Pictish Mystic · Lore · Red Branch
Marked by Cet: Four Ulstermen and Their Names
In the Ulster Cycle, Cóir Anmann, “The Fitness of Names”, tells how many heroes of Ireland came by their names. Four of the Ulster names it explains were given by one man, the Connacht champion Cet mac Mágach, and each was a mark he left on an Ulsterman's body.
Munremur mac Eirrcind. Once upon a time Cet mac Mágach entered the province of Ulster, and a cry was raised about him. Mac Eirrginn answered the champion Cet. Cet made a spear-cast at Mac Eirrginn and struck him in his neck, and the neck (munél) swelled up so that it became thick (remur). Hence he bore the nickname Munremur, “Thick-neck”.
Sál-cholg and Mend. Again Cet entered Ulster on a foray, and a cry was raised about him. Sál-cholg answered him, and his son Mend. Cet gave a cast of a spear to Mend, striking him in the gullet and through the root of his tongue, so that he was dumb (mend) thereafter. And he gave a blow of his sword to Sál-cholg over his leg, and cut off his heel, so that he was lame thereafter. Wherefore the nicknames Mend, “Dumb”, and Sál-cholg, “Heel-sword”, were conferred upon them.
Cuscraid Mend Macha. This was a custom of the Ulaid: every young son of theirs who first took arms used to enter the province of Connacht on a foray, or to seek to slay a human being. So once upon a time Cuscraid, son of Conchobar, entered the province of Connacht. A cry was raised around him, and Cet answered him. Cet wounded Cuscraid through his mouth, and shore off the point of his tongue, so that he was dumb thereafter: Cuscraid Mend Macha, “the Dumb of Macha”.
Lám Gábaid. Once more Cet mac Mágach invaded the province of Ulster, and a cry was raised around him. Lám answered him, and the two encountered. Cet gave the champion a sword-blow in the conflict and struck off one of his hands, so that after that he was forced to retreat from Cet. Hence he is called Lám Gábaid, “Hand of Danger”, for it was a great danger (gábud) to him to have his hand (lám) cut off, and himself to be forced to retreat from Cet.
These are legends from medieval manuscripts, not recorded history.
Story told by John. Source: Cóir Anmann ("The Fitness of Names"), §§277–280, translated by Whitley Stokes (Irische Texte, Dritte Serie, 2 Heft, 1897), on Mary Jones's Celtic Literature Collective.
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