Category: Irish Stories

Partholon

 

Partholon’s Exile and Journey to Ireland

Partholon, a giant of a man, lived in Greece but was cursed after committing the grave sin of killing a family member during a war of succession. The curse ensured that nothing he attempted would ever succeed. Seeking to outrun this curse, Partholon gathered his wife, three sons, their families, and retainers and set sail for Ireland.

When they arrived, they found Ireland a wild and desolate place with only one fertile plain, located where Dublin stands today. Over time, Partholon’s people cultivated the land, creating three additional fertile plains in other parts of the island, setting up agriculture and industry, and exploring Ireland’s length and breadth.

The Encounter with the Fomorians

While exploring Donegal, Partholon’s people encountered the Fomorians, a fearsome race of sea pirates with powerful magic, who lived on Tory Island. Conflict arose, as the two groups could not coexist peacefully.

The battle between the Partholonians and the Fomorians was magical rather than physical. The warriors accessed the Otherworld’s power by adopting the “stance of power,” standing on one leg, with one arm behind their back and one eye closed. In the end, Partholon’s people triumphed, and as a sign of their acceptance by the land, four great lakes burst forth across Ireland.

Fintan Mac Bóchra’s Counsel

During this time, Fintan Mac Bóchra, the immortal shapeshifter, appeared and became an advisor to Partholon’s people. With his vast knowledge, gained from living as a man, a salmon, and a hawk, Fintan guided them on how to survive and thrive in Ireland.

Tragedy in Partholon’s Court

One day, while Partholon was away hunting, his wife and a servant shared a moment of betrayal—they slept together and drank from Partholon’s cup. Upon returning, Partholon drank from the same cup and immediately tasted their infidelity. In a fit of rage, he killed the servant, marking the first instance of adultery, jealousy, and murder in Ireland.

Partholon’s wife, unfazed by his anger, simply responded with wisdom: “Honey with a woman, milk with a cat, food with a host, meat with a boy, one with one earns great risk.” Remarkably, they continued to live together peacefully for another 30 years.

The Plague and the Curse Fulfilled

After many years of prosperity, Partholon died, and his people flourished, reaching a population of 9,000. However, the curse on Partholon finally took its toll. In a single week, a devastating plague swept through Ireland, wiping out all of Partholon’s people.

Fintan’s Survival

Only Fintan Mac Bóchra survived, thanks to his magical ability to transform into animals. He returned to the wild, awaiting the arrival of the next settlers in Ireland.

Legacy of Partholon

Partholon’s story is a tale of resilience, betrayal, and the inescapable nature of curses. His people’s efforts to tame Ireland and their ultimate destruction mark the beginning of the island’s mythological history.

Conaire Mór

 

The Birth of Conaire Mór

Conaire Mór was born to Mess Buachalla, the daughter of Étaín, a fairy woman, and her foster father, Eochu. After a prophecy foretold she would marry a High King and give birth to a great ruler, Mess Buachalla had an encounter with a mysterious Bird King, who told her she would bear his son. She named the child Conaire, as instructed by the Bird King.

The Childhood of Conaire Mór

Mess Buachalla married the High King of Ireland, Eterscélae, and Conaire was raised as his son. To ensure his happiness and success, Mess Buachalla placed Conaire in the care of three foster families, each with a foster brother. The four brothers grew inseparable, sharing everything equally, from food to clothing. Conaire shared his three gifts—sight, hearing, and judgment—among them.

Conaire’s Destiny Revealed

One day, Conaire and his foster brothers chased a flock of magical birds across Ireland. As they hunted the birds, they unknowingly fulfilled a prophecy signaling the death of the reigning High King, Eterscélae. When Conaire reached Tara, the seat of kingship, the people recognized his divine right to rule and crowned him High King of Ireland.

The Reign of Conaire Mór

Conaire Mór ruled Ireland with great wisdom and justice, guided by a strict adherence to the geasa (sacred taboos). However, his reign was marked by challenges and betrayals. His foster brothers, once loyal companions, violated the sacred rules and turned against him. Their betrayal led to chaos and the eventual downfall of Conaire’s rule.

