An Chraobh Airgid

Person

Ferdiad

Fear Diadh · Old Irish Fer Diad

Cú Chulainn’s foster-brother, who fought him for four days at the ford.

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Son of Damán son of Dáire, of the Fir Domnann. He and Cú Chulainn learned arms together from Scáthach, and neither was the better, except that Cú Chulainn had the Gae Bulga; but Ferdiad had a skin like horn when he fought at a ford. Medb brought him against his friend with the threat of satire, with wine, and with gifts: her daughter Finnabair and her own ringed brooch. In the Book of Leinster they fought four days at the ford that is now Ardee, sending each other healing and food across the water at night, until the Gae Bulga killed him.

Kin and bonds

In the tales

  • 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.

See also

  • Baile Átha Fhirdhia Ardee. The town of Ferdiad’s ford, where Cú Chulainn and Ferdiad fought.
  • The Gae Bulga Cú Chulainn’s barbed spear, cast from the fork of the foot.
  • Láeg Cú Chulainn’s charioteer.
  • Medb Queen of Connacht, who went to war for the Brown Bull of Cúailnge.

Sources

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

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