Aided Conrói maic Dáiri
Background information
The History of Ireland (Geoffrey Keating), Volume 2
pp. 223-227 It was thus that the death of Curaoi came about. The champions of the Craobh Ruadh went [on an expedition] to pillage an island in the ocean near Alba called Manainn, where where was much gold and silver and wealth of various kinds, and many precious valuables besides; and the lord of the island had a comely, marriageable daughter who surpased the women of her time in form and beauty. Her name was Blanaid. And when Curaoi heard that the champions were setting out on that expedition, he put on a disguise by magic, and went with the party; and when they were about to plunder the island in the guise of jugglers they apprehended great difficulty in seizing on the dun which was in the island in which was Blanaid, and all the precious valuables of the island, both on account of its strength and of the great skill in magic of those who were defending it. Then Curaoi, who was disguised as a man with a grey cloak, said that if he got his choice of the valuables in the dun he would capture it for them. Cuchulainn promised him this; and thereupon they attacked the dun with the man in the grey cloak at their head. He stopped the magic wheel that was in motion at the door of the fortress, and enabled all to enter; and they plundered the dun, and took from it Blanaid and all the precious valuables it contained. They thence set out for Ireland and reached Eamhain, and as they were dividing the valuables, the man in the grey cloak asked for the valuable he should choose as was promise to him. ‘Thou shalt have it,’ said Cuchulainn. ‘Well, then,’ said he, ‘Blanaid is my choice of the valuables.’ ‘Thou mayst have thy choice of the other valuables excepting only Blanaid.’ ‘I will not accept any but her,’ said the man of the grey coat. Thereupon Curaoi sought an opportunity of carring off Blanaid, and, seizing her unperceived, he bore her off in an enchanted mask. When Cuchulainn noticed that the lady was missing, he concluded that it was Curaoi who carried her off, and he pursued them by direct route to Munster, and overtook them at Solchoid; and the champions grappled with one another and engaged in strong, valorous wrestling and Cuchulainn was brought to the ground by Curaoi, who inflicted on him the binding of the five smalls, and left him there a bound captive, having cut off his hair with his sword; and, leaving Cuchulainn bound as we have said, he took Blanaid with him to west Munster. But after this Laogh son of Rian of Gabhra came and unbound Cuchulainn; and they proceeded thence to the north of Ulster, and settled down beside Beanna Boirche for a year without coming to a meeting of the men of Ulster until Cuchulainn’s hair grew and at the end of that year Chuchulainn happened to be on Beanna Boirche and he saw a large flock of black birds coming southwards from the surface of the ocean; and when they reached land he pursued them, and slew with his sling, by the exercise called taithbheim or ‘return-stroke’, a bird out of each country, till he killed the last black bird of them at Sruibh Broin in west Munster; and as he was returning eastwards, he found Blanaid alone beside Fionnghlaise in Ciarraidhe, where Curaoi’s dwelling-fortress stood, at that time. A conversation then took place between them, and she made known to him that there was not on the face of the earth a man loved more than him, and asked him to come on the following Samhain with a full host and carry her off by fraud or force, and that he might the more easily do this, she would bring about that Curaoi should at that time have but few warriors and attendants. Cuchulainn promised to come to fetch her at that time. Thereupon he bade her farewell, and proceeded to Ulster, and gave Conchubhar an account of the incident.
As to Blanaid, she told Curaoi that he ought to build a stone fortress for himself which would excel all the royal fortresses of Ireland, and that the way in which that could be done was to send the clanna Deaghaidh to collect and bring together all the large stones that were standing in Ireland for the purpose of making a stone fortress for himself. And Blanaid’s object in this was that clanna Deaghaidh might be scattered through the distant regions of Ireland far from Curaoi when Cuchulainn should come to carry her off. Now when Cuchulainn heard that clanna Deaghaidh were thus dispersed throughout Ireland, he set out secretly from Ulster with an army, and no tidings are recorded of him till he reached the oak wood that lay beside Curaoi’s fortress; and when he arrived there, he sent word privately to Blanaid that he was there with army; and the sign she sent him was that she would steal Curaoi’s sword and thereupon pour a vat of new milk that was in the lios into the stream which was flowing from the homestead through the wood in which Cuchulainn was. Not long after he was informed of this token he saw the stream become white from the milk, and with that they attacked the fortress and sprang upon Curaoi in the lios and slew him alone and unarmed as he was. And the river referred to was called Fionnghlaise, through its having become white from the milk.
