Cathbad
Encyclopedia
Cathbad (ˈkaθvað) or Cathbhadh (modern spelling) is the chief druid
in the court of Conchobar mac Nessa
in the Ulster Cycle
of Irish Mythology
.
In his younger days he was a warrior, leading a landless band of twenty-seven men. Once he led a raid on the house where the Ulster
princess Ness
was brought up, killing all twelve of her foster-fathers. Ness sought revenge, becoming a warrior and leading her own band of twenty-seven. However, one day when she went off on her own to bathe in a pool, Cathbad came between her and her weapons and demanded her as his wife. She had no choice but to agree.
Ness had a son, Conchobar mac Nessa, although whether his father was Cathbad or Fachtna Fáthach
, the High King of Ireland
and Ness's lover, the stories do not agree.
Cathbad had the ability to foretell the future. He was present at the birth of Deirdre
and prophesied her tragic fate, but Conchobar ignored him. On another occasion, the young Cúchulainn
overheard Cathbad prophesy that anyone who took arms on that day would have everlasting fame but a short life; he immediately ran to Conchobar and asked to be armed.
Druid
A druid was a member of the priestly class in Britain, Ireland, and Gaul, and possibly other parts of Celtic western Europe, during the Iron Age....
in the court of Conchobar mac Nessa
Conchobar mac Nessa
Conchobar mac Nessa was the king of Ulster in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. He ruled from Emain Macha .-Birth:...
in the Ulster Cycle
Ulster Cycle
The Ulster Cycle , formerly known as the Red Branch Cycle, one of the four great cycles of Irish mythology, is a body of medieval Irish heroic legends and sagas of the traditional heroes of the Ulaid in what is now eastern Ulster and northern Leinster, particularly counties Armagh, Down and...
of Irish Mythology
Irish mythology
The mythology of pre-Christian Ireland did not entirely survive the conversion to Christianity, but much of it was preserved, shorn of its religious meanings, in medieval Irish literature, which represents the most extensive and best preserved of all the branch and the Historical Cycle. There are...
.
In his younger days he was a warrior, leading a landless band of twenty-seven men. Once he led a raid on the house where the Ulster
Ulaid
The Ulaid or Ulaidh were a people of early Ireland who gave their name to the modern province of Ulster...
princess Ness
Ness (Irish mythology)
Ness , also called Nessa, is a princess of the Ulaid and the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Her father is Eochaid Sálbuide, king of the Ulaid....
was brought up, killing all twelve of her foster-fathers. Ness sought revenge, becoming a warrior and leading her own band of twenty-seven. However, one day when she went off on her own to bathe in a pool, Cathbad came between her and her weapons and demanded her as his wife. She had no choice but to agree.
Ness had a son, Conchobar mac Nessa, although whether his father was Cathbad or Fachtna Fáthach
Fachtna Fáthach
Fachtna Fáthach , son of Cas , son of Rudraige, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He came to power when he defeated the previous High King, Dui Dallta Dedad, in the battle of Árd Brestine...
, the High King of Ireland
High King of Ireland
The High Kings of Ireland were sometimes historical and sometimes legendary figures who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over the whole of Ireland. Medieval and early modern Irish literature portrays an almost unbroken sequence of High Kings, ruling from Tara over a hierarchy of...
and Ness's lover, the stories do not agree.
Cathbad had the ability to foretell the future. He was present at the birth of Deirdre
Deirdre
Deirdre or Derdriu is the foremost tragic heroine in Irish mythology and probably its best-known figure in modern times. She is often called "Deirdre of the Sorrows." Her story is part of the Ulster Cycle, the best-known stories of pre-Christian Ireland.-Legendary Biography:Deirdre was the...
and prophesied her tragic fate, but Conchobar ignored him. On another occasion, the young Cúchulainn
Cúchulainn
Cú Chulainn or Cúchulainn , and sometimes known in English as Cuhullin , is an Irish mythological hero who appears in the stories of the Ulster Cycle, as well as in Scottish and Manx folklore...
overheard Cathbad prophesy that anyone who took arms on that day would have everlasting fame but a short life; he immediately ran to Conchobar and asked to be armed.