Appearance, Dress, Ornaments, and Weapons

of the Early Irish

compiled by

Ciard nic Ruadhan O'Seachnasaigh

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

page chapter title

3 Introduction
4 I Colors and Fabrics
4 II Laws Governing Clothing and Jewelry
5 III Fabric, Detail, Style, Accessories
6 IV Gifts and Tributes of Clothing
7 IV Dress of Kings
8 V Dress of Princes
9 VI Dress of Chieftains
11 VII Female Adornment and Dress
13 VIII Dress of the Tuatha de Danann
14 IX Dress of Champions and Warriors
18 X Dress of Charioteers
19 XI Dress of Poets
20 XII Dress of Officials
20 XIII Dress of Musicians and Druids
21 XIV Dress of Fools and Jesters
22 XV Dress of King's Household Attendants
23 XVI Dress of Common People
24 XVII Bizarre Descriptions
25 XVIII Jewelry - Bracelets
26 Rings for Fingers and Ears
27 Head Adornments
28 Helmets, Headdresses, Crowns
29 Hair Adornments, Hair Rings
30 Neck Adornments
31 Brooches and Cloaks
King
Prince
Chieftain
Women
Tuatha De Dannan
Warriors
Others

Sources

Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish

Eugene O'Curry , William and Norgate, London, 1873. (volume ii, iii).

Early Irish Myths and Sagas

Jeffrey Gantz, Penguin Books, New York, 1983.

The Cattle Raid of Cualnge

L. Winifred Faraday, David Nutt, London, 1904.

"The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel"

Whitley Stokes, Revue Celtique, XXII, 1901

Cattle Raid of Cuailnge

L. Winifred Faraday, David Nutt, 1904
 Introduction

Irish manuscripts are among the oldest of any in Europe, some dating from the 6th century AD and those the
written word from oral tradition dating back thousands of years. Story-tellers preserved minute details of clothing,
shoes, personal adornments, hair style and color, shapes of beards, weapons, armor, and animals. When the tales
were finally written down, those books that are still extant today, though produced centuries apart, can have the
appropriate sections compared phrase by phrase, and the wording will match at an extremely high rate with changes
usually only in spelling.
From these tales we may see that the Irish wore a rich variety of materials, precious metals, styles and colors in
their tunics and cloaks. Some details speak of silk cloth, buttons and collars on tunics in clothing predating the
Christian era, and the Annals speak of trade with European countries and the East as far as Phoenicia in very ancient
times so the description of silk fabrics is quite plausible.
However, Barry Raferty, in his book Pagan Celtic Ireland, states that the weapons and jewelry described more
closely matches the artifacts of the Viking era in Ireland than the Iron Age, so we in the SCA may use them for our
purposes. They are not pre-period for us.
Irish dress was elaborate, colorful, and full of texture - trimmed with braid, embroidery, or with interweaving of
red, gold or silver threads.
Gold is mentioned everywhere, as rings, necklaces, earrings, sword hilts, hair nets, belts, shoes, and of course
brooches. The Irish have several distinct words for cloak pins and usually they are simply translated as "brooch".
However, through my own attempts at translation, I believe the names should be used in their literal sense, Foliated
or Leaf-shaped, Curved-Beasts, Great-Gold, Inlaid, Gilded, Jeweled, etc.
The descriptions given in this paper come primarily from "The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel", and the "Tain
Bó Cuailnge". These are stories from the Ulster Cycle, which occurred about the last century before the Christian
era. This paper is not intended to give all examples shown in the sagas - indeed such a task would create a large
book (which I am currently working on). The section on women's dress is presently rather scant, as I have not
finished my compilations from the Tain Bó, and only four women were mentioned in Da Derga.
Ciard O'Seachnasaigh
 I. Colors and Fabrics

One of the earliest entries in the annals (ca. 1500 BC) contains a mention of sumptuary laws regulating the
colors to be worn in dress. The necessity of such a law implies a considerable advance in the arts connected with
dying and weaving.

"Tigernmas mac Ollaig assumed the sovereignty. It was by him that drinking horns were first introduced into
Erinn. It was by him that gold was first smelted (boiled) and that colors were first put into cloths (namely - brown,
red, and crimson), and ornamental borders. It was by him that ornaments and brooches of gold and silver were first
made. And Tigernmas was 77 years in the kingship, and he died in Magh Slecht, and three-fourths of the men of
Erinn died along with him, whilst adoring Cromm Cruach."
Book of Leinster

After him the surviving one-fourth of the men of Erinn gave the kingship to Eochaidh Edgudach "the cloth
designer" mac Dair‚ Domthig, of the Milesians. Under king Eochaidh Edgudach cloth was first colored crimson,
blue and green. It was by him decreed the numbers of colors to be worn by the various classes - it is from this, that
today all these colors are in the clothes of a bishop.
1 servants 5 chiefs
2 rent-paying farmers 6 Ollamhs and poets
3 officers 7 kings and queens
4 ?

Specific mention of clothing shape or fashion, or even material, is scarce but it may be presumed that they were
made of native wool or flax, and probably of imported silk.

II. Laws governing Clothing and Jewelry

Laws were made regulating the use of clothing and jewelry. One ancient triad gives the regulations for the
wearing of the kilt, trews, and length of beard.

"three legal handbreadths, that are, namely -

a handbreadth between his shoes and his trews;
a handbreadth between his ear and his beard;
a handbreadth between the border of his kilt and his knee."

The Brehon laws required that children in fosterage be attired in suitable garments and jewels for their station.
The sons of chieftains were entitled to silver cloak clasps. The sons of kings wore scarlet cloaks and swords in silver
scabbards.
One Brehon law governing the pins of brooches, stated that men were legally bound to wear them in such a way
as that they should not be dangerous to persons around them. Some stories tell of brooch pins longer than 12 inches,
though (as of 1860) none so large are represented in museums.
"The Book of Laws (Brehon) tell us that the weight of the (Land Oír) or crescent of gold, was paid in silver to
the (Cerd) or artist who made it."
Any jewelry pawned during the year had to be released to the owner, in order that they might not be disgraced,
when they appeared in public at the great assembles and fairs. It was released even when the debt had not been paid
and was returned to the pawn-broker after the event.
 III. Color, Style, Fabric, Detail, and Accessories found in this paper

CLOAKS

colors red, many-hued red, crimson, dark-red, red\white, light blue, blue, green, brown, pale, tawny, blay (?),
white,
yellow, black, black-green, deep-gray, streaked-gray, light-gray, dappled, mottled, speckled, white-
speckled, striped

style flowing, floating, four-folding, wrapping, graceful points, short cowls with long hoods reaching elbow,
small
winged cape, seven-staggered layers with hood

fabrics silk, close-napped, long-wooled, woolen

detail embroidered, braided with gold thread, borders of gold, silver, black with white hood and red tuft, green
with four
crimson pendants, green spot-speckled, short with crimson loops, black-gray with crimson loops,

TUNICS and SHIRTS

colors white, brown, brown-red, yellow, striped, streaked, blue

style hooded, knee-length, ankle-length, calf-length, collared

fabrics silk, kingly silk, satin, soft, smooth, coarse, glossy, curly

detail red ornamentation, fringed, gold embroidery, turned up red hem of gold, interwoven with gold thread,
red-gold
thread, circlets of silver and gold, fine-bordered, buttons of burnished red-gold in openings and breast.

KILTS

color crimson, red-spotted\white, blue-black, mixed, black, red

fabric linen, silk

detail striped silken borders, embroidered in gold thread, red interweavings and borders of gold thread, white
with
crimson stripes down sides

ACCESSORIES

shining gauntlets, leggings with pendants of white bronze, shoes with clasps of red-bronze, silver\ gold
sandals
beset with shining precious stones, firm shoes, silver shoes, pointless shoes of white-bronze ornamented
with two
gems of precious stones, open mouthed leopard on shoulders.

APRONS, TREWS

gray linen, embroidered in gold, speckled

 IV. Gifts and Tributes

ca 900 AD from the Book of Rights, these items were exchanged between the King and his subject kings. Mention
is made of suits of clothes, but offers no description beyond that.

