Tadc mac Céin, in medieval Irish historical tradition, was the grandson of

Ailill Aulom Ailill Ollamh (or Oilill Olum) in Irish traditional history was the son of Mug Nuadat and was a king of the southern half of Ireland, placed in the 3rd century by early modern Irish genealogy. Sadb ingen Chuinn, daughter of Conn of the Hundred Bat ...

and Sadb, daughter of Conn Cetcathach. He is the putative ancestor of the Ciannachta, the Gailenga, and the Luigni. These peoples were settled, in the Middle Ages, in the Midland kingdoms of

Brega Brega , also known as ''Mersa Brega'' or ''Marsa al-Brega'' ( ar, مرسى البريقة , i.e. "Brega Seaport"), is a complex of several smaller towns, industry installations and education establishments situated in Libya on the Gulf of Sidra, ...

and

Mide Meath (; Old Irish: ''Mide'' ; spelt ''Mí'' in Modern Irish) was a kingdom in Ireland from the 1st to the 12th century AD. Its name means "middle," denoting its location in the middle of the island. At its greatest extent, it included all of ...

Connacht Connacht ( ; ga, Connachta or ), is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms (Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, Conmhaícne, and Delbhn ...

, and western

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 King ...

. According to saga and genealogical tradition, Tadc established himself in the Midlands of Ireland after being granted territory by

Cormac mac Airt Cormac mac Airt, also known as Cormac ua Cuinn (grandson of Conn) or Cormac Ulfada (long beard), was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He is probably the most famous of the ancient High Kings ...

, the king of Ireland (and Tadc's first cousin once removed, via Sadb), in exchange for his decisive assistance at the Battle of Crinna, against

Fergus Dubdétach Fergus Dubdétach ("black-tooth") was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a king of the Ulaid who was briefly High King of Ireland. He took the High Kingship after his predecessor, Lugaid mac Con, was expelled from Tara ...

, king of the

Ulaid Ulaid (Old Irish, ) or Ulaidh (Modern Irish, ) was a Gaelic over-kingdom in north-eastern Ireland during the Middle Ages made up of a confederation of dynastic groups. Alternative names include Ulidia, which is the Latin form of Ulaid, and in ...

. Tadc's role in the battle and the battle's wider context are related in the saga, ''Cath Crinna'' ('the battle of Crinna'). Another medieval text, ''Eachtra Thaidg Mhic Céin'' ('Tadg mac Céin's adventure'), narrates an earlier, fantastical expedition by Tadc to rescue his people from captivity overseas. The Old Irish name, ''Tadc'', is thought to be derived from the Gaulish *', meaning 'badger'. Another story about Tadc mac Céin, found in its earliest form in ''

Sanas Cormaic ''Sanas Cormaic'' (or ''Sanas Chormaic'', Irish for "Cormac's narrative"), also known as ''Cormac's Glossary'', is an early Irish glossary containing etymologies and explanations of over 1,400 Irish words, many of which are difficult or outdated. ...

'', revolves around Tadc having a dietary taboo against eating badgers. As Mac an Bhaird argues, this implies that this was still how his name was understood, as traditional taboos against eating one's namesake are well-attested internationally. 'Varia II: Tadhg mac Céin and the Badgers', p. 153. The hero

Cú Chulainn Cú Chulainn ( ), called the Hound of Ulster (Irish: ''Cú Uladh''), is a warrior hero and demigod in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, as well as in Scottish and Manx folklore. He is believed to be an incarnation of the Irish god Lugh, ...

Culann In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, Culann was a smith whose house was protected by a ferocious watchdog. Culann's hound was a pup of Celtchar's hound Dael, and he was found in the skull of Congachnes along with two other pups (Celtchar and Ma ...

's Hound") had a similar

taboo A taboo or tabu is a social group's ban, prohibition, or avoidance of something (usually an utterance or behavior) based on the group's sense that it is excessively repulsive, sacred, or allowed only for certain persons.''Encyclopædia Britannica ...

against eating dog-meat.

Notes

References

* * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Tadc mac Cein Irish genealogy Legendary Irish people Cycles of the Kings Heroes in mythology and legend