Táin bó Fraích: A version of the tale (with notes)

In a recent conversation with, archeologist and historian, Daniel Curley we discussed the Táin bó Fraích: in some detail. It is a fascinating but, sometimes, complex story. I thought it might be useful to have a readable vession avilable that is still closely based on an earlier direct translation of the text. I do hope this helps a bit.

Introduction

Fraích, son of Idath of the men of Connaught, was a son to Befind from the Sidé who was sister to Boand. He was the hero who was the most beautiful of the men of Eriu and of Alba, but he was not long-lived. His mother gave him twelve cows out of the Sidé (the fairy mound), they were white-eared. Yet, he had no wife. Fifty sons of kings were part of his household household, all of an age similar to him. Findabair, daughter of Ailill and Medb, loved him for the great stories she had heard about him. He gained news of the girl and she of his fame and renown.

Comments

Fraích has an unusual and very high status lineage. He seems to be at least half Otherworld. His mother is Befind , meaning ‘fine’ or ‘ fair’woman. It appears to be a title rather han an undividual name. In the Tochmarc Étaíne, Etain is at one point hailed as Befind (or Béfinn) , The text indicates that he is also the nephew of Boand of the Brú na Bóinne who gives her name to the Boyne river. His lineage relates him to Óengus, (the young son) although he is not mentiond in this text.
He has every ‘Otherworld’ marker possible, white eared cows included.
He is also ‘top status’ loads of fifties (an indefinite ‘big’ number!)

After this he thought the should meet and talk with the young woman; and so he discussed the possibilities with his people.

“Let a message be sent to your mother’s sister, so that you are given sumptuous clothing and gifts from the Sidé to take with you.” They said.

He went to Boand, in Mag Breg, and carried away fifty dark-blue cloaks, and each of them was like the back of a black beetle, and four black-grey, rings on each cloak, and a brooch of red gold on each cloak, and pale white tunics with loop-animals of gold around them. And fifty silver shields with edges, and a candle of a king’s-house in the hand of them (the men), and fifty studs of findruine (white silver / gold) on each of the lances, fifty knobs of thoroughly burned gold on each of the lance ends and decorated with carbuncles under them beneath, and their points of precious stones. They could light the night as if they were the sun’s rays.

And there were fifty gold-hilted swords with them, and a soft-grey mare under the seat of each man, and each mount had bits of gold and a plate of silver with a little bell of gold around the neck of each horse. The fifty horses were caparisoned with silver threaded purple, buckles of gold and silver and spiral animal headed ornaments. Each of the fifty had whips of findruine, with a golden hook on the end of each. And there were Seven chase-hounds in chains of silver, and an apple of gold between each of them. Each had greaves of bronze. Indeed, there was there no colour which was not found on the hounds.

They had seven trumpeters with them, each with golden and silver trumpets and many coloured garments. Each had with golden-yellow heads of hair, and shining tunics. There were three jesters with silver gilded diadems. Each warrior had a shield with engraved emblems, with crested staves and ribs of bronze along their sides, Three kingly harp-players were alongside. They departed for Cruachan in all their finery.

Comments

Note the fantastic description of wealth he brings from Otherworld,
The amount of findruine and the amount of red ‘purple’ involved.
Here the ‘fifties’ are repeated Hyperbole laid on with a trowel!‘ Note: Threes and sevens continue in folklore but not usually fifties.

The watchman saw them from the dun when they had come into the plain of Cruachan. “A multitude I see,” he says, “coming towards the dun. Since Ailill and Medb became our leaders there have never come before, and there shall not come again, a more beautiful, or more splendid. host. I f eel as though my head has been dipped into a vat of wine what with the breeze that goes over them.

“The agility of the young hero who leads the host, well, I have never before seen his like. He throws his lance a long-shot ahead but; before it reaches earth, the seven chase-hounds with their seven silver chains catch it.”

Hearing this the hosts came from the dun of Cruachan to watch. The people in the dun were so overcome, rushing to view the splendour of the sight, that, that sixteen men suffocated while viewing them.

Once the host had dismounted in front of the dun. They tethered their horses and freed the chase-hounds. The hounds began to chase seven deer to Rath-Cruachan, along with seven foxes, and seven hares, and seven wild boars, until the youths killed them on the lawns of the dun. After that the chase-hounds leapt into Brei where they caught seven otters. They brought them to the high place in front of the chief rath. Then Fraích and his company sat down to wait there.