The Death of Conaire Mór

Conaire’s tragic end came when he was attacked by his foster brothers and their allies, violating his geasa. Despite his great power and divine favor, Conaire was overwhelmed and met his death, marking the end of an era of peace and prosperity.

The Legacy of Conaire Mór

Conaire Mór remains a legendary figure in Irish mythology, remembered for his wisdom, fairness, and loyalty to sacred traditions. His story is a cautionary tale about the importance of honor and the devastating consequences of betrayal.

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Partholon

 

Partholon’s Exile and Journey to Ireland

Partholon, a giant of a man, lived in Greece but was cursed after committing the grave sin of killing a family member during a war of succession. The curse ensured that nothing he attempted would ever succeed. Seeking to outrun this curse, Partholon gathered his wife, three sons, their families, and retainers and set sail for Ireland.

When they arrived, they found Ireland a wild and desolate place with only one fertile plain, located where Dublin stands today. Over time, Partholon’s people cultivated the land, creating three additional fertile plains in other parts of the island, setting up agriculture and industry, and exploring Ireland’s length and breadth.

The Encounter with the Fomorians

While exploring Donegal, Partholon’s people encountered the Fomorians, a fearsome race of sea pirates with powerful magic, who lived on Tory Island. Conflict arose, as the two groups could not coexist peacefully.

The battle between the Partholonians and the Fomorians was magical rather than physical. The warriors accessed the Otherworld’s power by adopting the “stance of power,” standing on one leg, with one arm behind their back and one eye closed. In the end, Partholon’s people triumphed, and as a sign of their acceptance by the land, four great lakes burst forth across Ireland.

Fintan Mac Bóchra’s Counsel

During this time, Fintan Mac Bóchra, the immortal shapeshifter, appeared and became an advisor to Partholon’s people. With his vast knowledge, gained from living as a man, a salmon, and a hawk, Fintan guided them on how to survive and thrive in Ireland.

Tragedy in Partholon’s Court

One day, while Partholon was away hunting, his wife and a servant shared a moment of betrayal—they slept together and drank from Partholon’s cup. Upon returning, Partholon drank from the same cup and immediately tasted their infidelity. In a fit of rage, he killed the servant, marking the first instance of adultery, jealousy, and murder in Ireland.

Partholon’s wife, unfazed by his anger, simply responded with wisdom: “Honey with a woman, milk with a cat, food with a host, meat with a boy, one with one earns great risk.” Remarkably, they continued to live together peacefully for another 30 years.

The Plague and the Curse Fulfilled

After many years of prosperity, Partholon died, and his people flourished, reaching a population of 9,000. However, the curse on Partholon finally took its toll. In a single week, a devastating plague swept through Ireland, wiping out all of Partholon’s people.

Fintan’s Survival

Only Fintan Mac Bóchra survived, thanks to his magical ability to transform into animals. He returned to the wild, awaiting the arrival of the next settlers in Ireland.

Legacy of Partholon

Partholon’s story is a tale of resilience, betrayal, and the inescapable nature of curses. His people’s efforts to tame Ireland and their ultimate destruction mark the beginning of the island’s mythological history.

Cormac Mac Art

 

Cormac Mac Art: The Greatest High King of Ireland

Cormac Mac Art was the greatest High King that Ireland had ever known. He is credited with codifying the Brehon Law, a legal system that was extraordinarily advanced for its time. Cormac’s father, Art mac Cuinn, was fighting with another man named Lugaid mac Con over who should be king, and they prepared for battle at Mag Mucrama.

On his way to battle, Art visited a wise smith named Olc Acha. Olc chastised him for going into battle against Lugaid. “Both of you have a claim to the kingship,” Olc said, “and this is not the right way to settle it.” However, Art refused to listen to this advice and remained determined to fight.

Seeing that he could not be persuaded, Olc asked Art how many children he had to carry on his line if he died in battle. Art admitted that he had none. Olc consulted his daughter Achtan and proposed a plan. “Since you are so determined to go to your death, Achtan will spend the night with you. She will bear your child, and I will raise him to be a king.”

Achtan, a woman of great beauty and wisdom, agreed. After they were together, Achtan had a prophetic dream. She saw Art’s head cut off and a great tree growing from his neck, its branches spreading across Ireland. Then a wave came and knocked the tree over. She told Art about the dream, and he interpreted it: “The head represents me; tomorrow, I will die in battle. The tree represents our son, who will grow up to be a great king. The wave signifies that he will not die in battle but from a sudden accident.”