Curaoi’s poet, who was called Feircheirtne, went after Blanaid to Ulster in the hope of getting an opportunity of slaying her to avenge Curaoi; and on reaching Ulster he found Conchubhar and Cuchulainn and Blanaid, with a large assembly round them, at Ceann Beara point; and when the poet saw Blanaid standing there on the brink of a precipice, he went towards, her and twined his arms round her and cast himself and herself suddenly down the precipice, and thus they were both killed.
Related poem online: Brinna Ferchertne (The Vision of Ferchertne)
Kuno Meyer (ed. & tr.), Brinna Ferchertne, Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie, 3, 1899, pp. 41-46.
Digital Edition at Archive.org (pp. 41-46); Irish text at CELT; English translation at CELT; English translation at Tech Screpta
(See Section 6) |
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He was the lord’s laughing man |
As for the crier of the prince, |
but playing at battle, nobly free |
he was good in the thick (?) of battle, |
he slew thirty armed men |
He cut down fifty armed men |
then suffered death himself. |
then he allowed himself to be slain. |
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(See Section 7) |
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From afar strode Senfiacail. |
Cló came upon them with fury, |
He killed a hundred of their host. |
he slew a hundred men of their host, |
Though his body’s might was great |
Though great his strength in the body, |
he found his grave by CuChulainn. |
he found his grave through Cuchulinn. |
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(See Section 7) |
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Cairpre Cuanach came upon them. |
Cairpri Cuanach came upon them, |
Mighty fight: he killed one hundred |
he slew a hundred men, a vigorous encounter, |
would have menaced Conchobor |
He had boasted to Conchubor, |
had the swarming sea not drowned him. |
if the monsterful sea had not drowned him. |
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(See Section 7) |
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The fight of Daire’s son Eochaid |
The combat of Eochaid son of Darfind, |
from the headland to the glen |
from the promontory as far as the glen, |
was worthy: he killed a hundred |
He slew a hundred men in fair fight |
avenging his good king. |
until an overwhelming number fell upon him. |
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(See Section 8) |
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Dedad’s clan came up |
Thereupon came the Eraind |
to seek their king. Their count: |
according to the will of their king ..., |
five score and three hundred |
Seven thousand seven hundred |
ten hundred and two thousand. |
and seven score of thousands. |
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(See Section 9) |
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With great beauty and swiftness |
The son of Riangabra came upon them, |
FerBecrach — certainly so — |
Ingeilt was his glorious name, |
carried Conchobor’s son Cairpre |
He put Carpre the son of Conchobor |
under the bitter salt-sea waves. |
under bitter waves of the salt-sea. |
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(See Section 14) |
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The joint struggle was sad |
Sad truly is the encounter |
for Blathnait and Ferchertne: |
of Blathnait and Ferchertne, |
both their graves are |
The graves of both of whom |
near strong Cenn Bera. |
are in Land Cindbera above the promontory. |
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(See Section 15) |
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When his wife betrayed CuRoi |
When his wife betrayed Curoi, |
she did an evil deed. |
evil was the deed she did, |
Though she was not unscathed |
While she did not escape unscathed |
she left the Erainn shamed. |
she left the Eraind under disgrace. |
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(See Section 15) |
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Menn’s daughter Blathnait was killed |
Blathnait, the daughter of Menn, |
in the slaughter at Airgetglenn. |
by treachery brought about the slaughter in Argat-glenn: |
A woman’s great deed: betraying |
An evil deed for a wife to betray her husband, |
her man when she is ruled by him. |
since ... |
Related saga online: Forfess Fer Fálgae (The Siege of the Men of Falga)
Kuno Meyer (ed.), Forfess Fer Fálgae, Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie, 8, 1912, pp. 564-565.
Digital Edition at Archive.org (pp. 564-565); Irish text at CELT
(See Section 1)
Related saga online: Fled Bricrend (The Feast of Bricriu)
George Henderson (ed. & tr.), Fled Bricrend: the Feast of Bricriu, (London: Irish Texts Society, 1899).