Comments

The magnificent hunting scene continues the poetic numbering
There may be other significances in the choice of animals hunted but they do cover a range od creatures hunted for noble sport

A message came from the king requesting that they speak with him and the steward asked the newcomers where they had come from. They reported their true names and lineage. ” I am Fraích, son of Idath” replied the young man. The steward gave his name to the king and queen. “Welcome them,” said Ailill and Medb; “He is a noble youth” said Ailill, “let him come into the outer court.” So, he allotted a quarter of the house to them. This was how the house was arranged, It had seven apartments from fire to side-wall in the house all round. A rail of bronze fronted each apartment; with partitioning of red yew. There were three plates of bronze in the skirting of each apartment. and seven plates of brass from the ceiling to the roof-tree in the house.

TThe house was made; of pine with an external a covering of shingle. There were sixteen windows in the house, each with a frame of brass, and a tie of brass across the roof-light. Four beams of brass were on the apartment of Ailill and Medb, adorned all with bronze, and it in the exact centre of the house. there were two rails of silver around it under gilding. In the front a wand of silver that reached the middle rafters of the house. The house was encircled all round from the door to the other. They all hung up their arms in that house, and they sat and were made welcome.

Comments

We may have a description of the court of Rathcroghan. It is round but has windows. It may reference early medieval stuctures but yet could also retain memories of much earlier ones.
There are some similarities to description of the house in Fled Bricrenn.

“Welcome,” said Ailill and Medb. “A welcome from you is why we have come,” replied Fraích. “But this journey you have made was surely not just in search of boasting and idle words,” replied Medb, Immediately, she arranged the fidchel-board. Fraích sat down to play.

It was a beauty of a gaming-board. The board was layered with findruine with four edges of gold. the figures that were set upon the board were formed from gold and silver. “Prepare food for the warriors,” said Ailill. “I would rather play at Fidchell,” said Medb, I will play against Fraech.” “Please, do,” said Ailill, and they began the game.

Meanwhile, Fraích’s people were cooking hunted animals. “Let your harpers play for us,” said Ailill to Fraích. “Let them play indeed!” says Fraích. The harp-bags were beautiful. They were made of otter skins with decorations of ruby (or coral), beneath the gold and silver.

The harpers were clothed in deer skin, white as snow; with black-grey eyes in their centre. They wore cloaks of linen as white as swans. The harps were of gold and silver and bronze, with figures of serpents and birds, and hounds of gold and silver: As the harpers moved those strings these figures ran about. They played so beautifully that twelve of the people of Ailill and Medb died with weeping and sadness.

The harpers played a triad of gentle and melodious strains of music. These were illustrious musical triads, namely Gol-traiges (Sorrow-strain), and Gen-traiges (Joy-strain), and Suan-traiges (Sleep-strain),

These are the Chants of Uaithne (Child-birth). Boand is the originator iof this triad: And it was it is from the music which Uaithne, the Dagda’s harp, played that the three are named. The first chant was for the time the woman was labouring with the bearing of children, It had a cry of sorrow for the soreness of the pain. The second was all smiles and joy for the pleasure of bringing forth the two sons: The third was a sleep of soothing played on account of the heaviness of the birth. And it is from this that the third music has been named.

When Boand awoke afterwards out of the sleep. “I accept,” she said, “your three sons and now Suan-traide and Gen-traide, and Gol-traide shall soothe cows and women who shall fall by Medb and Ailill, men who shall perish by the hearing of art from them.”

Comments

So, we have more wonderful descriptions of the ideals of music. The three ‘musics’ do turn up in other stories although nowhere with this level of information. More commonly there are reports of the three strains of the harp which bring sadness, joy and sleep. Gráinne knows them and uses the third to aid her escape with Diarmuid.

After this the playing stopped, Fraích asked his people to bring food into the house. Lothur went onto the floor of the house. He divided up the food. Sitting on his haunches, he could divide up each joint using only his sword. He was so dexterous that he would not even touch the meat with his hands.: Not once did he hack the meat beneath his hand.

Now it had been three days and three nights that Medb had been playing fidchel dazzled by the abundance of precious stones in the gaming boards. After that Fraích addressed Medb. “Well played”, he said, “Although I have beaten you, I will not take from the table the stake I have won. I would not wish it to be a breach of hospitality”.