Cloaks
green, green of uniform color,
red, red not black, crimson of lightning luster, crimson square, crimson of beautiful texture,
colored, speckled, well colored, speckled of permanent color,
blue, white, not white,
kingly, costly, superb, excellent, best, short,
well stitched with crimson trim, crimson with borders, with golden borders, with white borders,

Mantles
green, white, of bright mixture (i.e. varigated), of beautiful color,
with wreaths of gold, of softest sheen
of deep crimson, crimson,
beautiful statute, without mistake

Tunics
with gold embroidery, with golden borders,
bright red, scarlet
 V. Dress of Kings

Conaire Már (King of Tara) The Destruction of Da Derga's

Hostel

"A noble champion with the ardor and the action of a king, and the wisdom of an historian. His
cloak can be likened only to the mist of a May morning. A different color and complexion are seen
upon it each moment; more splendid than the other each hue. In the front of the cloak is a wheel
brooch of gold that reaches from his chin to his waist. Like unto the sheen of burnished gold is the
color of his hair. Of all the human forms in the world, his is the most splendid. He wears a
splendid king's wreath encircling his head of golden curling hair. His many-hued red cloak of
lustrous silk has gorgeous ornamentation of precious gold bespangled upon its surface, with its
flowing capes dexterously embroidered. His large brooch of pure gold is like a full moon with
crimson gems set like in a bowl. It fills the fine front of his noble breast. His splendid linen kilt
(tunic ?) has striped silken borders, and is embroidered in gold from his bosom to his knees.
Around his neck is a face-reflecting mirror of various hues." (O'Curry iii 142-143)
His sword was so shiny that only a forearm's length exposed would provide enough light to fill the
far corners of the house. (Stokes paraphrased)

Conchobar mac Nessa (King of Ulster) Tain Bó

Cuailnge

A warrior, fair, slender, tall, pleasant. Fairest in form among kings was he. He had yellow hair,
curled, well-arranged, trimmed and wavy, which reached to the hollow between his shoulders. His
countinence was crimson and comely, narrow below, broad above. He had shining, beautiful eyes.
He had a forked beard, very curly, golden-yellow. He wore a purple mantle wrapped around him
with a beautiful brooch of red gold in the mantle over his breast. He wore a white-hooded tunic
with red insertion.
He carried a white shield with animal designs in gold. Across his shoulders he had a gold-
hilted sword, In his hand he held a broad shining spear on a slender shaft. His array was the finest
of all princes of the world.

O'Rahilly

Edchu Rond "of the gold wire, or thread" (King of Ui Maine, Connacht) Tain Bó
Cuailnge
(of the Firbolg race)

"Having on a crimson four-folding cloak, with its four borders of gold upon it; a kilt reaching from
his knees to his hips; fair yellow hair upon his head, falling down both flanks of the steed he rode;
a bunch of thread of gold descending from it of the weight of seven ounces; (and so his name).
(O'Curry iii 106)

Donnchadh Cairbrech O'Brien (1190 AD) was inaugurated, dressed in -

"A dark brown red mantle, and a gauntlet,
A splendid shirt under his glossy hair,
A brown satin tunic lustrous and light,
A keen fine large eye of bright deep blue."
(O'Curry iii 154)

Eladha King of the Fomorians (ca. 1500 BC ?)

"He had golden hair down to his two shoulders. He wore a cloak braided with golden thread; a
shirt interwoven with threads of gold; and a brooch of gold at his breast, emblazoned with brilliant
precious stones. He wore a ring on his middle finger made of gold."
(O'Curry iii 155-156)
 V. Dress of Princes

Causcraid Mend Macha mac Conchobar (Prince of Ulster) Tain Bó

Cuailnge
"Stammering Causcraid of Emain Macha, Ulster"
(at Slemuin Mide)
"The next company at the hill of Slemain was under twice three thousand, and," says Mac
Roth, "This party, too, was led by a comely man. He had fair yellow hair upon him. He had a
glossy curling beard. He wore a green cloak wrapping him about; and there was a bright
silver brooch in that cloak at his breast. He had a brown-red shirt, interwoven with thread of
red-gold, next to his skin and descending to his knees. A spear like the candle of a king;s
house in his hand, with rings of silver and bands of gold; wonderful are the feats which the
spear the champion carries in his hands performs. The rings of silver (seem to) run upon it
over the bands of gold at once from its heel to its socket; and the next time it is the bands of
gold that (seem to) run over the rings of silver, from the socket to the heel. (He carries a)
sharp-rimmed shield over him; and a sword with an ivory hilt, overlaid with gold thread, at
his left side." (O'Curry, ii, 316; iii, 92)

(as a hostage to the King of Tara) The Destruction of Da

Derga's Hostel
"A young champion with black hair, and he stammers in his speech. All in the court listen to
his counsel. The most beautiful of men is he. He wore a shirt, and a white and red cloak, and
a silver brooch in his cloak."
(O'Curry iii 145)

Fiachaig and Fiachna mac Conchobar (Princes of Ulster, younger sons) Tain Bó
Cuailnge
"Two soft youths with green cloaks wrapped around them, and two brooches of shining silver in
these cloaks over their breasts; they wore two shirts of smooth yellow silk next their skins."
(O'Curry iii 95)
"They carried two bright shields graven with silver animals. (Kinsella 232)

Ercc mac Cairpre Nia-Fer (Son of High king, Grandson of King of Ulster and his me Tain Bó
Cuailnge
"Some of them had red cloaks; others gray cloaks, others blue cloaks, and others cloaks of green,
blay (?), white, and yellow; and these cloaks all floating splendidly and brightly upon them. There
is a speckled little boy, with crimson cloak, among them in the center; he has a brooch of gold in
that cloak over his breast; and a shirt of kingly silk interwoven with red-gold next his white skin."
(O'Curry iii 96)
He carried on his arm a gold-rimmed and gold-inlaid shield with a white knob, and a light sharp
javelin shimmering in his hand. A gold-hilted sword hung out over his clothes.
(Kinsella 234)

Cormac Condloingas mac Conchobar (Prince of Ulster and his men) Tain Bó
Cuailnge
"Broad cut, fair yellow, golden loose-flowing hair upon them; they wore crimson
embroidered cloaks, with stone set brooches over their breast (in the cloaks) and fine long
silken shirts, falling to the insteps of their feet."
(O'Curry iii 91)

(as King's Champion to the King of Tara) The Destruction of Da Derga's

Hostel
"A large dark-faced man with bright sparkling eyes, beautiful well set teeth, a face narrow
below and broad above, and flaxen hair golden upon him. He wore well-fitting clothes; a
 silver (Milech) beast-brooch in his cloak, and a gold-hilted sword in his hand. He had a
shield with golden bosses ; and a flesh-piercing spear in his hand. A manly, comely, crimson
countenance has he, and he is beardless." (O'Curry iii 137)

7 Maines, sons of Ailill and Meadb (Princes of Connacht, Plunderers) Tain Bó

Cuailnge
"Black uncut hair; they wore green cloaks, with silver brooches; the shirts which they wore next to
their skin were interwoven with thread of gold."
(O'Curry iii 91)

Saxon Princes The Destruction of Da Derga's

Hostel
(living with King of Tara, with their companions)

"Very yellow manes were on them. Linen frocks somewhat short were around them : purple plaids
over them without brooches therein. Broad spear-heads and curved red shields over them.
(Stokes 291)
 VI. Dress of Chieftains

Eogan mac Durthachta (Chieftain of Fernmaige, Ulster) Tain Bó

Cuailnge

"A fair, tall, great, man of a florid, noble, countenance; with soft brown hair, falling upon him in
thin, smooth locks upon his forehead. He had a deep gray cloak wrapped around him, and a silver
brooch in the cloak at his breast. He wore a soft white shirt next his skin."
(O'Curry iii 93)
He carried a curved scallop-edged shield, with a five-pronged spear in his hand, a forked javelin at
his side, and a cruel sword slung behind him.
(Kinsella 227)

Loegaire Buadach "the victorious" (Chieftain of Immail, Ulster, and his men) Tain Bó
Cuailnge

A large-headed, war-like champion took the front of that party; a man of houndlike, hateful face.
He had light grisly hair, and large yellow eyes in his head. He wore a yellow, close-napped cloak
upon him; and a gold brooch in that cloak at his breast. He had a yellow fringed shirt next his
skin." (O'Curry iii 93)
A scallop-edged death-dealing shield hung at his side. He carried a broad-bladed javelin and a
long spear with a blood-stained shaft. Next to it in his hand was another javelin, with the blood of
enemies on its blade. A big murderous sword hung at his shoulders.
(Kinsella 228)

Munremur mac Gercin (Chieftain of Modurn, Ulster) Tain Bó

Cuailnge

"A thick-necked, corpulent champion, he wore black, short, bushy hair, and he had a scarred
crimson face, and gray sparkling eyes. He wore a dark-gray long-wooled cloak with a brooch of
pale gold in that cloak at his breast. A shirt of striped silk lay next his skin (with) an
ornamentation of gold thread upon the outside of his dress."

(O'Curry iii 93-94)

He carried a black shield with a boss of bronze and a shimmering spear in his hand, set with eyes,
and he had an ivory-hilted sword.
(Kinsella 228)

The Destruction of Da
Derga's Hostel

"A large brown man, with a large brown beard. Long legs; thicker than the body of a man was his
every limb. He had brown curled head of hair, majestic upon him. He wore a red-spotted white
kilt." (O'Curry iii 140)
He carried a black shield with boss of gold, and a five-barbed javelin, and an ivory-hilted sword
(Stokes 197).

