Luglochta Logo

Overview

Luglochta Logo, the Gardens of Lug, is the country where Emer lives, and Forgall Monach's fort stands in it. The text does not say where it lies, and Kinsella gives no modern name. Cúchulainn crosses Breg Plain to reach Emer from Emain, and goes northward over it when he leaves her.

Cúchulainn goes there in his chariot with Laeg to woo a girl he knows. She is out on the green with her foster-sisters, the daughters of the landowners who live round the fort, and they are learning embroidery and fine stitching with her. Emer and Cúchulainn talk in riddles. He says he sees a sweet country and could rest his weapon there, and she tells him what a man must do before he travels that country: kill a hundred men at every ford from Scenmenn ford on the Ailbine, do the salmon-leap carrying twice his weight in gold, strike down three groups of nine men and leave the middle man of each unharmed, and go sleepless from Samain to Brón Trogain. He answers each time that it is said and done.

Her father does not like it. Forgall goes to Emain in Gaulish clothes, praises Cúchulainn until he agrees to go and study with Scáthach, and goes home pleased. When Cúchulainn is away he promises Emer to Lugaid mac Nois and the Breg landowners' daughters to Lugaid's princes. The king arrives at Forgall's fort for the wedding. Emer holds Lugaid's cheeks, swears on his life that it is Cúchulainn she loves, and Lugaid does not dare sleep with her.

Cúchulainn returns, and a whole year at the fort gets him nowhere. Then he harnesses the sickle-chariot and drives at it. He kills three hundred and nine men, makes the salmon-leap across the three enclosures to the middle of the fort, and strikes three strokes at three groups of nine. He kills eight men at each stroke and leaves one standing in the middle of each group. They are Emer's three brothers, Scibar, Ibor and Cat. Forgall runs, jumps from the rampart, falls, and kills himself.

Cúchulainn takes Emer and her foster-sister, with their weight in gold and silver, and leaps back over the ramparts with the two girls. The chase runs on through the fords. He kills Scenmenn at Ath Scenmenn, one hundred men at Glondáth, and an army at Crúfóit, and he chases the rest northward over Ath Imfóit on the Boann. At Emain, Emer is made welcome in the Craebruad.