Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Táin Bó Cúalnge from the Book of Leinster (Author: [unknown])
section 27
Here now is the story Cinnit
Ferchon.
Ferchú Loingsech was of the Connachtmen. He was engaged
in fighting and harassing Ailill and Medb. From the day these
assumed rule, he came not to their encampment on expedition or
hosting, in straits or need or hardship, but spent his time
plundering and pillaging their borders and lands behind their
backs. At that time he happened to be in the eastern part of Mag
n-Aí. Twelve men was the number of his band. He was told
that one man had been holding back and checking the four great
provinces of Ireland
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from the Monday at the beginning of Samain until the beginning of
spring, slaying one man of their number at a ford every day and a
hundred warriors every night. Ferchú took counsel with his
men. ‘What better plan could we carry out’ said he, ‘than
to go and attack yonder man who is checking and holding back the
four great provinces of Ireland and to bring back with us his
head in triumph to Ailill and Medb. Though we have done many
wrongs and injuries to Ailill and to Medb, we shall obtain peace
thereby if that man fall by us’. That is the plan they decided
on. And they came forward to the place where Cú Chulainn
was, and when they came, they did not grant him fair play or
single combat but all twelve of them attacked him straightaway.
However Cú Chulainn fell upon them and forthwith struck
off their twelve heads. And he planted twelve stones for them in
the ground and put a head of each one of them on its stone and
also put Ferchú Loingsech's head on its stone. So that the
spot where Ferchú Loingsech left his head is called Cinnit
Ferchon that is, Cennáit Ferchon the
Headplace of Ferchú.