“Since I have been in this dun this has felt like the longest day ever,” says Medb. “That is reasonable,” commented Fraích. “We have been playing for three days and nights.” Medb started up in astonishment. She felt ashamed that she had left the warriors without food. She went to Ailil and said, “It has not been a good deed we have done, to leave the strangers who have come to us, without food.” “Fidchl is more important to you,” laughed Ailill. “But it hasn’t hindered the distribution of food to his followers throughout the house. They have been three days and three nights at it while we have been distracted. More food was then made available to them so that everything was pleasing. And so they continued, three days and three nights over the feasting.

It was after that Fraích was invited into the ‘house of conversation’, to discuss what had brought him to Rathcroghan. They repeated the invitation for him and his people to stay for a longer visit “We shall stay here another week then,” said Fraích. They stayed for a fortnight in the dun, and they held a hunt every single day. All the men of Connaught came to watch them.

Comments

In the previous paragraphs, the game played beween Fraích and Medb is given an important symbolic emphasis. The visitors have already established their very high status in terms of lineage and appearance. The game would appear to allow the two groups meeting for the first time to test each other’s knowledge and ability in terms of strategy. It is a kind of battle testing within a non-combat setting. Medb is not only beaten but distracted for a length of time by what seem to refer to the gem studded game pieces.
These paragraphs do seem to offer a glimpse into customs and practices that might has been undertaken to safely assess newly encountered communities as possible allies or potential threats.

It concerned Fraích that he had not yet had an opportunity for conversation with Medb and Ailil’s daughter, for that was the purpose of his visit.,. One morning at daybreak, he went down to the stream to wash. It just happened to be at the same time Findabair had gone there with her maid for the same reason. He took her hand. “Stay and talk,” he said; “it is for your sake that I have made this journey..” The young woman was delighted but she replied “if I were to stay, I could offer you nothing more.” “Let me ask you a question”, he continued, “Would you elope with me?”

“I will not elope,” she told him, “for I am the daughter of a king and a queen. But I can clearly see that you are not so poor that you could not pay any dowery that my family will ask of you. Yet, if that is agreed, it shall be my choice to go with you. It is you whom I have loved. And because of this, take this ring to be a token between us. My mother gave it to me to keep, but if she notices that I am not wearing it , I shall say that I mislaid it.” After this, each of them went their own way.

Comment

Although Finabhair is prepared to respect the established customs for arranging high status marriage, she is breaking the ‘rules’ by parting with the ring. This becomes central to the story later. The following paragraph does suggest that their meeting may have been observed.

“I fear,” said Ailill, “that our daughter may be persuaded to elope with Fraích though we would require a solemn pledge that he would come to aid us in the matter of the Bulls. before her hand is offered to him.”

Soon after, Fraích went to the house of conversation to talk with them. ” I have a feeling that you have a secret that you are keeping from me.” “You would have a part to play in it in it,” Ailill responded,

Then will you give me your daughter to be my wife?” he asked. “All here will clearly see she is given,” said Ailill, “if you meet the requirements of her dowry.”

“This I will give for her,” replied Fraích. ” You shall have sixty black-grey steeds with their bits of gold. You shall have twelve milk cows, each giving the finest and richest milk, plus a red-eared white calf with each of them. ‘And’, added Medb and Ailil, ‘You, yourself, to join us, with all your warriors and musicians, on the quest for the bringing of the cows from Cuailgne; Our daughter shall become your bride only once you join us in this venture. “I swear by my shield, and by my sword, and by my accoutrements, I would not give that in dowry even for Medb.” protested Fraích. He went out of the house then, leaving the negotiations.

Comment

They ask too much. The sticking point is requesting his direct alignment to their cause. This would require Otherworld forces to take their side, breaking the ‘balance’ of natural law. Fraích would be betraying his Otherworld heritage if he accepted this requirement.

Ailill and Medb discussed what this refusal might mean for them.” There would be other chieftains and kings who would turn against us if he gets away with eloping with Findabhair” raged Ailill. “It would be better to go after him now. We should kill him, just cut him down, before he inflicts such destruction upon us.” Medb was less certain “It would be a pity,” she warned, “and we would certainly be betraying the laws of hospitality. It would lead to a great loss of face for us.” “No”, replied Ailill. “It shall not be a be a betrayal of hospitality for us; it shall not be a loss of face for us; not the way I shall plan it.”

