Macha - prints

The Morrigan, perhaps the fiercest in our pantheon of Gods, was also represented as a triple Goddess. The three aspects, often referred to as sisters, were Macha, Badb and Nemain though often all are just referred to as the Morrigan.

Macha is said to be associated with ravens and gray horses. In one famous story she is in a relationship with Cronnchu, a widower who is invited to the fort of King Conor Mac Neasa. Macha, who is pregnant at this time, asks her partner not to mention her but he boasts to the King that she can outrun any of the finest horses.

The King demands that she is brought before him and despite her being on the verge of giving birth, she accomplishes the deed but immediately gives birth to twins. In some versions, it is said that they are still born and that she dies soon after. However, before she dies, she utters a curse on the men of Ulster which condemns them to be inflicted with labour pains whenever they are needed to defend their territory.

It is because of this curse that soon after, the young Cúchullain is left to stand alone against the might of Queen Maedbh’s army as he is not affected by her spell. Interestingly, he has a gray horse, Liath Macha or Macha’s gray and when he is mortally injured and ties himself to a pillar, it is only when Macha/Morrigan alights on his shoulder in the form of a raven, that his enemies dare to approach.

Her name is still relevant to this day as the county of Armagh in Irish is Ard Mhacha or Macha’s heights and the famous fort of Eamhain Macha, just outside the city of Armagh, is named after the twins of Macha, the word Eamhain being an old Irish word for twins.

Illustration from an original by Margaret McKenna