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ECHTRAI
Echtrae (expedition, adventure) is an early Irish tale
type that tells of the hero’s journey to another world.
In some of these tales, the hero remains in the Other-
world. One of the earliest of them is Echtrae Chonnlai
(Connlae’s Expedition), which probably dates to the
eighth century. Connlae, a son of Conn Cétchathach,
is approached by an unnamed woman. She says she
has come from “the land of the living, where there is
neither death nor sin,” and invites Connlae to go with
her. He is torn between love of his people and desire
for the woman, but he eventually departs with her and
is never seen again. In Echtrae Nerai, the hero leaves
the court of Ailill and Medb at Cruachain (Rathcroghan
in County Roscommon) and goes in search of a drink
for a hanged man. When he returns, Nerae follows
some warriors into the cave at Cruachain and finds
himself in a síd, or Otherworld abode. He secretly mar-
ries a woman there; she warns Nerae that the Connachta
must assail the síd, for otherwise Cruachain will be
destroyed. When the Connachta have accomplished
this, Nerae returns to the sídand stays there forever.
Sometimes a mortal is summoned by an Otherworld
being to secure the defeat of an Otherworld adversary.
InEchtrae Laegairi(Laegaire’s Expedition), Fiachna
mac Rétach, king of a síd, comes to Connacht and
offers gold and silver to anyone who will help him win
back his wife from Goll, king of the fort of Mag Mell
(The Plain of Delights). Laegaire, son of the king of
Connacht, answers the call with fifty men, and he
vanquishes Goll in battle. Loegaire marries Fiachna’s
daughter, Dér Gréine, and remains in the síd.
InEchtrae Fergusa Maic Leiti(The Expedition of
Fergus mac Leiti), the hero’s conquest of a monster
costs him his life. Fergus mac Leiti, king of Ulster,
goes to the seashore. He falls asleep and sprites
(lúchorpáin, literally little-bodied ones) come and bear
him out to sea. Fergus demands from them the power

to pass under water. They grant him this but forbid

him to go under Loch Rudraige (Dundrum Bay in

County Down). In defiance of this prohibition, Fergus

dives into Loch Rudraige, and he sees a monster so

fearful that his face is disfigured at the sight of it. A

king with such a blemish is no longer eligible to rule,

but the elders of Ulster contrive to conceal it from the

people and even from the king himself. One day, how-

ever, Fergus discovers the truth. He goes to Loch

Rudraige, dives in, and fights the monster for a day

and a night. He emerges triumphant with the head of

the monster, and then he dies.

In some stories the hero returns from the Otherworld

with treasures that are used for the benefit of his people.

InEchtrae Cormaic maic Airt(The Expedition of Cormac

mac Airt), the king of Tara returns with a cup that

enables him to distinguish truth from falsehood.

There is an overtly dynastic message in Echtrae mac

n-Echach Muigmedóin(The Expedition of the Sons of

Echu Mugmedón), a tale in Middle Irish that shows how

Niall Noígiallach acquired the kingship of Ireland for

himself and his descendants, the Uí Néill. The crucial

episode in the tale is a hunting expedition undertaken

by Niall and his four half-brothers. Having lost their

way,they cook and eat their quarry, and then each of

the brothers in turn sets out in search of drinking water.

They find a well that is guarded by a hideous hag

(caillech) who demands a kiss in return for water. Of

Niall’s brothers, all but one decline to approach the hag;

Fiachra gives her a passing kiss but gets no drink in

return. Niall not only kisses the hag but also makes love

to her. She is immediately transformed into a beautiful

young woman who identifies herself as “The Sover-

eignty of Ireland” and decrees that Niall and his descen-

dants will be kings of Ireland forever. As exceptions to

this she mentions two descendants of Fiachra who will

receive the kingship as a reward for the kiss that Fiachra

gave her. As a piece of propaganda for the Uí Néill, the