Fergus mac Léti (also mac Léte, mac Léide, mac Leda) was, according to Irish legend and traditional history, a

king of Ulster The King of Ulster (Old Irish: ''Rí Ulad'', Modern Irish: ''Rí Uladh'') also known as the King of Ulaid and King of the Ulaid, was any of the kings of the Irish provincial over-kingdom of Ulaid. The title rí in Chóicid, which means "king of ...

. His place in the traditional chronology is not certain - according to some sources, he was a contemporary of the High King

Conn of the Hundred Battles Conn Cétchathach (; "of the Hundred Battles"), son of Fedlimid Rechtmar, was a semi-legendary High King of Ireland and the ancestor of the Connachta, and, through his descendant Niall Noígiallach, the Uí Néill dynasties, which dominated Ir ...

,D. A. Binchy (ed. & trans.)
"The Saga of Fergus mac Léti"
''

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 ...

16, 1952, pp. 33-48 in others of Lugaid Luaigne,

Congal Cláiringnech Congal Cláiringnech ("the cripple"), son of Rudraige, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a king of Ulster and High King of Ireland. He was the brother of Bresal Bó-Díbad, the former High King, who had been kille ...

Dui Dallta Dedad Dui Dallta Dedad ("foster-son of Deda mac Sin"), son of Cairpre Lusc, son of Lugaid Luaigne, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He took power after killing his predecessor, and his grandfather' ...

and Fachtna Fáthach.

Appearances

According to the ''Caithréim Conghail Cláiringhnigh'' (''Martial Career of Congal Cláiringnech''), while Lugaid Luaigne was High King of Ireland, Fergus ruled the southern half of Ulster while

ruled the northern half. 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 ...

objected to having two kings, and the High King was asked to judge which of them should be sole ruler of the province. Lugaid chose Fergus, and gave him his daughter Findabair in marriage. Congal refused to accept this and declared war. After trying and failing to overthrow Fergus, he marched on Tara and defeated and beheaded Lugaid in battle. Installing himself as High King, he deposed Fergus as king of Ulster, putting his own brother Ross Ruad in his place. In the reign of Fachtna Fáthach, Ross was killed in the Battle of

Lough Foyle Lough Foyle, sometimes Loch Foyle ( or "loch of the lip"), is the estuary of the River Foyle, on the north coast of Ireland. It lies between County Londonderry in Northern Ireland and County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland. Sovereignty over t ...

, and Fergus was made king of Ulster again. In the ''Saga of Fergus mac Léti'', he encounters water-sprites called ''lúchorpáin'' or "little bodies"; this is thought to be the earliest known references to

leprechaun A leprechaun ( ga, leipreachán/luchorpán) is a diminutive supernatural being in Irish folklore, classed by some as a type of solitary fairy. They are usually depicted as little bearded men, wearing a coat and hat, who partake in mischief. ...

s. The creatures try to drag Fergus into the sea while he is asleep, but the cold water wakes him and he seizes them. In exchange for their freedom the ''lúchorpáin'' grant him three wishes, one of which is to gain the ability to breathe underwater. This ability will work anywhere but ''Loch Rudraige'' ( Dundrum Bay) in Ulster. He attempts to swim there anyway, and encounters a sea-monster called Muirdris, and his face is permanently contorted in terror. This disfigurement would disqualify him from the kingship, but the Ulstermen do not want to depose him, so they ban mirrors from his presence so he will never learn of his deformity. Seven years later he whips a serving girl, who in anger reveals the truth to him. Fergus returns to Loch Rudraige in search of the sea-monster, and after a two-day battle that turns the sea red with blood, kills it, before dying of exhaustion. His kingship of Ulster, his association with the sword Caladbolg and his death in water have led some to identify him as a double of the Ulster Cycle character Fergus mac Róich,MacKillop, pp. 190-191 although the two characters appear together in the ''Caithréim Conghail Cláiringhnigh'' as enemies. In the

Disney The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...

movie Darby O'Gill and the Little People, the leprechaun King Brian says he sits upon the throne of "Fergus Mac Leda."

Notes

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Fergus Mac Leti Cycles of the Kings Legendary Irish kings