Overview:
Aife was the mother of Connla, Cú Chulainn’s only son. She was a deadly warrior queen and the archenemy of Scathach, who trained Cú Chulainn in the arts of war.

Stories of Aife:
Afraid that her star pupil would be hurt, Scathach gave Cú Chulainn a sleeping potion before going into battle against Aife. On any other man, that potion would have lasted twenty-four hours, but on Cú Chulainn it only lasted one, so he went into battle against Aife’s army without her knowing.

Aife’s three champions, Ciri, Biri and Blaicne, the sons of Eis Enchenn the bird-headed, challenged Scathach’s two sons to a fight. Scathach was worried about the outcome as they were two against three, but Cú Chulainn joined the fight, and Aife’s three soldiers were killed.

Aife then challenged Scathach to single combat, a type of battle that meant that either both women could fight one-on-one, or they could nominate a champion. Cú Chulainn insisted on fighting as Scathach’s champion, but before the fight, he asked Scathach what Aife held most dear in the world. Scathach told him: her two horses, her chariots and her charioteer. Cú Chulainn met and fought with Aife, and she was deadly in battle leaving him only the stump of his swords.

“Oh look,” Cú Chulainn cried when he was sorely pressed, “Aife’s charioteer, her two horses and her chariot are falling over the cliff!”

Aife looked around, distracted, and Cú Chulainn took his chance, seizing her and holding her down by her two breasts. Now in a position of power, Cú Chulainn bargained with Aife for hostages for Scathach’s army, a promise never to attack her again, and for her to bear him a son. These she granted him, and Cú Chulainn left Aife with a child and with a gold thumb-ring which he was to wear when he was old enough to come to his father. He named their son Connla before he left her.

Conclusion:
Aife was the equal in prowess to Cú Chulainn, one of the greatest warriors of Irish myth. Where he won most victories against famous warriors with ease, Cú Chulainn had to resort to trickery to get the better of Aife, which shows just how formidable she was.

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.