batch.motif.celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg-l1508-l1595
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg-l1508-l1595
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
passage_locator:
label: PROLOGUE IN FAIRYLAND / FROM THE LEABHAR NA H-UIDHRI / THE COURTSHIP OF ETAIN
/ EGERTON VERSION; lines 1508-1595
start: '1508'
end: '1595'
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: Etain returns to Ailill, who says he is cured and her honour is unharmed.
Later, at an assembly and horse-races, Mider finds Etain and carries her and her
handmaiden Crochen away. Mider travels west, names Croghan for Crochen, stays
at the Fairy Mound of Croghan, and then brings Etain to Bri Leith. Eochaid searches
Ireland for a year, then sends for the Druid Dalan, who uses yew wands, ogham,
and wisdom to discover Etain’s location. Eochaid and the men of Ireland attack
the fairy dwelling at Bri Leith and recover Etain. The passage closes with notices
about Eochaid’s later death by fire, Etain’s daughter, Conary’s descent, and later
retaliation by Mider and the fairy host.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Ailill tells Etain that he is cured of his illness and that she is unhurt
in her honour.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Eochaid hears the account concerning Ailill and Etain and is pleased with
Etain’s conduct toward Ailill.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: At a gathering and horse-races in Fremain, Mider searches for Etain, finds
her with her women, and carries her away along with Crochen the Ruddy.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Mider approaches in a hideous form, and the wives of the men of Ireland cry
out when the queen is carried away.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: The horses of Ireland are loosed in pursuit, but the pursuers do not know
whether Mider has gone into the air or into the earth.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: Mider travels west to the plain of Croghan and says Crochen’s name will remain
over the plain, explaining the names of the plain and fort of Croghan.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: Mider stays nine days at the Fairy Mound of Croghan with allied dwellers of
the mound, banqueting and feasting.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: Mider says his dwelling is eastward, nearer the rising-place of the sun, and
he takes Etain to Bri Leith.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:9
text: Eochaid sends horsemen, wizards, road officers, and boundary couriers to search
for his wife and himself searches Ireland for one year without success.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:10
text: Dalan the Druid goes west, remains overnight on a mountain later called Slieve
Dalan, makes three yew wands, writes ogham on them, and learns by wisdom and ogham
that Etain is in the fairy mound of Bri Leith with Mider.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:11
text: Dalan tells Eochaid to assemble the warriors of Ireland, go to Bri Leith,
destroy the palace, and recover Etain by persuasion or force.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:12
text: Eochaid and the men of Ireland march to Bri Leith, ruin the fairy dwelling,
bring Etain out, and she returns to Fremain.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:13
text: The passage states that Eochaid later ruled Ireland for twelve years until
fire burned him in Fremain.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: obs:14
text: Etain bears one daughter to Eochaid, also named Etain; that daughter’s daughter
Messbuachalla becomes the mother of king Conary the Great.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- id: obs:15
text: The passage explains later harm to Conary and Breg as caused by the capture
of the fairy dwelling and the recovery of Etain from Mider.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Etain
description: Woman addressed by Ailill; wife of Eochaid; found and carried away
by Mider; later recovered from Bri Leith and returned to Fremain.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:8
- ev:11
- ev:13
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Ailill
description: Eochaid’s brother, formerly ill, who tells Etain that he is cured and
that her honour is unharmed.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Eochaid Airemm
description: King of Ireland and husband of Etain; searches for her, orders the
expedition to Bri Leith, recovers her, and later dies by fire in Fremain.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:8
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
- ev:13
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Mider
description: Figure who comes to the assembly in hideous form, carries away Etain
and Crochen, names Croghan for Crochen, and brings Etain to Bri Leith.
role_refs:
- role:6
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:9
- ev:14
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Crochen the Ruddy
description: Etain’s handmaiden, carried away by Mider; her name is given as the
origin of the names of the plain and fort of Croghan.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Dalan
description: Druid summoned by Eochaid; uses yew wands, ogham, and wisdom to locate
Etain at Bri Leith.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Horsemen, wizards, road officers, and boundary couriers of Ireland
description: Search parties sent by Eochaid to find Etain; they report finding no
news of Mider and Etain.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Men and warriors of Ireland
description: Forces assembled by Eochaid who march to Bri Leith and ruin the fairy
dwelling.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Dwellers in the Fairy Mound of Croghan
description: Allies and friends of Mider, with whom he lingers nine days in feasting.
role_refs:
- role:13
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Etain, daughter of Eochaid Airemm
description: Only daughter of Etain and Eochaid, named after her mother.
role_refs:
- role:14
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Messbuachalla
description: Daughter of the younger Etain and mother of king Conary the Great.
role_refs:
- role:14
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Conary the Great
description: King descended from Etain through Messbuachalla; his tabus are later
violated and his life cut off.