Connud mac Morna (Chieftain from Callaind, Ulster) Tain Bó

Cuailnge

A broad-faced thick-set champion. He was irritable, and had prominent, dull, and squinting eyes.
He wore yellow, close-curling hair. A streaked gray cloak hung upon him, with a bronze brooch at
the breast. He wore a shirt with a collar, descending to the calves of his legs upon him.
(O'Curry iii 94)
He carried a sword at his thigh, and a red shield with a knob of tough silver. He held a broad,
 triple-rivetted blade in his hand.
(Kinsella 228)

Reochaid mac Fatheman (Chieftain from Rigdond, Ulster) Tain Bó

Cuailnge

"No more comely champion, than he. He has a head of bushy red-yellow hair; a face broad above
and narrow below (Celtic Ideal); a deep gray, flashing, flaming, brilliant eye in his head, and
pearly white teeth. He wore a white and red cloak or wrapper, and an elaborate brooch of gold in
that cloak at his breast. He had on a shirt of kingly silk, turned up with a red hem of gold, next his
white skin." (O'Curry iii 94)
He carried at his left a curved shield with a knob of silver, graven with all kinds of colored
animals. He held in his hands a long bleak-bladed javelin and a keen quick spear. A sword of gold
with a gold hilt hung at his back.
(Kinsella 228)
Celtchair Mac Uthair (Chieftain of Dun-da-leth-glass, Ulster) Tain Bó
Cuailnge

"An angry, terrific, hideous man, long-nosed, large-eared, apple-eyed; with coarse, dark-gray hair.
He wore a striped cloak, and instead of a brooch, he had a stake of iron in that cloak over his
breast, which reached from one shoulder to the other. He wore a coarse, streaked shirt next his
skin." (O'Curry iii 95)
He carried a curved scallop-edged shield and a great grey javelin in his hand, with thirty rivets. A
sword that was tempered seven times hung at his shoulders.
(Kinsella 228)

Eirrge Echbel "Horse-lipped" (Chieftain from Bri Ergi, Ulster) Tain Bó

Cuailnge

A terrible warrior, he had a big belly and thick horse's lips. His hair was dark and curly and he had
only one eye. His head was broad and his hands long. A black cloak swung about him, fastened
with a disk of tin. He carried a dark-grey shield at his left, and a broad stabbing spear, banded at
the neck, in his right hand. A long sword hung at his shoulders.
(Kinsella 228)

Mend mac Salcholgan (Chieftain from headlands of river Boind, Ulster) Tain Bó
Cuailnge

"A man lively, fiery; eyes very red, of a champion in his head; a many-colored cloak about him; a
chain of silver thereon, a shirt white, hooded, to his knee."
(Faraday 127)
He carried a grey shield on his left and a silver-hilted sword by his side. He held a javelin shaped
well for subtle thrusts.
(Kinsella 228)

Fergna mac Findconna (Chieftain, son of king of Burach, Ulster) Tain Bó

Cuailnge

"A long-cheeked swarthy man with black hair upon him, and long-limbed. He had a red long-
wooled cloak, with a clasp of white silver in it, over his breast, and a linen shirt next his skin."
(O'Curry iii 96)
He wore at his left a sword of great beauty with a hilt of bright silver. He carried a red shield and a
grey broad-bladed stabbing spear in his hand, beautifully worked and set onto its shaft of ash.
(Kinsella 28)
 VII. Female Adornment and Dress

Few women were described in the annals, but examples exist to show that they were also magnificently attired.
Irishmen adored certain feminine charms so much that women were often nicknamed from their best attribute, such
as a delicate turn in the eyebrows (Finnabair), white skin and shoulders, beautiful hair, (Foltchain) sometimes long
enough to hit the calves of their legs, pearl-like teeth, delicate hands and feet, manicured and colored nails, or the
way they walked.

From the tale of The Wanderings of Maelduin's Boat‘ (ca. 700 AD) -

"She wore a white robe and a twisted ring of gold confining her golden hair; she had two pointless
shoes of silver upon her crimson-white feet; a silver brooch, with chain of gold in her robe; and a
striped smock of silk next her white skin."
(O'Curry iii 188)

(ca 664 AD) The Story of Bec Fola

"Bec Fola had on her feet two pointless shoes of white-bronze, ornamented with two gems of
precious stones; her kilt was interwoven with threads of gold; she wore a crimson robe, and a
brooch of gold fully chased and beset with many-colored gems in that robe. She had a necklace of
burnished gold around her neck; and a diadem of gold upon her head."
(O'Curry iii 160)

About the year 620 AD, a young prince, named Cano, was exiled from Scotland and he and fifty men and their
wives came with him to Ireland.

"A crimson five-folding cloak upon each man, his gold-yellow hair falling down his back. Their
fifty wives accompanied them; each woman wore a green cloak, with borders of silver, a smock
interwoven with thread of red-gold, brooches of gold, with full carvings, bespangled with gems of
many colors, necklaces of highly burnished gold, a diadem of gold upon the head of each. The
fifty servants that attended them wore tunics of yellow silk. A chess board upon the back of each
servant with the men of gold and silver. A bronze harp in the left hand of each servant; and two
greyhounds, on a silver chain, in his right hand." (O'Curry iii 164,
196)

Fedelm the Prophetess Tain Bo

Cuailnge

"She had a green spot-speckled cloak upon her; and a round heavy-headed brooch in that cloak
over her breast. Her face was crimson, rich-blooded; her eyes gray and sparkling; her lips red and
thin; her teeth shining and pearly; like fresh coral were her lips; sweeter than harps the sound of
her voice; whiter than new snow her skin and her body appearing through her dress; she had long,
even, white feet; and her nails were crimson, well cut, circular, and sharp; she had long fair yellow
hair; three wreaths of her hair were braided around her head; and another braid descended as low
as the calves of her legs." (O'Curry iii
110)

Etaín ingen of Etar Echrad "of the horse-troops" from the introduction of The Destruction of Da Derga's
Hostel
(of the Sídhe)

There was a famous and noble king over Erin, named Eochaid Feidlech. Once upon a time he
came over the fairgreen of Brí Léith, and he saw at the edge of a well a woman with a bright
 comb of silver adorned with gold washing in a silver basin wherein were four golden birds
and little, bright gems of purple carbuncle in the rims of the basin.
A mantle she had, curly and purple, a beautiful cloak, and in the mantle silvery fringes
arranged, and a brooch of fairest gold. A kirtle she wore, long hooded, hard-smooth, of green
silk with red embroidery of gold. Marvelous clasps of gold and silver in the kirtle on her
breasts, and her shoulders and spaulds on every side.
The sun kept shining upon her so that the glistening of the gold against the sun from the
green silk was manifest to men.
On her head were two golden-yellow tresses, in each of which was a plait of four locks with
a bead at the point of each lock. The hue of that hair seemed to them like the flower of the
iris in summer or like red gold after the burnishing thereof.
There she was, undoing her hair to wash it with her arms out through the sleeve holes of her
smock. White as the snow of one night were the two hands, soft and even, and red as
foxglove were the two clear-beautiful cheeks. Dark as the back of a stag-beetle the two
eyebrows. Like a shower of pearls were the teeth in her head. Red as rowan berries the lips;
very high, smooth and soft white the shoulders. Clear-white and lengthy the fingers. Long
were the hands.
White as the foam of a wave was the flank, slender, long, tender, smooth, soft as wool.
Polished and warm, sleek and white (were) the two thighs, round and small, hard and white
the two knees, short and white and ruler-straight the two shins. Justly straight, beautiful the
two heels. If a measure were put on the feet it would hardly have found them unequal, unless
the flesh of the coverings should grow upon them.
The bright radiance of the moon was in her noble face: the loftiness of pride in her smooth
eyebrows: the light of wooing in each of her regal eyes. A dimple of delight in each of her
cheeks, with a dappling in them (at one time) of purple spots with redness of a calf's blood,
and at another with the bright luster of snow.
Soft womanly dignity in her voice; a step and slow she had: a queenly gait was hers. Verily,
of the world's women 'twas she was the dearest and loveliest and justest that the eyes of
men had ever beheld. It seemed to them (king Eochaid and his followers) that she was from
the elfmounds. Of her was said: "Shapely are all till (compared with) Etaín", "Dear are all till
(compared with) Etaín." (Stokes)

Deirdre The Exile of the Sons of

Usnech

She mentions in her poem of mourning that she no longer reddens her fingernails - as she has no
one to welcome.

Women of the Sídhe of Cruachu The Cattle Raid of

Froech

"Three fifties of women wearing scarlet mantles and bright green headdresses and silver animal
bracelets on their wrists."
(Gantz 121)

Lí Ban and Fand , of the Sídhe The Wasting Sickness of

Cuchullain

"Lí Ban wore a green cloak and Fand a crimson cloak folded five times"
(Gantz 157)
(from the Brehon Laws)

The contents of a queen's work-bag; "...A veil of one color, and a crown of gold, and a
crescent of gold (Land), and thread of silver (to hold the hair off her forehead."
The contents of a noblewoman's work-bag: "...A veil, and a crown of gold, and a crescent of
silver, and silver thread (to hold the hair off the forehead) and a painted mask on a silk
handkerchief, (a type of banner worn at assemblies, and a gold thread.."

