This is the story of the battle of Masha's Coven, the red branch of the mythology Irish.
The Battle of Masha's Coven
Ulates (Ulaid), where does their name come from? Easy to say). Ulaid, that's to say oll saith, i.e. the large (oll) richness (saith) that they gave to the poets. Saith means "wealth", and (here is) an example of this, as the Panegyric of Colum Cille (Amra Choluimchille):
One Wednesday Judas broke his order
In the footsteps of the Devil, fierce revenge:
One Wednesday, he felt the desire for wealth:
One Wednesday, he betrayed the noble Jesus.
Or Ulaid, that is: they had the great (oll) half (leth) of Ireland, regarding war and battle.
Or Ulaid, i.e.: "great-grey", i.e. they had gray beards in the battle of Oenach Macha, ie, they tied gray wool to their chins in this same battle, that is to say: in the battle they had gray beards.
Conchobar, son of Fachtna Fathach and his brothers, it was they who led the battle ofOenach Macha against Daball of the Vehement Blows, the son of the High King of Lochlann. Innumerable, then, was the army that was there with the son of the king of Lochlann, invading the province of Ulster to conquer Ireland. There they first camped and then they marched on Mag Macha.
The clans of the Rudraige gathered around Conchobar against the outsiders, to give them battle. Then Genann Joue-Brillante, son of Cathbad, said to his people: “Small is your army, O Ulates! he said, "and each one of you is young and beardless." "So what shall we do, Genann?" says everyone. “Do this, O warriors,” said Genann. “Take plenty of gray wool, and tie the wool tightly to your faces, and thence horror and fear of strangers will be greatest, as if you were royal champions. »
Thus, the Ulates - at least all those who were beardless - acted on Genann's advice. Then the battle was fought, and the foreigners routed, and their slaughter was perpetrated. That's why from this battle ofOenach Macha the Ulates (Ulaid) were (thus) named, as the poet says:
The Fachtna clans, they were flawless
Against every battle ***
From them are named ***
The Ulates, since they were carriers of gray beards, powerful.
Or Ulaid, of Ollam Fodla, son of Fiacha Finscothach, ie Ulaid, a large offspring (oll-lethad) of 0llam, i.e. the Ulates descended from Ollam Fodla and gained in number. Or Ulaid, ie oll ai Ollam is said in another place. For he was a wonderful poet, and so he was called Ollam Fodla, and from him the Ulates are truly named, thus, for example:
Ollam Fodla ***
From him the Ulates were named.
Tara's Household Feast
By him (as) ruler was truly instituted.
