The Ulster Cycle, formerly the Red Branch Cycle, is a large body of prose and verse centering around the traditional heroes of the Ulaid in what is now eastern Ulster. This is one of the four major cycles of Irish Mythology, along with the Mythological Cycle, the Fenian Cycle and the Historical Cycle. The Ulaid, also known as the Ulaidh and the Ulad, are a people of Early Ireland who gave their name to the Irish Province of Ulster. ... Ulster (Irish: Cúige Uladh) is one of the four provinces on the island of Ireland. ... The mythology of pre-Christian Ireland did not entirely survive the conversion to Christianity, but much of it was preserved, shorn of its religious meanings, in medieval Irish literature, which represents the most extensive and best preserved of all the branches of Celtic mythology. ... The Mythological Cycle is one of the four major cycles of Irish mythology, and is so called because it represents the remains of the pagan mythology of pre-Christian Ireland, although the gods and supernatural beings have been euhemerised by their Christian redactors into historical kings and heroes. ... The Fenian Cycle also known as the Fionn Cycle, Finn Cycle, Fianna Cycle, Finnian Tales, Fian Tales, Féinne Cycle, Feinné Cycle, Ossianic Cycle and Fianaigecht, is a body of prose and verse centering on the exploits of the mythic hero Fionn mac Cumhaill and his warriors the Fianna Éireann. ... Cycle of the Kings, also known as the Kings Cycle or the Historical Cycle is a body of Old and Middle Irish Literature. ...

The cycle centres around the reign of Conchobar mac Nessa, who is said to have been king of Ulster around the time of Christ. He ruled from Emain Macha (now Navan Fort near Armagh), and had a fierce rivalry with queen Medb and king Ailill of Connacht and their ally, Fergus mac Róich, former king of Ulster. The foremost hero of the cycle is Conchobar's nephew Cúchulainn. In Irish mythology, Conchobar mac Nessa (also Conchobor, Conchubar, Conchobhar, Conchubhar, Conchúr, Conchúir, Conor) was king of Ulster during the events of the Ulster Cycle. ... Categories: Ireland-place stubs | Ulster cycle ... Armagh is a city in Northern Ireland, the capital of County Armagh. ... (, Medb, Medhbh, Meabh, Maeve, Maev) is queen of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. ... Ailill (Aillell, Oilioll) mac Máta was king of Connacht and husband of Medb in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. ... Connaught redirects here. ... In Irish mythology, Fergus (or Fearghus) mac Róich (or mac Róeg) is the former king of Ulster during the events of the Ulster Cycle. ... Young Cúchulainn, 1912 illustration by Stephen Reid. ...

The society depicted in the tales of the Ulster Cycle is substantially that of the pre-Christian Iron Age, although filtered through the perspective of its medieval Christian redactors, and contains many parallels with the society of the Celts of Europe as described by classical writers. Warriors fight from chariots, take their opponents' heads as trophies, contend for precedence at feasts, are advised by druids, and fight in single combat at fords. Poets have great power and privilege and wealth is reckoned in cattle. Iron Age Axe found on Gotland This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age, for the mythological Iron Age see Iron Age (mythology). ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... The term Christian means belonging to Christ and is derived from the Greek noun Χριστός Khristós which means anointed one, which is itself a translation of the Hebrew word Moshiach (Hebrew: משיח, also written Messiah), (and in Arabic it is pronounced Maseeh مسيح). ... A Celtic cross. ... For the torpedo-shaped underwater vehicle ridden by two frogmen, sometimes referred to as a chariot, see Human torpedo. ... Druidry or Druidism was the religion of the ancient druids, the priestly class in ancient Celtic and Gallic societies through much of Western Europe north of the Alps and in the British Isles. ...

The cycle consists of about eighty stories, the centrepiece of the which is Táin Bó Cúailnge, or the Cattle Raid of Cooley, in which Medb invades Ulster at the head of a huge army to steal the Brown Bull of Cooley, and only Cúchulainn stands in her way. The Táin Bó Cúailnge, or Cattle Raid of Cooley, is the central tale in the Ulster Cycle, one of the four great cycles that make up the surviving corpus of Irish mythology. ...

