Lóegaire Búadach
Encyclopedia
In the Ulster Cycle
of Irish mythology
, Lóegaire Búadach (Lóegaire the Victorious) is a hapless Ulster
warrior who mainly functions as comic relief
. When he, Cúchulainn
and Conall Cernach
contend for the champion's portion at Briccriu
's feast, Lóegaire is always a distant third. He lived at Inber Seimne (Larne
, county Antrim
).
His death-tale sums him up. When the poet Aed was to be drowned in a lake near Lóegaire's house for adultery with Conchobar
's wife Mugain
, he cried for help and Lóegaire rushed to the rescue. As he leaped out the door, he knocked the top of his own head off on the lintel
. Still, he managed to kill thirty soldiers and save Aed's life before he died.
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...
, Lóegaire Búadach (Lóegaire the Victorious) is a hapless Ulster
Ulaid
The Ulaid or Ulaidh were a people of early Ireland who gave their name to the modern province of Ulster...
warrior who mainly functions as comic relief
Comic relief
Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character, scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension.-Definition:...
. When he, 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...
and Conall Cernach
Conall Cernach
Conall Cernach is a hero of the Ulaidh in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. He is said to have always slept with the head of a Connachtman under his knee. His epithet is normally translated as "victorious" or "triumphant", although it is an obscure word, and some texts struggle to explain it...
contend for the champion's portion at Briccriu
Briccriu
Bricriu is a hospitaller , troublemaker and poet in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology.-Fled Bricrenn:...
's feast, Lóegaire is always a distant third. He lived at Inber Seimne (Larne
Larne
Larne is a substantial seaport and industrial market town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a population of 18,228 people in the 2001 Census. As of 2011, there are about 31,000 residents in the greater Larne area. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is...
, county Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
).
His death-tale sums him up. When the poet Aed was to be drowned in a lake near Lóegaire's house for adultery with Conchobar
Conchobar mac Nessa
Conchobar mac Nessa was the king of Ulster in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. He ruled from Emain Macha .-Birth:...
's wife Mugain
Mugain
Mugain, daughter of Eochaid Feidlech, is the wife of Conchobar mac Nessa, king of Ulster, in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Her epithet, Aitinchairchech, means "having gorse-like body hair"....
, he cried for help and Lóegaire rushed to the rescue. As he leaped out the door, he knocked the top of his own head off on the lintel
Lintel (architecture)
A lintel can be a load-bearing building component, a decorative architectural element, or a combined ornamented structural item. It is often found over portals, doors, and windows.-Structural uses:...
. Still, he managed to kill thirty soldiers and save Aed's life before he died.