Comment

They have to deal with the situation without losing face. They cannot let Fraích realise that they will not accept his refusal of the terms. They must lead him to believe that negotiations are still on-going.

Ailill and Medb returned to the palace as if nothing had happened. “Let us go and view the hunting,” said Ailill. We can watch the chase-hounds until the middle of the day, and until they are tired.” After that they went to the river to bathe themselves.

“I have heard,” said Ailill, “that you are really good in water. Jump into the river, and we will see how well you swim.” Fraích was curious. “How does this water flow?” he asked. “We know of nothing dangerous in it,” Ailill replied, “It is the usual spot used for bathing.” Fraích stripped off his clothes and jumped in. Now, he had left his belt on the bank with his purse attached. Ailil opened the purse while he thought Fraích. wasn’t looking and found the ring. He recognised it immediately. “Come here, Medb,” he whispered Ailill. ” Do you recognise this ” says Ailill. “I do,” she nodded back. Ailill flung the ring into the river.

But Fraích. had noticed. He also saw what happened to the ring. A salmon leaped up and caught it in its mouth. Fraích stretched and caught the fish, and carried it to a lonely spot on the bank of the river. Then he prepared to come out the water.

“Not yet” called Ailill. I want you to bring me a branch of the rowan-tree, over there, on the bank of the river. Its berries are so beautiful.” Fraích went away, and broke a branch off the trees and brought it on his back over the water.

Comment

The Rowan with its blood red berries is a recurring theme in stories. It also appears as the Quicken tree, a part of the tale of the elopement of Diarmid and Grainne. In that story the berries appear to represent Finn’s jealousy.

Findabair was watching Fraích in the water. “Does he not look beautiful?” she thought. He looked exceedingly beautiful, this white body in the dark pool; his fine hair, handsome face, his grey eyes; a youth without blemish, with the branch and its red berries carried between his throat and face. Findabair thought that, by no means, had she seen anything that could come up to him half or third for beauty.

Fraích threw the branch out of the water and swam off again into the middle of the water. Then it happened. A péiste, a serpent, rose up, catching him, lifting him up in the water. “Throw me a sword,” he cried out but there was not, on the land, a man who would dare to do so for fear of Ailill and Medb. But Findabair was ready. She stripped off her clothes, and leapt into the water with the sword. Her father let fly at her, a five-pronged spear, from above, a shot’s throw. It passed so close to her so that it went through two tresses of her hair. Fraích caught the spear in his hand. He shot the spear straight into the side of the monster Then he let it fly once more so that it went through the purple robe that was around Ailill.

At that, the young warriors who were close to Ailill ran to surround him. him. Findabair climbed out of the water but left the sword in Fraích’s hand, and he cut off the head the monster and brought the head with him to land.

Comments

So, he kills a péiste, aided by Findabhair. She is choosing Fraích over her parents and the convention of an elite arranged marriage contract. In some of the Táin remscéla, and also maybe, Tochmarc Étaíne there is a suggestion that the size altering péiste may be associated with, or be, a symbol of conception. Could it be that the relationship between Fraích and Findabhair have been closer than is suggested in the text? This would make more sense of Ailill’s extreme reaction.

“A great deed is what we have done!” said Medb. “We have to repent,” replied Ailill, “for what we have done to the man; but our daughter, however,” she deserves to die tomorrow and it shall not be the guilt of bringing of the sword that shall be for her.

“But this is what we must now do straightaway. Let a bath be made for Fraích. It should be a broth of fresh bacon with the flesh of a heifer minced in it under adze and axe, and then he is to be put into the bath.” All of this was done as he instructed. His trumpeters went before him to the dun. They played so plaintively that thirty of Ailill’s special friends died from the mournful music. Fraích went into the bath. The female company gathered around him in the vat, rubbing, and washing his head. Next, he was brought out of it and a bed was made. When he was laid on the bed, a lament-cry was heard on Cruachan. Three times fifty women with crimson tunics, green head-dresses, and brooches of silver on their wrists lamented the man’s approaching death. “We cry for Fraích son of Idath,” lamented the woman, “the beloved boy of the king of the Sidé of Erin”

