batch.motif.celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg-l11425-l11461
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg-l11425-l11461
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
passage_locator:
label: THE RAID FOR THE CATTLE OF REGAMON / FROM THE YELLOW BOOK OF LECAN / THE
RAID FOR THE CATTLE OF REGAMON / LITERAL TRANSLATION; lines 11425-11461
start: '11425'
end: '11461'
translation: Heroic Romances of Ireland
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: 'Mani directs that maidens drive the cattle to Cruachan and report the
sons'' distress. Ailill, Medb, Fergus, Connaught forces, and exiled Ulstermen
go to Ath Briuin. The sons of Ailill make white-thorn and black-thorn hurdles
in the ford to delay Regamon and his people until help arrives. A treaty is made:
Regamon receives restitution of the herd, the maidens remain with the sons of
Ailill and Medb, and seven score milch-cows are given as dowry and support for
the later assembly of the Tain bo Cualnge.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Mani says all must go to one place and sends some people to summon the young
men while the maidens drive cattle over the ford to Cruachan and report to Ailill
and Medb.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The maidens go to Cruachan and report that the sons are in distress at Ath
Briuin and have asked for help.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Ailill, Medb, Fergus, the men of Connaught, and banished men of Ulster go
to Ath Briuin to help their people.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: The sons of Ailill make hurdles of white-thorn and black-thorn in the ford
as a defense against Regamon and his people.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: The hurdles prevent Regamon and his people from passing through the ford before
Ailill and his army arrive.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: The place-name Ath Cliath Medraidi is explained as deriving from the hurdle
ford episode.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: A treaty is made because of the young men who carried off the cattle and the
maidens who went with them, through whom the herd escaped.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: Restitution of the herd is awarded to Regamon.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:9
text: The maidens remain with the sons of Ailill and Medb.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:10
text: Seven times twenty milch-cows are given as a dowry for the maidens and for
the maintenance of the men of Ireland at the assembly for the Tain bo Cualnge.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:11
text: The passage names this tale the Tain bo Regamon and calls it a prelude to
the Tain bo Cualnge.
category: other
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Mani
description: Speaker who directs the group to gather, send for the young men, and
have the maidens drive cattle to Cruachan with news.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: The maidens
description: Women who drive the cattle to Cruachan, report the distress, go with
the young men, and remain with the sons of Ailill and Medb after the treaty.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Ailill
description: Ruler associated with Medb; receives tidings at Cruachan and goes with
forces to Ath Briuin.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Medb
description: Ruler associated with Ailill; receives tidings at Cruachan and goes
with forces to Ath Briuin.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Fergus
description: Named among those who go to Ath Briuin to help their people.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: The sons of Ailill
description: Young men in distress at Ath Briuin who make thorn hurdles in the ford
and are involved in carrying off the cattle and remaining with the maidens.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Regamon
description: Opponent whose people are blocked at the ford; restitution of the herd
is later awarded to him.
role_refs:
- role:7
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Regamon's people
description: People who are unable to pass through the ford before Ailill and his
army arrive.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Men of Connaught
description: Forces who accompany Ailill, Medb, Fergus, and exiled Ulstermen to
Ath Briuin.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Banished men of Ulster
description: Exiled Ulstermen who go with Ailill, Medb, Fergus, and Connaught forces
to Ath Briuin.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
roles:
- id: role:1
label: director of response
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Mani gives instructions for movement, message-sending, and cattle-driving.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: messengers
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The maidens carry news to Cruachan about the distress at Ath Briuin.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:3
label: rescue force
assigned_to:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:9
- fig:10
basis: These figures or groups go to Ath Briuin to help their people.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: defenders at the ford
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The sons of Ailill construct thorn hurdles in the ford as defense.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:5
label: cattle-takers
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The treaty is made on account of the young men who carried off the cattle.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:6
label: women joined to the cattle-takers
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The treaty is also made on account of the maidens who went with the young
men and later remain with them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:7
label: blocked opponents at ford
assigned_to:
- fig:7
- fig:8
basis: Regamon and his people are unable to pass through the ford because of the
thorn hurdles.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:8
label: restored herd claimant
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Restitution of the herd is awarded to Regamon.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: cattle herd
literal_form: The cattle or herd driven to Cruachan, carried off by young men, escaped
through the maidens' actions, and restored by treaty.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: sym:2
label: ford
literal_form: The ford crossed by the cattle and later obstructed with thorn hurdles
at Ath Briuin / Ath Cliath Medraidi.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:3
label: white-thorn and black-thorn hurdles
literal_form: Defensive hurdles made from white-thorn and black-thorn in the gut
of the ford.
associated_figures:
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: milch-cows as dowry
literal_form: Seven times twenty milch-cows given as a dowry for the maidens and
for maintenance at a later assembly.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:5
label: named ford place
literal_form: Ath Cliath Medraidi, explained as the Hurdle Ford of Medraide.
