Fer Díad Mac Damann

Firbolg warrior. Fer Díad (Fer Diad) was the son of Damann or Damáin.

Fer Díad was a childhood companion of Cú Chulainn (Cu Chulainn). They vowed eternal friendship and love for one another like brothers. Like Cú Chulainn, Fer Díad sought training from the famous woman-warrior Scathach, but could not cross the Bridge of Leaps.

Fer Díad became one of the champions who fought for Medb of Connacht. At first, Fer Diad, along with Fergus Mac Roich and many Ulster exiles, refused to fight Cu Chulainn in single combat. Several times, Medb tried to induce Fer Díad to fight Cú Chulainn during the Cattle Raid of Cooley; Fer Díad refused each time because of his friendship with Cú Chulainn. Medb finally prevailed on Fer Díad by promising to allow the young Firbolg to marry her daughter, Findabair, as well as threatening to have all the court bards name him as a coward.

For three days, Cú Chulainn and Fer Díad fought one another. At the end of each of the first two days, they would retire, attend each other's wounds, and sleep side by side. But their relationship was strained. On the final day, Fer Díad fell to Cú Chulainn's invincible spear, the gae bolg. Cú Chulainn despaired that he had killed his most beloved companion. Cú Chulainn, who was also wounded and exhausted from the duel with Fer Diad, lost consciousness, allowing Medb's army to cross the ford.

Fer Díad's body was recovered by Medb's army and buried with full honours.