"We must remember, however, that the articles required by law to constitute the contents of a
lady's treasure bag, formed only a small, though and important part of the articles intended to
grace and decorate her person. Neither her ordinary nor her state garments are enumerated here;
neither are her rings, bracelets, clasps, anklets, brooches, earrings, torcs, nor the golden balls,
rings, and pins of her hair, all of which articles, we know, were worn by the ladies of those times
at the great fairs, assemblies, and state meetings of the country." (O'Curry iii 113-114)
 VIII. Dress of the Tuatha de Danann

The following description of a calvacade (from a preface to the Tain Bó) tells of Bodbh Dearg, a Tuatha de
Danann chieftain in Co. Tipperary, who went to visit his cousin Ochall Oichne, the Danann chief of Cruachu (later
the royal residence of the kings of Connacht). The Sídhe people of Cruachu came out to meet the calvacade; which
is described -

"Seven score chariots and seven score horsemen was their number. And of the same color
were all their steeds; they were speckled; they had silver bridles. There was no person among
them who was not the son of a king and a queen. They all wore green cloaks with four
crimson pendants, to each cloak; and silver cloak-brooches in all their cloaks; and they wore
kilts with red interweaving, and borders or fringes of gold thread upon them, and pendants of
white bronze thread upon their leggings or greaves, and shoes with clasps of red bronze in
them. Their helmets were ornamented with crystal and white bronze; each of them had a
collar of radiant gold around his neck, with a gem worth a newly calved cow set in it. Each
wore a twisted ring of gold around him worth thirty ounces of gold."
(This is the amount paid to the metal-smith to make the ornament and not the weight of the
actual piece which was probably still heavier.)
When the Chief of Cruachu saw the magnificence of his friend's retinue he called a hasty
meeting of his own people, and asked if they were able to appear in the assembly in costumes
of equal splendor. They could not, and the chief Ochal said they were dishonored forever,
and that they should acknowledge their own poverty. While he was thus mourning, they saw
coming yet another calvacade. It is described thus -
"Three score bridle steeds and three score chariots. All the steeds were black; one would
think that it was the sea that had cast them up; they had bridles-bits of gold. The men wore
black-gray cloaks, with crimson loops; a wheel-brooch of gold at the breast of each man of
them. Kilts of perfect whiteness, with crimson stripes down their sides upon them. Black
hair upon every man of them, and so sleek, that you would think it was a cow that licked
them all. Fifty coils of burnished gold around each man. They had no sandals on their feet,
nor head pieces upon their heads, except a few of them."
(O'Curry iii 156-158)

Midar of Bri Leith

"He rode a curving, prancing, broad-rumped, curly-maned curly-tailed bay steed. He had on a long
flowing green cloak, gathered around him, and a shirt interwoven with thread of red-gold (under
that). A brooch of gold in his cloak which reached across to his shoulders at either side. He wore
fair yellow hair, coming over his forehead, and his forehead was bound with a fillet of gold to
keep his hair from disorder."

(O'Curry iii 162)

Lugh Mac Ethlend (Sídhe father of Cuchullain)

"A man tall and fair, with yellow hair cut broad and waving; a green mantle folded round him; a
brooch of white silver in the mantle on his breast; a tunic of royal silk, with red ornamentation of
red-gold against the white skin, reaching to his knees. A black shield with a hard boss of white
metal ; a five-pointed spear in his hand ; a forked (?) javelin beside it. Wonderful is the play and
sport and exercise that he makes ; but no one attacks him, and he attacks no one, as if no one saw
him. (Faraday 83)

Dagdae Mór "Good God" (King of Tuatha de Danann) The Intoxication of the
Ulaid

"A large-eyed, broad-thighed, broad-shouldered, huge, tall man with a splendid tawny cloak about
 him. Seven smooth black hoods about him, each upper one shorter, each lower one longer."
(Gantz 206)

Three Red Gods (three Champions who lied in the Sídhe) The Destruction of Da Derga's
Hostel

"Three horsemen rode before (the High King). Three red tunics had they, and three red mantles:
three red bucklers they bore, and three red spears were in their hands; three red steeds they
bestrode, and three red heads of hair were on them. Red were they all, both body and raiment, both
steeds and men." (Stokes 36)
 IX. Dress of Champions and Warriors

Men of Muirtheimne (of the patrimony of Cuchullain) Tain Bó

Cuailnge

"No less than three thousand blood red, furious, warriors, white, clean, dignified, crimson-faced
men. They had fair yellow hair, splendid, bright countenances, and sparking kingly eyes; and they
wore glossy, long, flowing robes, with noble brooches of gold, pure shining gauntlets and shirts of
striped silk." (O'Curry iii 96-97)

from the time of Fionn Mac Cumhaill (ca. 200 AD)

"We saw coming towards us over the plain

A large, beautiful, admirable young champion,
Stern, manly, and truly brave.
A silver sandal on his left foot, with shining precious stones beset;
A golden sandal on his right foot:
Though strange, it was no ungraceful arrangement.
A cloak over his breast the champion bore,
And a kilt of fine soft satin;
A brooch (Eó) well carved of brown gold,
In the splendid cloak of graceful points.
A helmet of yellow gold upon his head,
With carved lions, at full spring;
A green shield at his back was seen,
with art of maiden hands displayed." (O'Curry
iii 166-67)

Seven sons of Magach (of Connacht, and their men) Tain Bó

Cuailnge

"Closely cut hair, light grey cloaks, and pure white shirts next their skin." (O'Curry
iii 91)

Nine Companions of Cormac Condloingas (High King's Champion) The Destruction of Da Derga's
Hostel

"Long polls of hair; and green cloaks; they had brooches, of gold in their cloaks." (O'Curry
iii 138)
Bent shields of bronze they bore. Ribbed javelkins, and an ivbvory-hilted sword in the hand of
each. (Stokes 175)

Champions of the Picts The Destruction of Da Derga's

Hostel

"Great brown men, with round heads of hair, of equal length at poll and forehead. They wore short
black cowls, reaching to their elbows, and long hoods on the cowls."
(O'Curry iii 138)
They had huge black swords and black shields, with dark broad-green javelins, as thick as the spit
of a cauldron was the shaft of each. (Stokes 181)
Conall Cearnach (Champion of the Royal line of Ulster) The Destruction of Da Derga's
Hostel

"The most beautiful man among the champions of Ireland. He had a splendid crimson cloak upon
him. One of his cheeks was whiter than snow. Whiter and more red-tinged than the foxglove was
the other cheek. One of his eyes was bluer than the violet; and the other blacker than the back of a
beetle. As large as a reaping basket is the bushy hair of his golden hair which is upon him. It
touches the lower tips of his two shoulder blades. It is more curled than the forehead of a bleating
ram." (O'Curry iii 140-141)
A gold-hilted sword in his hand ; a blood-red shield which has been speckled with rivets of white
bronze between plates of gold. A long, heavy, three-ridged spear : as thick as an outer yoke is the
shaft that is in it. (Stokes199)

Royal Champions The Destruction of Da Derga's

Hostel

"Three prime champions. They wore black-blue kilts. Every limb of theirs was thicker than the
body of a man. They carried black, huge swords, longer than a weaver's beam, they could cut a
hair upon water." (O'Curry iii 148)

Outlaws of Britain (traveling with the King of Tara) The Destruction of Da Derga's
Hostel

"Twenty-seven men with fair-yellow hair, of equal beauty. Each wore a small black mantle with a
white hood, and a red tuft on each hood, and an iron brooch in the breast of the mantle, and under
each man's cloak a huge black sword, and they carried shields wth scalloped edges."
(O'Curry iii 150)

(from ca. 640 AD The Story of Bec Fola)"

"He had on a silk tunic of pure crimson, with circlets of gold and silver; he had a helmet of gold
and silver and crystal upon his head; he had meshes and gems of gold upon every lock of his hair,
down to the blades of his shoulders; he wore two balls of gold upon the two forks (or divisions) of
his hair (in front), each the size of a man's fist. He wore a many-colored cloak. His two arms were
covered with bracelets of gold and silver up to his elbows."
(O'Curry
iii 160)

Dubthach Dóeltenga "the Beetle of Ulster" The Intoxication of the

Ulaid

"On his shoulders an open-mouthed leopard."

(Gantz 209)

Triscatail Trenfer ("Strong-man" of Conchobar, King of Ulster) The Intoxication of the

Ulaid

"A stout, broad-faced man, brawny and black-browed, broad-countenanced and white-toothed,
with neither garment nor apparel nor weapon nor blade but only a well-kneaded dark leather apron
that reached to his armpits."
(Gantz 207)
Cuchullain Tain Bó Cuailnge

Feast Dress A fair tunic, proper, bright-red, with a border of five-folds. A white brooch of white
silver with adornments of gold inlaid over his white breast, as if it were a lantern full of light, that
the eyes of men could not look at it for its splendor and its brightness. A silk tunic against his
skin, that it covered him to the top of his dark apron of dark-red, soldierly, royal, silken.
A dark shield, dark red, dark purple, with five chains of gold, with a rim of white metal on it.
A sword gold-hilted, inlaid with ivory hilt of red-gold raised high on his girdle. A spear, long,
grey-edged, with a spear-hed sharp, attacking, with rivets of gold, gold-fl;aming by him in the
chariot. (Faraday 94)

Armor and Battle Array He equipped himself in his array of battle and fighting and combat.
Of that battle array which he put on may be counted twenty-seven skin-tunics, waxed and
smoothed, and closely braced on with strings and chains and thongs, so that his fury may not
exceed his reason, whenever his manly rage should boil up. He put on over these his battle-girdle
of hard-tanned leather, cut from the backs of seven full-grown ox-hides, which encircled him from
his hips to his arm pits, and which he wore for the purpose of repelling javelins, points, and
sharp-pointed irons, spears, and darts; so that they always rebounded from him... He then put on
his apron of striped satin, with its border of mottled white-gold, over the softer part of his lower
body; he then put on his apron of brown leather, cut from the backs of four full-grown well-tanned
ox-hides, over his battle girdle of ox-hides, and his apron of striped satin...