As predicted, Art died in the battle, slaughtered by Lugaid. Achtan became pregnant, and Olc cast magical protections around her child to shield him from harm by wolves, swords, fire, and drowning.

The Birth and Early Life of Cormac Mac Art

Fearing Lugaid might find out she was carrying Art’s child, Achtan decided to leave. She traveled to the house of a loyal ally who would foster her child. During her journey, near the woods, Achtan went into labor. She gave birth to a son, Cormac, under a tree. As soon as he was born, a great peal of thunder echoed across the land, signaling the birth of a king.

Exhausted, Achtan lay down to rest and asked her maidservant to watch over the baby. However, the maid fell asleep, and while they were both sleeping, a she-wolf came and took the baby. When Achtan woke, she was devastated. Search parties scoured the countryside but could not find the child.

Years later, a huntsman discovered a boy being raised by wolves in the forest. He brought the boy back to the household of the ally Olc had chosen, and the boy was named Cormac. He was raised alongside two foster brothers.

Cormac Learns His Destiny

One day, Cormac got into a fight with one of his foster brothers and knocked him down. The boy shouted in anger, “It’s a shame to be knocked down by someone who doesn’t even have a father!” Shocked, Cormac went to his foster father and demanded the truth. He learned he was the son of Art mac Cuinn and the rightful heir to the High Kingship of Ireland.

Determined to claim his throne, Cormac traveled to Tara. At the time, Lugaid mac Con was the reigning High King. During his visit, a dispute arose over a sheep. A poor old woman owned a single sheep, which had wandered into the queen’s garden and damaged her laundry. The queen demanded the sheep as compensation, and Lugaid ruled in her favor.

Cormac, however, spoke up, saying, “This is unfair. The queen should compensate the old woman with wool from her flock and return the sheep.” His wisdom impressed everyone, and the people began to see him as a fair and just ruler. Lugaid’s throne sank into the ground, symbolizing his fall from grace, and he was peacefully deposed. Cormac ascended as High King, ushering in a new era of prosperity.

Cormac’s Wisdom and Encounters with the Otherworld

During his reign, Cormac married Eithne, a wise and beautiful woman. One day, he encountered a stranger from the Otherworld. The man offered Cormac a magical silver branch with golden apples that played music so enchanting it could heal and lull anyone into sleep. In return, the stranger demanded three promises. Desperate for the branch, Cormac agreed.

The stranger’s first demand was for Cormac’s daughter. Cormac reluctantly consented, and the stranger left with the girl. A year later, the stranger returned and demanded Cormac’s son. Again, Cormac agreed, though it broke his heart. Finally, the stranger returned and demanded Cormac’s wife. Unable to break his promise, Cormac gave her up but decided to pursue the stranger.

Crossing into the Otherworld, Cormac saw strange and wondrous sights. He came to a great house, where the stranger revealed his true identity: Manannán mac Lir, the sea god. Manannán explained that the trials were a test of Cormac’s character. He returned Cormac’s family, along with the silver branch and a golden cup. The cup would shatter if a lie was spoken over it and be restored if three truths were spoken. Cormac brought these treasures back to Tara and ruled with even greater wisdom.

The Legacy of Cormac Mac Art

Cormac’s reign was a golden age for Ireland. The rivers teemed with fish, the forests were full of game, and the land yielded bountiful harvests. He died peacefully, fulfilling the prophecy of his mother’s dream. Cormac Mac Art remains a symbol of justice, wisdom, and prosperity, his legacy forever etched in Irish mythology.

The Pillow Talk of Maeve and Aillil

One morning Queen Maeve of Cruachan Ai was lying in bed with her husband and consort, Aillil, and he began to tease her.

“Isn’t it true what they say,” Aillil said, “That it’s luck the woman who marries a wealthy man.”

“True enough,” said Maeve, “But I don’t see what that has to do with us – I was wealthy long before I met you.”

“Ah, but your wealth was a woman’s wealth,” Aillil said, “And any warrior could have come and taken it from you.”

