Irish Fairy Tales · Character

Becfola

A queen whose secret love for Flann is exposed on a holy morning, forcing her to choose between her crown and her heart.

supporting

First appearance: The Wooing of Becfola

As a supporting figure in Irish Fairy Tales, Becfola is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

A queen involved in themes of love, betrayal, and elopement.

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Becfola is the queen at Tara whose heart belongs elsewhere, and when a cleric denounces her before the king, her double life collapses in a single devastating moment. Accused of being in the Shí with her arms around Flann, she does not deny it; instead she admits the truth with proud shame and walks out of the palace toward the man who waits for her. Her departure leaves the king stupefied and the court shaken, and she vanishes from Ireland entirely, a figure whose brief, blazing honesty costs her everything.

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See Becfola in The Wooing of Becfola

Character Web

12 connections

A slice of how Becfola sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Romantic and royal figures
Fianna warriors and foes
Mythical beings, heroes, and antagonists
Protagonist

+7 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the dramatic climax because Duv Laca’s declaration of love and her simultaneous imposition of a year-l…

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In the story

Becfola appears across 8 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Irish Fairy Tales
A queen involved in themes of love, betrayal, and elopement.
The Wooing of Becfola
The titular character, a married woman who plots to elope with Crimthann.
I
The mysterious woman, given the nickname 'Becfola' (Dowerless), who accepts Dermod's marriage proposal.
II
The dowerless queen, discontented with her marriage to King Dermod, longs for Crimthann and attempts to elope, only to stray into Faery.
III
The queen, stranded in a tree to escape wolves, then follows a mysterious youth to an island, witnessing a deadly battle for lordship.
IV
Returns to the palace before dawn, planning to reproach King Dermod but is disarmed by his gentle teasing.
The Banishment of Art
New wife of Conn, identified as Becuma of the White Skin; her presence causes famine, and she is revealed as banished from the Many-Coloured Land.
VIII
Now called Becuma; she is the queen who brings ills to Ireland and schemes against Art.

Chapter companion notes

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See Becfola in The Wooing of Becfola

See Becfola in Irish Fairy Tales