Erc mac Cairpri

Erc mac Cairpri (modern spelling: Earc) is a character from the

Ulster Cycle The Ulster Cycle ( ga, an Rúraíocht), 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 coun ...

Irish mythology Irish mythology is the body of myths native to the island of Ireland. It was originally passed down orally in the prehistoric era, being part of ancient Celtic religion. Many myths were later written down in the early medieval era by Ch ...

. His is the son of

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 Cairbr ...

, king of Tara, and his wife

Fedelm Noíchrothach :''See also Fedelm'' Fedelm Noíchrothach ("nine times beautiful"), also known as Fedelm Noíchride ("nine-hearts" or "fresh-heart"), is a daughter of Conchobar mac Nessa in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology Irish mythology is the body ...

, 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 hi ...

, king of

Ulster Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kin ...

. After Cairbre is killed by the Ulster hero Cúchulainn in the battle of Ros na Ríg, Erc is installed as the new king of Tara, is given Cúchulainn's daughter Fínscoth in marriage, and swears allegiance to his grandfather Conchobar. However he later conspires with

Lugaid mac Con Roí :''See Lugaid for other figures of the same name, and Lug for the god the name derives from.'' In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, Lugaid mac Con Roí was the son of Cú Roí mac Dáire. He was also known as Lugaid mac Trí Con ("son of thr ...

and others to kill Cúchulainn. He is then killed by

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 transla ...

, Cúchulainn's foster-brother, in vengeance. When Conall takes his head back to Tara, his sister Achall dies of grief. Ulster Cycle {{celt-myth-stub