role_refs:
- role:15
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- ev:14
roles:
- id: role:1
label: carried-away queen and wife
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Etain is called the queen and Eochaid’s wife and is carried away by Mider.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:8
- id: role:2
label: recovered wife
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Etain is brought out from the fairy dwelling and returns to Fremain to receive
Eochaid’s affection.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:3
label: cured brother
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Ailill says he is cured forever of his illness; Eochaid asks for his brother.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:4
label: king and husband
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Eochaid is king of Ireland and searches for his wife.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:5
label: recoverer by force
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Eochaid leads the men of Ireland to Bri Leith, ruins the fairy dwelling,
and recovers Etain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:6
label: abductor
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Mider finds Etain and bears her away with Crochen.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:7
label: spouses
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:3
basis: The passage identifies Etain as Eochaid’s wife and describes her return to
fair wedded love from him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:11
- id: role:8
label: fairy-mound lord or resident
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Mider has allied dwellers at the Fairy Mound of Croghan and a dwelling at
Bri Leith.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: role:9
label: handmaiden and eponym
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Crochen is named as a handmaiden, and Mider says her name will remain over
the plain of Croghan.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: role:10
label: druid diviner
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Dalan uses yew wands, ogham, and wisdom to reveal Etain’s hidden location.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:11
label: unsuccessful searchers
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The search parties are sent through Ireland and later report finding nothing.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: role:12
label: assaulting force
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The men and warriors of Ireland are assembled to march to Bri Leith and destroy
the fairy dwelling.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: role:13
label: allied mound-dwellers
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The dwellers in the mound are said to be Mider’s allies and friends.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:14
label: descendant in royal genealogy
assigned_to:
- fig:10
- fig:11
basis: The younger Etain and Messbuachalla are named in the line leading to king
Conary.
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- id: role:15
label: descendant affected by later retaliation
assigned_to:
- fig:12
basis: Conary’s tabus are violated and his life cut off because of the recovery
of Etain and capture of the fairy dwelling.
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: fairy mound of Bri Leith
literal_form: fairy mound and palace at Bri Leith
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:6
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: sym:2
label: Fairy Mound of Croghan
literal_form: fairy mound where Mider and companions feast for nine days
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:3
label: Croghan plain and fort
literal_form: plain and fort named from Crochen
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:4
label: Slieve Dalan mountain
literal_form: mountain where Dalan spends the night before divining Etain’s location
associated_figures:
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:5
label: three yew wands with ogham
literal_form: three wands of yew written with ogham
associated_figures:
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:6
label: fire at Fremain
literal_form: fire that burns Eochaid in Fremain
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: sym:7
label: rising-place of the sun
literal_form: eastern direction described as nearer to the sun’s rising-place
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Ailill’s cure and Eochaid’s approval
summary: Etain speaks with Ailill, who says the events have cured him and preserved
her honour; Eochaid returns, hears the account, and is pleased.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Mider carries off Etain at Fremain
summary: At the assembly and horse-races, Mider finds Etain among her women, appears
in hideous form, and carries away Etain and Crochen, provoking cries and pursuit.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Westward journey and naming of Croghan
summary: Mider goes west to Croghan, tells Crochen her name will remain over the
plain, and the passage derives the names of Croghan’s plain and fort from her.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Feasting at Croghan and departure to Bri Leith
summary: Mider and his companions remain nine days at the Fairy Mound of Croghan
among his allies, then he says his dwelling lies eastward and takes Etain to Bri
Leith.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:7
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Year-long search for Etain
summary: Eochaid sends multiple search parties and searches Ireland himself for
a year without finding Etain.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:7
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: scene:6
label: Dalan’s divination
summary: Dalan travels west to a mountain, makes three yew wands, writes ogham,
and discovers that Etain is with Mider in the fairy mound of Bri Leith.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: scene:7
label: Assault on Bri Leith and recovery of Etain
summary: Dalan advises force or persuasion; Eochaid and the men of Ireland march
to Bri Leith, ruin the fairy dwelling, and bring Etain back to Fremain.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:6
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: scene:8
label: Genealogical and retaliatory aftermath
summary: The passage reports Eochaid’s later death by fire, Etain’s daughter and
descendants, and later retaliation against Conary and Breg connected to the capture
of the fairy dwelling and Etain’s recovery.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:10
- fig:11
- fig:12
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- ev:13
- ev:14
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: stolen beloved recovered by search and force
taxonomy_refs:
- stolen_beloved
basis: Mider carries away Etain, Eochaid searches for a year, learns her location
through Dalan, and recovers her by attacking Bri Leith.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: The passage frames Etain as wife and queen recovered by Eochaid, but Mider’s
prior relationship to Etain is not explained within this excerpt.
- id: motif:2
label: druidic wisdom reveals hidden beloved
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Dalan uses yew wands, ogham, and keys of wisdom to discover Etain’s concealed
location.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: The exact mechanics of the divination are summarized in the passage but
not elaborated.
