batch.motif.celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg-l11659-l11807
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg-l11659-l11807
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
passage_locator:
label: LITERAL TRANSLATION / THE DRIVING OF THE CATTLE OF FLIDAIS / INTRODUCTION
/ THE DRIVING OF THE CATTLE OF FLIDAIS; lines 11659-11807
start: '11659'
end: '11807'
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: The passage introduces the driving of Flidais's cattle. Flidais, wife of
Ailill Fair-haired, desires Fergus and sends to him. Fergus, after fleeing Ulster
to Connaught, follows Maev's counsel and goes with companions to Ailill Fair-haired
seeking cattle or aid. Ailill refuses Fergus an honorable gift because of Flidais's
love for him, offers lesser food, and is challenged to combat. At the Ford of
Fenna, Ailill wounds Dubhtach, Fergus, and Fergus Mac Oonlama; Flidais shields
and later tends the wounded. Ailill kills many of Fergus's companions, survivors
report to Maev and Ailill of Connaught, and a Connaught army marches to Kerry.
A later attempted meeting is refused by Ailill Fair-haired, though the passage
states Connaught intended peace, and the wounded are carried out on litters.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Flidais is presented as the consort of Ailill Fair-haired and repeatedly sends
a herald to Fergus because she seeks his love.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Fergus has fled from Ulster to Connaught and asks Ailill of Connaught how
to act without injuring Connaught's honor.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Maev advises that Fergus be sent to Ailill Fair-haired to ask for aid.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Fergus travels to Ailill Fair-haired with thirty companions, including Dubhtach
and Fergus Mac Oonlama.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Ailill Fair-haired says Fergus is not granted welcome because people say Flidais
loves Fergus too well.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Fergus asks for cattle for the men with him, and Ailill Fair-haired refuses
that gift while offering an ox and bacon instead.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Fergus rejects the offered food and challenges Ailill Fair-haired to a duel
by the ford.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: At the ford, Ailill Fair-haired wounds Dubhtach, Fergus, and Fergus Mac Oonlama
during combat.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: Flidais comes out to the wounded warriors and throws her cloak over them as
a shield.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: Ailill Fair-haired pursues Fergus's companions, kills twenty, and seven survivors
reach Croghan to report the slaughter.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:11
text: Ailill of Connaught and Maev march with an army and Ulster exiles toward Kerry
and the Ford of Fenna.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:12
text: Flidais cares for the three wounded men inside the hold and is said to have
skill in healing wounds.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:13
text: A Connaught herald calls Ailill Fair-haired to meet King Ailill, but Ailill
Fair-haired refuses.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:14
text: The wounded men are laid on litters and carried outside the walls to friendly
hands for care.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Flidais
description: Consort of Ailill Fair-haired; seeks Fergus's love, shields wounded
warriors with her cloak, and cares for their wounds with healing skill.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:8
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Ailill Fair-haired
description: Ruler of the land called Kerry in West Roscommon; husband of Flidais;
refuses Fergus an honorable cattle gift, fights at the ford, wounds champions,
and kills many of Fergus's companions.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:9
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Fergus son of Ro
description: Exile from Ulster who comes to Connaught, seeks counsel, goes to Ailill
Fair-haired for aid, asks for cattle, rejects lesser food, and challenges Ailill
to combat.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Ailill of Connaught / Ailill son of Magach
description: King associated with Connaught; gives counsel context for Fergus, is
named as a feared opponent, and later marches with Maev to aid the survivors.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Maev
description: Gives counsel that Fergus should ask Ailill Fair-haired for aid and
later marches with Ailill of Connaught to battle.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Dubhtach
description: One of Fergus's company, named as leader among the thirty; goes to
fight Ailill Fair-haired and is pierced by a javelin.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Fergus Mac Oonlama
description: A namesake of Fergus who aids him in the fight by lifting a shield
and is wounded by Ailill Fair-haired.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Fergus's thirty companions / Ulster exiles
description: Group accompanying Fergus; many are slain by Ailill Fair-haired, seven
escape to Croghan, and exiles from Ulster later march with the Connaught army.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Connaught herald
description: Messenger who calls on Ailill Fair-haired to come out and meet King
Ailill for debate.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
roles:
- id: role:1
label: desiring consort
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Flidais is Ailill Fair-haired's wife and seeks Fergus's love.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: role:2
label: hostile husband and local ruler
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Ailill Fair-haired rules the land, is Flidais's husband, rejects Fergus because
of Flidais's love, and defends his honor in combat.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:3
label: visiting supplicant or companion
assigned_to:
- fig:3
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
basis: Fergus and his company travel to Ailill Fair-haired's hold and ask for aid
or cattle.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:4
label: Connaught ally and war leader
assigned_to:
- fig:4
- fig:5
basis: Ailill of Connaught and Maev counsel Fergus and later march with an army
to Kerry.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- id: role:5
label: protector and healer of wounded warriors
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Flidais shields the wounded with her cloak and later tends their wounds with
healing skill.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:8
- id: role:6
label: combatant at the ford
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:6
- fig:7
basis: Ailill Fair-haired, Fergus, Dubhtach, and Fergus Mac Oonlama are involved
in the ford combat.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:7
label: messenger for parley
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The Connaught herald calls Ailill Fair-haired out to meet King Ailill.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: cattle as requested support
literal_form: kine / cattle requested by Fergus for his men
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: offered ox and bacon
literal_form: an ox and bacon offered by Ailill Fair-haired instead of Fergus's
