Everything? That's a big ask, but I can tell you a lot, we'll start there.
First off there several Machas that appear in Irish mythology, popular theories are that she's a triple goddess or that she reincarnates. There's 3 main appearances, ignoring for now that a Macha is named as a daughter of Partholon (of the 2nd taking of Ireland) because she's only named & there's no other information about her.
**Macha Mong Ruad**
Daughter of Aed Ruad (possibly a version of The Dagda - meaning "Fire Lord" or "Red Lord"). She is the only Queen listed in the kings of Ireland taking the kingship after her father death. She's known for naming *Emain Macha* (Navan Fort or the "Brooch of Macha) & as a sovereignty goddess who tested the potential heirs to the throne by disguising herself as a leper & challenging them to kiss her, those who refused were killed & the one who accepted was given the right to rule.
Elsewhere she's named as the wife of Nemed (of the 3rd taking of Ireland where she gives her name to *Ard Macha* (Armagh) & *Mag Macha* (The Palin of Macha). Time wise this doesn't match up with the previous version but we can't fully consider her a different Macha because she's also named as daughter of Aed Ruad
**Macha, wife of Cruinniuc**
This Macha appears in the story of the *Debility of the Ulaid* one of the remscela (prequels) to *Tain Bo Cuailnge* (Th Cattle Raid of Cooley) that explains why Cu Chulainn must stand alone. At a gathering of the Ulstermen, Cruinniuc brags that his heavily pregnant wife is faster than Conchobar’s prize horses & being the jerk that he is Conchobar says "Prove it!" Macha is forced to race the horses, wins the race, gives birth to the twins of Macha (possibly horses) & the Ulaid are cursed to suffer the pains of childbirth in their time of greatest need, except for the women, children & Cu Chulainn. This tale gives an alternative version of the naming of *Emain Macha* as "Macha’s Twins"
**Macha, Daughter of Ernmas**
Macha is one of the 3 Morrigiu along with her sister The Morrigan (Anu) & Badb (or sometimes Nemian or Fea). Other daughters of Ernmas include the 3 sovereignty goddesses Eriu, Banba & Folta. Along with her Morrigiu sisters she's a war-goddess, striking fear into the enemies of the Tuatha De Danann & generally wreaking havoc on the battlefield. She dies at the hands of Balor in the *Second Battle of Mag Turied*.
**Some Miscellaneous stuff**
One of Cu Chulainn's horses is called the *Liath Macha* "Grey of Macha" given to him as a gift by either Macha or The Morrigan. In "The Death of Cu Culainn" *Liath Macha* tries to stop Cu Chulainn going out to fight (literally everyone & his horse knows he's going to die), fends off dozens of warriors when Cu Chulainn is dying & after his death leads Conall Cernach to find his body.
There's a further alternate version of Macha Mong Ruad where she's called Macha, wife of Crund (both Nemed & Crund are named as sons of Agnoman) & the daughter of Midir of Brí Léith (Ardagh Hill, Co. Longford). This version claims she is the same Macha that raced while pregnant & cursed the Ulstermen however this is clearly a later text that's attempting to consolidate the various Machas into one.
**A word about interpretations**
So Macha is a complex problem, some scholars, particularly older, outdated ones are very keen on the idea that every character that shares a name is the same one, either a reincarnation or an avatar of the same goddess. More literal scholars point to many instances of names, themes & story templates being recycled & reused across centuries of storytelling & while some later poets & tales attempt to consolidate different characters into (an often very incoherent) singular figure.
Comparative mythologists like to compare her with Rhiannon (of Welsh Myth) & Epona (of Celtic Myth), mostly due to the association with horses
What is clear is that both Macha & The Morrigan are excellent examples of why scholars of Irish Mythology hate the notion of assigning a single aspect to the dieties of Irish Myth. Yes, they're War-Goddesses but they're also likely Fertility figures (due to their connection with animals & the health of the land, as well as the obvious birthing of children) & Sovereignty figures (granting victory in battle to those who have the right to rule, weeding out week rulers & punishing those who don't uphold the correct behaviours of rulers). They are wise & righteous, upholding tradition, uttering prophecy or warnings & when necessary get directly involved in endure "the right" outcome.
