Warriors, Heroes & Villains

Fergus Mac Roich

 

Name:  Fergus Mac Roich 'Son of Great Horse'/ Mac Roig 

 

Profession:  Warrior, Champion, King until he was usurped by Conchobar

 

Province:   Ulster, : Connaught

 

Associated Sites:  Emain Macha Cruachu

 

King:  Conchobar Mac Nessa

 

Father: Roech 'The Great Horse'

 

Grandfather: Rus 'King of Kings'

 

Consorts:  Queen Medb Flidais Nes mother of Conchobar

 

Son: Fiacha (murdered by Eogan Mac Durthacht)

 

Foster Son:  Cúchulainn

 

Army:  The Red Branch ( which he leaves and goes into the army of Queen Medb)

 

Weapons:  The Caladcholg The Bossed Shield of Fergus

Fergus was the foster-father of Cúchulainn the legendary Ulster hero.  He served with the Red Branch Army of Ulster for many years but he fell out with King Conchobar over his treatment of the Sons of Uisnech and decided to go south and join the army of Queen Medb.  This puts him in a difficult position later on as he is sent to fight his former comrades when Queen Medb goes to war with Ulster over the Brown Bull of Cooley.  He is put to fight against Cúchulainn but they come up with a plan so they don't have to fight.

He was also sent to spy on the army of King Conchobar because he knew the terrain but again he could not completely betray his former comrades and led the army of Queen Medb a very circuitous route thus delaying and hindering them and buying more time for the Ulster army to recover from the annual curse which afflicted them.

He is a consort of Queen Medb of Connaught and one of the few men who can satisfy her sexually 'she used to know thirty men every day or go to Fergus once.'  He is also consort of the Goddess of Wild Animals Flidais and they can satisfy each other sexually when normally it would take nine ordinary women to satisfy him.  His name Ro-Ech means Mighty Horse and his sexual attributes are linked with that of a divine stallion.

Stories, Myths and Legends associated with Fergus Mac Roich

The Cattle Raid of Cooley

 

Fergus and Cúchulainn

 

Deirdre and the Sons of Uisnech

 

The Death of the Bulls 

 

The Awakening of Ulster 

 

The Battle of Tailltin

 

Cruachan

 

The Birth of Cuchulain

 

Boy Deeds of Cuchulain

 

Bricriu's Feast and the War of the Women

 

The Courting of Emer 

 

Dindshenchas Teamhair (Tara)

 

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