Laeg mac Riangabra

Overview

Before the raid

Laeg first appears when Cúchulainn goes to the Gardens of Lug to find Emer. The text says no other chariot-team in Ulster, horses or warriors, could touch that chariot for fire and speed. Nothing is told of his birth beyond his father's name, Riangabra.

On the border

Cúchulainn sends Laeg to reckon up the army's tracks and Laeg says the count is confusing and he cannot do it. Cúchulainn says it would not confuse him if he went up there, and does it from the chariot, and Laeg says even he does not find it easy. At the ford on the Cronn Cúchulainn tells him the army is upon them, and Laeg chants that he will do great deeds, and is told to set their course headlong.

At Delga, Laeg sees a man coming with a linen band round his yellow hair and describes him to Cúchulainn. This is Mac Roth, who asks Laeg whose servant in arms he is, and Laeg points at the man squatting in the snow. Then Laeg is playing buanbach with Cúchulainn, and sees Fergus's chariot with a sword as big as a boat's rudder. Cúchulainn says a stick is in the scabbard, because Ailill took the sword and gave it to his charioteer. When Etarcomol turns back to fight, Laeg tells his master the chariot is coming back with its left board against them. When Nadcranntail will fight only a bearded man, Cúchulainn runs to Laeg and has a false beard made.

He is the messenger to the enemy camp. Cúchulainn sends him to Lugaid mac Nois to ask who is to come against him tomorrow, and Laeg returns unhappy with the answer, which is Ferbaeth. When Medb asks Cúchulainn to a meeting Laeg tells him to go with his sword, since a warrior without weapons is treated under the rule for cowards. At the gravemound at Lerga he kindles Cúchulainn's fire, and sees a tall man crossing the camp alone, who is Lug mac Ethnenn. In the fight with Lóch, Cúchulainn's charioteer sends the gae bolga along the stream.

When Cúchulainn calls for the sickle-chariot Laeg puts on his war-harness. The text says the mantle was made (some say) by Simon Magus for Darius king of the Romans, and passed from Darius to Conchobor, from Conchobor to Cúchulainn and from Cúchulainn to Laeg. He armours the horses and casts a spell that hides them from the camp while everything stays clear to themselves, which he needs, since he will use leaping a gap, straight steering and the goad that day.

Ferdia

On the night Fergus warns Cúchulainn, Laeg asks what he will do. In the morning Cúchulainn has him bring the horses and yoke the chariot. At the ford, before Ferdia's thousand feats, Cúchulainn tells him to abuse and mock him if he seems near defeat and to praise him if Ferdia seems near it. Laeg says he will. When Ferdia knocks Cúchulainn away from his shield, Laeg tells him he has no right to great deeds, and Cúchulainn gets up again. At the end Cúchulainn calls to Laeg mac Riangabra for the gae bolga, the charioteer sends it down the stream with the warning "Beware the gae bolga", and Ferdia dies of it.

Cúchulainn faints by Ferdia's head. Laeg tells him to get up since the men of Ireland are coming. Cúchulainn says why should he rise, and Laeg answers him in verse that he has nothing to regret. Cúchulainn has him strip Ferdia and show him the brooch, then cut him open to take out the gae bolga. At last Laeg says they have been at the ford too long.

The rising of Ulster

Laeg is sent to Fiacha mac Fir Febe for a healer for Cethern. On the last day he tells Cúchulainn how Ulster is fighting, like true men, and says he and Conall Cernach's charioteer En could drive over the armies from wing to wing and find no place for a hoof to sink through. He rouses the men of Ulster, who rush naked to the battle. He reports Fergus's blows at the hills and at Ochain, Conchobor's shield.

The muster of Ulster also lists "Laeg from his causeway" and "Laeg from Léire". The text does not say whether either is Cúchulainn's charioteer, who is with Cúchulainn in the field at that moment.