requested cattle gift
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: ford as combat place
literal_form: Ford of Fenna, where the duel and later military stand occur
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: sym:4
label: protective cloak
literal_form: Flidais's cloak thrown over wounded warriors to shield them
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:5
label: litters for the wounded
literal_form: litters on which the wounded men are carried outside the walls
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Flidais desires Fergus and Connaught plans an approach
summary: Flidais repeatedly sends to Fergus because she desires him. Fergus, now
in Connaught after fleeing Ulster, asks for counsel, and Maev advises that he
seek aid from Ailill Fair-haired.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Fergus asks Ailill Fair-haired for cattle
summary: Fergus and his companions arrive near Ailill Fair-haired's hold. Ailill
welcomes the companions but not Fergus because of Flidais's love. Fergus asks
for cattle, Ailill offers only an ox and bacon, and Fergus refuses the lesser
gift.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Combat at the Ford of Fenna
summary: Fergus challenges Ailill Fair-haired, and combat at the ford results in
the wounding of Dubhtach, Fergus, and Fergus Mac Oonlama. Flidais comes out and
covers the wounded with her cloak.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Slaughter and Connaught response
summary: Ailill Fair-haired pursues Fergus's companions, kills twenty, and seven
survivors report the events at Croghan. Ailill of Connaught and Maev then march
with an army toward Kerry and the Ford of Fenna.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Healing and attempted parley
summary: The three wounded men remain in Ailill Fair-haired's hold under Flidais's
care. A Connaught herald calls Ailill Fair-haired to meet King Ailill, but he
refuses. The passage states that Connaught intended peace, and the wounded are
carried on litters to friendly hands.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: married woman's desire for an outside hero triggers conflict
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Flidais, wife of Ailill Fair-haired, seeks Fergus's love; Ailill's refusal
to honor Fergus is explicitly linked to reports that Flidais loves Fergus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage shows desire and conflict but does not yet narrate abduction,
elopement, or full union.
- id: motif:2
label: refused gift of cattle leads to duel
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Fergus asks for cattle for his men; Ailill refuses an honorable gift, offers
lesser food, and Fergus responds by challenging him to combat at the ford.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The passage frames the gift in terms of honor and sustenance; it does
not explicitly call the exchange sacred.
- id: motif:3
label: ford duel as crisis point
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The challenge is set beside the ford, Ailill Fair-haired goes there to fight,
and multiple warriors are wounded there.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The passage provides a martial setting, but any broader symbolic reading
of the ford as a boundary is not stated.
- id: motif:4
label: woman protects and heals wounded warriors
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Flidais throws her cloak over the wounded warriors to shield them and later
cares for the three wounded men, with the passage saying she has skill to heal
wounds.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents Flidais's protective and healing actions literally;
it does not identify her as divine or supernatural here.
- id: motif:5
label: survivors report slaughter and summon wider army
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Seven survivors of Fergus's company escape to Croghan and tell Maev and Ailill
of Connaught, after which a Connaught army marches to Kerry.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: This is a narrative sequence motif rather than a taxonomy-linked mythic
motif in the provided list.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 11659-11669
quote_or_summary: The title identifies the tale as the driving of Flidais's cattle;
Flidais, consort of Ailill Fair-haired, sends a herald each week to Fergus because
she seeks his love and has been won by tales of his deeds.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 11670-11687
quote_or_summary: After Fergus flees Ulster to Connaught, he asks Ailill of Connaught
for counsel on acting without harming Connaught's fame; Maev advises sending Fergus
to Ailill Fair-haired to ask for aid.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 11688-11708
quote_or_summary: Fergus goes to Ailill Fair-haired with thirty companions, including
Dubhtach and Fergus Mac Oonlama. Ailill says the companions might stay, but Fergus
is not granted the same because Flidais, Ailill's wife, is said to love him too
well.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 11709-11726
quote_or_summary: Fergus asks for cattle to sustain his men. Ailill refuses, saying
the gift would appear motivated by fear that Fergus might take his wife, but offers
an ox and bacon. Fergus refuses the food and challenges Ailill to a duel by the
ford.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 11727-11759
quote_or_summary: Ailill Fair-haired goes to the ford to fight. Dubhtach is pierced
by Ailill's javelin; Ailill's spear also reaches Fergus's shield, and Fergus Mac
Oonlama is wounded after shielding his namesake. Flidais comes out and throws
her cloak over the warriors to shield them.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 11760-11771
quote_or_summary: Ailill Fair-haired turns against Fergus's comrades, chases them
from his castle, kills twenty, and seven of the thirty escape to Croghan to tell
Maev and Ailill of Connaught what happened.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 11772-11783
quote_or_summary: Ailill of Connaught and Maev rouse themselves to march to battle
with many lords and Ulster exiles, reaching Kerry and making a stand near the
Ford of Fenna.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: 11784-11789
quote_or_summary: The three wounded men lie within the hold, and Flidais cares for
them because she has skill to heal their wounds.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: 11790-11807
quote_or_summary: A Connaught herald calls Ailill Fair-haired to come out to meet
King Ailill, but Ailill refuses. The passage says old men held that Ailill of
Connaught intended a peaceful meeting, and the wounded men are carried on litters
outside the walls to friendly care.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: The literal narrative sequence and named figures are explicit in the supplied
passage. Motif labels are descriptive and not asserted as historical or cross-cultural
comparisons. No comparison claims are made because the passage itself does not
support them.
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: |-
Only supplied passage and metadata were used. Taxonomy references were left empty where the available categories would require interpretation beyond the passage.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg__l11659-l11807
passage_sha256=472b40db7abd3601e81299cc0373338cd69ea722ed0d5e84949f126b6fb6890b