Characters

Main Characters

• Conchobar mac Nessa (also Conor mac Nessa), king of Ulster
• Cúchulainn, Ulster hero
• Deirdre, tragic heroine
• Medb, queen of Connacht and Conchobar's enemy
• Ailill, king of Connacht
• Fergus mac Róich, former king of Ulster who goes into exile in Connacht
• The Mórrígan, goddess of war and death
• Lugh, solar god

In Irish mythology, Conchobar mac Nessa (also Conchobor, Conchubar, Conchobhar, Conchubhar, Conchúr, Conchúir, Conor) was king of Ulster during the events of the Ulster Cycle. ... Young Cúchulainn, 1912 illustration by Stephen Reid. ... Deirdre or Derdriu is the foremost tragic heroine in Irish mythology. ... (, Medb, Medhbh, Meabh, Maeve, Maev) is queen of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. ... In Irish mythology Ailill was king of Connacht and husband of Medb during the events of the Ulster Cycle. ... In Irish mythology, Fergus (or Fearghus) mac Róich (or mac Róeg) is the former king of Ulster during the events of the Ulster Cycle. ... The Mórrígan (Morrígan, Morrighan, Morrigu, Modern Irish Mór-Rhioghain pronounced as more ree-en) (great queen or phantom queen), is an Irish goddess of war and destruction. ... Lug or Lugh is an Irish sun god and king of the Tuatha Dé Danann whose name means light or brightness. His epithets include Lámfhada (long hand), for his skill with a spear or sling, and Samildánach (multi-talented, skilled in many arts). He is handsome, perpetually youthful...

Important Characters

• Amairgin mac Echit, poet and warrior
• Athirne, poet and troublemaker
• Blaí Briugu, hostel keeper and murder victim
• Briccriu, troublemaker
• Cathbad, chief druid in Conchobar's court
• Celtchar, Ulster warrior
• Cet mac Mágach, Connacht warrior
• Cethern mac Fintain, Ulster warrior and all-round tough guy
• Conall Cernach, Ulster hero
• Connla, Cúchulainn's son
• Cormac Cond Longas, Ulster prince in exile with Fergus
• Cú Roí, Munster king with supernatural powers
• Culann, smith
• Dáire mac Fiachna, cattle-lord
• Deichtine, Conchobar's sister and mother of Cúchulainn
• Donn Cuailnge, stud bull
• Dubthach Dóeltenga, cynical Ulster exile
• Emer, Cúchulainn's wife
• Finnbhennach, stud bull
• Fráech, Connacht hero
• Lóegaire Búadach, hapless Ulster would-be hero
• Lugaid mac Con Roí, Cú Roí's son out for revenge
• Macha, slighted goddess
• Naoise, Ulster warrior, hunter, singer and lover of Deirdre
• Nera, Connacht nobleman
• Ness, Ulster princess, mother of Conchobar
• Scáthach, warrior-woman who trains Cúchulainn in Scotland

Amergin (Amairgin, Amorgen) is the name of two poets from Irish mythology. ... Athirne or Athairne the Importunate was a poet and satirist of the court of Conchobar mac Nessa in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. ... Blaí Briugu (Blaí the Landholder or Hospitaller) is an Ulster warrior in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology. ... Briccriu (Bricriu, Briccirne, Bricne), is a warrior, poet and troublemaker in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology. ... Cathbad is the chief druid in the court of Conchobar mac Nessa in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology. ... In the Celtic religion, the word Druid denotes the priestly class in ancient Celtic societies which existed through much of Western Europe north of the Alps and in the British Isles. ... Celtchar (Celtchair, Celtar, Keltchar is a leading figure in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology. ... Cet mac Mágach is a Connacht warrior in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology. ... Cethern mac Fintain is an Ulster warrior in the Táin bó Cuailnge in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology. ... Conall Cernach (Conall the Victorious) is a heroic warrior of the Ulaid in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. ... In Irish mythology, Connla was a son of Aife and Cuchulainn. ... Cormac Cond Longas (Connlongas, Connloinges, Exiled Prince) was the eldest son of Conchobar mac Nessa by his own mother, Ness, in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. ... In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, Cú Roí (Cú Ruí, Cú Raoi) mac Dáire is a king of Munster and a sorcerer who can change his form at will. ... In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, Culann was a smith whose house was protected by a ferocious watchdog. ... In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, Dáire mac Fiachna was an Ulster cattle-lord and owner of Donn Cuailnge, the Brown Bull of Cooley, over which the Táin Bó Cuailnge (Cattle Raid of Cooley) was fought. ... In Irish mythology, Deichtine or Deichtire was the sister of Conchobar mac Nessa and the mother of Cúchulainn. ... In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology Donn Cuailnge, the Brown Bull of Cooley, was an extremely fertile stud bull over whom the Táin Bó Cuailnge (Cattle Raid of Cooley) was fought. ... In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, Dubthach Dóeltenga (beetle-tongue, beetles being proverbially black) was a cynical ally of Fergus mac Róich who rarely had a good word to say about anyone. ... In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, Emer, or in modern Irish Eimear, daughter of Forgall the Wily, was Cúchulainns wife. ... In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, Finnbhennach (white-horned) was an extremely fertile stud bull owned by king Ailill of Connacht. ... Fráech (Fróech, Fraích, Fraoch) is a Connacht hero in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. ... In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, Lóegaire Búadach (Lóegaire the Victorious) is a hapless Ulster warrior who mainly functions as comic relief. ... In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, Lugaid mac Con Roí was the son of Cú Roí mac Dáire. ... This article is about the goddess in Celtic mythology. ... In Irish mythology, Naoise (also spelled Noisiu) was the nephew of King Conchobar of Ulster, and a son of Usnech (or Uisliu), in the Ulster Cycle. ... Nera is a warrior of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. ... Ness is an Ulster princess and the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. ... Scáthach (shadowy) is the female warrior who trains Cúchulainn in the arts of war in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. ...

