Queen Medb (Méabh)

The warrior queen of Connacht who started the Cattle Raid of Cooley.

Queen Medb (Maeve) of Connacht is one of the most formidable figures in Irish mythology. Ruling from Rathcroghan in County Roscommon, she was known for her wealth, beauty, and cunning. She demanded that her husbands be men without fear, meanness, or jealousy.

Her pride led to the famous Táin Bó Cúailnge (Cattle Raid of Cooley). After an argument with her husband Ailill about who was wealthier, they discovered they were equal in every way except for one: Ailill owned a magnificent white bull, Finnbhennach. Determined to match him, Medb set out to steal the only bull in Ireland that could rival it: the Brown Bull of Cooley (Donn Cúailnge) from Ulster.

This decision sparked a massive war between Connacht and Ulster, where she led her armies against the hero Cú Chulainn. Though she eventually captured the bull, it fought Ailill's white bull and both died, making her victory a hollow one.