# Furbaide Ferbend
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{{Short description|Character in Irish mythology}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
[[Image:Furbaide.jpg|thumb|200px|Furbaide readies his sling, from T. W. Rolleston's ''Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race'', 1911 (illustration by [Stephen Reid](/source/Stephen_Reid_(artist)))]]
'''Furbaide Ferbend''' is a character from the [Ulster Cycle](/source/Ulster_Cycle) of [Irish mythology](/source/Irish_mythology). Legend has it that Furbaide Ferbend was buried in a [passage grave](/source/passage_grave) atop [Carn Clonhugh](/source/Carn_Clonhugh), more commonly known as Corn Hill or Cairn Hill, north [Longford](/source/Longford), after the two passage graves that crown the summit.{{sfn|Dobbs|1938|pp=246}} [{{cite web |title=Community - Corn Hill |url=https://killoegaa.ie/corn-hill/ |website=Killoe GAA Website}}]
==Life==
His father is [Conchobar mac Nessa](/source/Conchobar_mac_Nessa), king of the [Ulaid](/source/Ulaid). His mother is one of the daughters of [Eochu Feidlech](/source/Eochu_Feidlech), the [High King of Ireland](/source/High_King_of_Ireland): in the saga ''Cath Boinde'' ("the battle of the [Boyne](/source/River_Boyne))[[Joseph O'Neill](/source/Joseph_O'Neill_(1886%E2%80%931953)), (ed. & trans., [https://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/boyne.html "Cath Boinde"], ''[Ériu](/source/%C3%89riu_(journal))'' v.2, 1905, pp.173-185] and the ''[Dindsenchas](/source/Dindsenchas)'' poem "Carn Furbaide"[Edward Gwynn (ed. & trans.), [https://www.ucc.ie/celt/online/T106500D/text010.html "Carn Furbaide"], ''The Metrical Dindshenchas'' Vol. 4, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1906] she is Eithne, in the saga ''Aided Meidbe'' ("the death of Medb") she is [Clothru](/source/Clothru).[Vernam Hull (ed. & trans.), [https://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/medb.html "Aided Meidbe: The Violent Death of Medb"], ''Speculum'' v.13 issue 1, Jan. 1938, pp. 52-61] Eochu gave several of his daughters to Conchobar in marriage in compensation for Conchobar's supposed father, the former High King [Fachtna Fáthach](/source/Fachtna_F%C3%A1thach), whom Eochu had killed in the Battle of Leitir Ruad.[{{Cite web|title=Part 10 of The Metrical Dindshenchas|url=https://celt.ucc.ie//published/T106500D/text010.html|access-date=2021-08-03|website=celt.ucc.ie}}] The glossary ''Cóir Anmann'' ("fitness of names") says the horns – two of silver and one of gold – were on his helmet.[Whitley Stokes, [https://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/fitness_of_names.html "Cóir Anmann (Fitness of Names)"], ''Irische Text mit Wörterbuch'', Dritte Serie, 2 Heft, Leipzig: Verlag Von S. Hirzel, 1897, p. 288-411]
At the age of seventeen he fights in Conchobar's army in the Battle of Gáirech and Ilgáirech at the end of the ''[Táin Bó Cúailnge](/source/T%C3%A1in_B%C3%B3_C%C3%BAailnge)'' ("cattle raid of [Cooley](/source/Cooley_peninsula)").[Cecile O'Rahilly, ''Táin Bó Cúailnge Recension 1'', Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1976, pp. 218, 227-228][Cecile O'Rahilly (ed. & trans.), ''Táin Bó Cúalnge from the Book of Leinster'', Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1967, p. 248, 261] In the saga ''Mesca Ulad'' ("the intoxication of the Ulaid"), where he is said to be [Cúchulainn](/source/C%C3%BAchulainn)'s [foster-son](/source/fosterage), he fights against the [Erna](/source/Iverni), but he is so beautiful none of them can bring themselves to wound him.[W. M. Hennessy (ed & trans), ''[Mesca Ulad; or, the intoxication of the Ultonians](/source/s%3AThe_Intoxication_of_the_Ulstermen)'', Todd Lecture Series, 1889] After Conchobar's death his son [Cúscraid Mend Macha](/source/C%C3%BAscraid_Mend_Macha) succeeds him as king of the Ulaid, and gives his brother Furbaide the regions of northern and southern [Tethbae](/source/Tethbae).[R. I. Best (ed. & trans.), [http://www.ucd.ie/tlh/header/rib.eriu.8.001.t.header.html "The Battle of Airtech"], ''Ériu 8'', 1916, pp. 170-190]
In later life, according to ''Aided Meidbe'', he avenges his mother's death. Medb had taken to bathing in a pool on the Shannon island of [Inchcleraun](/source/Inchcleraun). Furbaide measures the distance from the pool to the shore with a rope, and practices with his sling until he can hit an apple on top of a stake from that distance. The next time he sees Medb bathing, he shoots the nearest missile to hand – a piece of cheese – at her, and kills her.