- id: motif:3
label: departure to and return from fairy dwelling
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
- return
basis: Etain is carried from Fremain to fairy dwellings and later brought back from
Bri Leith to Fremain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:7
- ev:11
confidence: medium
cautions: The journey is not voluntary for Etain in the passage; the taxonomy terms
are broad and should be reviewed.
- id: motif:4
label: place-name origin from abducted companion
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Mider tells Crochen that her name will remain over the plain, and the passage
derives the names of the plain and fort of Croghan from her.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy reference directly matches eponymic place-naming.
- id: motif:5
label: violation of otherworld dwelling brings later retribution
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The passage connects later violations of Conary’s tabus and devastation of
Breg to the capture of the fairy dwelling and recovery of Etain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
confidence: medium
cautions: The later events are only briefly summarized and not narrated in detail
in this passage.
- id: motif:6
label: royal genealogy through recovered queen
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
basis: Etain’s daughter, granddaughter Messbuachalla, and great-grandson king Conary
the Great are named in a royal descent line.
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage gives genealogy but does not explicitly state a legitimacy
argument.
- id: motif:7
label: king’s death by fire
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Eochaid is said to rule for twelve years until fire burns him in Fremain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
confidence: medium
cautions: The death is a brief notice without narrative context; available taxonomy
includes fire only as a symbol, not a specific motif family.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: quote
locator: lines 1508-1514
quote_or_summary: Ailill says it has happened well, since he is cured forever, Etain
is unhurt in honour, and a blessing may rest on her; Etain thanks the gods.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 1514-1520
quote_or_summary: Eochaid returns from royal progress, asks for his brother, hears
the tale, and is grateful and pleased with Etain’s graciousness to Ailill.
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: lines 1521-1531
quote_or_summary: At a gathering and horse-races in Fremain, Mider searches for
Etain, finds her among her women, and carries her and Crochen the Ruddy away;
his approaching form is hideous.
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: lines 1531-1535
quote_or_summary: The wives of the men of Ireland cry out, and the horses of Ireland
are loosed to pursue Mider, though the pursuers do not know whether he has gone
into the air or the earth.
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: lines 1535-1542
quote_or_summary: Mider goes west to the plain of Croghan; when Crochen asks what
the journey profits them, he says her name shall be over the plain, explaining
the names of the plain and fort of Croghan.
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: lines 1542-1547
quote_or_summary: Mider comes to the Fairy Mound of Croghan, whose dwellers are
his allies and friends, and they linger there nine days banqueting and feasting.
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: lines 1547-1552
quote_or_summary: Mider says his dwelling is eastward, nearer the rising-place of
the sun, and takes Etain to Bri Leith, where the son of Celthar had his palace.
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: lines 1553-1561
quote_or_summary: Eochaid sends horsemen, wizards, road officers, and boundary couriers
to search Ireland for his wife; he himself searches for a year and finds nothing
useful.
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: lines 1562-1573
quote_or_summary: Eochaid summons Dalan the Druid; Dalan goes west to a mountain
later called Slieve Dalan, makes three yew wands, writes ogham, and by wisdom
and ogham learns Etain is in the fairy mound of Bri Leith and that Mider bore
her there.
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: lines 1574-1585
quote_or_summary: Dalan returns to Eochaid and says a great evil, shame, and misfortune
have struck him; he advises assembling Ireland’s warriors, destroying the palace
at Bri Leith, and taking Etain by persuasion or force.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 1586-1591
quote_or_summary: Eochaid and the men of Ireland march to Bri Leith, demand Etain,
ruin the fairy dwelling, bring her out, and she returns to Fremain to receive
Eochaid’s wedded love and honour.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: lines 1591-1593
quote_or_summary: The tale is identified as the Sick-bed of Ailill and the Courtship
of Etain; Eochaid rules Ireland for twelve years until fire burns him in Fremain.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:13
type: summary
locator: lines 1593-1595
quote_or_summary: Etain bears one daughter to Eochaid, also named Etain; her daughter
Messbuachalla becomes mother of king Conary the Great, son of Eterscel.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:14
type: summary
locator: lines 1595
quote_or_summary: The passage states that the fairy host of Mag Breg and Mider of
Bri Leith later violate Conary’s tabus, devastate Breg, and cut off Conary’s life
because of the capture of the fairy dwelling and the violent recovery of Etain.
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: uncertain
notes: Core narrative entities and actions are explicit in the supplied passage.
Motif labels using broad taxonomy references require human review, especially
departure/return and royal_legitimacy. No comparison claims were made because
the passage does not itself compare the story to another text or tradition.
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: |-
All evidence is drawn only from the supplied passage and metadata. Taxonomy references are limited to supplied motif families and symbols.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg__l1508-l1595
passage_sha256=2397edeb5572d66f50f7baf2ca66263150c1900e35ba7ac62571e2e52cea7f71