The Tale of Macc Da Tho's Pig
- Titular character, Macc Da Tho, is king of Lagin and owns a hound, Ailbe, who protects Lagin. Competing messengers arrive to ask for the hound -- messengers from Connachta (specifically from Ailill and Medb) and messengers from Conchubur (and Ulaid).
- Perplexed by the conundrum, Macc Da Tho goes without found or drink for three days, until his wife conjures the solution for him. While pointing out his misogyny keeps him from seeking good advice from his clever wife, she gives him the solution unsolicited. She proposes that he give the hound to both sides, and let them fight over it. This cunning solution immediately lifted him from his stupor and he sets the plan in motion. He tells those from Connachta that while it was a terrible difficult decision, he has decided to get the dog to them. They should return with a large host and he will great them with food and drink and give them the dog. He then went to those from Ulaid and made the same offer.
- When both hosts arrive on the same day, Macc Da Tho greets them and claims he was not expecting them, but welcomes them none the less. He slaughters his giant pig for a feast for his guests.
- A long discourse proceeds on who should be given the honor of carving the pig. Cet from Connachta boasts that he will carve the pig unless there is a warrior of greater renown than him. Man after man from Conchubar rises but Cet swats each away with an embarrassing story of how he defeated them or their fathers. But the last of these to speak up is Conall, who Cet does not knock down. Instead, he admits Conall is a better warrior them himself. Cet says Anluan would be a better match for Conall, but alas, Conall throws Anluans severed head at Cet, revealing that he has already slain Anluan. Cet backs down and Conall carves the pig.
- Men from Connachta felt their portions were carved too small, and a brawl breaks out. Macc Da Tho's scheme has worked, so he releases his hound Ailbe, to see which side Ailbe sides with. He chooses Ulaid (Conchubar) and they slaughter Connachta. Ailbe attacked the chariot of Ailill and Medb (Connachta), but the charioteer Fer Loga struck Ailbe, decapitating the dog, leaving the dog's head on the pole. Conchubar continued the rout, and the charioteer who slayed the dog hid himself. When the Uliad came by, he seized Conchubar by the head. Forced to give into Fer Loga's demands, they agreed to send Fer Loga the women of the Uliad every evening. A year later, Fer Loga rides home with two of Conchubar's horses with golden bridles.