The troublemaker who nearly destroyed Ulster — with a party
Bricriu Nemthenga — Bricriu of the Poison Tongue — was one of the most dangerous men in Ulster, and not because he was a great warrior. He was dangerous because he was a genius at causing trouble. When he threw a feast and Ulster’s greatest heroes came, he whispered a different lie to each of them, set them against each other, and very nearly got the entire province killed over a question of who deserved the best cut of meat.
The Champion’s Portion
At a great feast, the “champion’s portion” — the choicest cut — was given to whoever was judged the greatest warrior. Bricriu told Cú Chulainn, Conall Cernach, and Lóegaire Búadach separately that each of them deserved it above all others. Then he sat back and watched.
Within minutes, three of Ulster’s greatest heroes were in a full brawl over a piece of meat. The feast dissolved into chaos. Bricriu had also told each of the heroes’ wives that whoever entered the hall first was the greatest lady in Ulster — so the three wives were racing each other to the door, lifting their dresses and running.
The Beheading Game
The question of who was the true champion of Ulster was eventually put to an extraordinary test. A giant man — clearly supernatural — came to the court and proposed a challenge: any warrior could cut off his head, on the condition that the warrior submitted to having his own head cut off the following night.
Lóegaire accepted and cut off the giant’s head. The giant picked it up, tucked it under his arm, and walked out. The following night, Lóegaire was nowhere to be found — he did not come back to face the return blow.
Conall did the same: cut the head off, the giant retrieved it, and Conall failed to return the next night.
Only Cú Chulainn returned. He laid his neck on the block. The giant raised his axe — and brought the flat of it down gently on Cú Chulainn’s neck, touching him without harm. Then he revealed himself as Cú Roí mac Dáire, a king of supernatural power, and proclaimed Cú Chulainn the true champion of Ulster — because only he had honoured his word.
Key facts about Bricriu’s Feast
- Irish title: Fled Bricrenn (“The Feast of Bricriu”)
- Troublemaker: Bricriu Nemthenga (“Bricriu of the Poison Tongue”) — Ulster noble and master manipulator
- The dispute: Who deserves the champion’s portion — the best cut of meat at a feast
- Three claimants: Cú Chulainn, Conall Cernach, and Lóegaire Búadach
- The beheading game: A supernatural challenge requiring the warrior to accept a return blow
- Who passed: Only Cú Chulainn — the others failed to return
- The giant revealed: Cú Roí mac Dáire — who declared the true champion
- Literary influence: A clear parallel to the beheading game in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
- Cycle: Ulster Cycle
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