Weapons Then the royal champion took his battle-arms of battle and contest and strife. These
then were his battle-arms:
Shields - great, curved, black-crimson; in the hollow of which a full-grown hog would fit;
{and it was} bound with a rim of silver, so sharp as to cut a hair against a stream, so that
whenever the champion used it as a weapon, it was equally that he would cut with his shield, and
it was chased with figures of golden animals; eight Missive Shields (thrown vertically to slice
through the enemy);
Spears - Gae Bulgae - such was the nature it used to be set downstream and cast from
between the toes; it made one wound as it entered as man's body but it had thirty barbs when one
tried to remove it and it was not taken from a man's body until the flesh was cut away about it; his
favorite light spear, made of bronze; eight little spears; Flesh-piercing spear; Belly Spear; eight
Short spears.
Swords - eight little swords; Tooth (ivory)-hilted, bright-shining, short sword.
Javelins - eight little darts; one Ivory-shafted.
Sling-rod
Helmet - He then put on his ridged Helmet, from every recess and every angle of which
issued the shout, as it were, of one hundred warriors; because it was alike that women of the
valley, and hobgoblins, and wild people of the glen, and demons of the air, shouted in front of it,
and in rear of it, and over it, and around it, wherever he went, in excited frenzy at the spurting of
the blood of warriors upon it.
Magic Cloak - He then threw his Mantle of Invisibility over him, manufactured from the
precious fleeces of the land of the immortals, which had been brought to him by Mananann Mac
Lir, from the King of Portugal.

The Warp Spasm i.e. His Battle Fury see under Bizzare descriptions

Chariot He mounted his beautiful, flesh-seeking, four-peaked chariot, with speed, with velocity,
with full cunning, with a green pavilion, with a thin-bodied, dry-bodied, high-weaponed,
long-speared, warlike body made of spruce and wicker, with iron wheels of rust yellow, poles of
white-gold, a bright arching body of copper, and a curved yoke of pure gold and two braided reins
of pure yellow.

Horses Two horses wearing Loricas (Horse Battle Armour ?)of beautiful iron, which covered
them from their faces to their tails; studded with little blades, little spikes, little lances, and
hard-pointed spears; and every motion of that chariot brought some sharp point next anyone who it
approached; so that every angle and every face, and every point, and every head, of that same
chariot, was a sure path of cutting and lacerating.
"The Grey of Macha" under one yoke of the chariot; broad-hipped, fleet, bounding, fierce, swift,
flying, ferocious, war-leaping, long-maned, noisy and thundering, curly-maned, high-headed,
broad-chested; throwing up huge clods of earth that it cuts up with its very hard hooves. Its
victorious stride over takes flocks of birds; a dreadful flash to its breath, a ball of flaming red fire,
and the jaws of its bridle-bitted head shine.
"The Black", its partner under the other yoke; tufty-maned, ready-going, broad-backed, jet black,
hard-headed, compact, narrow-hooved, narrow-chested, strong, swift, arrogant, braided-maned,
high-spirited, fleet, fierce, long-striding, stout-blow-dealing, long-maned, long-tailed, swift at
running after fighting, driving round paths and runs, scattering wastes, traversing glens and plains.

Invisible Attack The approaching (invisible) clamor, and the rattle and the whistling, and the
noise of the missive shields, and the hissing of the spears, and the loud clangor of the swords, and
the friction of the arms; the dangling of the missive weapons, the straining of the ropes, and the
loud clattering of the whole, and the creaking of the chariot, and the tramping of the horses, and
the triumphant advances of the champion and the warrior threw terror into the enemy camp.
He drove around the hosts of his enemies in a furious succession of narrowing circles,
driving them closer and closer together; assailing them with his deadly weapons at all points; and
brushing close to them and through them, with his armed chariot, tearing maiming, and killing
them in all directions and escaping himself in the sudden confusion and disorder into which he
threw them.

After the Battle When Cuchullain returned after battle three vats of cold water were prepared
for him. His battle-fury was still so great that unless he were cooled-off he might attack his own
people within the fort. Upon entering the first vat, it would boil over, and the second became so
hot no one could endure it, but the third became only moderately warm.
 X. Dress of Charioteers

Laegh mac Riangabhra (charioteer to Cuchullain) Tain Bó

Cuailnge

"The wild charioteering (battle) dress he put on was his graceful frock of skins; - which was light
and airy; spotted and striped; made of deer skins; close-fitting, so as not to interfere with the
action of his arms outside. He put on, outside this frock, his raven-black cloak, which Simon
Magus had made for the king of the Romans, who gave it to Conchobar, king of Ulster, who gave
it to Cuchullain; and Cuchullain gave it to his charioteer. He put on his crested, gleaming,
quadrangular helmet, with a variety of all colors and all devices, and falling over his two shoulders
behind him. This was an addition of gracefulness to him, and not an encumbrance. He then with
his hand placed to his forehead the red-yellow "thread" like a crescent of red gold which had
boiled over the edge of the purifying crucible; and this he put on in order to distinguish his office
of charioteer from that of his master." (O'Curry iii 299-300)

from The Book of the Dun Cow (Story ?) (ca. 450 AD)
(St. Patrick has raised his spirit to aid in the conversion of Laeghaire Mac Neill, King of Tara)"

"There was a charioteer in front of (Cuchullain) in the chariot. He was a lank, tall, stooped,
freckle-faced man. He had curling, reddish hair upon his head. He had a (Gibne) that is a band of
white bronze, upon his forehead which kept his hair from his face; and little cups of gold upon his
poll behind, into which his hair coiled; a small winged cape on him, with its buttoning at his two
elbows. A goad of red-gold in his hand by which he urged his horses."
(O'Curry iii 187)

Principal Charioteers The Destruction of Da Derga's

Hostel

"Three men wearing blades or crescents of gold upon the back of their heads. Short aprons upon
them of gray linen embroidered with gold. They had short crimson capes upon them, and carried
goads of red-bronze in their hands."
(O'Curry iii 183)

Apprentice Charioteers The Destruction of Da Derga's

Hostel

"Nine men sitting on bare wooden couches; they wore short capes upon them with crimson loops,
and a blade of gold upon the head of each, and carried goads in their hands."
(O'Curry iii 183)
 XI. Dress of Poets

Sencha mac Ailill (Orator and Chief Minister to King of Ulster) Tain Bó
Cuailnge

"A comely broad-headed champion, with long flowing, brown-yellow hair; he had a sharp black-
blue eye rolling restlessly in his head. He had a divided, curling, two-branching narrow (or
confined) beard upon his chin. He wore a black-green, long-wooled cloak, wrapping around him;
and a foliated brooch of white-bronze in that cloak at his breast. He had a white shirt, with a
collar, next his skin." (O'Curry iii 92)
He carried a hero's shield graven with animals, a naked sword with a bright silver grip at his waist
and a five pronged spear in his hand.
(Kinsella 227)

The Intoxication of
the Ulaid
"A sleek, ancient, hoary-white man. He had a bright cloak about him with fringes of pure white
silver, a handsome pure white tunic next his skin, and a bronze (poet's) branch the height of his
shoulder." (Gantz 210)

Amargin mac Ecelsalach (Smith and "The Good Poet" from river Buais, Ulster) Tain Bó
Cuailnge

"A beautiful, active champion; he wore a blue, fine-bordered shirt next his skin, with carved and
interlaced clasps of white-bronze, with real buttons of burnished red-gold in its openings and
breast. He wore above it a cloak mottled with the splendor of all the most beautiful of colors."
(O'Curry iii 94)

Royal Poets (Filid) The Destruction of Da Derga's

Hostel

"Three with blades or crescents of gold across their foreheads; they wore speckled cloaks upon
them; and shirts with red interweaving of gold. They had brooches of gold in their cloaks; wooden
spears hung over them at the wall."
(O'Curry iii 183)

Royal Satirists (Anmed) The Destruction of Da Derga's

Hostel

"Three blue mantles around them, and three full length shirts with red insertion over them.
(Stokes 294)
 XII. Dress of Officials

Tuidle Ulad "of Ulster" (House-Steward to King of Tara) The Destruction of Da Derga's
Hostel

"He had coarse hair, so coarse that if a sack full of wild apples were emptied over his head, not an
apple of them would fall to the ground, but each apple would stick upon his hair. He wore his
great woolen cloak around him in the house. His household staff, that stands above him is like the
shaft of a mill, huge, with its cogs and wheel and axle. Every discussion about seat or bed is
submitted to his decision. If a needle dropped in the house, its fall would be heard when he
speaks." (O'Curry iii 139)

Royal Judges The Destruction of Da Derga's

Hostel

"A comely man whose head was shorn, and two younger men with long hair upon them. They
wore kilts of mixed colors, with a silver brooch in each cloak." (O'Curry iii 146) They had suits
of armor (Stokes paraphrased)

