uisneach and Teamhair are the two kidneys of Ireland".
"Let Teamhair remain as we found it", said Fintan, "We should not contradict the arrangement which Tréfuilngidh Trí-eochair left us. He was God's angel or perhaps he was God himself".
With that Fintan left the men of Ireland and the green of Teamhair was settled forever more.
9) CU CHULAINN VISIT TO TARA
During the encounters of Cú Chulainn on Táin Bó Cúailnge he fought many combats with many brave warriors. He threatened to kill Ailill or Medb if he came close enough.
One of the warriors who confronted him during his defence of Ulster was Leathan.
He came on to his fort over the River Níth (River Dee, Co Louth) in Conaille (land from Cooley to the Boyne) and indeed waited to encounter Cú Chulainn. He was grieved by what Cú Chulainn had already done. Cú Chulainn cut off his head and left it there beside the body. Hence is the name Áth Leathan on the Níth. And their chariots broke when they met on the ford beside it. Hence is the name Áth Carpat. Mulcha, lethan's charioteer, fell on the shoulder of the hill that lies between Áth Lethan and Áth Carpat. Hence comes the placename Gúala Mulcha.
While the army was going over Mag mBreg Allecto came for a while, that Is, the Morrígan, in the form of a bird which perched on the pillar-stone in Temair Cúailnge and said to the bull:
"Does the restless Black Bull know (it) without destructive falsehood? … I have a secret that the Black Bull will know if he graze (?) … on the green grass … Fierce is the raven, men are dead, a sorrowful saying … every day the death of a great tribe …"
The the bull went with fifty heifers to Slíab Cuillinn, and his herdsman, Forgaimen, followed him. The bull threw of the thrice fifty boys who used to play on his back and killed two thirds of them. And before he went he pawed the earth in Tír Margéni in Cúailnge.
Cú Chulainn did not kill anyone between the Saili Imdoirchi in the district of Conaille until they reached Cúailnge. Cú Chulainn was then on the mountain of Cuinche. He threatened that wherever he saw Medb he would cast a stone at her head. This was not easy for him, for Medb travelled surrounded by half the army and with a screed of shields over her head.
10) CU CHULAINN AND THE KINGSHIP OF TARA
At Samhain the Ulstermen usually celebrated for seven days with games, feasts and drinking. While waiting for two of their heroes, Conall Cearnach and Fearghas mac Roích they passed the time played chess.
A flock of birds fly over them and Mughain, Conor's wife says: "I would love two of those birds!" All the other women agreed with her.
Cú Chulainn is asked to hunt the birds and he catches two for every woman except his own wife Emher. When two more birds pass by, he shoots at them and misses. In foul humour he falls asleep at a standing stone. Two women appear and horsewhip him close to death.! Cú Chulainn is taken to his bed and lies motionless until …
Next Samhain as warriors surround his bed, a mysterious visitor invites Cú Chulainn to visit the Other World with him with him. Cú Chulainn refuses.
The kingship of Tara is vacant for seven years since the horrible murder of Conaire Mór in the Hostel of Da Derga. The kings of the 4 provinces of Ireland wish to choose a successor. They convene the bull feast to prophecy the future king. A fair bull is killed and one man eats his fill of the meat and broth. He then sleeps while four druids chant over him. He sees the future king in his dreams. When he is awoken he tells his vision to the kings.
"I see a strong, noble, youthful warrior with two red circles about him and he is at the pillow of a sick man at Eamhain Mhacha."
Messengers are sent to Eamhain Mhacha in search for the man.
"That is our Lughaidh of the Red Stripes"! declares Conor. "He is the fosterson of Cú Chulainn. He sits at his sickbed."
With that Cú Chulainn wakes and declares to Lughaidh:
"Fosterling to be king of Tara, this is my advice - do not jest, do not mock,
be not cold hearted to friends,
be not weak with enemies,
be not afraid, be not rash,
be not contentious, be not hostile,
be not lazy, be not weak,
be not too quick, be not vulgar,
do not break a contract or repent,
adopt and follow my words my son!"
Lughaidh goes to Tara where he is proclaimed king. He sleeps in Tara that night and entertains many visitors.
11) THE DEATH OF CU CHULAINN
Cú Chulainn put on his cloak but it burst around him and a brooch fell from his hand.
He said to Laogh: "prepare the Liath Mhacha and the chariot for us".
Laogh said "No one could bring that horse to a chariot today".
The horse turned his left side to Cú Chulainn three times and shed great round tears of blood. Cú Chulainn raced southward in the chariot along the road of Midhluachair, across Mag Mugna. He saw three witches blind in the left eye. They were cooking a lap-dog, with poison and spells, on spits of holly. It was one of Cú Chulainn's tabus to pass a cooking-place without eating but it was also a tabu of his to eat the flesh of his namesake.
The witch said, "pay a visit with us".
"I will not," Cú Chulainn said.
"The food is only a hound", she said. The witch gave him the dog's shoulder, Cú Chulainn took it from her hand and put it under his left thigh. Both the hand and thigh lost their strength.
Cú Chulainn meets the enemy army. Lughaidh son of Cú Raí took a spear and cast it at Laogh. His entrails came out onto the chariot's upholstery.