Minor characters

• Achall
• Áed Ruad
• Bélchú
• Cairbre Cuanach
• Cairbre Nia Fer
• Condere mac Echach
• Cruinniuc
• Cúscraid
• Fedelm Noíchrothach
• Fedlimid mac Daill
• Fergus mac Leti
• Fiachu mac Fir Febhe
• Follomain mac Concobair
• Friuch
• Furbaide Ferbend
• Garb mac Stairn
• Goll mac Carbada
• Lugaid Riab nDerg
• Maine
• Mugain
• Sencha mac Ailella
• Uathach

In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, Achall, the daughter of Cairbre Nia Fer, committed suicide (or died of grief) after her brother was killed by Conall Cernach. ... In Irish Mythology Áed Ruad or Áedh Ruadh, the red, was a High King of Ireland. ... Bélchú (Bealchu, Bealcu) of Breifne is a warrior of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology. ... Cairbre Cuanach is an ulster warrior from the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology. ... Cairbre Nia Fer (Niafer, Niaper), was the King of Tara in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology. ... Condere mac Echach is an ulster warrior in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology. ... Cruinniuc (Crunniuc, Cruinn, Crundchu) is a farmer of Ulster in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. ... Cúscraid, known by the epithet Mend Macha (the stammerer or inarticulate one of Macha), is a son of Conchobar mac Nessa in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. ... Fedelm Noíchrothach (nine times beautiful), also known as Fedelm Noíchride (nine-hearts or fresh-heart), is a daughter of Conchobar mac Nessa in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. ... Fedlimid mac Daill was a harper and the chief-storyteller in the court of Conchobar mac Nessa in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology. ... Lugaid Riab nDerg (Riabhdhearg, Réoderg, Sriab nDearg, Red Stripes) was a legendary High King of Ireland. ... Mugain, daughter of Eochaid Feidlech, is the wife of Conchobar mac Nessa, king of Ulster, in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. ... In Irish mythology Uathach was the name of Scáthachs daughter. ...

Narratives

• Aided Fergusa (The violent death of Fergus)
• Aided Óenfhir Aífe (The tragic death of Aífe only son)
• Echtra Nerai (The adventure of Nera)
• Fled Bricrenn (Briccriu's Feast)
• Longas mac nUislenn (Exile of the sons of Uisnech)
• Mesca Ulad (The intoxication of the Ulad)
• Scéla mucce meic da thó (The story of Mac Da Thó's Pig)
• Serglige con Culainn agus ónét emire (The wasting sickness of Cúchulainn and the only jealously of Emer)
• Táin bó Cuailnge (The cattle raid of Cooley)
• Togail bruidne da Derga (The destruction of Da Derga's hostel)

Mesca Ulad (Irish for The Intoxication of the Ulaid or The Intoxication of the Ulstermen) is a narrative from the Ulster Cycle that was preserved in the 12th century manuscript the Book of Leinster. ... The Táin Bó Cúailnge, or Cattle Raid of Cooley, is the central tale in the Ulster Cycle, one of the four great cycles that make up the surviving corpus of Irish mythology. ...

See also

• Irish mythology

The mythology of pre-Christian Ireland did not entirely survive the conversion to Christianity, but much of it was preserved, shorn of its religious meanings, in medieval Irish literature, which represents the most extensive and best preserved of all the branches of Celtic mythology. ...

External links

• Timeless Myths: Ulster Cycle
• Tales from the Ulster Cycle online at CELT