# Mongan — Irish Fairy Tales character guide > Mongan in Irish Fairy Tales by James Stephens. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mongan Tender Blossom **First appearance:** 0080-mongan-s-frenzy ## Snapshot A king who trades fifty white cows for another man's wife, then must live with the consequences when the bargain comes calling at his door. ## Who they are Mongan Tender Blossom rules Ulster with a poet's heart and a magician's blood, and when he sees the King of Leinster's herd of red-eared cows, he falls in love with them utterly. The two kings strike a reckless bargain—cows for Duv Laca—and Mongan brings his new wife home to a life of chess and shared delight in the herd. But when the King of Leinster arrives to claim what was promised, Mongan's grief and Duv Laca's confusion set in motion a story about desire, honor, and the price of a handshake. ## Relationships ### [Duv Laca](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/characters/duv_laca) _romantic_ Duv Laca is Mongan's wife, and their relationship is marked by love, jealousy, and magical trials. ### [Mac an Dáv](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/characters/mac_an_dav) _friendship_ Mac an Dáv is a loyal companion and ally to Mongan, often aiding him in his adventures. ### [Branduv](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/characters/branduv) _rivalry_ Branduv is a supernatural adversary of Mongan, often engaging in magical conflict with him. ### [Fiachna Finn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/characters/fiachna_finn) _family_ Fiachna Finn is Mongan's father, a king whose legacy shapes Mongan's identity. ### [Duv Laca](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/characters/duv_laca) _romantic_ Duv Laca is Mongan's wife, and their relationship is marked by love, jealousy, and magical trials. ### [Mac an Dáv](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/characters/mac_an_dav) _friendship_ Mac an Dáv is a loyal companion and ally to Mongan, often aiding him in his adventures. ### [Duv Laca](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/characters/duv_laca) _romantic_ Duv Laca is Mongan's wife, and their relationship is marked by love, jealousy, and magical trials. ### [Mac an Dáv](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/characters/mac_an_dav) _friendship_ Mac an Dáv is a loyal companion and ally to Mongan, often aiding him in his adventures. ### [Branduv](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/characters/branduv) _rivalry_ Branduv is a supernatural adversary of Mongan, often engaging in magical conflict with him. ### [Branduv](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/characters/branduv) _rivalry_ Branduv is a supernatural adversary of Mongan, often engaging in magical conflict with him. ## In the story ### [Art's Quest for Delvcaem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/ix) Mongan Tender Blossom is mentioned as the father of Ailill of the Black Teeth, a fearsome fighter Art must face. ### [Mongan’s Frenzy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/mongan-s-frenzy) Central figure who undergoes a frenzy, revealing his past transformations and identities. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/i) The subject of the story 'Mongan's Frenzy,' which Cairidè is about to tell. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/ii) Husband of Brótiarna, speaks of Duv Laca in his sleep, promises but delays telling her story. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/iii) Mongan is present at the gathering with his wife, guards, and storyteller; he and his party are transported to Faery during the hailstorm. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/iv) Leads his companions into Faery, recognizes the realm with glee, and later agrees to tell the story of Duv Laca. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/viii) Narrates his own origin story, revealing his divine parentage and early life. ### [Mongan Avenges His Father](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/ix) Playing chess with Duv Laca when confronted by a cleric; persuaded to avenge his father's murder. ### [The Bargain of the White Cows](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/x) Mongan visits the King of Leinster to seek boons, becomes enamored with the white cows, and strikes a bargain to exchange Duv Laca for the herd. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/xi) Mongan is deeply attached to Duv Laca and the cows, but is forced to honor his bargain with Branduv, leading to a painful separation. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/xiii) Loves Duv Laca of the White Hand more than life; falls grievously sick after she leaves; devises a plan with mac an Dáv to go to Leinster. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/xiv) Travels with mac an Dáv to Leinster; becomes anguished upon seeing the King of Leinster, who took his wife. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/xv) Plays a trick on the clerics, transforming himself into Tibraidè and mac an Dáv into the clerk. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/xvi) Disguised as Tibraidè, he meets the King of Leinster and later embraces Duv Laca. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/xvii) Uses magic to confuse the hag and orchestrates the deception that leads to an attack on Tibraidè. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/xviii) Suffers from longing and despair over Duv Laca; resolves to use his own craft to win her back. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/xix) Transforms the Hag of the Mill into Ivell of the Shining Cheeks and changes himself into the likeness of Ae. ### [The Hag of the Mill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/xx) Disguised as Ae the Beautiful, uses magic to enchant the hag and trick King Branduv into exchanging Duv Laca for the hag. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/characters/mongan - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/characters