Cúchulainn and Ferdiad

Were Cúchulainn and Ferdiad lovers? This seems to be the question surrounding this Irish myth. Cúchulainn and Ferdiad were foster brothers, and best friends. Cúchulainn was trained in using a spear named Gáe Bolga and Ferdiad had thick skin that was unable to be pierced by any weapon. Cúchulainn and Ferdiad found themselves on the opposite of battle and their story ended in a duel to the death. Cúchulainn eventually slayed Ferdiad, but kissed him before the killing blow. Stories also tell of them sharing a bed. It's difficult to find definite LGBTQ themes in Celtic mythology because much of the records were destroyed in the Christian conversion, or Roman invasions.

Dunn, J. (2007). The ancient Irish epic tale Táin bó Cúalnge: "The cualnge cattle-raid": Now for the first time done entire into English, out of the Irish of the Book of Leinster and allied manuscripts. Gloucester: Dodo Press.