Pictish Mystic · Lore · Red Branch
The Death of Cet mac Mágach
Cet mac Mágach of Connacht was the bane of the Red Branch. From his childhood, the old tale says, he never went a day without the slaughter of an Ulsterman. Once, in winter, he crossed into Ulster again and turned westward for home carrying the heads of thrice nine men of Ulster. Conall Cernach was sent on his track through the snow to Bréifne, and found him in an empty house with his charioteer, cooking their meal, the horses still yoked to the chariot outside.
Conall would not storm the house. "I shall not give my life to any hero of the men of Ireland," he told his charioteer, "but I shall put a token upon the horses." He cut a lock from their manes, laid a wisp on the front of the chariot and turned east for Ulster. Cet saw it and took it well: "This is Conall's doing, and from this there shall be friendship." But his charioteer shamed him, saying his name would not last till Doom unless he caught the man who had mocked Connacht. So Cet drove after him to the ford ever after called Cet's Ford. "Thou shalt not escape to-day," said Cet. "That is my opinion too," said Conall. They struck each other until their shouting was heard through the wilderness, and both fell. Cet died there. Conall lay in a swoon.
Bélchú of Bréifne found them, and set the butt of his spear on Conall. Rather than kill a man already dying, he carried him home and had physicians heal him, so that they could fight when he was whole. Then Bélchú lost his nerve and told his three sons to come in the night and kill Conall in his bed. Conall knew it. He made Bélchú lie in the bed in his place, and the sons put their three spears through their own father. Conall rose, slew all three, and was back in Ulster before morning with their four heads.
These are legends from medieval manuscripts, not recorded history.
First shared on X @dalriada36963.
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