Findabair

In Irish mythology, Findabair or Finnabair (Reformed modern Irish Fionnabhair [ˈfʲɪn̪əuɾʲ]), whose name likely means "White Phantom" and is etymologically related to Gwenhwyfar, the Welsh original of Guinevere, was the daughter of Ailill and Medb of Connacht.

Although she is not considered a main character in "The Táin," Finnabair occupies a crucial role in the epic. Daughter to Ailill and Medb, her hand is promised to a succession of warriors in exchange for their sparring with Cú Chulainn. Her beauty and charm are the driving force which not only lead to the death of hundreds of men, but cause Fer Diad, beloved foster-brother and best friend of Cú Chulainn, to fight against him, and eventually die by Cú Chulainn's Gáe Bulg.

In the "Táin Bó Cúailnge," Finnbair’s husband Fráech, whose story is told in the "Táin Bo Friách” is killed by Cú Chulainn in a river. Afterwards, Medb repeatedly offers her to prospective warriors, first to Nad Crantail, then to Láríne Mac Nóis, in a truce with Cú Chulainn not to attack her army by night in exchange that he is provided with a warrior to engage in one-on-one combat with each day. Finnabair is offered to Cú Chulainn when no warrior can be found. After he accepts, she is taken to him by a fool dressed as the king, not by Ailill himself. Upon discovering this, Cú Chulainn kills the fool and puts a pillar through him and a pillar through Finnabair's tunic, thus leaving two stones in that location, called the Fool's Stone and Finnabair's Stone.

Finnabair is subsequently offered to Fer Diad, "saying that he was her only darling, her chosen lover from among all the men in the world." The slaying of Fer Diad on Finnabair’s account is greatly lamented by Cú Chulainn, and spurs him to speak many poems about him: “And Medb’s daughter Finnabair,/ that beautiful bait you hoped/ would be yours? You might as well/try to tie sand with a rope.” Her last and perhaps genuine love interest, Rochad Mac Faithemain, joined the forces of Ulster before the last great battle. To persuade him to not fight against Connacht, Medb uses her daughter's affection to strike a truce. Finnabair spends the night with Rochad, and eventually news of this reaches the 7 Kings of Munster, all of whom were also offered Finnabair for their allegiance. They take their complaints to Ailill's sons, which results in a battle and the eventual slaying of 700 men. Upon hearing how she has been used and had so many men die on her account, Finnabair drops dead of shame. "Hence the name Finnabair Sléibe, Finnabair of the Mountain."

In the "Táin Bo Friách," Findabair loved Fráech but he would not pay her dowry, until bribed by Medb, he agreed to take her in return for his help in battle against Ulster in the Táin Bó Cuailnge (Cattle Raid of Cooley).

References

Carson, Ciarán. "The Táin" New York: Penguin Group (VIKING), 2007