Connacht
The western province, ruled by Ailill and Medb from Cruachan, which raises the army for the raid and takes its beating home.
Traits
| Type | Province |
|---|---|
| Ruled by | Ailill, Medb |
| Royal seat | Cruachan, in north Connacht |
| Army | Cormac Connlongas, Fergus mac Roich |
| Its poet | Fedelm, a woman poet of Connacht |
Where it is
53.85, -8.7
Overview
Connacht is the western province, and it is the one that starts the raid. Ailill and Medb rule it from Cruachan, a fort in north Connacht, and Medb takes her title from the place: she is Medb of Cruachan. The text gives no more of its people than these few: Fedelm, a woman poet of Connacht, who has been learning verse and vision in Alba; the Connacht women, who climb on the soldiers to get a look at Cúchulainn; and Medb's herdsmen. Ailill and Medb count their wealth in bed, and the one thing Medb is short of is a bull to match Ailill's.
The exiles are the oddest part of the army. Years before, the Ulster exiles went to Connacht because Ailill and Medb were sure to protect them, though it was no home for Ulstermen. A full three thousand arrived, and for sixteen years they kept Ulster weeping and trembling every night. Cormac Connlongas, Conchobor's son, leads them, and Fergus mac Roich is among them. When the raid is called, Ailill sends to his six brothers, the other sons of Mágach, each with a troop of three thousand. The troops all come to Cruachan Ai, and four provinces of Ireland gather there. Fergus counts seven Munster kings on their side, each with a troop of three thousand, and the Galeóin of north Leinster.
The army waits a fortnight for the sages and druids, then marches southeast on the Monday after Samain. Fedelm looks at it as it sets out and says it is red. Medb says that cannot be, because Conchobor lies in his pangs, and Fedelm gives the same answer three times. In the camp, Ailill and Medb take counsel with Fergus and send Mac Roth out to see whether the men of Ulster have arrived. They have, and the army learns what it means.
The retreat begins when Cúchulainn comes into the last battle at noon. Fergus goes off with his three thousand. The Galeóin and the men of Munster go as well, which leaves Medb and Ailill with their seven sons and nine troops. Medb has already sent the Brown Bull of Cuailnge to Cruachan by a roundabout road, so that whoever escapes, the bull is safe. The army is driven west past Ath Luain. When the peace is made, the Connachtmen go back to their own country.
Events here
- The Ulster exiles go to Connacht, to Ailill and Medb, because they know these two will protect them. In Exile of the Sons of Uisliu. Involves: Ailill, Medb.
- Ailill and Medb lay out their wealth in Cruachan fort, and Medb finds nothing in her herds to match Ailill's bull Finnbennach. In Chapter I: The Pillow Talk. Involves: Ailill, Medb, Finnbennach.
- Ailill and Medb assemble a great army in Connacht and send word to the other three provinces, and the troops of Ailill's brothers and of Cormac Connlongas come to Cruachan. In Chapter II: The Táin Bó Cuailnge Begins. Involves: Ailill, Medb, Cormac Connlongas.
- Fedelm, a woman poet of Connacht, looks at the army as it leaves and says she sees it crimson, she sees it red. In Chapter II: The Táin Bó Cuailnge Begins. Involves: Fedelm.
- Ailill, Medb and Fergus take counsel and send Mac Roth to see whether the men of Ulster have reached the plain. In Chapter XIII: The Companies Advance. Involves: Ailill, Medb, Fergus mac Roich, Mac Roth.
- The Brown Bull is sent to Cruachan by a roundabout road, and the army is driven west past Ath Luain. In Chapter XIV: The Last Battle. Involves: Donn Cuailnge.
- Ailill and Medb make peace with Ulster and Cúchulainn, and the Connachtmen go back to their own country. In Chapter XIV: The Last Battle. Involves: Ailill, Medb, Cúchulainn.
AILILL and Medb assembled a great army in Connacht, and they sent word also to the other three provinces.