Mac Roth (Herald to Queen of Connacht) Tain Bó Cuailnge

"A brown-haired, broad-faced, beautiful youth; a splendid brown cloak on him; a bright bronze
spear-like brooch fastening his cloak. A full and well-fitting shirt to his skin. Two firm shoes
between his two feet and the ground. A hand-staff of white hazel in one hand of his; single-edged
sword with a sea-horse-tooth hilt, in his other hand."
(O'Curry iii
297)

Royal Hospitaller The Destruction of Da Derga's

Hostel
(Da Derga "Twice Red" He kept one of 5 royal hostels for the King of Leinster)"

"A champion with red hair, and a red cloak near him. He had crimson cheeks, and beautiful deep
blue eyes, and had a green cloak upon him; he wore also a white shirt and collar, with beautiful
interweaving of gold thread." (O'Curry iii 149) In his hand was a sword with an ivory hilt.
(Stokes 306)

XIII. Dress of Musicians and Druids

Nine Pipers from the Sídhe The Destruction of Da Derga's

Hostel

"Fair yellow hair, alike in beauty; they wore speckled, glossy cloaks, and had nine ornamented
bagpipes. The emblazonment from these bagpipes would be sufficient light for the royal house."
(O'Curry iii 139)

Royal Harpers The Destruction of Da Derga's

Hostel

"Nine men with bushy heads of hair, light blue floating cloaks and brooches of gold. Crystal rings
 on their hands; thumb-ring of gold; ear clasps of gold; a torque of silver around each neck. Wands
of white silver in their hands."
(O'Curry iii 146-47)

Druids (nDrúad) to King of Tara The Destruction of Da Derga's

Hostel

"Three luasca (?) of gold over their foreheads; three caimsi (bed gowns ?) about them and three
red mantles they wore: a golden brooch in each one's mantle: three spears of horn above them on
the wall, and three ivory-hilted swords."
(Stokes 398)
 XIV. Dress of Fools or Jesters

Rómit Rígóinmit ("King's Fool" to Conchobar, King of Ulster) The Intoxication of the
Ulaid

"A man balding, with short black hair, bulging, great eyes - one bright - in his head, and a smooth,
blue, Ethiopian face. A dappled cloak wrapped around him, a brazen pin in the cloak at his breast
and a long bronze crook in his hand. A sweet little bell he had, too. He plied his horsewhip upon
the host and brought joy and merriment to the high king and to the entire host."
(Gantz 208)

Tulchinne (Chief Royal Juggler to King of Tara) The Destruction of Da Derga's

Hostel

"A large champion with the blemish of baldness upon him. Whiter than cotton-grass is each hair
that grows upon his head. He had ear-clasps of gold in his ears; and a speckled white cloak upon
him." (O'Curry iii 144-45)

Royal Ordinary Jugglers to King of Tara The Destruction of Da Derga's

Hostel

"Three men wearing full length shirts; and having with them balls of silver, and slender long darts
(small spears). (O'Curry iii 147) Four cornered shields in their hands, with bosses of gold upon
them. (Stokes 294)
Jesters to King of Tara The Destruction of Da Derga's
Hostel

"They wore dark gray cloaks; and if all the men of Erinn were in one place, and though the body
of the mother or father of each man of them were lying before him (dead), not one of them could
refrain from laughing at them."
(O'Curry iii 150)
 XV. Dress of High King's Household Attendants

from The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel

Cupbearers to King of Tara's entire table or company

"Six men with fair yellow hair. They wore green cloaks with brooches of red bronze. Each of them
is practiced to throw his cloak around another quicker than a wheel in a cascade, and it is doubtful
if the eye could follow them."
(O'Curry iii 144)

Royal Chief Swine-herds

"Three men with black tufts of hair. They wore green tunics and black kilts (plaids or shawls)
wrapped around them."
(O'Curry iii 145)
Three forked spears above them on the wall, six black greaves (shin protectors) they had on the
mast.
(Stokes
289)

Royal Cooks

"A fair gray-haired man (the Dagdae, King of Tuatha de Danann) and two youths, all dressed in
long aprons." (or short pants)
(O'Curry iii 147)

Royal Wardens

"Two young warriors standing over the king, bearing bent shields and great swords. They had red
kilts, and brooches of bright silver in their cloaks."
(O'Curry iii 147)

Royal Guards

Twelve Rear Guards - Light yellow hair on them. Blue kilts they wore, and ivory hilted sword in
each of their hands.
(Stokes 213)

Nine guards outside King's room - fair-yellow hair; they wore aprons and little speckled
mantles. (O'Curry iii 147) They carried smiting shields and ivory-hilted swords.
(Stokes 297)

Two Servant (body ?) Guards - Two curved shields they had, and two curved shields, and two
great pointed swords. Red kilts they wore, and in the mantles pins of white silver.
(Stokes 296)

Royal Personal Table Attendants

"Two men, bold, gross and stout-firm. They wore aprons and their complexions were dark-brown.
They had hair short at their polls, and high upon their foreheads. As swiftly as a waterwheel do
they run past each other."
(O'Curry iii 147)
Royal Door-Keepers

"Three men with clubs with chains in their hands. Each of them is swifter than a wild hare running
around the other as they rush towards the door. They wore speckled aprons (or short pants) and
pale cloaks."
(O'Curry iii 149)
Royal Personal Drink-Bearers to King of Tara

"Three men wearing gray, floating cloaks. A cup of water was before each man, and a tuft of
watercress upon each cup."
(O'Curry iii 150-51)
 XVI. Dress of Common People

Fer Caille "Man of the Wood" and his wife, Cichuil "Astronomical Cycle" The Destruction of Da Derga's
Hostel

"A man of black, cropped hair, with his one hand and one eye and one foot. Rough cropped hair
upon him. Though a sackful of wild apples were flung upon his crown, not an apple would fall on
the ground, but each of them would stick on his hair. Though his snout were flung on a branch
they would remain together. Long and thick as an outer yoke was each of his two shins. Each of
his buttocks was the size of a cheese on a withe. A forked pole of iron black-pointed was in his
hand. A swine, black-bristled, singed, was on his back, squealing continually, and a woman big-
mouthed, huge, dark, sorry, hideous, was behind him. Though her snout were flung on a branch,
the branch would support it. Her lower lip would reach her knee.

(Stokes 41-42)

The men under Da Derga The Destruction of Da Derga's

Hostel

"Thereafter Dá Derga came to them (the approaching host), with thrice fifty warriors, each of them
having a long head of hair to the hollow of his polls, and a short cloak to their buttocks. Speckled-
green trousers they wore, and in their hands were thrice fifty great clubs of thorn with bands of
iron." (Stokes 57)

Lone Hag The Destruction of Da Derga's

Hostel

"A lone woman came to the door of the Hostel, after sunset, seeking to be let in. As long as a
weaver's beam was each of her two shins, and they were as dark as the back of a stag beetle. A
greyish, woolly mantle she wore. Her beard (i.e. pubic hair) used to reach as far as her knee. Her
lips were on one side of her head. She came and put one of her shoulders against the doorpost of
the house, and cast the evil eye upon the king and the youths surrounding him inside the hostel."
(Stokes 57-59)
 XVII. Bizarre Descriptions

Manx Giants The Destruction of Da Derga's

Hostel

"Three men mighty, manly, overbearing, which see no one abiding at their three hideous crooked
aspects. A fearful view because of the terror of them. A dress of rough hair covers them, of cow's
hair, without garments enwrapping down to their right heels. With three manes, equine, awful,
majestic, down to their sides. Fierce heroes who weild against foemen hard smiting swords. A
blow they give with three iron flails having seven chains triple-twisted, three-edged, with seven
iron knobs at the end of every chain : each of them as heavy as an ingot of ten smeltings. Three
big brown men. Dark equine back-manes on them, which reach their two heels. Two good thirds
of an oxide in the girdle round each man's waist, and each quadrangular clasp that closes it as thick
as a man's thigh. The raiment that is round them is the dress that grows through them (i.e. the hair
through the clasps). Tresses of their backmanes were spread, and a long staff of iron, as long and
thick as an outer yoke was in each man's hand, and an iron chain out of every club, and at the end
of every chain an iron pestle as long and thick as a middle yoke." (Stokes 303-304)

Fomorians The Destruction of Da Derga's

Hostel
(Note: Stokes and Gantz left much of this untranslated. I have tried to make it as plain as I could.)