The humour went out of Maeve’s voice, then. “Are you forgetting,” said she, “That I am a warrior also, and a leader of warriors. I was well able to defend my kingdom before I married you.”

But Aillil protested that her status had been greatly increased by marrying him: he was, after all, the son of the King of Leinster. Maeve grew angry. She was the daughter of the High King of All Ireland! Moreover, Connaught was traditionally ruled by a Queen, and not a King, and so she held a greater status in Connaught as Queen than Aillil did as her consort. She had wealth in abundance, was famed for her generosity, courted by kings and the sons of kings, and it was Aillil that should be grateful to have married her!

Now Aillil’s pride was up, and he insisted that he was the higher ranking of the two, that he was wealthier than she was.

Maeve pointed out that he had pursued her, and she had only agreed to marry him because he was as generous as she (she could not be with a man less generous than she was), as brave as she (she could not be married to a man who hid behind her), and had promised to be without jealousy (for Queen Maeve never had a lover without another one waiting outside the door).

Their argument turned bitter, and the two of them decided that the only way to settle the matter was to make a tally of all of their possessions, count them all up and see which one of them had the most wealth.

So they counted. First they counted gold and silver and bronze, ornaments and rings and precious stones, bracelets and bangles. All was piled up before them, and for every gem of Maeve’s, there was an equal one of Aillil’s. Then they had their clothes counted up: linens and silks and wools, and for every fine cloak of Aillil’s, Maeve had its equal.

They counted up the men who owed them loyalty. They counted up the serfs who worked for them, they counted up the grain in the storehouses, and at last they began to count up their livestock. Pigs and sheep and dogs were counted, and there was no single creature owned by Maeve that Aillil had not the equal of. And so at last they turned to the greatest source of their wealth; their cattle.

And there, at last, they found a difference.

In all things they were equal, every cow and calf, except for one great white-horned bull in Aillil’s herd. Fionnbanach, the white-horned bull of Cruachan Ai, was a magnificent creature, no one had seen the like of him before. And Aillil took great delight in pointing out to Maeve that Fionnbanach had been born to a cow in her herds, but had run away to join Aillil’s herd when he learned that he was owned by a woman. And Maeve had generously given him to Aillil.

Now if Aillil considered the matter settled to his advantage, then he did not know his wife. Maeve consulted with her herald, Mac Roth, to know if there was any bull as good as the White-Horned Bull of Cruachan Ai in all of Ireland. Mac Roth was able to tell her that there was a bull even more magnificent in Ulster, in Cooley, owned by a man named Daire. He was called Donn Cualigne, the Brown Bull of Cooley.

So Maeve bade Mac Roth go with messengers to the house of Daire in Cooley. “Ask him for the loan of his bull for a year,” Maeve said, “And as a fee for the loan, I will give him fifty heifers. And if there is any objection to him sending his magnificent bull away, let him come with his bull, and I will give him the equal of his lands in Cooley on the plains of Ai, and a chariot, and my own close friendship.”

Mac Roth set out on his journey, taking nine men with him on the road, and when he relayed Maeve’s message to Daire, Daire was only too delighted to agree. The friendship of Maeve and the fabulous price she had offered was more than generous. So he offered the messengers of Connaught a great feast to celebrate.

After Daire and his wife had gone to bed, the men of Connaught stayed up drinking, and some of them grew careless with their words, boasting about the might of their Queen, until one said “It’s a good thing Daire is giving us this bull by choice; if he did not, Queen Maeve would surely take it by force!”

A servant overheard this, and reported to Daire, who was furious at the insult. In the morning, when the messengers asked Daire to show them to the bull, he told them to get out, and go back to their Queen empty-handed. It was only the law of hospitality that kept him from taking revenge on them for their insolence! He told them that if their Queen thought she could take his bull by force, she was welcome to try. He put his faith in his King, Connor Mac Nessa, and Warriors of the Red Branch to protect him from her.

When Maeve heard this, she sent messengers out to her six sons (all named Maine), to her loyal friends throughout Ireland, and Aillil send messengers too to all those in Ireland who owed friendship to him, and the great host of the men of Ireland assembled on the plain of Cruachan Ai, and prepared to invade Ulster and take the Donn Cualigne by force.

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