Eochaid Airemm

Also known as: Eochaid Airem / Eochaid Airemon / Eochaid the Ploughman · Family: Ireland · Role: king · First appears: The Courtship of Etain · Egerton Version · Part 1

In the Egerton version of The Courtship of Etain, Eochaid Airemm, son of Finn and one of Finn’s three sons alongside Eochaid and Ailill Anglonnach, assumed sovereignty over Erin. When the men of Ireland refused the Festival of Tara until he had a worthy wife, his searchers found Etain near the Bay of Cichmany. He paid her bride-price and brought her to Tara; she told him she had loved him since childhood, and he welcomed her as his wife. The rulers of Ulster, Leinster, Munster, and Connaught were his vassals.

After a royal progress, Eochaid learned of Ailill Anglonnach’s prolonged sickness and left Etain in his care while he travelled for a year. Later he sent his druid Dalan to seek Etain; after destroying the fairy dwelling at Bri Leith, Eochaid brought her out, and she returned to Fremain to resume their wedded life. In this version she bore him one daughter, also named Etain. Eochaid ruled Ireland for twelve years, until fire burned him at Fremain.

The Leabhar na h-Uidhri version gives a separate account. Eochaid Airemm took the sovereignty over Erin, and a year later the men of Ireland refused the Festival of Tara until he found a queen. He brought Etain from the Bay of Cichmany to his palace; after his royal progress, he thanked her for preserving Ailill Anglonnach’s life. When Mider challenged him to chess, Eochaid demanded public works as the stakes, including a causeway over the bog of Lamrach. Mider later defeated him, and Eochaid promised that Mider could hold and kiss Etain. He then led an army against Mider’s host at the elf-mound of Femun, but was deceived by lookalikes and chose Messbuachalla instead of Etain. When Etain proved her identity, he took her back to Tara.