"Three strange, horrible men with three heads each without the form of human beings. The raging
sea has given them features that are not easy to recognize; each head has three full rows of teeth,
from ear to ear. They were taken to (the High King's house) as a guarantee that the Fomor¡ would
not spoil milk or grain in Ireland beyond their lawful allowance, so long as Conaire ruled. They
are not pleasant to look at, indeed, with their three rows of teeth from one ear to the other. An ox
with a salted pig would be a typical meal for each one of them, and that meal, when eaten, would
be visible down to their navels. Bones without joints the three have. Each of them will kill 200
with no more than a bite or kick or a blow, for they are hostages placed against the wall lest they
do any misdeed, and therefore they are not allowed to have weapons in the hostel."
(Gantz 86-87)

Lé Fri Flaith (7 year old son of High King) The Destruction of Da Derga's
Hostel

"A red-freckled lad in a purple cloak. He is always awailing. Three heads of hair on that boy;
green, purple and all-golden. He is miserable because of the three hues to his hair."
(Stokes 214)

Cuchullain's Warp-Spasm Tain Bó

Cuailnge

The first warp-spasm seized Cuchullain and made him into a monstrous thing, hideous and shapeless, unheard of.
His shanks and his joints, every knuckle and angle and organ from head to foot, shook like a tree in the flood or a
reed in the stream. His body made a furious twist inside his skin, so that his feet and shins and knees switched to the
rear and his heels and calves switched to the front. The balled sinews of his calves switched to the front of his shins,
each big knot the size of a warrior's bunched fist. On his head the temple-sinews stretched to the nape of his neck,
each mighty, immense, measureless knob as big as the head of a month-old child. His face and features became a
red bowl; he sucked one eye so deep into his head that a wild crane couldn't probe it onto his cheek out of the depths
of his skull; the other eye out along his cheek. His mouth weirdly distorted; his cheek peeled back from his jaws
until the gullet appeared, his lungs and liver flapped in his mouth and throat, his lower jaw struck the upper a lion-
killing blow, and fiery flakes large as a ram's fleece reached his mouth from his throat. His heart boomed loud in his
breast like the baying of a watch dog at its feed or the sound of a lion among bears. Malignant mists and spurts of
fire - the torches of the Badb - flickered red in the vaporous clouds that rose boiling above his head, so fierce was his
fury. The hair of his head twisted like the tangle of a red thorn bush stuck in a gap; if a royal apple tree with all its
kingly fruit were shaken above him, scarce an apple would reach the ground but each would be spiked on a bristle of
his hair as it stood up on his scalp with rage. The hero-halo rose out of his brow, long and broad as a warrior's
whetstone, long as a snout, and he went mad rattling his shields, urging on his charioteer and harassing the hosts.
Then, tall and thick, steady and strong, high as the mast of a noble ship, rose up from the dead center of his skull a
straight spout of black blood darkly and magically smoking like the smoke from the royal hostel when a king is
coming to be cared for at the close of a winter day.
 XVIII. Jewelry

Of rings there were bracelets, finger rings, ear clasps, and rings for the hair.

BRACELETS

The Story of Bec Fola (ca. 620 AD)

"His two arms were covered with (Fails) bracelets of gold and silver up to his elbows."

ca. 200 AD (the time of Fionn Mac Cumhaill

"He then challenged them to a game of chess. Two (Fails) of gold from each of them, to stake
upon the one game."

Righ Mná Nuadhat Book of

Invasions
A poetical name for the river Boyne (referring to the clearness of the waters) named after a Tuatha
de Danann lady, the wife of Nuadhat "of the Silver Hand". It means "the Wrist or Forearm of
Nuadat's wife" and is a poetical allusion to her arm being constantly covered with (Fails) rings or
bracelets of gold to bestow upon poets and musicians.
(O'Curry iii 156)

"The Dialogue of the Ancient Men" (ca. 200 AD) Book of

Lismore
"Cas Corach, the best musician of the Tuatha de Danann, played his (Timpan) or harp for a lady
who gave him the two (Fails) which were upon her arm."
(O'Curry iii 169-70)
FINGER RINGS

(ca. 1200 BC)

"The monarch Fail-dearg-doid, that is "Red-rings-on-hands" was the first to introduce amongst
the kings and chiefs of Ireland the wearing of rings of red-gold on their fingers."
(Annals of the Four Masters)

Lughaidh Laga (Prince and warrior of Munster ca. 200 AD ? )

(From his description its appears that some champions wore a gold ring on their fingers for every
king they had killed) "His hand does not conceal what number of kings he has killed. There were
seven (Fails Buindi) or rings of gold upon his fingers."
(O'Curry iii 156)

Royal Harpers The Destruction of Da

Derga's Hostel
"Crystal rings on their hands; and a thumb-ring of gold.."

The FAINNE, or ordinary finger-ring could be used for other purposes

The Wedding of Maine Magor‘ Tain Bó

Cuailnge
"...and all with their hair confined by (Fainne) rings of gold." (O'Curry
iii 169)

(from 1630 AD)

"...nor does the frost bind the ring of the hair." (O'Curry
iii 169)

EARRINGS

O'Curry iii states, "I have met but few references to ear-rings, and in each case the wearers were
men only. This ornament appears under two names (Au-Nasc), which signifies an "ear-ring" and
(Au-Chuimriuch), which literally signifies "ear-band", or "ear-ligature".
(O'Curry iii 185)

from Cormac's Glossary

"Au-Nasc, that is a ring for the ear, that is a ring of gold which is worn upon the fingers or in the
ears of the sons of the free or noble families."
(O'Curry iii 185)

from The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel

Tulchinne (Royal Juggler to King of Tara) "He had (Au-Nasc) ear-clasps of gold in his
ears..."
(O'Curry iii
186)

Royal Harpers "They wore (Au-Chuimriuch) or ear clasps of gold." (O'Curry

iii 186)
HEAD ADORNMENTS

Land - a flat crescent or blade worn around the neck or head it was an insignia of charioteers,
but not exclusive to them.

A description of the Tuatha de Dananns Tain Bó

Cuailnge
"...Each man wore a helmet (Cend-Barr), beset with crystal and white bronze, upon his head. and
a (Niamh Land) or radiant leaf of gold around his neck."

Fionn Mac Cumhaill stories (ca. 200 AD)

"...She wore a (Niamh Land) or radiant crescent of gold upon her forehead."

from The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel

Principal Charioteers "They wore (Lands) of gold upon the back of their heads."
Apprentice Charioteers "and a (Land) of gold upon the head of each."
Royal poets "with (Lands) of gold across their heads.."

from Tain Bó Cuailnge

"Laegh, charioteer to Cuchullain, put on his crested, gleaming, quadrangular helmet, with a variety
of all colors and all devices, and falling over his two shoulders behind him. This was an addition
of gracefulness to him, and not an encumbrance. He then with his hand placed to his forehead the
red-yellow (Gibne), like a crescent of red gold which had boiled over the edge of the purifying
crucible; and this he put on in order to distinguish his office of charioteer from that of his
master..."

Midar of Bri Leith (of the Tuatha de Danann) "He wore fair yellow hair, coming over his
forehead, and his forehead was bound with a (Gibne) fillet of gold to keep his hair from disorder."
HELMETS and HEADDRESSES

Story of Bec Fola helmet of gold and silver and crystal

from ca 200 AD a helmet of yellow gold with carved lions at full spring
Bodb Derg's people from the sídhe helmets were ornamented with crystal and white
bronze

women of the Sídhe of Crauchu Cattle Raid

of Froech
bright green headresses (Gantz
121)

CROWNS

The (Mind) or diadem, or crown, of gold is frequently mentioned in the annals. It invariably
covered or surrounded the whole of the head.

The Book of the Dun Cow, ca 588 AD

"The queen Mairend Mael (that is Mairend the Bald) had no hair upon her head; wherefore she
constantly wore a queen's (Mind) to conceal her blemish. A satirical woman was commissioned to
go demand a gift of her. The queen said she had nothing to give, at which the satirist snatched the
(Mind) from the queen's head. Mairend clapped her two hands upon her bare head, and no person
in the assembly had time to notice her disgrace before a mass of flowing hair started upon her
head, falling down below her shoulder blades; and all this through the miraculous interposition of
St. Ciaran of Clonmacnoise." (O'Curry iii 193-94)

The Tain Bó Cuailnge

"Meadbh (queen of Connacht), had nine chariots devoted to herself alone; two chariots of these
before her, and two chariots after her, and two at either side of her, and a chariot between then in
the center, in which she herself sat. And the reason why she ordered this, was to prevent the clods
from the hoofs of the horses, or the foam from their mouths, or the mire of the great army, from
tarnishing the luster of her queenly (Mind) of gold." (O'Curry iii 195)

"Meadbh ordered a comely handmaid of her household to go to the river and fetch water for her to
drink and bathe. Loche, then went with fifty other women, carrying the queen's (Mind) above her
head. Cuchullain, was concealed near the river, and saw the women, and believed it to be Meadbh
herself. He let loose a stone from his sling, at her head, which struck her, broke the (Mind) of gold
in three places, and killed the maiden on the spot."
(O'Curry iii
195)

a tale of Ailill, husband of Meadbh

"Then the men of Ireland desired that Taman the buffoon put on a suit of king Ailill's clothes and
his (Imscim - another name for a Mind) of gold, and go down to the ford of the river. He did put
on Ailill's clothes and crown of gold, and went to the ford. Cuchullain saw him, and thought he
was Ailill himself, so he cast a stone from his sling which struck and killed him on the spot."
(O'Curry iii 197)

ca. 200 AD
King Cormac Mac Airt had been deprived of the throne of Tara after being injured in an
assassination attempt that had put out one of his eyes. He came to a great meeting dressed thus:
Cormac came with a king's (Mind) with him upon his head, with four-and-twenty small leaves of
red-gold, furnished with springs and rollers of white silver to maintain and suspend them, for the
purpose of covering his injured eye and save his face from the disgrace."
(O'Curry
iii 197-98)
ca. 190 AD, time of the birth of Conn of the Hundred Battles
King Fingin of Munster, consultd with a prophetess, and learned that on that night the battle
helmet (Cathbarr) of Bruinn mac Smetra would be found. It had been buried for centuries. It was
made of the pure crimson of eastern countries, with a ball of gold above it as large as a man's
head, and a hundred strings around it of mixed (or varigated) carbuncle, and a hundred combed
tufts of red burnished gold; and stitched with a hundred threads (or wires) of Findruine (white
bronze) in a variety of compartments. (O'Curry iii 202)
HAIR ADORNMENTS

Hair was not only worn in confining rings at the poll, or nape of the neck, or in rolls, but both
men and women divided it into one or more locks. "It does not appear, as far as I have been
able to discover, that women in the olden times confined the hair in coils on the top or back
part of the head with pins, brooches, or combs, although there is reason to believe that they
did use pins and brooches for some purpose connected with its arrangement."

