Ard Macha

• Macha
  • wife of Nemed
    • He cleared 12 plains
  • buried in the plain
  • diffused all excellences
  • daughter of red-weaponed Aed
  • the raven of the raids
  • slain by Rechtaid Red-Wrist
  • shaped Emain with her brooch for Dithorba's sons
• How Ulaid lay in pangs of general sickness
  • Conchobar's appointed assembly
  • Cruind
    • son of Agnoman
      • lord of hundreds
    • a man rich in herds
    • came to the Assembly from the waters eastward
  • Then the king's 2 horses brought to race
    • their like not found among horses of Mag Da Gabra
  • Cruind bragged that his wife was swifter though heavy with child
    • Conchobar arrested him until his wife came to race the horses
  • She was fetched
    • bid to come from the ocean waves
    • came without delay
    • names
      • bright Grian
      • pure Macha
    • daughter of Midir of Brí Léith meic Celtchair
    • in her roofless dwelling in the west she was Grian, the sun of womankind
  • She arrived
    • fierce for glory
    • prayed for respite
      • given none
    • the nimble bright lady bared herself
    • loosened the hair about her head
    • without fierce cry to urge her she came to the race
  • She was swifter
    • when she reached the end of the green she (Grian) bore twins
      • Fir
      • Fial
    • curses them
      • in time of war they should be in distress, anguish, and labor-pangs
      • for 9 of 9 lives
      • from reign of Conchobar of Cerna to Mal son of Rochraide
  • then she died
    • buried in solitude in Ard Macha
  • Thus the name of the plain
  • favored burial place