Garb mac Stairn (also spelt Garbh, Gharbh, Garibh Mac-Starn, etc.) is a character in late (perhaps 17th century) prose narratives and poetry (duan) of theUlster cycle; and claimsScandinavian origins,[1] or is represented as a giant from the Eastlands.[2]
He arrives in Ireland demanding tribute, only to be defeated and beheaded byCúchulainn in a Highland verse account.[3] He also appears as an antagonist in aSouth Uist folkloric version of theTáin Bó Cúailnge.[4]
In a Highland popular folktale, Garbh Mac Stairn figures as a giant living in the neighborhood, from whom Cuchullin attempts to steal his fine light-coloured bull. Cuchullin impersonates a herd (herdsman) and enters the home, crawls into the bed of Garb's mistress, and she mistakes him for a wee baby.[5]
Garbh mac Starn is also said to be identical to (or be the original model of) the Suaran son of Starno, king of Lochlin, inJames Macpherson's works attributed to Ossian.[6]
^Works of Ossian, vol. 2 (1765), Hugh Blair, Dissertation, p.xxxiv, "Duan a Gharibb Mac-Starn is another Irish poem in high repute.. Garibh Mac-Starn is the same with Ossian's Swaran, the son of Starno. His single combat with, and victory over all.. excepting.. Cuchullin."
Mackillop, James (1998),Dictionary of Celtic Mythology, Oxford: Oxford University Press,ISBN0-19-280120-1
(Primary sources)
Carmichael, Alexander A. (1873), "Toirioc na Taine",Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness,2 Catalogued byCarmichael Watson Project. This tale was recited by Eachann Mac-iosaig [or MacIssac, erroneously given as 'MacLeod' in the text, aka "Eachann Mac Ruaraidh", a peasant of Ceannlangabhat, Iochdar, UIst a Chinnes Deas (South Uist), who heard it 60 years before from 'Ruary Rua' MacQuien.
Campbell, John Francis (1862),Popular tales of the West Highlands(google), vol. 3, Edinburgh: Edmonston and Douglas, p. 194–199, "LXXV. Guaigean Ladhrach 'S Loirean Spagach" (tr. Crumple Toes and Shamble Shanks). Garb appears not in the primary example but in the appended variant, taken down from Neil Macalister, Port Charlotte, Islay, and written by Mr. Carmichael.
