Editing Cúscraid (section)

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
'''Cúscraid''' ({{langx|ga|'''Cúscraid Mend Macha'''}};<ref>{{Harvnb|Chadwick|1927}}</ref> var. Cumscraid<ref>{{Harvnb|Meyer|1894|pp=51–64}}, The Story of Mac Dáthó's Pig and Hound, ¶14</ref>) (<small>pronunciation guides: /'ku:skrid m'eN 'maxa / ({{Harvnb|Maier|1997}}) /cŏŏs'crĭ/ ({{Harvnb|Cross|Slover|1936}}) /KOOS-kri''dh''/ (Paddy Brown)<ref>{{cite web|author=Paddy Brown|title=The Ulster Cycle – Pronunciation Guide|url=http://www.starbacks.ca/Paris/Arc/6084/pron.htm|access-date=February 10, 2012}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}(personal webcite)</ref></small>) known by the epithet ''Mend Macha'' (the "stammerer" or "inarticulate one" of [[Macha]]), is a son of [[Conchobar mac Nessa]] in the [[Ulster Cycle]] of [[Irish mythology]].

When he first took arms he led a foray against [[Connacht]]. He was met on the border by the Connacht hero [[Cet mac Mágach]], who wounded him in the throat (or tip of the tongue) with a spear, giving him his speech impediment.<ref>''Story of Mac Da Thó's Pig'', {{Harvnb|Chadwick|1927}}, ¶14 (p.13 text, p.21 trans.); {{Harvnb|Meyer|1894}}, ¶14 (p.54 text, p.61 trans.) "..with a spear through thy throat..", etc.</ref><ref>''Coire Anmann'' #278 states Cet wounded Mend son of Sál-cholg 'Heel-sword' in the throat, and in #279 states " Cet wounded Cuscraid through his mouth, and shore off the point of his tongue, so that he was dumb (mend) thereafter."</ref>

The three most popular heroes with the women of [[Ulaid|Ulster]] were Cúscraid, [[Cúchulainn]] and [[Conall Cernach]]. The women imitated the peculiarity of the hero they loved the most: Cúscraid's fans stammered, Conall's crooked their necks, and Cúchulainn's squinted one eye in imitation of his [[warp spasm]].<ref>[[Serglige Con Culainn]], translation: {{Harvnb|Leahy|1905}}, HRI, p.58,"each woman who loved Cuscraid Mend, .. stammered in her speech"</ref>

After Conchobar's death, the Ulstermen invited his eldest son [[Cormac Cond Longas]] to succeed him as king of Ulster, but Cormac was killed before he could take the throne. It was then offered to [[Conall Cernach]], who refused, recommending his foster-son Cúscraid instead, and Cúscraid became king.<ref>The Battle of Airtech</ref>
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