Clothru was, according to medieval Irish legend, the daughter of
Eochu Feidlech, a
High King of Ireland, and the sister of queen
Medb
Medb (), later spelled Meadhbh (), Méibh () and Méabh (), and often anglicised as Maeve ( ), is queen of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Her husband in the core stories of the cycle is Ailill mac Máta, although she had seve ...
of Connacht and
Ethniu. When her triplet brothers, the
findemna
In Irish mythology the three Findemna or Finn Eamna (variously interpreted as "fair triplets" or "three fair ones of Emain Macha") were three sons of the High King of Ireland, Eochaid Feidlech. Their names were Bres, Nár and Lothar.
They consp ...
, were fighting with their father Eochu Feidlech for the high kingship, she was concerned that her brothers might die without heirs. She is said to have seduced the three of them, and conceived
Lugaid Riab nDerg
Lugaid Riab nDerg ("the red-striped") or Réoderg ("Red Sky"), son of the three '' findemna'', triplet sons of Eochu Feidlech, and their sister Clothru was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland.
...
.
[Joseph O'Neill (ed. & trans)]
"''Cath Boinde''"
''Ériu
In Irish mythology, Ériu (; modern ga, Éire ), daughter of Delbáeth and Ernmas of the Tuatha Dé Danann, was the eponymous matron goddess of Ireland.
The English name for Ireland comes from the name Ériu and the Germanic (Old Norse or ...
'' 2, 1905, pp. 173–185; Edward Gwynn (ed. & trans.), ''The Metrical Dindshenchas'', Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1906, Vol 4
Druimm Criaich Poem 13: Druimm Criach
pp. 43–57; Vernam Hull, (ed. & trans.)
, '' Speculum'' v.13 issue 1, Jan 1938, pp. 52–61 The next day, according to legend, her brothers were indeed killed, and when Lugaid was born, he was their heir. His epithet Riab nDerg ("the red-striped") came from two red stripes around his neck and waist, dividing him into three: above the neck he resembled Nár; from the neck to the waist he resembled Bres; and from the waist down he resembled Lothar. Lugaid later also became a
High King of Ireland, thus Clothru's
incest
Incest ( ) is human sexual activity between family members or close relatives. This typically includes sexual activity between people in consanguinity (blood relations), and sometimes those related by affinity ( marriage or stepfamily), ado ...
preserved the line of succession. Incest features further in Clothru's story: she is said to have then slept with Lugaid herself, conceiving
Crimthann Nia Náir,
[R. A. Stewart Macalister (ed. & trans.), ''Lebor Gabála Érenn: The Book of the Taking of Ireland Part V'', Irish Texts Society, 1956, p. 301-303] who later also became a
High King of Ireland. She was thus Crimthann's mother, aunt and grandmother.
The island of
Inchcleraun
Inchcleraun (), also called Quaker Island, is an island situated in Lough Ree on the River Shannon, in central Ireland.
The island is home to the ruins of St. Diarmaid's Monastery, a monastery founded by Diarmaid the Just in AD 560. These buil ...
(Irish ''Inis Cloithrinn'') in
County Longford
County Longford ( gle, Contae an Longfoirt) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Longford. Longford County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county was ...
takes its name from her.
References
Ulster Cycle
Incest in legend
{{Ireland-bio-stub