Deichtine (Person)

In Irish mythology, **Deichtine** or **Deichtire** was the sister of Conchobar mac Nessa [currently is his daughter in the narrative, maybe] and the mother of Cú Chulainn. Her husband was Sualtam, but Cú Chulainn's real father may have been Lugh of the Tuatha Dé Danann.

In one version of the story she was Conchobar's charioteer. When a flock of birds descended on Emain Macha and ate all the grass, the Ulstermen decided to hunt them, and they set off after them in their chariots. They chased them until night fell, and it began to snow, so they decided to seek shelter. They found a house and were welcomed in by the young man who lived there. His wife was in labour at the time, but he showed them hospitality and served them food and drink. His wife gave birth to a baby boy, and at the same time a horse outside the house gave birth to two colts. The Ulstermen went to sleep, but when they woke up they found themselves at the *Brug na Bóinne* (Newgrange). The house, the man and his wife had vanished, but the baby and the two colts remained. Deichtine took the boy as her foster-son and they returned to Emain.

Soon after the boy fell ill and died. Deichtine took a drink, and a tiny creature leaped from the cup into her mouth. When she fell asleep, Lug appeared to her and told her it was his house they had stayed in that night, and that his child was in her womb. While the Ulstermen whispered that it was actually Conchobar's son, the latter betrothed Deichtine to Sualtam mac Roich, who owed him a great favor. Deichtine married Sualtam, and on her wedding night, ashamed to carry another's child, "crushed the child within her until she was again like a virgin. Then she slept with her husband and was made pregnant by him and bore a son".

In another version, Deichtine disappeared from Emain Macha. As before, a flock of birds came to Emain and led the Ulstermen to Lug's house, but the wife in labour wife was Deichtine. They woke up at the Brug na Bóinne, Lug and the house had vanished, but Deichtine and the baby remained. They returned to Emain and Deichtine married Sualtam.

**Current Narrative Version:** Deichtine's ancestry and kin: Deichtine's mother was Maga, thus Maga must be one of Aenfeld's wives, daughter of Oengus Og, and her father was Cathbad the Druid, who was also Aenfeld's father.

Her sisters were Finchoem, mother of Conall, who travels with Culan and takes the Trial of Gualmair,, and the mother of Naiose and his brothers.

**Wiki Version:** Deichtine's ancestry and kin: Deichtine's mother was Maga, daughter of Oengus Og, and her father was Cathbad the Druid. Her sisters were Finchoem, mother of Conall the Victorious, and the mother of Naiose and his brothers. Although Conall the Victorious was a bitter enemy of Anluan and Cet mac Maga, they were his maternal uncles. Cet even protected the pregnant Finchoem until she gave birth and it was prophesied that Conall would be his slayer

Although Conall the Victorious was a bitter enemy of Anluan and Cet mac Maga, they were his maternal uncles. Cet even protected the pregnant Finchoem until she gave birth and it was prophesied that Conall would be his slayer.

She takes in the child she helped deliver in the house of Lug. She raises the child for a time (undecided yet) a forms a fierce bond with it. The child falls ill though and dies of a sickness (undetermined how yet). Oath, seeing her distraught, and considering her the perfect mother for his child, inseminates her unknowingly by taking the form of her father and feeding her a draught of his seed. He gives her a child that will never get sick, and thinks she will thank him for this "gift".

Afterwards he then tells her what he has done and she flies into a rage, asking him to leave. She is betrothed to Sualtam mac Róich, and the Ulstermen suspect Conchobar of being the father. He plots with her to abort it. She plans to keep the abortion a secret from lug, and knowing he wanted it to be called setanta she plans to name her new child setanta so he will believe it is his son and will protect him. Sualtam's lineage are famous for only giving birth to males a curse laid upon them from generations before when (insert name) sacrificed his daughter (insert name) in order to gain power from the god Morrigan. They in turn punish him for his disregard for his child's life, saying that he and his descendants will never bear a daughter. Which is part of the reason Conchobar wanted the marriage to occur, he wanted his lineage to continue.

She aborts the child and goes to her husband's bed "virgin-whole". She then conceives a son whom she names Sétanta.

The seed of Lug, being the seed of a godlike being, does not die easily. The abortion mangles it horrifically, but it does not die and heals in her womb and experiences an intense rage and will to live. This is the first instance of warp-spasm. The son she gives birth to is still Lugs child.

**Appears In**

**Family**

Grandfather

* Oengus Og

Mother

* Maga [Maybe]

Father

* Cathbad
* Aenfeld [If Mage is One of Aenfeld's Wives]

Sister

* Finchoem

Sons

* Setanta/Cu Chulainn

**Timeline of Actions**