Folklore and Legends
From England, Ireland and Wales
The Curse of Macha - From Ulster, Ireland
For more than one thousand years, "Emain Macha" - now known as Navan Fort -
was the main stronghold for the Celtic kings of Ulster. It came by its name in a
strange way, but even stranger was the curse placed upon it.
A mighty chieftain named Crunniac lived alone the mountains. One morning
after a terrible storm, as he gazed out on the valley, he saw a woman running towards
his house. He was astounded by her beauty, but even more by the speed she ran. She
moved across the rocky ground faster than any creature he had ever seen on land or
in the sky.
He invited her into his house, where she made herself at home at once, as if she
had been living there all her life. He then asked the woman her name, but on this
point she adamantly refused to answer. Nevertheless, they fell in love and, in time,
were married. Crunniac found terms of endearment to call her by, since she still refused
to reveal her name. She proved him an excellent wife, and their happiness was complete
when she announced that she was pregnant.
One day a few months later, the couple received a message from Conor, the King of Ulster.
He invited them to a great feast as the palace, with a fair and royal games in the ground
to follow.
Crunniac felt his wife should stay at home, the time for the baby's birth being so near at
hand. But the king had summoned them both, so she accompanied him to the palace.
After a magnificent feast, the fair took place. There was music, dancing, and much merriment,
and the wine flowed freely. Finally, the moment came that all the guest had been waiting for:
The start of the chariot racing.
The king's horses were by far the fastest and won all of the races with ease. The crowd
applauded loyally, declaring that nothing could ever beat them.
Crunniac, sitting near the king and having drunk too much wine, stated rashly, "My wife
is much faster."
Angrily, the king called for Crunniac's wife and demanded that she race against his horses.
"Not now!" she pleaded. "Wait, please sire, until my child is born." But the king was still
angry, and told her that Crunniac would be put to death if she refused. So, having no choice, she raced
against the king's chariot....and won.
"What is your name ?" the king asked, astonished.
"My name..is Macha," she replied. Then, as the sky darkened and the thunder rolled, she went
into labour, and gave birth to two twins - a boy and a girl.
"My twins will bring upon the men of Ulster a blessing and a curse!" she cried. "The blessing shall
bring them power. The curse will weaken them when they most need strength."
From that day onwards, that place was called Emain Macha - "Twins of Macha" - and the curse was put
upon the men of Ulster.
Reference: Beare, B. (1996) Ireland Myths and Legends. Parragon. Bristol, UK.
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Copyright © 1998