Navan Fort - Emain Macha in Irish Mythology

Emain Macha in Irish Mythology

According to Irish mythology and historical tradition it was the capital of the Ulaid, the people who gave their name to the province of Ulster. It was supposedly founded by the goddess Macha in the 7th or 5th century BC, and was the seat of Conchobar mac Nessa in the tales of the Ulster Cycle. Conchobar is said to have had three houses at Eṁain Ṁacha:

• the Cróeb Ruad ("Dull Red Branch", whence derives the nearby townland of Creeveroe) where the king sat;
• the Cróeb Derg ("Bright Red Branch"), where trophies of battle were kept, and
• the Téte Brecc ("Speckled Hoard") where the warriors' weapons were stored.

Many of the most famous names in Irish mythology are associated with Eṁain Ṁacha and the Red Branch warriors.

• Amergin the poet
• Cú Chulainn, the great warrior
• Emer, his strong-willed and beautiful bride
• Conall Cernach (Conall the Victorious), his foster-brother and close friend
• Lóegaire, another warrior
• Conchobar mac Nessa, king of Ulster
• Cathbad, the chief druid
• Fergus mac Róich, another great warrior and king
• Deirdre of the Sorrows, the most beautiful woman in Ireland, and Naoise, her brave lover
• Leabharcham, the wise woman

The name Emain Macha is variously explained as "Macha's neck-brooch", after Macha marked out the boundaries of the site with her brooch, and "Macha's twins", after Macha gave birth to twins after being forced to compete in a chariot-race. The Annals of the Four Masters record that it was abandoned after it was burned by the Three Collas in 331 AD, after they had defeated Fergus Foga, king of Ulster, in battle at Achadh Leithdheirg.