Athirne facts for kids
Athirne Ailgheasach (pronounced Ah-thir-neh Eye-ghee-ah-sakh), whose name means "the importunate" (meaning someone who makes many annoying demands), was a famous poet and satirist in ancient Irish myths. He lived at the court of King Conchobar mac Nessa and was part of the stories known as the Ulster Cycle. Athirne was known for using his special powers as a poet in unfair ways.
He once stole three cranes from Midir, a powerful being from the Tuatha Dé Danann. These magical cranes stood guard at Athirne's door, stopping anyone from entering or receiving a warm welcome.
Athirne's Demands and the Siege of Howth
In a famous story called "The Siege of Howth," Athirne traveled all over Ireland, visiting the courts of different kings. He made very unreasonable demands for hospitality, knowing that if a kingdom refused him, it would bring great shame upon them. Also, if anything happened to him, the warriors of Ulster were bound to defend him.
Athirne made many strange requests. For example, he demanded the remaining eye of Eochaid mac Luchta, the one-eyed king of southern Connacht. He also made very personal and unfair demands of the families of Tigerna Tétbuillech, the king of Munster, and Mesgegra, the king of Leinster. From another Leinster king, Fergus Fairge, Athirne demanded a mysterious jewel. Fergus could only find this jewel by asking for help from a powerful "Lord of the Elements."
Athirne even took 150 women from noble families in Leinster, planning to bring them back to Ulster. The men of Leinster chased after him, but the Ulstermen came to Athirne's defense, and a big battle began. The Ulstermen were surrounded in a fort at Howth Head, which is north of Dublin. However, they managed to break out, and the Leinster warriors were forced to run away. During the chase, the brave Ulster hero Conall Cernach fought Mesgegra in a one-on-one battle and defeated him.
Athirne and Young Amergin
Later, a young boy named Amergin, the son of a smith named Eccet Sálach, lived to be fourteen years old without ever speaking. Then, one day, he suddenly spoke a mysterious poem. Athirne worried that Amergin would become the chief poet of Ulster instead of him. Because of this fear, Athirne decided to try and kill the boy with an axe.
However, Amergin's father, Eccet, stopped the murder attempt. He made a very lifelike copy of Amergin out of clay. The Ulstermen then surrounded Athirne's house and forced him to pay money to Eccet for his actions. After this, Athirne took Amergin as his foster-son and taught him how to be a poet.
Athirne's End
Athirne's downfall came in a story called "The Wooing of Luaine and Death of Athirne." Athirne and his two sons all fell in love with a beautiful woman named Luaine, who was going to marry King Conchobar. Luaine refused their advances. In anger, Athirne and his sons used their poetic powers to make harsh satires against her. These satires caused three marks of shame, blemish, and disgrace to appear on Luaine's face. She was so ashamed that she died.
Fearing King Conchobar's revenge, Athirne and his sons fled to his house on the hill of Benn Athirni, near the River Boyne. Conchobar gathered the heroes of Ulster, surrounded Athirne's house, and set it on fire. Athirne, his sons, and his two daughters, Mór and Midseng, all died in the fire.
