Cet mac Mágach facts for kids

Cet mac Mágach was a famous warrior from Connacht, a region in ancient Ireland. He is a key character in the Ulster Cycle, a collection of old Irish stories about heroes and battles. Cet was known for his fierce rivalry with another great warrior, Conall Cernach from Ulster. Interestingly, some myths say that Cet was actually Conall's uncle, being the brother of Conall's mother.

A Challenge at the Feast

One time, at a big feast hosted by Mac Dá Thó in Leinster, warriors from Connacht and Ulster gathered. They started boasting about their brave deeds to decide who deserved the special "champion's portion" of food. Cet mac Mágach was very bold. He challenged every warrior there, reminding them how he had defeated them in past fights. He shamed them all with his stories. Just as Cet was about to claim his prize, Conall Cernach arrived.

The Death of King Conchobar

Cet mac Mágach was responsible for the death of Conchobar mac Nessa, the king of Ulster. Cet stole a special trophy: the calcified brain of Mesgegra, the king of Leinster. This brain had been taken by Conall Cernach in an earlier battle. Cet used a sling to shoot this hard brain, embedding it in King Conchobar's head.

Conchobar's doctors tried to remove it, but they knew it would kill him. So, they carefully sewed up the wound. They told the king he would live as long as he stayed calm and did not get too excited or work too hard. For seven peaceful years, King Conchobar followed their advice. However, one day, he heard news about a very important event: the death of Christ. This news made him incredibly angry. In his rage, the brain burst from his head, and King Conchobar died.

Cet's Final Battle

One winter day, Cet mac Mágach launched a surprise attack on Ulster. He killed twenty-seven men and took their heads as trophies. It had snowed heavily, so Conall Cernach was able to easily follow Cet's tracks in the snow. Conall quickly caught up with Cet.

At first, Conall was hesitant to face Cet alone. But his charioteer, who drove his chariot, bravely told him not to be a coward. Encouraged, Conall faced Cet at a river crossing, known as a ford. They fought a very fierce battle. In the end, Conall killed Cet, but the fight was so intense that Conall himself was left very close to death.

See also

• Brain balls