Early History of Ulaid

• Emain Macha

• Birth of Conchobar

• Conchobar and Medb

• Curse of Macha

Emain Macha

Emain Macha was Conchobar's capital - the seat of power in Ulaid (Ulster). The city, or should I say dun (hill-fortress), was situated near modern Armagh. The name Emain Macha was named after the red war-goddess Macha; Emain Macha means the "Brooch of Macha".

Macha was a daughter of Áed Ruad, a prince of Ulaid (Ulster). Áed Ruad was either a brother or cousin to Dithorba and Cimbáeth (Kimbay), with whom Áed Ruad shared the kingship of Ulaid. They shared the throne, with each brother ruling for a period of seven years before relinquishing the throne to the other brother.

However, when Áed Ruad drowned before he finished his term of office. Macha should have ruled for the rest of her father's incomplete term, but her two uncles opposed the young queen.

Macha refused to let her uncles rule without her, and was determined to rule in her father's place. Macha led an army and fought in a war where she killed Dithorba in battle. Macha then compelled her other uncle, Cimbáeth, to marry her so that she became queen, and they ruled together.

Dithorba's five sons fled to Connacht, where they plotted to overthrown Macha. Macha however captured the brothers. Macha founded the city of Emain Macha, marking the boundary of her hill-fortress with her brooch. Macha forced Dithorba's sons into building Emain Macha as slaves.

Not long after being made king of Ulster, Cimbáeth received the high kingship of Ireland, and he ruled in Tara with Macha for 27 years. When Cimbáeth died, Macha refused to relinquish power, so she continued to rule another seven years as "high queen" until Rechtad Riderg of Mumu (Munster) murdered her.

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The name Macha appeared several other times before she appeared as daughter of Áed Ruad. The name first appeared as wife of Nemed, leader of the Nemedians. Macha appeared again as the wife of Nuada, king of Ireland and leader of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Macha and Nuada died in the Second Battle of Mag Tuired.

The Danann Macha was identified as the Irish goddess of fertility, war, and horses. Macha was one of the aspects of Morrígan (Morrigan). As goddess of horses, Macha was the Irish equivalent of the Gallic horse-goddess Epona and the Welsh goddess Rhiannon. She was portrayed as a red goddess, either because she was dressed in red or because she had red hair.

She reappeared in the Ulaid Cycle as wife of Crunnchu and was associated with the curse placed upon the men of Ulster (see Curse of Macha, in the article below).

Birth of Conchobar

There are only two things we are certain about, regarding the birth of Conchobar. Firstly, Conchobar's mother was Ness (Nes or Nessa). The other thing is that it was his mother who manipulated events so that he would become king of Ulster. There is confusion over the identity of his father.

Ness was the daughter of Eochaid Sálbuide (Eochaid of the Yellow Heel). She married Fachtna Fáthach, the half-brother of Fergus Mac Róich. It is possible that Fachtna was Conchobar's father according to one version, but there is a more popular version which said that his real father was Cathbad.

Cathbad was the ard-druid (high druid) of Ulster who later became Conchobar's adviser.

Ness was sitting outside of Emain Macha when she saw the druid travelling from Tratraige of Mag Inis. She asked Cathbad what this hour was lucky for, and the druid replied that it was a good hour to beget a king from a queen. Ness, seeing that her husband was too far away to reach, and that there was no other male nearby, the Queen had the druid to make love to her. So Cathbad was actually the father of Conchobar.

Some years later, after the birth of Conchobar, Fachtna Fáthach, Ness' husband, died. Clearly, Fergus Mac Róich would have ruled in Ulster in succession to his half-brother. But Fergus wanted to marry his brother's widow.

Ness, seeing this as a great opportunity for her son, refused. She would only agree to a marriage if he would let her son be king for one year and a day. She wanted her son to be king even if it was only for a short time. This, Fergus foolishly agreed to. Fergus became Conchobar's foster-father.

During Conchobar's one-year reign, Ness secretly spent her time gathering support for her son. She give away the money from taxes to many important people, particularly the warriors of Ulster. Also, Conchobar ruled with wisdom and justice so that he became very popular with the warriors and the people.

When a year and a day had passed, Fergus returned, expecting to become king again. What he didn't expect was that the people didn't want Fergus back. The people clamoured that since Fergus gave away the kingdom so freely, let Conchobar keep the throne.

Some said that Fergus accepted this decision, serving as the captain of the Red Branch. Other versions said that Conchobar actually drove Fergus out of Emain Macha. Fergus fled to Tara, where he tried unsuccessfully to foment a rebellion against the young king. In the end, Conchobar and Fergus made peace and were reconciled.

Conchobar and Medb

Conchobar was a very popular and powerful king in Ulster, but was not very popular with the kings of other provinces and the high kings of Ireland.

At home, Conchobar enjoyed privileges that other kings failed to achieve with their own subjects.

Conchobar had an enormous sexual appetite for women. It became a custom that the newly wedded wife would spend her first night in bed with the king, instead of with her husband. It was the custom that the king would take the bride's virginity. And when Conchobar stayed anywhere outside of his palace, the host would immediately send his wife to Conchobar's bed to keep him company.

