# Cael — Irish Fairy Tales character guide

> Cael in Irish Fairy Tales by James Stephens.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Cael of the Iron

**First appearance:** 0062-the-enchanted-cave-of-cesh-corran

## Snapshot

A proud warrior of the Fianna who refuses to race a greasy stranger, only to find himself dragged into a sixty-mile contest he cannot win.

## Who they are

Cael of the Iron is a champion whose temper is as quick as his feet, and when Fionn presents a hulking, disheveled stranger as his opponent, Cael nearly chokes on his own rage. He insults the Carl, refuses to build a shelter, and sulks on the hillside while his competitor constructs a house and cooks a wild boar single-handedly. His pride and refusal to cooperate paint him as a man whose strength is undone by his own stubbornness, and the race to come will test whether he can swallow his contempt long enough to run.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/i)

Stranger from Thessaly who challenges the Fianna for tribute and sovereignty.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/ii)

Mentioned as the challenger who issued a race; known to the Carl as a formidable champion.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/iii)

Furious at being matched with the Carl, but eventually agrees to the race.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/iv)

Refuses to help build shelter or find food, sleeps outside, and starts the race early.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/v)

Runs in the race, is taunted by the Carl, despairs but continues, and vows to run until he bursts.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/vii)

Cael of the Iron is identified as carrying the Carl on his back, with a dust behind him as he tries to catch up.

### [The Carl of the Drab Coat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/viii)

Attacks the Fianna but is defeated by the Carl, has his head twisted backwards, and swears tribute from Thessaly.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/characters/cael
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/characters