Here are the stories of Macha in the Dinnshenchas, from the red branch of the mythology Irish.
Masha at Dinnshenchas from Edinburgh
Ard Macha, where does this name come from?
It's not difficult (to say). Masha, wife of Nemed, son of Agnoman, died there, and it was the twelfth plain that was cleared by Nemed, and it was granted to his wife that her name would be given to him, and it was she who saw in the dream, long before this happened, all the mischief that was done in the management of Cooley's cows. In her sleep there was revealed to her all the evil that would flow from it, and the difficulties and the wicked quarrels: so that her heart was broken within her. Hence Ard Macha, “Height of Macha”.
Masha, the very perceptive, knew
By a vision – graces we will not say –
The events of the time (?) of Cualgne –
It was an act of pride, not boasting.
Or else, Macha, the daughter of Aed the Red, son of Badurn: it was by her that Emain Macha was bounded, and there she was buried when Rechtaid Red-arm had killed her. For his lament, Oenach Macha, “the Assembly of Macha,” was celebrated. Hence Magh Macha.
Aliter. Macha, then, the wife of Crunn, son of Agnoman, came there to present herself against the horses of King Conchobar. Because her husband had declared that his wife was faster than horses. However, the woman was then with child: so that she asked for a delay until her fruit fell, and this was not granted. So she took part in the race, and she was the fastest. And when she reached the end of the track, she begat a boy and a girl – Fir and Fial were their names – and she said that the Ulates would be in the feebleness of childbirth whenever emergency came upon them. Hence comes the debility of the Ulates for the time of five days and four nights (at a time) from the era of Conchobar to the reign of Mál, son of Rochraide (AD 107). And it is said that she was Grian Banchure, "the Sun of women", daughter of Midir of Bri Leith. And after this she died, and her tomb was raised on Ard Macha, and her lamentation was made, and her stone pillars were set up. From there comes Ard Macha, “Height of Macha”.
Rennes Dinnshenchas
Macha wife of Nemed son of Agnoman died there (in Mag Macha) and was buried, and it was the twelfth plain which was cleared by Nemed, and he granted it to his wife so that it could bear his name. Hence Mag Macha “plain of Macha”.
Otherwise: Macha the daughter of Aed the Red, son of Badurn – it was by her that Emain Macha was limited – was buried there when Rechtaid with the red forearm had killed her. To mourn her, Oenach Macha, “Macha Fair”, was established. Hence Mag Macha.
Otherwise: Macha, wife of Crund, son of Agnoman, went there to race against the horses of King Conchobar, because her husband had said that his wife was faster (than them). Then, however, the woman was pregnant with child: so that she asked for a delay until her fruit fell, and this was not granted to her. Then the race was started, and she was the fastest. And she declared that the Ulates would be in the debility of childbirth whenever necessity fell upon them. This is why the Ulates suffered from debility for the time of a novena from the reign of Conchobar until the reign of Mál son of Rochraide “big heart”. And it is said that she was Grían Banchure “the Sun of Women”, daughter of Mider of Bri Leith. And after this she died, and her tomb was erected on Ard Macha, and her lament was sung, and her tombstone was planted. From there comes Ard Machae, “Height of Macha”.
Dinnshenchas Metric
1. In the plain where our horsemen ride, there by the will of the Lord the righteous judge,
was buried in great solitude a beautiful woman, Macha wife of Nemed.
2. Twice six plains had cleared Nemed in front of his house, to gain fame;
it is across one of these plains, to my joy, that I walk with a regular step.
3. Masha, illuminated by all excellences, the noble daughter of Aed with red arms,
the raven of the raids, was buried here when Rechtaid Red-wrist killed her.
4. It was she who, without help, fashioned with her brooch for the sinister sons of Dithorba
– It was no small feat – Emain, above the sloping plain.
5. To mourn it – it was a worthy beginning – was organized there by the entire army of the Ulates,
forever, the Assembly of Macha on the broad plain.
6. It is only right that I should now say (for it is an enterprise requiring boldness),
the story of how it came to pass that the Ulates lay in the throes of childbirth, a fate without remedy.
7. There came one day in bright glory to the assembly assembled for Conchobar,
from the waters eastward, a man rich in flocks, Cruinn son of Agnoman, lord of hundreds.
8. Then they brought, walking proudly, two horses, such as I have never seen,
to the “warrior horse race” – don’t hide it! – held in this season by the king of the Ulates.
9. Although their likes were not found among the horses of Mag Da Gabra,
Cruind, fervent and discourteous, declared that his wife was faster, although heavy with child.
10. “Stop the chieftain! Said Conchobar, the leader of the battles,
“Until the warrior's noble wife came running against my steeds. »
11. A messenger was sent to fetch her by the king of the strong flat spears,
asking him to come from the waves of the ocean to support Cruinn's vain chatter.
12. The woman came without delay to the Assembly with formidable exploits:
her two names, often heard in the west, were Grian the Bright and Macha the Pure.
13. Her father, not powerless in his household, was Midir de Bri Leith meic Celtchair;
in her roofless dwelling in the west she was Grian, the sun of women.
14. When she arrived, eager for glory, she first asked for a delay
to the army of undefeated clans, because the time to give birth had come.
15. Then the Ulates answered the lady, agile and quick, pregnant with child,
that she would find no favor before the race in front of the armed battalion of the famous Line.
16. Then the shining and quick lady undressed, and untied her hair around her head:
without being urged by a fierce cry she came to the race, to the tournament.
17. The horses were brought close to her, so that they might surpass the noble lady:
for the Ulates to maintain this courier crew at all times was a bad omen.
18. So swift that the prince's couriers were among the tribes, gathered in number,
more rapid was the woman, who did not spare her strength: the king's horses were left behind.
19. When she reached the end of the track – noble was her race, great and famous
– She gave birth to twins, without delay, in front of the people of Fort Red Branch.
20. A boy and a girl together – by its sad deed was their birth;
Fir and Fial were the names of the twins brought into the world by Grian, who did not spare his strength.
21. She made the lasting promise on the pillars of the Red Branch,
that in times of war, they would be in a situation of distress, anguish and in birth pains.
22. The promise which she then pronounced brought affliction upon the lordly army;
she attached herself to them – it was no time for bravado – until the ninth generation.
23. Since the reign of Conchobar of Cerna over the strong troops of Emain of the North,
the misfortune caused by his imprecation forged their ruin until the reign of Mál son of Rochraide.
24. Then the woman died of this painful disease, it was certain,
and was buried there, in solitude in Ard Macha, rich in mead.
25. Of the life, of the death of the woman, famous in the lines of the seed of Adam,
whose virtues were not forgotten in this place, his name became attached to this plain.
26. Since Patrick first brought the Faith to Ard Macha, where men gather,
the generous site he chooses is a favored burial site, the great plain itself.
27. O king who brought desolation to Emain, after it was abandoned by his brave warriors,
do not let my soul be sad in your house, after having sung the hymns of poets in the noble plain.
