The Labour Pains of the Ulaid & The Twins of Macha

• Crunniuc
  • son of Agnoman
    • of the Ulaid
  • lived in the wildernesses and the mountains
  • sons lived with him
  • wife dead
• one day, alone in house
  • saw beautiful woman coming towards him
    • settled in at once
    • went to her tasks
    • just as if had always been there
    • when evening came, set household in order without being asked
    • slept with Crunniuc
    • was with him a long time after that
    • was no prosperity tha she did not bring him
    • no want of food, clothing, or wealth
• Ulaid held a fair
  • not long afterwards
  • they all went
    • men and women
    • sons and daughters
  • Crunniuc set out as well
    • good clothes on him
    • great bloom in his face
  • she warned him not to say anything foolish
  • at end of the day, king's chariot brought to the field
    • his chariot and horses were victorious
    • host said, "Nothing is as fast as those horses are"
  • Crunniuc said, "My wife is that fast."
  • he was taken to the king at once and the news taken to his wife
    • she was with child
    • he would die if she didn't come
• She went to the fair
  • labor pains seized her
  • she asked for help
    • "Help me for a mother bore every one of you. Wait until my childen are born."
    • she failed to move them
    • "The evil you suffer will be greater, and it will afflict Ulaid for a long time."
  • King asks her name.
  • She is Macha
    • daugther of Sainrith
      • son of Imbath
• She raced
  • as the chariot reach the edn of the field, she gave brith in front of it
    • bore a son and a daughter
  • That's why the place is called Emuin Machae.
• At her deliverty she screamed that any man who heard her would suffer the pains of birth for 5 days and 4 nights.
  • All the Ulaid who were there were so afflicted
    • and their descendants for 9 generations afterwards
  • 5 days and 4 nights
  • or 5 nights and four days
  • The Ulaid were weak as a woman in albor.
  • 3 classes not affected
    • women of Cú Chulaind
    • children of Cú Chulaind
    • Cú Chulaind
• This was the inheritance of Ulaid
  • from the time of
    • Crunniuc
      • son of Agnoman
        • son of Curir Ulad
          • son of Fíatach
            • son of Urmi
  • to
    • Furcc
      • son of Dallán
        • son of Manech
          • son of Lugaid