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Mac Cecht

Mythology
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

One of the three brothers who ruled Ireland jointly, associated with the plough

Detailed Definition
Mac Cecht, with Mac Cuill and Mac Gréine, represented the last pagan kings before the Milesians. He embodies agricultural sovereignty. Poets reference Mac Cecht to symbolize the tripartite division of land, the sacredness of tillage, and the transition from mythic to historical rule in Ireland.
Example
Example in poetry:
Mac Cecht is one of the three brothers who rule Ireland jointly, representing the province of Leinster; His name means “son of the plough,” linking him to agriculture and earth; In myth, the brothers Mac Cecht, Mac Cuill, and Mac Gréine divide sovereignty; Poets reference Mac Cecht to explore shared kingship and territorial symbolism; He embodies the connection between rulership and the land’s fertility; His story illustrates the tripartite division of Ireland in mythic governance.
Additional Notes
Mac Cecht (“Son of the Plough”) is one of the three joint kings of Ireland before the Milesian conquest, representing Leinster. His name ties him to agriculture and earth. Students should note that the triad (with Mac Cuill and Mac Gréine) embodies the division of Ireland into provinces and the shared nature of sovereignty. Poets reference Mac Cecht to explore territorial symbolism, the connection between rulership and land fertility, or the mythic foundation of Ireland’s provincial structure in political or ecological verse.
Also Known As
Mac Cecht of Leinster Son of the Plough The Earth-King The Agricultural Sovereign
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