Ath Da Ferta

Overview

Ath Da Ferta means the Ford of the Two Grave Mounds. Kinsella's list of place-names gives it as a ford on the river Fane, at Knockbridge. The text places it in Murtheimne Plain by way of the bull, and the three things that happen there are a stand, a fight that is not one, and a bull.

The stand is Aengus's. He is a brave Ulster warrior, the son of Aenlám Gaibe, and he turns the whole army aside at Muid Loga, called Lugmod today, as far as Ath Da Ferta. He refuses to let them pass and pelts them with flagstones. Some say that if they had agreed to single combat the whole army would have fallen at his hands before they came under the sword at Emain Macha. But there was no rule of fair play for him, and he died overwhelmed.

The fight that is not one comes next. Cúchulainn calls from the ford, "Send someone out to me." Every man in the army calls out from his place, "Not I, not I! My family owes no sacrifice! And if it did, why should I be the one?" Fergus is asked to fight, and will not fight his foster-son. They bring him wine and he grows very drunk, and when he is asked again they implore him and he goes. Cúchulainn greets him with the remark that he must be under strong protection to come with no sword in his scabbard. Fergus says it would be the same if he had one, because he would not use it on him, and tells him to yield. Cúchulainn will, if Fergus yields to him another time, and Fergus agrees. Cúchulainn retreats before him as far as the swamp of Grellach Dollaid, on condition that Fergus gives way on the day of the great Battle, and runs off into it. The others cry to Fergus to chase him. He says he won't, because that one is too lively, and he is not going after him until his turn comes round again. That promise is what Cúchulainn calls in at the last battle.

The bull is the last. After the fighting, the Brown Bull comes home leaving pieces of Finnbennach at places along the way. He comes to Etan Tairb and sets his brow against the hill at Ath Da Ferta, and that is where the name Etan Tairb, the Bull's Brow, comes from in Murtheimne Plain. Then he goes by the Midluachair road to Cuib and on until he falls dead at Druim Tairb.