Ailill mac Máta
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Ailill (Aillell, Oilioll) mac Máta was king of Connacht and husband of Medb in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology.
He was the owner of the phenomenally fertile White-horned bull of Connacht, called Finnbhennach. Although the bull was born into Medb's herd, the legend says that the animal thought that belonging to a woman was lower in dignity than belonging to a man, and transferred itself into Ailill's ownership. When it was discovered that this bull was the difference in wealth between them, Medb started the Táin Bó Cúailnge (Cattle Raid of Cooley) to steal the equally potent Donn Cuailnge from Ulster and restore equality with her husband.
He had to satisfy Medb's critieria that her husband must be without fear, meanness and jealousy - especially the latter as Medb had many lovers. Despite this he contrived the death of Fergus mac Róich over the latter's affair with Medb, and was himself killed by Conall Cernach, at Medb's prompting, in revenge for Fergus.
Ailill was the father of Findabair by Medb.
[edit] Texts
- Ferchuitred Medba, aka Cath Bóinde: Medb's Men, or the Battle of the Boyne
- Fled Bricrend: Bricriu's Feast
- Aisling Óenguso: The Dream of Óengus
- Táin Bó Fraích: The Cattle Raid of Fráech
- Táin Bó Regamain: The Cattle Raid of Regamon
- Táin Bó Dartada: The Raid for Dartaid's Cattle
- Táin Bó Flidaise: The Driving of Flidais's Cattle
- Echtra Nerae: The Adventures of Nera
- Táin Bó Cuailnge: The Cattle Raid of Cooley Recension 1, Recension 2
- Aided Fergusa meic Róig: The Death of Fergus mac Róich
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