Cú Chulainn sorrowfully said farewell to Laogh. Lughaidh cast the spear, it pierced him. What was in his midriff came out onto the chariot's upholstery.
Cú Chulainn said, "I would like to go to the lough yonder, to drink a drink from it".
"You have our leave," they said, "provided that you come back to us".
He gathered his entrails up in his bosom and pressed his hand against his belly. After taking a drink, he washed himself and went to a stone pillar nearby. He put his belt around it so that he might die standing up.
The Liath Macha came to protect Cú Chulainn as long as his soul remained in his body and the hero's light still blazed from his forehead. The horse attacked them, killing 50 with his teeth and 30 with each of his hooves.
Then a scald-crow alit on his shoulder. Lughaidh arranged his hair behind him, and cut off his head. Cú Chulainn's sword fell from his hand and severed Lughaidh's arm. Cú Chulainn's arm was cut off to avenge that.
The army left taking his head and arm with them as far as Tara. His head and arm both rest there and the full of his shield.
12) A JUDGEMENT AT TEAMHAIR
There was a battle at the Plain of Mucramha (near Athenry in Galway) fought between Eoghan son of Ailill of the Bare-Ear of Munster and Art son of Conn of the Hundred Battles king of Teamhair one the one side and Lughaidh son of Con on the other. Lughaidh son of Con was the victor and both Eoghan and Art were killed in the battle. Art left behind a son called Cormac …
As a result of the battle Lughaidh son of Con took the kingship of Ireland by force. He spent seven years as king in Teamhair. He took the baby, Cormac, son of the former king Art, into fosterage.
At one time the sheep belonging to a woman ate the glassen (woad)* of Lughaidh's queen.
The case was brought before Lughaidh Mac Con for his judgement.
"I judge", said Mac Con, "that the sheep should be given in place of the sheep".
The little boy, Cormac, is sitting on the couch beside him.
"No foster-father", he said. "The sheep should be sheared and the wool given for the stripping of the woad. This would be more just. Because the woad will grow in the soil again and the wool will grow upon the sheep".
The people recognize the truth of the judgement.
"That is the true judgement", they all said. "And also the child who gives it is the son of the true prince".
Immediately, one side of the house begins to fall down the Cliffside; that is the side of the house where the false judgement was given. It will stay like that forever; and it is called the Clóenfherta (Crooked Mounds) of Teamhair …
The poet said:
The brave warrior Lughaidh,
He gave a false judgement, I think,
Forever since then 'til now,
The Ráth shall be crooked on this side.
For a year after that judgement, Lughaidh Mac Con remained in the kingship. But during that time no grass grew through the ground, no leaves appeared on the trees and no grain of corn grew throughout the countryside.
The men of Ireland understood that he was an unjust ruler and they banished him from the kingship of Teamhair.
(*a plant used for dying cloth etc.)
13) LUGH COMES TO TEAMHAIR
The mythological saga The Battle of Moytura tells the tale of three kings of Teamhair. The first was the wise Nuadha who resigned when he lost an arm in battle. The second was Breas the flawed Fomorian king who gave bad judgements and mistreated the poet Cairpre. The third was the perfect God Lugh who arrives to Teamhair to save the Tuatha Dé Danann in their battle with the one-eyed, one-armed and one-legged Fomorians (the enemy from overseas).
At that time the poet of the Tuatha Dé Danann came to Breas's house for hospitality (he was Cairbre the son of Édhaoin. He was brought into a tiny, pitch black, narrow house where he saw that there was no furniture, no fire not even a bed within. The only food that he received was three little dry cakes on a dish.
When he got up the following morning he was furious and vented his anger at the king. As he crossed the courtyard he proclaimed:
"He will be without food on a dish,
And without the cow's milk on which a calf feeds,
He will be homeless after darkness,
Let it be Breas's circumstance - to be without paying a company of storytellers".
"Bres's affluence is no longer", he said. That was the truth and he suffered only affliction from that hour. That is the first satire that was made in Ireland.
Breas left Ireland and returned to his father's people overseas.
Meanwhile in Teamhair, Nuadha resumes the kingship. He sits at the head of the table in the Teach Midhchuarta (Banqueting Hall). The doorkeeper sees the Shining One approaching …
14) RUADHAN CURSES TEAMHAIR
(From the story the death of Diarmaid mac Cearbhaill)
St Ruadhán of Lothra visited St Brendan of Birr. They visit Teamhair and asked the king Diarmaid mac Cearbhaill for his security. He refused: "protection should not be given to those who would destroy my rule".
The clerics chanted curses and beat their bells at the king. Twelve fostersons of the king died at Teamhair. When their fosterfathers pleaded with the clerics they brought the boys back to life.
For a year the clerics cursed Diarmaid. His steward said; "the clerics finished their food, they may fast against you."
Diarmaid saw a vision that night: a large tree at Teamhair with its tip reaching to the clouds of heaven and sheltering all Ireland. He sees two foreigners hacking the tree and felled it by placing a strap about it. The sound of the tree falling woke him up.
