Fergus

Also known as: Fergus Mac Roich / Fergus, son of Roich, son of Eochaid · Family: Ulstermen · Role: Ulster exile · First appears: This is the Cattle-Raid of Cualnge

When the Leinstermen were distributed among the host in “This is the Story in Order · Part 1,” Medb and Ailill were with the army. In “This is the Story in Order · Part 2,” Fergus was given the leadership of the way before it, but deliberately led the host astray to give Ulster time to gather an army, doing so for friendship. He warned the host that passing a withe without throwing a like one would bring slaughter. Cuchulainn named him “my friend.”

In “This is the Harrying of Cualnge · Part 1,” Medb went with Fergus by Bernas Ulad in the scribe’s alternate account of the host’s division at Findabair Cuailnge. At Cluichre, Cuillius found them in one another’s arms and carried Fergus’s empty sword sheath to Ailill. Fergus then took his charioteer’s sword and made a wooden one in the wood, giving the place in Ulster its name. In “The Death of Etarcomol,” he took Etarcomol’s body behind his chariot to the camp.

In “The Healing of the Morrigan · Part 5,” Fergus refused to go against his foster-son Cuchulainn, but went to fight after being given wine and greatly intoxicated. At Grellach Doluid, Cuchulainn fled before him so that Fergus would give way to him on the day of the battle. In “This is the Combat of Fer Diad and Cuchulainn · Part 1,” Fergus urged the camp to warn Cuchulainn that his foster-brother Fer Diad would fight him, and went by chariot to Cuchulainn at the ford. In “This is the Combat of Fer Diad and Cuchulainn · Part 2,” he told Cuchulainn who his opponent would be.

In “The Muster of the Men of Ireland Here · Part 1,” Ailill gave Fergus his sword for battle, though Ailill and Medb had earlier asked him to fight and cited their kindness to him in exile. Fergus swore an oath about the injuries he would inflict, entered the battle, and cut a gap through a hundred men. He struck Conchobar’s shield three times and aimed a blow at him, but Cormac Condlongas restrained his arm and urged Conchobar to leave; Fergus killed a hundred Ulster warriors in the first combat. In “The Muster of the Men of Ireland Here · Part 2,” he left the battle with his cantred. He had also broken Bricriu Poison-tongue’s head with draughtmen, and Bricriu later came with the others to see the combat of the bulls.