Fraích heard their lament-cry “Lift me up” he told his people; “This is the cry of my mother and of the women of Boand.” He was lifted and brought to the mourners. The women gathered around him, and brought him to the Sidé of Cruachan

Comments

This is a remarkable sequence. Fraoch is given some kind of ritual bath, reminiscent of later medieval kingship rituals. It is extremely curious. Medb and Ailill have been attempting to rid themselves of an intractable suitor, by their terms, but then what follows is a symbolically significant and transformative, (death) sequence. Fraích makes it clear, through his own words, that he is being called back to the world of his mother’s people. This may seem to equate to death in this world.
The young man, ritually prepared and mourned by Otherworld women, is taken down into the darkness of the cave, now known as Oweynagat. Might this sequence echo memories of practices once connected to the cave?
Fraích’s ritual death contrasts with the plans to kill (execute) Findabhair.

Yet, the next morning, at the ninth hour, he returned, the fifty women around him, and, he, quite whole, without stain and without blemish; of equal age, of equal form, of equal beauty, of equal fairness, of equal symmetry, of equal stature, to the Otherworld women around him. The sight was so overwhelming that men were suffocated by their presence. As they brought him in front of the dun, they cried out a lament for leaving him, so that the cries greatly troubled the men who were in that place. This, was the lament-cry of the Women of Sidé with the musicians of Erin. He then went into the dun. All the hosts made him welcome if he had come from another world.

Comments

His reception the next day is as if he had returned from the dead.
This section of the story has a very different tone to that of the troubled wooing tale of Findabhair and Fraích.
It is worth noting that he returns whole and without blemish. This may be significant. as it might mark him as ‘kingly’. Under early Irish law, no blemished man could be king. For example, in the Cath Maige Tuired, Nuada can no longer remain king once he has lost his hand in the first battle of Moytura. This remains true even after he is given a replacement hand of silver.
However, in the same story cycle, a healing well, the Well of Octriul / Octriulach, is created by Dían Cécht, the Dé Danann healer. This is intended to heal the warriors injured or even killed in the battle. Once they are bathed in it, they also emerge, in the morning, whole and without blemish. This bath is available to all warriors.

Ailill and Medb rose up and undertook penance for the attack they had, earlier, made. And then they made peace, and set to feasting. During the feast, Fraích called for a servant of his people: “Go ” he said “to the spot at where I went into the water. If you look around on the bank you will find a salmon that I left there. Bring this fish to Findabair She will take charge of it. Let the salmon be well broiled by her, and tell her that her ring will be found inside this fish I have a strong feeling that she will be asked for it tonight.

As the feast went on and the drinking began, the music began to delight them. Ailill called out “Bring all my gems and jewels to me.” They were brought to him so that everyone could admire them. “Wonderful, wonderful,” said everyone. “Suddenly he announced “Send Findabair to me,” Findabair came to him, with her fifty maidens around her. “Daughter,” said Ailill, ” Where is that the ring you were given last year? Have you still got it? Bring it to me so that the warriors may see it. You can have it back after.” “I do not know,” she replied, “what has been done with it.” Ailill, frowned “Be certain, he told her “It must be sought and it must be found, or else your soul will be separated from your body!”

The warriors were shocked. “Surely, it is, by no means worth that” they protested. “There are none of my jewels that I would not give up to save your daughter,” added Fraích, “It was she who brought me the sword to save my life. “There is no gem that you possess that will save her unless she returns the ring,” retorted Ailill.

“I have by no way to give it, to you,” replied Findabhair, “however you choose to threaten me”. “I swear to the god by whom my people swear, you will perish unless you return the ring,” frowned Ailill. “And what is more, I know it is impossible for you to do so; for, until the people who have died from the beginning of the world. return, it will remain under the water where it was flung.”

“Yet” Findabair replied, “the ring you request can be found. Let me go so that I may bring it to you since you are so keen to have it.” “You may not go,” retorted Ailill; “but you may send someone to bring it, if you can.” Findabhair sent her maid to fetch the fish.

“I swear to the gods to whom my people swear, that if it shall be found, I shall by no longer be under your power.” If you can bring me the ring”, mocked Ailill, “then I will not prevent you leaving, even if you go to your ‘would be’ husband.

