Etain Echraide

Family: Tuatha de Danaan · Role: wife of Eochaid · First appears: The Gods · The Ever-living Living Ones · Midhir and Etain · Part 1

After a while, Midhir took Etain Echraide as his wife. Fuamach had spells put on her to drive her away, and, when Etain Echraide was driven from Bri Leith, Angus Og took her into his keeping and refused to return her to Midhir. At Brugh na Boinn, Fuamach turned her into a fly with Druid spells and blew her away. At Inver Cechmaine, Etar’s wife drank her down with wine, and nine months later Etain Echraide was born again as Etar’s daughter.

At Teamhair, Eochaid Airem paid her bride-price and brought her home as his wife. At the feast, his brother Ailell fell in love with Etain Echraide. When Eochaid Airem departed on his journey, he charged her to care for Ailell; she tended him and promised to heal him. Midhir then told her that he had been her first husband and that jealousy and Druidic spells had parted them. Etain Echraide told Ailell what Midhir had revealed, and his sickness and desire were gone. When Eochaid Airem returned and heard the story, he thanked her for her kindness to Ailell.

Later, Midhir asked whether she would come with him if Eochaid Airem gave her leave, and she agreed. Eochaid Airem searched Ireland for them but could find no tidings. At Bri Leith, Midhir fostered Etain Echraide’s daughter Esa for seven years. After besieging the hill for nine years, Eochaid Airem found Etain Echraide among women who resembled her and brought her home to Teamhair. Her grandson Conaire, son of Eochaid Airem’s child, was later brought to his death at Da Derga’s Inn in revenge for the attack on the hill.