Digital Edition at Archive.org; English translation at Yorku.ca (PDF); German translation at Archive.org (pp. 27-38 (45-57))
Bricriu incites Loigaire, Conall and Cuchulainn to contend for the champion’s portion, pp. 9-13, §§8-11
Conchobar advises the champions to go to Curoi mac Daire for his verdict, p. 43, §33
The champions go to Cathair Conroi and meet Blathnat, Mind’s daughter, wife of Curoi, pp. 101-103, §§79-80
Curoi awards the champion’s portion to Cuchulainn, but this is disputed, pp. 113-115, §§89-90
The Champions Covenant: Curoi awards the champion’s portion to Cuchulainn, pp. 117-129, §§91-102
On Curoi mac Daire, pp. 192-197
Related saga online: Siabur-charpat Con Culaind (The demoniac chariot of Cu Chulaind)
John O’Beirne Crowe (ed. & tr.), Siabur-charpat Con Culaind, The Journal of the Royal Historical and Archaeological Association of Ireland, 4th series, 1, 1878, pp. 371–448.
Digital Edition at Archive.org (p. 389 (430)); English translation at Tech Screpta; German translation at Archive.org (p. 197, Verses 9-11)
(See Section 1, Verse 1) |
(Verse 18) |
In the fort was a cauldron |
There was a cauldron in that dun, |
the calf of the three cows. |
The calf of the tree cows: |
Thirty oxen in its maw |
Thirty joints in its stomach — |
was what it could hold. |
It was not a charge for it. |
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(See Section 1, Verse 2) |
(Verse 19) |
It was a pleasing challenge: |
They used to frequent that caldon — |
they gathered round |
Delightful was the contest: |
they did not go |
They used not to go from it on any side, |
until they left it full. |
Until they used to leave it full. |
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(See Section 1, Verse 3) |
(Verse 20) |
Great gold and silver |
There was much of gold and silver in it — |
was in it — a good hoard. |
Wonderful was the find: |
Myself I took that cauldron |
That caldron was given |
and the king’s daughter. |
By the daughter of the king. |
Mesca Ulad (Hennesssy)
Digital Edition at Archive.org (p. 25 (48)); English translation at Tech Screpta
(See Section 5) |
(Verse 7) |
If cattle — cattle-coloured — |
If they are cattle, of cattle kind, |
they are no herds of thin cows. |
They are not the herd of one cow. |
A small man bears a blade |
A fierce man, who sheds blood, |
on the back of each last cow. |
Is on each cow’s back. |
Táin Bó Cúalnge from the Book of Leinster (O’Rahilly)
Irish text at CELT; English translation at CELT
Concerning Cú Ruí mac Dáire, pp. 244-245
The Triads of Ireland (Meyer)
(See Section 4) No. 36, p. 5 (26)
The three forts of Ireland: Dunseverick, Dun Cermna, Cathir Conree.
Lectures of the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History (O’Curry)
Aided Chonrui (The Tragical Death of Curoi), p. 587 (623)
Aithed Blathnaite ingen Paill mic Fidaig re Conculainn (The Elopement of Blathnait, the daughter of Pall, son of Fidhach, with Cuculainn), p. 590 (626)
Echtra Conrui (The Adventures of Curoi), p. 589 (625)
Forbais fer Falga (The Siege of the Men of Falga), p. 588 (624)
Airec Menman Uraird Maic Coise (Byrne), Anecdota from Irish Manuscripts, Volume 2
List of the gnathscela Herenn includes:
Aithe Blathnaiti ingine Puill maic Fidhaigh la Coinculaind, p. 45 (141), §6, line 10
Cathbuadha Conroi, p. 43 (139), §3, l. 8
Forbuis bFer bFalgae, p. 43 (139), §3, line 13
Orgain Cathrach Conroi, p. 47 (143), §8, line 16
R = The Rennes Dindshenchas (Stokes), Revue Celtique, 15-16, 1894-1895
M = The Metrical Dindshenchas (Gwynn)
E = The Edinburgh Dinnshenchas (Stokes), Folklore, 4, 1893
S = Silva Gadelica (O’Grady), Volume 2
R: Benn Boirchi §98 (See Section 4), Part 3, pp. 49-50, (‘Benn Boirchi’)
M: Bend Boirche I (See Section 4), Volume 4, p. 145, p. 412
M: Bend Boirche II (See Section 4 ), Volume 4, p. 147, p. 413
E: Benn Bairchi §69 (See Section 4), pp. 487-488, (‘Benn Bairchi’)
S: Benna Bairchi (See Section 4), p. 527 (562)
R: Findglais §53 (See Section 4), Part 2, pp. 448-450, (‘Findglais’)
Bláthnat daughter of Menn King of the Men of Falga, wife of Cú-roi son of Dáre, was Cúchulainn’s paramour. ’Tis she that promised that Cúchulainn should come to her on Halloween and take vengeance for Eochaid Horsemouth’s cows, and for the cauldron, and for the shaving of Cúchulainn by Cú-roí’s sword when Cú-roi afterwards smeared his head with cowdung. And she counselled Cú-roi to gather the clans of Deda to build his fortress in a single day and that (for this purpose) they should bring with them every pillar-stone (in Ireland), whether lying or standing. So Cú-roi was left all alone. This was the token that was between them (Bláthnat and Cúchulainn), to let the milking of the cows flow with the current so that the stream as it came towards them (Cúchulainn and his Ulstermen) was white. Hence Findglais ‘white stream’ is said. And afterwards they (killed Cú-roi and) wrecked the town (and carried off Bláthnat to Ulster).
