Fedelm Noíchrothach ("nine times beautiful"), also known as Fedelm Noíchride ("nine-hearts" or "fresh-heart"), is a daughter of
Conchobar mac Nessa
Conchobar mac Nessa (son of Ness) is the king of Ulster in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. He rules from Emain Macha (Navan Fort, near Armagh). He is usually said to be the son of the High King Fachtna Fáthach, although in some stories ...
in the
Ulster Cycle
The Ulster Cycle (), formerly known as the Red Branch Cycle, is a body of medieval Irish heroic legends and sagas of the Ulaid. It is set far in the past, in what is now eastern Ulster and northern Leinster, particularly counties Armagh, Do ...
of
Irish mythology
Irish mythology is the body of myths indigenous to the island of Ireland. It was originally Oral tradition, passed down orally in the Prehistoric Ireland, prehistoric era. In the History of Ireland (795–1169), early medieval era, myths were ...
.
She married
Cairbre Nia Fer
Cairbre Nia Fer (also ''Corpri'', ''Coirpre'', ''Cairpre''; ''Nioth Fer'', ''Niafer'', ''Niaper''), son of Rus Ruad, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a King of Tara from the Laigin.
The earliest reference to Cairb ...
, king of
Tara, but was unfaithful to him. She enjoyed a tryst with
Cúchulainn at the beginning of the ''
Táin Bó Cuailnge'' (Cattle Raid of Cooley), although the text has been clumsily altered to say that Cúchulainn's lover was Fedelm's handmaid. She later left her husband for
Conall Cernach
Conall Cernach (modern spelling: Conall Cearnach) is a hero of the Ulaid in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. He had a crooked neck and is said to have always slept with the head of a Connachtman under his knee. His epithet is normally transl ...
.
References
Ulster Cycle
Characters in Táin Bó Cúailnge
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