Finally, the Ulstermen began to rise from their pains, one by one, and then all at once. King Conchobar mac Nessa swore that “as the sky is above and the Earth is beneath,” he would bring all the stolen cattle and every abducted woman home. The final battle was joined – though Cú Chulainn, still recovering from his wounds, wasn’t able to fight at first.
In the clamour, Fergus mac Róich beat down Conchobar, and had the Ulster King at his mercy, but the Conchobar was saved by Cormac Cond Longas, Conchobar’s son and Fergus’ foster-son; in his rage at his enemy’s rescue, Fergus was said to have cut the tops off three hills with his sword. After this frustration, Cú Chulainn, now recovered, rejoined the battle and came face to face with Fergus, whom the hero forced to make good on their earlier pact and Fergus withdrew, leaving the field with all his forces.
The Connaught’s armies were routed and Medb was forced to flee, only to be surprised by Cú Chulainn while she was urinating. Yep. What a predicament. After pleading for her life, Cú Chulainn granted her mercy and also guarded her retreat back to Connaught. She returned Donn Cuailnge to Dáire, but in a fatal twist and ironic ending, the brown bull met Finnbhennach, and killed him in a savage battle. But the Donn was also mortally wounded and, in a gory finale, “wandered around Ireland shedding pieces of Finnbhennach from his horns” before finally returning home to die.
For all it, nothing was gained, but everything lost through the greed of a queen.
So ends the grand sage of The Táin Bó Cúailnge. But there is much, much more to this great Irish tale; histories, loves and hatreds, a knot-work well worth unraveling.
Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four