Beside the Ford of Fenna, in Kerry’s north they came, They neared the hold, and from it rang welcome’s loud acclaim:  “What quest,” said Ailill Fair-haired, “hath brought these warriors here?” “Of Ailill, son of Magach, we stand,” they said, “in fear; A feud we hold against him; with thee would fain abide!” “For each of these,” said Ailill, “who Fergus march beside, If they were foes to Connaught, for long they here might stay, And ne’er till peace was granted, I’d drive these men away:  For Fergus, naught I grant him a tale of him men tell That Fergus ’tis whom Flidais, my wife, doth love too well!”

“It is kine that I ask for,” said Fergus, “and hard is the task on me set:  For the men who have marched here beside me, the means to win life I must get.”  “I will give no such present,” said Ailill,” thou comest not here as my guest:  Men will say, ’twas from fear that I gave it, lest my wife from my arms thou should’st wrest:  Yet an ox of my herds, and some bacon, if thou wilt, shall my hand to thee give; That the men who have marched here beside thee on that meat may be stayed, and may live!”

“I eat no bread thus thrown me!” fierce Fergus straight replied: 
“I asked a gift of honour; that gift thine hand denied.” 
“Avoid my house,” said Ailill in wrath, “now get thee hence! 
“We go indeed,” said Fergus; “no siege we now commence: 
Yet here,” he cried, “for duel beside yon ford I wait,
If thou canst find a champion to meet me at thy gate.”

Then up and answered Ailill:  “’Tis mine this strife must be
And none shall hurt mine honour, or take this task from me: 
None hold me back from battle!”—­the ford for fight he sought: 
“Now Dubhtach, say,” said Fergus, “to whom this war is brought! 
Or thou or I must meet him.”  And Dubhtach said, “I go;
For I am younger, Fergus, and bolder far with foe.”

To the ford for the battle with Ailill he hies,
And he thrust at him fiercely, and pierced through his thighs;
But a javelin by Ailill at Dubhtach was cast,
And right through his body the shaft of it passed: 
And a shield over Dubhtach, laid low in the dust,
Spread Fergus; and Ailill his spear at him thrust;
And through Fergus’ shield had the spear made its way,
When Fergus Mae Oonlama joined in the fray,
And his shield he uplifted, his namesake to guard;
But at Fergus Mac Oonlama Ailill thrust hard,
And he brake through the fence of Mac Oonlama’s shield;
And he leaped in his pain; as they lay on the field,
On his comrades he fell:  Flidais forth to them flew,
And her cloak on the warriors to shield them she threw.

Then against all the comrades of Fergus turned Ailill the Fair-haired to fight, And he chased them away from his castle, and slew as they scattered in flight; A twenty he reached, and he slew them:  they fell, on that field to remain; And but seven there were of that thirty who fled, and their safety could gain:  They came to the palace of Croghan, they entered the gates of that hold, And to Maev and to Ailill of Connaught the tale of the slaughter they told.