"It is true", said Diarmaid, "I am the tree and the foreigners hacking it are the clerics curtailing my life; it is by them that I shall fall".
The king gets up next morning and he went to the place were the clerics were.
"It is evil to destroy my rule because I protect the truth", said Diarmaid. "Ruadhán - yours will be the first church in Ireland to be destroyed. Your monks shall leave you".
"May I soon weary of your kingship", said Ruadhán.
"May your city be deserted and pigs dig up the graveyard", said Diarmaid. "May Teamhair be deserted and never a dwelling upon her!" said Ruadán.
"May there be a blemish upon your body!" said Diarmaid.
Ruadhán's eye burst immediately.
"May your body be maimed by enemies and your limbs scattered!" said Ruadán.
"May a wild boar dig up your home and scatter your relics!" said Diarmaid. “May wild dogs howl about your cemetery every nones and midday".
"May that knee not rise until it is buried with your body!" said Ruadhán.
Ruadhán called up the black gloom so that there would never be smoke from the houses in Teamhair.
Diarmaid looks up at the ridgepole. "That ridgepole is your enemy", said Ruadán. "It will smite you when you have been beaten by the foreigners".
"Your redress cleric", said Diarmaid. They make peace.
15) TARA AND SKRYNE - CORMAC’S DEATH
There was a time when the people called the Déise lived at Magh Breagh. This was during the time that Cormac mac Airt was the king of Teamhair. Cormac had a son Ceallach who captured Créidhe a girl of the Déise. There was a fierce warrior among the Déise called Aonghus Gaíbuaibhtheach. His name came from his vicious spear with its swinging chains and he took revenge on any insult to his family.
He sets out for Cormac's court and meets a woman on his way.
"A drink and food as I am thirsty and hungry!" he demands of her.
"Your way of life is evil", she said. "You are likely to rape a lone woman as avenge your people".
Aonghus was furious and he threw a bucket at her head and killed her.
The watchman sees Aonghus marching towards Teamhair and proclaims:
"I see a rough angry warrior with a huge spear coming to us".
"That is Aonghus", replied Cormac.
Aonghus storms into the court where Ceallach and Cormac are sitting. Aonghus thrusts the spear through Ceallach's breast so that it became wedged in the wall behind him. As he withdrew the spear, a link of the chain hit Cormac's eye and split it in two. He also killed the steward of the house, Séadhna as well as another nine warriors of the household before he managed to escape.
From then on Cormac could not sleep in Teamhair, it was unlucky for a blemished king to sleep there. He built Achall on the side of Teamhair - he dug the Rath so that he could sleep there for the rest of his life.
Another version says: Cormac could no longer enter Teamhair and that he lived the rest of his life at Achall by Teamhair. The story adds that today Achall is called Scrín Cholm Cille - Skryne.
Cormac defeated the Déise in seven battles and they are subsequently exiled from Teamhair. The women cried: they were parted from Teamhair forever. Aonghus' wife said:
"I salute Teamhair of the Hill and
The beautiful, salmon-filled Boyne,
Defamed, my heart breaks
I will miss the Aonach of Tailltiu."
Cormac died a year later at Cleitheach near Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange).
16) CU CHULAINN’S VISIT TO TARA
The warriors of Ulster took turns in the Fews Mountains guarding the way to Eamhain Mhacha. As Cú Chulainn and his charioteer Iobhar proceed he asks "What are those mountains over there?" he asks. "The Mourne Mountains," Iobhar answers. "What plain is that?" he asks. "The plain of Breagha", is the reply. Iobhar tells him the names of all the forts between Tara and Kells and the fort of the three sons of Neachtain Scéine (on the River Skayne ). *
"They have killed more Ulstermen than are alive, let us go and meet them", says Cú Chulainn.
The sons of Neachtain Scéine come to meet them. One steps forward.
"If you do not reach that man with the first thrust you will never reach him", Iobhar warns.
But Cú Chulainn casts a spear at him, breaking his back and then beheading him. The second brother approaches.
"I swear that he will not play that stick on Ulstermen again," he says. He kills and beheads him and then the third brother.
Then he heard the cry of their mother, as she mourns them.
He returns to the Fews Mountains where he captures a herd of wild deer and ties them to the chariot. Then they see a flock of swans.
"Which would the Ulstermen think best, if I bring them alive or dead?"
"The bravest carry them off alive".
He ties 12 swans to his chariot. He returns to Eamhain Mhacha in that fashion with a wild deer, a flock of swans and the severed heads on the chariot.
"I swear unless a man is found to fight with me, I shall shed the blood of everyone in the fort!" he says.
"Send forth naked women to meet him!" orders Conor. The women, led by Mughain, Conor's wife, go to meet the boy and bare their breasts to him.
"These are the warriors you will meet today!" said Mughain.
He hid his face and the warriors placed him in vats of cold water. The first tub burst about him, the second boiled the water and the third heated the water.
Mughain put a blue cloak with a silver brooch about him and Cú Chulainn sits at Conor's knee.
(* Probably Ringlestown Fort today)
Comment from Druidschool
You can still visit many of these magical and heroic places and if you sit quietly you can sometimes feel these stories vibrating in the Sky, Land and Waters.
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