(O'Curry iii 193)

(from ca 640 AD) The Story of Bec Fola

"The young warrior had a helmet of gold and silver and crystal upon his head; he had meshes and
gems of gold upon every lock of his hair, down to the blades of his shoulders; he wore two balls of
gold upon the two forks (or divisions) of his hair (in front), each the size of a man's fist. "

The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel

"Two golden yellow tresses upon (Etaín's) head, each of them plaited with four locks or strands,
and a ball of gold upon the point of each tress."
(O'Curry iii 190)

Tain Bó Cuailnge
(Laegh describes) "There I found Labraid of the long flowing hair... and an apple of gold closing
it."

(O'Curry iii 192)

HAIR RINGS

(Budne or Buinne) - a twisted or corded ring, bracelet, or circle, formed out of one twisted bar or
several strands of gold or silver. The name means literally, "a wave of the sea", or the "wave or
strong welt of rods like those used in basket making. The name implies style of manufacture and
not of use as it was used to denote finger rings and hair rings.
(O'Curry iii 170)

The Tale of the Wanderings of Maelduin's Boat‘ (ca. 700 AD) -

"She wore a twisted ring of gold confining her golden hair." This spiral ring of gold was used
when the hair was braided, or rolled into one roll at the nape of the neck, to keep it from undoing
and as an adornment. One museum specimen is formed of a hollow or half cylindrical thin fillet of
elastic bronze; tapering from a breadth of about 3/4 of an inch at one end, to an obtuse point at the
other. It has been coiled up spirally from the broad end, so that the whole fits, circle within circle,
in the one great circle at the broad end; or, if the spirals are not pressed home, it will form a
regular cone, with all the external appearance of a solid ropelike body closely twisted around the
hair.
(O'Curry iii 159)
NECK ORNAMENTS

from Annals of the Four Masters (at the date ca. 1300 BC)
"It was Muineamhan (Maine Mór) that first placed (Muinches), that is torcs, of gold upon the
necks of kings and chiefs of Ireland." His name means "rich neck".
(O'Curry iii 178)

(from ca. 137 AD)

"Conn "of the Hundred Battles", king of Tara, when arraying himself for battle, put on his easy,
thick, noble, light, (Muinche) upon his neck."
(O'Curry iii 179)

(from ca. 640 AD) The Story of Bec Fola

"She had a (Muinche) or necklace of burnished gold around her neck."

Royal Harpers The Destruction of Da

Derga's Hostel
"...a torc of silver around each neck." (O'Curry
iii 186)
CLOAKS and BROOCHES

KING

Conaire Már (King of Tara) The Destruction of Da

Derga's Hostel
His many-hued red cloak of lustrous silk has gorgeous ornamentation of precious gold
bespangles upon its surface, with its flowing capes dexterously embroidered.
His large brooch of pure gold is like a full moon with crimson gems set like in a bowl. It fills
the fine front of his noble breast.
(O'Curry iii, 143)

Conchobar mac Nessa (King of Ulster)

crimson, deep-bordered five folding tunic; a gold pin in the tunic
(O'Curry iii 92)
a brooch, excellent, of red-gold, in his cloak on his breast.
(Faraday 119)

Eladha (King of the Fomorians) (ca. 1500 BC ?)

a cloak braided with golden thread; a brooch of gold at his breast, emblazoned with brilliant
precious stones.
(O'Curry iii 156)

PRINCE

Causcraid Mend Macha mac Conchobar Tain Bó

Cuailnge
green cloak; a bright silver brooch
(O'Curry iii 92)
green cloak; a brooch of gold over his arm
(Faraday 119)

Fiachaig and Fiachna mac Conchobar Tain Bó

Cuailnge
green cloak; brooches of shining silver
(O'Curry iii 95)

Cormac Condloinges mac Conchobar Tain Bó

Cuailnge
crimson embroidered cloak; stone set brooch
(O'Curry iii 91
silver brooch The Destruction of Da
Derga's Hostel
(O'Curry
iii 137

Ercc mac Cairpre Nia-Fer (child) Tain Bó

Cuailnge
crimson cloak; brooch of gold (O'Curry
iii 96)

Seven Manes sons of Ailill and Medbh, Queen of Connacht Tain Bó

Cuailnge
green cloak; silver brooches (O'Curry
iii 91)
CHIEFTAIN

Eogan mac Durthach Tain Bó

Cuailnge
deep grey cloak; silver brooch (O'Curry
iii 93)

Loeguaire Buadach Tain Bó

Cuailnge
yellow, close-napped cloak; gold brooch (O'Curry
iii 93)

Munremar mac Gercin Tain Bó

Cuailnge
dark-grey, long-wooled cloak; brooch of pale gold
(O'Curry iii 94)

Connud mac Morna Tain Bó

Cuailnge
streaked grey-cloak; bronze brooch (O'Curry
iii 94)

Reochaid mac Fatheman Tain Bó

Cuailnge
white and red cloak; elaborate brooch of gold (O'Curry
iii 94)

Celtchair mac Uthechair Tain Bó

Cuailnge
striped cloak; instead of a brooch, he had a stake of iron which reached from one shoulder to
the other
(O'Curry iii 95)

Eirrge Echbel Tain Bó

Cuailnge
black flowing cloak; brooch of red-bronze (O'Curry
iii 96)

Mend mac Salcholgan Tain Bó

Cuailnge
many-colored cloak; with a chain thereon
(Faraday 127

Fergna mac Findchoem Tain Bó

Cuailnge
red, long-wooled cloak; clasp of white silver (O'Curry
iii 96)

WOMEN

700 AD
white robe; silver brooch, with chain of gold (O'Curry
iii 188)
ca. 664 AD
crimson robe; brooch of gold fully chased and beset with many-colored gems
(O'Curry iii 160)

620 AD
green cloak, with borders of silver

Tain Bó Cuailnge
green spot-speckled cloak; heavy-headed brooch

TUATHA DE DANANN

Etaín The Destruction of Da

Derga's Hostel
mantle curly and purple, beautiful with silvery fringes arranged; brooch of fairest gold
(Stokes)

Sídhe people with Bodb Derg Tain Bó

Cuailnge
green cloaks with four pendants; silver cloak-brooches
others with black-grey cloaks with crimson loops; wheel brooch of gold (O'Curry iii
156-158)

Midar of Bri Leith

long flowing green cloak; brooch of gold that reached across to his shoulders on either side.
(O'Curry iii
162)

Lugh Mac Ethlend

green mantle; brooch of white silver (Faraday
83)

WARRIORS

Cuchullain Tain Bó
Cuailnge
fair tunic, bright-red with a border of five folds; white brooch of white silver with adornments of
inlaid gold
(Faraday
94)
Men of Muirtheimne
glossy, long, flowing robes; noble brooches of gold (O'Curry
iii 97)

Companions of Cormac Condloinges mac Conchobar The Destruction of Da

Derga's Hostel
green cloaks; brooches of gold
ca. 200 AD
cloak of graceful points; large brooch well carved of brown gold

Outlaws of Britain The Destruction of Da

Derga's Hostel
small black mantle, white hood with a red tuft; iron brooch (O'Curry
iii 150)

OTHERS

Orator Senchae mac Ailill Tain Bó

Cuailnge
black-green, long-wooled ,wrapping cloak; foliated brooch of white bronze
(O'Curry iii 92)

Royal Poets to King of Tara The Destruction of Da

Derga's Hostel
speckled cloaks; brooches of gold (O'Curry iii
183)

Royal Judges to King of Tara The Destruction of Da

Derga's Hostel
cloak of mixed colors (tartan ? mine); silver brooch (O'Curry
iii 146)

Royal Herald Tain Bó

Cuailnge
splendid brown cloak; bright bronze spear-like brooch (O'Curry
iii 297)

Royal Harper to King of Tara The Destruction of Da

Derga's Hostel
light blue floating cloak; brooch of gold (O'Curry
iii 147)

Royal Fool to King Ulster Intoxication of

the Ulaid
dappled cloak; brazen pin (Gantz
208)

Royal Cupbearers to King of Tara The Destruction of Da

Derga's Hostel
green cloak; brooch of red bronze (O'Curry
iii 144)

Royal Body Guards to King of Tara The Destruction of Da

Derga's Hostel
red cloaks; brooches of bright silver (O'Curry
iii 147)