An Chraobh Airgid

Person

Bricriu Nemthenga

Bricriu Nemthenga

Bricriu of the Poison Tongue, the troublemaker of the Ulster tales.

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Nemthenga means “poison-tongue”: George Henderson’s translation of 1899 calls him Bricriu of the Evil Tongue, and Lady Gregory Bricriu of the Bitter Tongue. In Bricriu’s Feast he builds a house at Dún Rudraige for a feast, and a grianán with glass windows to watch it from, knowing the men of Ulster will never let him in. He promises the champion’s portion to Lóegaire, Conall and Cú Chulainn in turn, and sets their wives racing to be first through his door. For his pains his house is knocked askew, and he lands in the ditch among the dogs.

In the tales

  • Bricriu’s Feast Bricriu of the Poison Tongue throws a feast, promises the champion’s portion to three heroes at once, and sits at his window to watch.
  • The Cattle Raid of Cooley An argument in bed over who is richer ends in a war for a brown bull, and one young man holding a ford against all Ireland.
  • The Adventure of Nera On Samhain night a man goes out in the dark to tie a withe round a hanged man’s foot, and follows the host of the sídhe into the cave of Cruachan.

See also

  • Conall Cernach One of the three great champions of Ulster.
  • Cú Chulainn The Hound of Culann: the great hero of the Ulster tales.
  • Dún Rudraige Dundrum. Where Bricriu built his house for the feast.
  • Emer Cú Chulainn’s wife, the daughter of Forgall the Wily.
  • Lóegaire Búadach Lóegaire the Triumphant, eldest of the three champions of Ulster.

Sources

Medieval manuscript. Written down by Irish scholars between the eighth and seventeenth centuries.

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