Bricriu


Bricriu is a hospitaller, troublemaker and poet in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology.

''Fled Bricrenn''

The story of Fled Bricrenn tells how he once held a lavish feast for Conchobar mac Nessa and the heroes of Ulster in his house at Dún Rudraige, but knowing his reputation the Ulstermen had to be threatened to attend. First Bricriu threatened to set the Ulster warriors at odds with each other, then to set father against son and mother against daughter, but the Ulstermen finally agreed to come when he threatened to set the two breasts of each Ulster woman beating against each other.
At the feast he promised the "champion's portion" to Cú Chulainn, then to Conall Cernach, then to Lóegaire Búadach, and the three heroes proceeded to compete for the honour. Challenges were set, some judged by Ailill and Medb of Connacht, some by Cú Roí of Munster. At every test set Cú Chulainn came out top, but neither Conall nor Lóegaire would accept the decision.
Finally Cú Roí, disguised as a giant churl, challenged each of the three to behead him, then allow him to return and behead them in return. Only Cú Chulainn passed this test, and was judged worthy of the champion's portion.

Other

Bricriu followed Fergus mac Róich into exile in Connacht following the Deirdre affair. While he was a guest at Cruachan he caused a lot of trouble for Fergus and another lover of his, Flidais, which culminated at the Táin Bó Flidhais. In the Echtra Nerai, Bricriu mocks the singing of Fergus, comparing it to a bull-calf's bellowing. Fergus strikes him with 5 fidchell pieces, injuring him severely. Later, Bricriu recovered but died at Cruachan at the end of the Táin Bó Cuailnge, trampled to death by the two bulls as they fought.
Fled Bricrenn is preserved in the near-contemporary Leabhar na h-Uidhri and in four later manuscripts.
The name of the village of Loughbrickland, near Banbridge, County Down, is thought to derive from Irish Loch Briccrend or Bricriu's Lake, where he was a chieftain and lived in the 'Watery Fort' overlooking the loch.