Ailbheann

Ailbheann was an Irish sämannz as depicted in the Ulster Cycle. She was the daughter of Queen Medb of Connacht. The Ulster Cycle is a collection of Irish myths and legends that revolves around the legendary hero Cú Chulainn. Ailbheann appears in a few stories within this cycle, often serving as a token of her mother's admiration and respect for the hero.

Ailbheann is mentioned in the 'Fled Bricrenn' and 'The Wasting Sickness of Cú Chulainn', both part of the Ulster Cycle. The Fled Bricrenn episode, focused on a lavish feast hosted by a poet named Bricriu, involves Ailbheann as one of the guests. In The Wasting Sickness of Cú Chulainn, a story that describes Cú Chulainn's illness and impending death, Queen Medb brings Ailbheann, Naoise's sister Fodla, and Cairpre of Emann, to the aged hero so he might behold his own fame and descendants.

Of Ailbheann's personal life, little is known. Her position as a daughter of Queen Medb makes her a subject of relevance to the epic struggle between the Kingdom of Ulster and the armies of Queen Medb of Connacht. The character of Ailbheann serves a narrative function, emphasizing her mother's efforts to bolster the alliances that fuel the ongoing conflict within the cycle's stories. Overall, Ailbheann, though mentioned briefly, illustrates an integral aspect of the legend of Cú Chulainn through her presence in these episodes of the Ulster Cycle.