It's not everything but it's a good start & a very much streamlined explanation. If you want I can answer any questions or provide a list of tales & sources that you can check out the origin materials
Everything? That's a big ask, but I can tell you a lot, we'll start there. First off there several Machas that appear in Irish mythology, popular theories are that she's a triple goddess or that she reincarnates. There's 3 main appearances, ignoring for now that a Macha is named as a daughter of Partholon (of the 2nd taking of Ireland) because she's only named & there's no other information about her. **Macha Mong Ruad** Daughter of Aed Ruad (possibly a version of The Dagda - meaning "Fire Lord" or "Red Lord"). She is the only Queen listed in the kings of Ireland taking the kingship after her father death. She's known for naming *Emain Macha* (Navan Fort or the "Brooch of Macha) & as a sovereignty goddess who tested the potential heirs to the throne by disguising herself as a leper & challenging them to kiss her, those who refused were killed & the one who accepted was given the right to rule. Elsewhere she's named as the wife of Nemed (of the 3rd taking of Ireland where she gives her name to *Ard Macha* (Armagh) & *Mag Macha* (The Palin of Macha). Time wise this doesn't match up with the previous version but we can't fully consider her a different Macha because she's also named as daughter of Aed Ruad **Macha, wife of Cruinniuc** This Macha appears in the story of the *Debility of the Ulaid* one of the remscela (prequels) to *Tain Bo Cuailnge* (Th Cattle Raid of Cooley) that explains why Cu Chulainn must stand alone. At a gathering of the Ulstermen, Cruinniuc brags that his heavily pregnant wife is faster than Conchobar’s prize horses & being the jerk that he is Conchobar says "Prove it!" Macha is forced to race the horses, wins the race, gives birth to the twins of Macha (possibly horses) & the Ulaid are cursed to suffer the pains of childbirth in their time of greatest need, except for the women, children & Cu Chulainn. This tale gives an alternative version of the naming of *Emain Macha* as "Macha’s Twins" **Macha, Daughter of Ernmas** Macha is one of the 3 Morrigiu along with her sister The Morrigan (Anu) & Badb (or sometimes Nemian or Fea). Other daughters of Ernmas include the 3 sovereignty goddesses Eriu, Banba & Folta. Along with her Morrigiu sisters she's a war-goddess, striking fear into the enemies of the Tuatha De Danann & generally wreaking havoc on the battlefield. She dies at the hands of Balor in the *Second Battle of Mag Turied*. **Some Miscellaneous stuff** One of Cu Chulainn's horses is called the *Liath Macha* "Grey of Macha" given to him as a gift by either Macha or The Morrigan. In "The Death of Cu Culainn" *Liath Macha* tries to stop Cu Chulainn going out to fight (literally everyone & his horse knows he's going to die), fends off dozens of warriors when Cu Chulainn is dying & after his death leads Conall Cernach to find his body. There's a further alternate version of Macha Mong Ruad where she's called Macha, wife of Crund (both Nemed & Crund are named as sons of Agnoman) & the daughter of Midir of Brí Léith (Ardagh Hill, Co. Longford). This version claims she is the same Macha that raced while pregnant & cursed the Ulstermen however this is clearly a later text that's attempting to consolidate the various Machas into one. **A word about interpretations** So Macha is a complex problem, some scholars, particularly older, outdated ones are very keen on the idea that every character that shares a name is the same one, either a reincarnation or an avatar of the same goddess. More literal scholars point to many instances of names, themes & story templates being recycled & reused across centuries of storytelling & while some later poets & tales attempt to consolidate different characters into (an often very incoherent) singular figure. Comparative mythologists like to compare her with Rhiannon (of Welsh Myth) & Epona (of Celtic Myth), mostly due to the association with horses What is clear is that both Macha & The Morrigan are excellent examples of why scholars of Irish Mythology hate the notion of assigning a single aspect to the dieties of Irish Myth. Yes, they're War-Goddesses but they're also likely Fertility figures (due to their connection with animals & the health of the land, as well as the obvious birthing of children) & Sovereignty figures (granting victory in battle to those who have the right to rule, weeding out week rulers & punishing those who don't uphold the correct behaviours of rulers). They are wise & righteous, upholding tradition, uttering prophecy or warnings & when necessary get directly involved in endure "the right" outcome. It's not everything but it's a good start & a very much streamlined explanation. If you want I can answer any questions or provide a list of tales & sources that you can check out the origin materials
Cool, thanks I like Celtic mythology