Cúscraid Menn Macha
Also spelled: Cúscraid Mend Macha, Cuscraid the Stammerer
Conchobor's son, the Stammerer, left for dead on the field in Cúchulainn's boyhood and seated at his father's hand when Ulster comes to the last battle.
Overview
Cúscraid Menn Macha is Conchobor's son, called the Stammerer, and his sword is Coscrach. In the story Fergus tells of Cúchulainn's boyhood, Eogan mac Durthacht beats Ulster, and Conchobor and Cúscraid are left for dead in heaps; Cúchulainn finds Cúscraid on the way back, heavy with wounds, and lifts him on his back to Emain Macha. At Slemain Midi Fergus names him sitting at his father's hand, and says the spear in his hand always plays like that just before a victory. Some say it was Cúscraid who chanted the war-verse the night before the battle.
Connections
Related characters
- Conchobor (father)
- Cúchulainn (carries him home on his back, wounded)
- Eogan mac Durthacht (his battle leaves Cúscraid for dead)
Places
Appears in chapters
Appears in
- Celtchar chants to Conchobor that the battle breaks out at Gáirech and Irgairech, though some say Cúscraid chanted it in the eastern camp the night before. At Gáirech and Irgairech. In Chapter XII: Ulster Rises from its Pangs.
- A troop of three thousand tears off its clothes and digs a mound of sods for its leader to sit on; Fergus names the leader as Conchobor, with Sencha facing him and Cúscraid at his father's hand. At Slemain Midi. In Chapter XIII: The Companies Advance.