Background
Aoife (The Bright One) was the daughter of Ailill of Aran, foster daughter to Bodhbh Dearg the King of the Tuatha Dé Danann, and younger sister to Aobh who was the first wife of Lir of SídhFionnachaidh.

Stories of Aoife
After Lir’s wife died giving birth to twin boys, Aoife was offered as a second wife to console him. At first, Aoife was happy. She loved her four stepchildren and showered her affections on them. And her new husband was so besotted with his children that he wanted them all to sleep in the same room, so he could see them last thing at night and first thing in the morning when he opened his eyes. But Aoife became jealous of Lir’s affections for his children. And as time passed her jealousy got the better of her. She planned a trip that fooled the children into thinking they were going to visit their step grandfather, Bodhbh. Aoife’s plan was to kill the children along the way. But, she could not bring herself to wield her sword on the innocent children. Instead she cast a spell with her magic wand which turned the children of Lir into swans. She left them with their human sense and reason, their voices and their Irish. Fionnuala, the eldest and only girl begged and pleaded for the spell to be reversed. And Aoife did feel some remorse at this stage, but it was too late. She did not have the power to reverse the spell. Instead she placed a limit on it, saying that it would last until a noble woman from the south married a noble man from the north.
When Bodhbh discovered Aoife’s terrible deed, he changed her into a demon that was banished to the four winds forever. And some people say you can still hear her voice on a stormy night, sighing and sobbing above the sound of the wind.
Some say Aoife was turned into a crane like bird condemned to spend eternity in the skies. It is also said that a bag (crane bag) which contained the treasures, sacred or symbolic objects of the Fianna was made from the skin of Aoife. Cranes are regarded as good luck omens because they depart the countryside in times of war. Hence, their presence suggests that peace will prevail. The relationship between women and birds is a constant theme in folklore and myth all over the world.

Conclusion
Aoife was a jealous stepmother who suffered terrible punishment for her deeds.

Overview
Ferdia, Cuchulainn’s foster brother, was one of the fiercest of the Connacht warriors and was said to possess a magical skin of horn which no point or blade could pierce. Cuchulainn and Ferdia were close companions when they were receiving their training in arms under the warrior woman, Scathach.


Stories of Ferdia:
When it was clear to Meadhbh that most of her army would soon be killed by Cuchulainn, she sought to end the conflict through single combat. At first Ferdia refused to fight his foster brother, even when Meadhbh promised him incredible riches and the hand of her beautiful daughter Finnabair in marriage. It was only when Meadhbh falsely claimed that Cuchulainn had belittled him that Ferdia agreed to face him in battle.

When Cuchulainn and Ferdia met at the ford of battle they broke off their friendship with taunts and insults. They fought furiously all day with shields, darts and spears – but that night they embraced and renewed their friendship. Their horses spent the night in the same paddock and their charioteers by the same fire. The warriors sent each other gifts of healing herbs and delicious foods and refreshing drinks. So it was the next night, but on the evening of the third day they parted company wasted and exhausted and did not renew their friendship.


The following day Ferdia hung a millstone around his neck thinking to protect himself from Cuchulainn’s magic weapon – the gae bolga. Cuchulainn saw Ferdia prepare for battle and told his charioteer Laeg that if he saw him falter in battle that he must spurt him on with mocking taunts and abuse. They fought furiously in the ford water and it often seemed as though Ferdia had the advantage. When Ferdia dealt Cuchulainn a horrific blow to the chest he called out for the gae bolga. His charioteers passed it down river to him and Cuchulainn caught it in the fork of his foot and sent it flying toward Ferdia. The weapon shattered the millstowne and filled every joint of his body with barbs. Cuchulainn took Ferdia onto the land and bitterly lamented that war had turned them against each other. His charioteer Laeg cut the gae bolga from his body.

Conclusion:
Although Ferdia and Cuchulainn were very closely matched in strength, Cuchulainn possessed the secret of the gae bolga, and was prepared to use it even though it gave him an unfair advantage in battle.