After the Thin Woman of Inis Magrath had left the god she visited
all the fairy forts of Kilmasheogue, and directed the Shee who
lived there to be in waiting at the dawn on the summit of the
mountain; consequently, when Angus and Caitilin came up the hill,
they found the six clans coming to receive them, and with these
were the people of the younger Shee, members of the Tuatha da
Danaan, tall and beautiful men and women who had descended to the
quiet underworld when the pressure of the sons of Milith forced
them with their kind enchantments and invincible valour to the
country of the gods.
Of those who came were Aine Ni Eogáil of Cnoc Aine and Ivil of
Craglea, the queens of North and South Munster, and Una the queen
of Ormond; these, with their hosts, sang upon the summit of the
hill welcoming the god. There came the five guardians of Ulster,
the fomentors of combat:—Brier Mac Belgan of Dromona Breg, Redg
Rotbill from the slopes of Magh-Itar, Tinnel the son of Boclacthna
of Slieve Edlicon, Grici of Cruachán-Aigle, a goodly name, and
Gulban Glas Mac Grici, whose dún is in the Ben of Gulban. These
five, matchless in combat, marched up the hill with their tribes,
shouting as they went. From north and south they came, and from
east and west, bright and happy beings, a multitude, without fear,
without distraction, so that soon the hill was gay with their
voices and their noble raiment.
Among them came the people of the Lupra, the ancient Leprecauns
of the world, leaping like goats among the knees of the heroes.
They were headed by their king Udán Mac Audain and Beg Mac Beg his
tanist, and, following behind, was Glomhar O’Glomrach of the sea,
the strongest man of their people, dressed in the skin of a weasel;
and there were also the chief men of that clan, well known of old,
Conan Mac Rihid, Gaerku Mac Gairid, Mether Mac Mintan and Esirt
Mac Beg, the son of Bueyen, born in a victory. This king was that
same Udán the chief of the Lupra who had been placed under bonds
to taste the porridge in the great cauldron of Emania, into which
pot he fell, and was taken captive with his wife, and held for five
weary years, until he surrendered that which he most valued in the
world, even his boots: the people of the hills laugh still at the
story, and the Leprecauns may still be mortified by it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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