At that moment, the maid then arrived with the dish and the broiled salmon on it, and the ring of gold was found in it. Ailill and Medb examined it carefully. Fraích looked at it, and then at his purse. “It seems to me that the purse was left on the bank with my belt”, commented Fraích. “On your sovereignty,” tell the truth about what you did with the ring. “I am not about to hide it from you,” agreed Ailill; “I found my ring in your purse. I knew that Findabair must have given it to you. So, I flung it into the river. Now it is your turn. Say how you got the ring”.

“I will not hide that from you either” responded Fraích “The first day I found the ring in front of the outer court, and I knew it was a lovely gem. It is for that reason I put it in my purse. The day I went to the water, I met the young woman who had lost it, searching everywhere for it. I asked her ‘what reward I might have for finding it?’ She replied that she would give a year’s love to me.”

“It happened, at that point, I did not have it with me. I had left it in the house behind me. We didn’t meet again until I was fighting the serpent and it was she who put the sword into my hand in the river. After that I saw you open the purse and fling the ring into the water: I noticed the salmon leaping for it, and taking it into its mouth. I then caught the salmon, took it up in the cloak, and put it into the hand of your daughter. It is that salmon which is now on the dish. The whole household were all, at once, set considering and arguing about the truth of his story.

Finadabair smiled “I shall certainly not even look at another youth in the whole of Erin after that tale. Ailill and Medb, sighed. “Bind yourself to those words Findabair. You could do no better. They turned to Fraích Come with us, you and your cattle, to the Spoil of the Cows from Cuailgne; and when you return you shall certainly wed with Findabair.” “I shall do that,” agreed Fraích. They feasted until morning. Then Fraích and his company said farewell to Ailill and Medb and left for their own territories.

Comment

It does seem curious that, after so adamantly refusing to join Ailill and Medb in the coming war of the two bulls, he then capitulates so easily. It would almost seem that the ‘re-born Fraích is now at liberty to become an ally to a venture which originates in this rather than the Otherworld, It could possibly be that the mourning women who lament his leaving them when he returns whole and unblemished to the dun in the morning are, in fact mourning his loss to their world. He has now been born in both worlds, as is Cú Chulainn. For more information check out the podcast “The Birthpangs of Ulster”.

Story 2

Now, for some reason, Fraích finally agrees to bring his herds and join what is called The Spoil of the Cows from Cuialgne. But before this happens, he is involved in a whole new story in which he needs to recover his own cattle that have been stolen. However, the story does seem to be something of a contrived link to connect an Otherworld born hero with the one who is present in the Tain as we have it today.

It happened that, around that time, his mother came to him. “The journey that took you away from your home wasn’t a lucky one for you, she told him and it will it shall cause you a lot more trouble yet. All your herds have been stolen along with your wife and three sons. They are long gone into the mountains of Elpa (the alps) or in the North with the Cruthnechi (the Picts).

What shall I do?” he asked his mother. “If you ask me, she replied, “You should do a non-going search for them; (great phrase!). After all, there is no point giving your life for them. I can give you more plenty more cows. “Certainly not,” he replied: “I have pledged my word and my soul to go to Ailill and to Medb, with my cows, and join them in the Spoil of the Cows from Cuailnge.” “Well, you won’t find them” snorted his mother. And she went off and left him to it!

Comments

This story presents a very different and far more human Fraích. He is clearly not the beautiful half-Otherworld youth who goes to woo the young woman, Findabair. For a start he already has a wife and three sons. And his mother does not present as the mysterious noble figure of Befind. Here she comes across as an extremely dismissive mother, and a highly unpleasant mother-in-law!
The intention to gather herds together and take them along on the raid (the Spoil of the Cows from Cuailnge.) is referenced more than once in both stories. In fact, it is suggested that he cannot join as an ally of the Connacht army until he has all of his herds to accompany him. If we care to imagine Medb’s army we might possibly visualise mounted and unmounted warriors, chariots, horses, baggage trains of supplies and yes, probably on-the-hoof food. Yet what is being described here are on-the-move communities of, potentially, semi-nomadic herders.

He then set out with three nines, a wood-cuckoo (hawk), and a hound. He travelled until he arrived in the territory of the Ulstermen. There he met up with Conall Cernach (Conall the Victorious) at Benna Bairchi (a mountain on the Ulster border).

He told him of his quest. Conall shook his head and frowned. “What is waiting for you doesn’t sound so good. You have plenty to worry about.” “Now here’s a thought ,” replied Fraích “Didn’t you offer to help me any time that we might meet?” Conall Cernach smiled. ” I will join you”, he said.