Not every Ulstermen thought that this custom was a high honour, that the king could sleep with his wife. A major crisis arose when the hero Cú Chulainn brought home his new bride Emer. When Bricriu Mac Carbad reminded everyone of this custom, Cu Chulainn flew into a murderous rage and went wild. Everyone knew that Cu Chulainn would kill anyone who slept with his wife. To defuse the situation, Cathbad the King's druid came up with a proposal. Conchobar sent his nephew to gather all the herds around Emain Macha until Cu Chulainn's anger was gone. It was arranged that Emer would spend the night with Conchobar, but Fergus and Cathbad would be present to protect Cu Chulainn's honour.

Conchobar had many wives, and among them were the four daughters of Eochaid Feidlech. Each woman was his wife at a different time of Conchobar's reign.

According to the Tochmarc Etaine (Wooing of Étaín), Eochaid Feidlech was one of the brothers of Ailill Anglonnach and the high king Eochaid Airem, who was the husband of Étaín. Eochaid Feidlech's wife and consort was probably Cruacha. Eochaid was the father of Medb, Eithne, Mugain and Clothra. He was also the father of three sons known as the Finn Emna (Three Finns of Emain Macha).

Before I write more about Medb, I would like to point out a few things. Mugain appeared most frequently as Conchobar's wife. Mugain was definitely married to the Ulster king, when Cu Chulainn was young. She was always one to lead the women to strip naked in front of Cu Chulainn, when he was in his berserker rage. The only way to stop Cu Chulainn was with a group of women's nakedness, because it embarrassed the young warrior. Then there was Clothra. Clothra was the mother of Luguaid Ria nDerg, through incest with her three brothers (Finn Emna). Clothra would later commit incest with her own son, and became the mother of Crimthann Nia Náir. She was pregnant at the time with Conchobar's child, when her own sister Medb murdered her. The baby boy was saved and was named Furbaide Ferbend. It was Furbaide who avenged his mother's death by killing Medb.

Medb was better known as the wife of Ailill Mac Mata and the Queen of Connacht. Medb was most likely the first of the sisters to marry Conchobar, but she was unwilling to be Conchobar's consort. It was also Medb's first marriage. Medb was ambitious and she wanted to be queen as Conchobar's equal. There seemed to be no children between Conchobar and Medb. The marriage didn't last long, and Medb left her husband, going to the neighbouring kingdom, Connacht. Medb became Conchobar's enemy.

Like Conchobar, Medb had immense sexual appetites, needing 32 men to satisfy her. Even when she was married to a king, she would take lovers to her bed. After her marriage with Conchobar, she married three successive men who became kings of Connacht. Tinde, son of Connea Cas, was the first to marry her, but he was killed by Conchobar. Then she married Eochaid Dála, but she was always remembered as the wife of Ailill Mac Mata.

Sometimes Medb ruled as Ailill's equal, but at other times, she was the dominant partner. She continued her sexual conquests while married to Ailill, but her long-time lover was Fergus Mac Roich, when he went into exile to Connacht. She had two sons by Fergus, named Ciar and Conmac. By her husband Ailill, Medb had three daughters, Finnabair, Cainder and Faife. She was also the mother of seven sons; all of them were named Maine.

Despite the divorce, Medb was very beautiful. When she was bathing in the Boyne, Conchobar still lusted after her, so he raped her. It was said that her beauty could weaken a man, just by her presence. Her name means "intoxication".

Curse of Macha

Crunniuc (Crunnchu) was a wealthy farmer in Ulaid (Ulster). Crunniuc was a widower when Macha suddenly appeared one day, taking care of his house, while he worked in the field. At the end of the day they shared a meal and later they shared the bed. They were soon married.

When Macha was pregnant, Crunniuc wanted to go to a festival held by the Ultonian king. Macha placed a geis on her husband: she would continue to live with him, if he never revealed her name to those present at the festival. Crunniuc broke his promise to her, when he became drunk. Crunniuc bragged that his wife could outrun the swiftest horse. Conchobar immediately had Crunniuc arrested and chained.

The king and nobles had Macha brought before the festival, demanding that she race against their horses. Macha pleaded that she was in no condition to race while she was pregnant. Her pleas fell upon deaf ears. The king threatened to kill her husband. It was only then that she revealed her name, as Macha daughter of Sainrith Mac Imbaith. So Macha raced against the horses. Macha easily outran the horses and had almost reached the finish line, when she fell, because she was suddenly in labour.

Suddenly, all the Ultonian male spectators were seized in great pains. Pains like those of a pregnant woman in labour pangs. Macha gave birth to twins. The place of the race was named after her as Emain Macha, which in this version, means "The Twins of Macha".

She cursed the Ultonian men, that they would experience the pang for generations, leaving the men of Ulster helpless and debilitated for five days and five nights. This pang would come upon Ulster during their hours of their greatest need.

It's difficult to say whether this Macha was the same as the warrior-queen who married Cimbáeth, because both claimed that the hill-fort Emain Macha was named after her.