M: Findglais (See Section 4), Volume 3, p. 255, p. 523
(See Section 14) |
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Sad was the struggle together |
Alas for the fatal encounter |
Of Bláthnait and Ferchertne, |
of Blathnat and Fercertne alike! |
And the graves of them both are |
the tomb of both |
In the puissant land of Cenn Bera. |
is at the Point of strong Cend Bera. |
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(See Section 15) |
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Bláthnait the daughter of Menn was slain |
Blathnat the daughter of Mind wrought |
In the slaughter above Argat-glenn. |
the slaying above Airget-Glend: |
A great deed for a woman to betray her husband, |
a dreadful deed for a wife, the betrayal of her husband, |
Since it is … |
for it was against him that she [devised] it. |
S: Fionnghlas in Luachair Dedadh (See Section 4), p. 530 (565)
Whence Fionnghlas ‘Whitestream” in luachair Dedadh? It was Curui’s wife, Blathnait, daughter of Menn king of Flaga, that was paramour of Cuchullin, and trysted him to come with the Ulidians to look for her; and this was to avenge on Curui [the loss of] the three erca or ba iuchna ‘red-eared cows’ and the cauldron carried off from the siege of Falga …; also the shaving of Cuchullin, when Curui lathered his head with the bovine product and shaved him with his sword. Thus she bade him come seek her on samain-eve, and that she would pour out the milk of said cows which, with the cauldron, Curui had brought home (for it was to supply this vessel that the cows yielded, and the exact full of it at a milking was taken from them). So a whole milking of the three she spilt with the stream from the fort downwards to Tralee, so that the glaise ‘stream’ was fionn ‘white’ [as a signal] that then the Ulidians should come up, storm the fort and slay Curui.
R: Sliab Mis §51 (See Section 12), Part 2, pp. 445-446, (‘Sliab Mis’)
M: Sliab Miss (See Section 12), Volume 3, p. 241, p. 521
B: Sliab Mis §17 (See Section 12), pp. 484-485, (‘Sliab Mis’)
S: Sliabh Mis (See Section 12), p. 532 (567)
R: Ochonn Midi §6 (See Section 1), Part 1, pp. 295-297, (‘Ochonn Midi’)
M: Ochan (See Section 1), Volume 2, pp. 37-41, pp. 99-100
R: Srub Brain §54 (See Section 4), Part 2, p. 450, (‘Srub Brain’)
Cúchulainn pursued the black bird-flock from Dundalk, and in every country (he crossed) he killed one of the birds, down to the last raven. It was destroyed by him at Redg and at Ramann, and he cut off its head from it and bathed his hands in
its blood, and said, when putting the head on the crag: ‘Srub brain and’ “a raven’s stream there”. Thrice fifty was their number. Seven handlengths, now, were in each bird’s bill and seven royal (?) cubits round their necks: thick bodies they had, and thick feet with which they swam the sea. Of whom Srub Brain is said.
M: Srúb Brain (See Section 4), Volume 3, pp. 257-259, p. 524
Cóir Anmann: Fitness of Names (Stokes), Irische Texte, Ser. III.2
Cú Chulainn §266 (See Section 1), pp. 399-401, p. 423
Fercheirdne §223 (See Section 10), p. 381, p. 421
Ulaid §245 (See Section 1), pp. 387-389, p. 422
Wikipedia
Yellow Book of Lecan
Ulster Cycle
Fled Bricrenn
Bláthnat
Clanna Dedad
Conchobar mac Nessa; Kings of Ulster
Cú Chulainn
Cú Roí; Kings of Munster
Fir Fálgae
Caherconree
Isle of Man
Slieve Mish
Voices from the Dawn
Caherconree