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Message sent to Cruachan
summary: Mani orders that the maidens drive the cattle over the ford to Cruachan
and report the group's plight; the maidens deliver the message that the sons are
in distress at Ath Briuin.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Relief force goes to Ath Briuin
summary: Ailill, Medb, Fergus, Connaught forces, and banished Ulstermen go to Ath
Briuin to help their people.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:9
- fig:10
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Thorn hurdles block the ford
summary: The sons of Ailill construct white-thorn and black-thorn hurdles in the
ford, preventing Regamon and his people from passing until Ailill and his army
arrive.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Treaty and settlement
summary: 'A treaty resolves the cattle-taking: the herd is restored to Regamon,
the maidens remain with the sons of Ailill and Medb, and seven score milch-cows
are given as dowry and support for a later assembly.'
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: scene:5
label: Tale named as prelude
summary: The passage identifies the tale as the Tain bo Regamon and says it is a
prelude to the Tain bo Cualnge.
figure_refs: []
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Cattle raid resolved by treaty and restitution
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The young men are said to have carried off cattle; the herd escapes through
the maidens, and restitution of the herd is awarded to Regamon by treaty.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: No available taxonomy reference specifically names cattle raiding; the
motif label is descriptive.
- id: motif:2
label: Ford obstruction delaying pursuit or attack
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The sons of Ailill place thorn hurdles in the ford to prevent Regamon and
his people from passing before the relief army arrives.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents this as a tactical episode and place-name explanation,
not as an explicitly sacred barrier.
- id: motif:3
label: Marriage-like settlement through dowry after raid
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The maidens remain with the sons of Ailill and Medb, and seven score milch-cows
are given as a dowry for them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage states the dowry and residence outcome but does not describe
a formal wedding ceremony.
- id: motif:4
label: Place-name origin from a narrative event
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The name Ath Cliath Medraidi is explained from the hurdle ford episode.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: This is a dinnshenchas-like explanatory element, but only the passage
evidence is used here.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage explicitly links the Tain bo Regamon to the Tain bo Cualnge by
calling it a prelude to that tale.
claim_level: same_function
target: Tain bo Cualnge
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: The passage supports a narrative linkage or prefatory function, not
a claim of shared origin or identical plot.
- id: claim:2
claim: The footnote reports that the Dinnshenchus tradition confuses the Raid of
Regamon with the Raid of Dartaid in its account of cattle taken from Dartaid,
daughter of Regamon.
claim_level: same_motif
target: Raid of Dartaid / Dinnshenchus cattle-taking account
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: This is supplied by the editor's note rather than the translated narrative,
and the note describes confusion rather than demonstrating direct identity.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 11425-11431
quote_or_summary: Mani instructs that the group go to one place, that some summon
the young men, and that the maidens drive cattle over the ford to Cruachan and
inform Ailill and Medb.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 11431-11434
quote_or_summary: The maidens go to Cruachan and report that the sons are at Ath
Briuin in distress and require help.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 11434-11437
quote_or_summary: The men of Connaught, Ailill, Medb, Fergus, and banished Ulstermen
go to Ath Briuin to help their people.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 11438-11444
quote_or_summary: The sons of Ailill make white-thorn and black-thorn hurdles in
the ford as defense, preventing Regamon and his people from passing until Ailill's
army comes.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 11444-11448
quote_or_summary: The episode explains the name Ath Cliath Medraidi, glossed as
the Hurdle Ford of Medraide, with a location between Connaught and Corcomroe.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 11453-11456
quote_or_summary: A treaty is made on account of the fair young men who carried
off the cattle and the fair maidens who went with them, through whom the herd
escaped.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 11456-11458
quote_or_summary: Restitution of the herd is awarded to Regamon, and the maidens
remain with the sons of Ailill and Medb.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: 11458-11460
quote_or_summary: Seven times twenty milch-cows are given as dowry for the maidens
and as maintenance for the men of Ireland at the assembly for the Tain bo Cualnge.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: 11460-11461
quote_or_summary: The passage says this tale is called the Tain bo Regamon and is
a prelude to the Tain bo Cualnge.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: 11450-11452
quote_or_summary: The editor's note says the Dinnshenchus has cattle taken from
Dartaid, daughter of Regamon, confusing the Raids of Regamon and Dartaid.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: The narrative actions and settlement are explicit. Motif labels are descriptive
because the supplied taxonomy lacks a direct cattle-raid category. Comparison
claims are limited to explicit textual linkage and the editor's note.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
No taxonomy IDs were assigned because the passage does not clearly support the available motif-family or symbol taxonomy labels beyond a descriptive cattle-raid and settlement pattern.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg__l11425-l11461
passage_sha256=357463e81ad1420b95c93b9654d261225ccbad1455c23c3bbbf0d800f235b804