Irish Folklore, Myth & Legend: Queen Maeve

A discussion arose one morning between Maeve and Aillil, as to who was the richest between them.

“It’s luck the woman who marries a wealthy man,” Aillil remarked.

In response, Maeve responds, “Are you forgetting” said she, “That I am a warrior also, and a leader of warriors. I was well able to defend my kingdom before I married you.”

They matched each other in every way, from linens, silks and wool to precious stones and ornaments. Even in their very nature, they were both equal in their generosity and wit.

The only thing in which they differed was that Aillil was in possession of a prize bull – Finnbennach. A bull with only one rival in the whole country. Determined to match or even surpass her husband in wealth and power, Maeve wanted this bull for her own.

During her reign, Queen Maeve’s power meant that a man could not become king unless she bestowed him with the honour.

For this reason, enthusiasts suppose that Maeve was fashioned as an allegory, representing the land and Mother Earth. As evidence, folklorists point to the fact that a man could not take a throne without first honouring the land. Lore says she represents the Morrígan – the Goddess of war and fate.

Queen Maeve is representative of equality between the sexes. A woman who can rule, seduce, conquer, and seek revenge. A real all-rounder!

There is no consensus on whether she really existed. If she did, it is thought she would have lived from the year 50BC to 50AD and ruled for 60 years. So, she can either be viewed through a historical lens or as a mystical Goddess that inhabits the world of legend for which Ireland is famous.

One of the most well-known features associated with Maeve is Knocknarea hill in Co. Sligo. It is her place of burial after reaching her demise at the hands of Furbaide, revenge for his mother’s death.

There is a large cairn atop Knocknarea, standing 10m high and 55m wide. Legend has it that inside, Maeve was buried, standing upright in full armour, spear in hand, facing her enemies in Ulster.

Knocknarea’s cairn, which has been dated to the Neolithic period (centuries older than Queen Maeve’s supposed era), has never been excavated by archaeologists – such is the fear of her wrath. You can climb the mountain, but do not climb the cairn!

There is the option to do a linear out-an-back walk up Knocknarea, as well as a lovely loop combining the hill with the surf village of Strandhill and its windswept coastline. Learn about hiking Knocknarea and other similar hikes in our article about Ireland’s best small hills here.

A monument site in Co. Meath, this henge or rath took its name from the legend that Maeve was married to nine successive Kings of Tara.

It dates to the early Bronze Age and is part of an enormous archaeological complex in Ireland’s Ancient East, the Hill of Tara.

The Hill of Tara is a must-see for lovers of ancient history as it dates from the Neolithic period to the Iron Age. The Hill of Tara houses numerous important sites here, and the location features heavily in Irish mythology. And just an hour outside Dublin, the Hill of Tara is a perfect day trip.

Read more about the Hill of Tara in our Ancient Ireland series.

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