Comments

It is also worth noting that this story is very different in tone. There are no long poetic descriptions and no extended statements of lineage and status. There are no flowery ‘fifties’ or other poetic numbers. It seems to be assumed that it will be known that Fraích and Conall are friends or at least comrades who trained together at the school of Scathach in Skye. This time Fraích travels with simple ‘nines’ a number often attached to travelling warrior units.

They set off accompanied by the three nines over the sea, over Saxony of the North, over the Sea of Icht (the sea between England and France), to the north of where the Lombards live until they reached the mountains of Elpa. There they saw a herd-girl tending of the sheep. Conall suggested that they talk with address the woman.

They went start a conversation with her. She asked them where they had come from. “Of the men of Erin,” said Conall. “Coming to this country is not particularly lucky for the men of Ireland”, she told them ” But my mother was Irish as well “. Then will you help me for that reason”, requested Fraích. “Tell us something about this land for a start.” “It is a grim hateful land with troublesome warriors, who go around carrying off cows and women as captives,” she told them. “What have they recently carried off?” asked Fraích. “Oh!” she responded “They have stolen the cows of Fraech, son of Idath, from the west of Erin, and taken his wife, and his three sons. His wife is here in the house of the king, and his cows are in the country around you.” “Then help us,” begged Conall. “I have little power, but I can be your guide.” she replied.

Conall explained that the man standing before her was Fraích himself and it was his herds which had been taken. Fraích had questions to ask about his wife’s fidelity and the woman was unsure how to give him any direct answers to his questions She then suggested that they go to talk with the woman who tended the cows and ask for her help. She reminded them to tell the cowherd that they were not just from Ireland, but from Ulster.

So, they found her and told her their names and she made them welcome. “What has brought you here?” she asked. “Our trouble has led us right here,” replied Conall; “The cows belong to Fraích and the captured woman that is in the fort is Fraích’s wife.” It won’t be easy,” she told them, “but your biggest problem will be the serpent which is at guarding of the Liss.”

She wanted to know more about who they were. When she heard that this was Conall Cernach, himself, the bravest hero with the men of Ulster, standing before her, she flung two hands around his throat “Destruction has come in this place ” she cried, “It is prophesised that he, and no other, shall destroy this dun. Now”, she told them “I shall go out to my house. I shall, no longer, milk the cows. I shall leave the fort open as it is I who close it every night. Come into the dun, when they are sleeping. Just watch out for the serpent which is at the dun. I cannot help you with this difficulty.”

So, that night they attacked the fort. The serpent made a leap into the girdle of Conall Cernach, and there it stayed as they both plundered the enemy dun. They found Fraích’s wife and his three sons, but they also they carried away all the best of the gems they could find . After this was achieved, Conall let the serpent out of his girdle, and neither of them harmed each other in any way.

Finally, they returned to the territory of the people of the Picts, where three of Fraích’s cows still remained. They drove them off to the Fort of Ollach mac Briuin (now Dunolly near Oban) until they were at Ard Uan Echach (high-foaming Echach). It is there the gillie of Conall met his death at the driving of the cows, that is Bicne son of Loegaire; it is from this is (the name of) Inver Bicne (the Bicne estuary) at Benchor. They brought their cows over it. It is there they flung their horns from them, so that it is thence is (the name of) Tracht Benchoir (the Strand of Horn casting, perhaps the modern Bangor?).

Fraích went back to his own territory with his wife, his sons, and his cows. It was after that he went with Ailill and Medb for the Spoil of the Cows from Cuailnge.

Comments

The story remains a prosaic telling throughout. It contains no poetic descriptions or colourful embellishments. For example, the opportunities for a description of how Conall deals with this péiste are ignored. The creature just hides in his girdle and is released later. Neither does any harm to the other.
In many ways it is Conall Cearnach who is the main hero of this tale. It is because he comes from Ulster that the two warriors are so warmly welcomed in the mountains. It is also Conall Ceanach who is the prophesised victor rather than Fraích and it is he who interacts with the péiste
If this was originally a tale of a deed attributed to Conall this might go some way to explaining why there is distressingly little attention paid to Fraích’s un-named wife and sons.
This may not present as a poet’s tale in style but there is a great little inclusion of some dindshenchas information at the close.

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