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"Cuchulain Slays the Hound of Culain", illustration by Stephen Reid from Eleanor Hull's The Boys' Cuchulain, 1904
"Cuchulain Slays the Hound of Culain", illustration by Stephen Reid from Eleanor Hull's The Boys' Cuchulain, 1904

Cúchulainn /kuːˈxʊlɪnʲ/ (pronunciation (help·info)) (Irish "Hound of Culann"; also spelled Cú Chulainn, Cú Chulaind, Cúchulain, or Cuchullain) is an Irish mythological hero who appears in the stories of the Ulster Cycle, as well as in Scottish and Manx folklore. Irish (ga ''Gaeilge'' is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish. In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, Culann was a smith whose house was protected by a ferocious watchdog The Mythology of pre-Christian Ireland did not entirely survive the conversion to Christianity, but much of it was preserved shorn of its religious meanings Texts in translation Most of the important Ulster Cycle tales can be found in the following publications Thomas Kinsella, The Táin, Oxford University Scottish mythology may refer to any of the mythologies of Scotland. The Isle of Man (Ellan Vannin ˈɛlʲən ˈvanɪn or Mann (Mannin) is a self-governing Crown dependency, located in the Irish Sea at the geographical The son of the god Lugh and Deichtine, sister of the king of Ulster, he was originally named Sétanta /'ʃeːd̪ˠɔn̪ˠd̪ˠə/ , but gained his better-known name as a child after he killed Culann's fierce guard-dog in self-defence, and offered to take its place until a replacement could be reared. Lugh (ˈluː modern Irish Lú, earlier Lug) is an Irish Deity represented in mythological texts as a hero and High King of the distant In Irish mythology, Deichtine or Deichtire was the sister of Conchobar mac Nessa and the mother of Cúchulainn. The Ulaid (pron /'ʊləɣ′/ were a people of early north-eastern Ireland, who gave their name to the modern province of Ulster: modern Irish Cúige At the age of seventeen he defended Ulster single-handedly against the armies of queen Medb of Connacht in the epic Táin Bó Cúailnge ("The Cattle Raid of Cooley"). Medb ( Old Irish spelling mɛðv Meḋḃ Meaḋḃ modern Meadhbh mɛɣv reformed modern Irish Meabh, Meːv sometimes Anglicised Maeve or Maev The Cooley Peninsula is a hilly Peninsula in County Louth, Ireland, which includes towns such as Omeath, Carlingford and Greenore It was prophesied that his great deeds would give him everlasting fame, but that his life would be short – one reason he is compared to the Greek hero Achilles. "Achilleus" redirects here For the emperor with this name see Achilleus (emperor. He is known for his terrifying battle frenzy or ríastrad,[1] in which he becomes an unrecognisable monster who knows neither friend nor foe. He fights from his chariot, driven by his loyal charioteer Láeg, and drawn by his horses, Liath Macha and Dub Sainglend. Láeg, or Lóeg, son of Riangabar is the Charioteer and constant companion of the hero Cúchulainn in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology Liath Macha ("grey of Macha)" and Dub Sainglend ("black of Saingliu" were the two chariot-horses of the hero Cúchulainn in the

Contents

Legends

Birth

There are a number of versions of the story of Cúchulainn's birth. In an early version, his mother Deichtine is the daughter and charioteer of Conchobar mac Nessa, king of Ulster, and accompanies him as he and the nobles of Ulster hunt a flock of magical birds. In Irish mythology, Deichtine or Deichtire was the sister of Conchobar mac Nessa and the mother of Cúchulainn. Conchobar mac Nessa (son of Ness) is the king of Ulster in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Snow falls, and the Ulstermen seek shelter, finding a house where they are made welcome. Their host's wife goes into labour, and Deichtine assists at the birth of a baby boy. A mare gives birth to two colts at the same time. The next morning, the Ulstermen find themselves at the Brug na Bóinde (the neolithic mound at Newgrange) – the house and its occupants have disappeared, but the child and the colts remain. Newgrange (Dún Fhearghusa is one of the Passage tombs of the Brú na Bóinne complex in County Meath, one of the most famous Deichtine takes the boy home and raises him to early childhood, but he falls sick and dies. The god Lugh appears to her and tells her he was their host that night, and that he has put his child in her womb, who is to be called Sétanta. Lugh (ˈluː modern Irish Lú, earlier Lug) is an Irish Deity represented in mythological texts as a hero and High King of the distant Her pregnancy is a scandal as she is betrothed to Sualtam mac Róich, and the Ulstermen suspect Conchobar of being the father, so she aborts the child and goes to her husband's bed "virgin-whole". Súaltam ( Súaltaim, Súaldam, Súaldaim, Súaltach) mac Róich is the mortal father of the hero Cúchulainn in the She then conceives a son whom she names Sétanta. [2] This has been interpreted as a triple conception, marking the child out as someone special. [3]

In a later, and better-known, version, Deichtine is Conchobar's sister, and disappears from Emain Macha, the Ulster capital. Navan Fort should not be confused with Navan in County Meath. As in the previous version, the Ulstermen go hunting a flock of magical birds, are overtaken by a snowstorm and seek shelter in a nearby house. Their host is Lugh, but this time his wife, who gives birth to a son that night, is Deichtine herself. The child is named Sétanta. [4] The nobles of Ulster argue over which of them is to be his foster-father, until the wise Morann decides he should be fostered by several of them: Conchobar himself; Sencha mac Ailella, who will teach him judgement and eloquent speech; the wealthy Blaí Briugu, who will protect and provide for him; the noble warrior Fergus mac Róich, who will care for him and teach him to protect the weak; the poet Amergin, who will educate him, and his wife Findchóem, who will nurse him. Sencha mac Ailella is a character from the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Blaí Briugu (Blaí the Landholder or Hospitaller is an Ulster warrior in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology. Fergus mac Róich (son of Ró-ech or "great horse" also mac Róig, mac Rossa) is a character of the Ulster Cycle of Irish Amergin ( Amairgin, Amairgen, Amorgen) is the name of two Poets from Irish mythology. Findchóem (also spelled Finnchóem, Findcháem, Finncháem, Fionnchaomh) is a character from the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology He is brought up in the house of Amergin and Findchóem on Muirthemne Plain in modern County Louth, alongside their son Conall Cernach. County Louth (Contae Lú is a County on the East coast of Ireland, on the border with Northern Ireland. Conall Cernach is a heroic warrior of the Ulaid in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. [5]

Childhood

The stories of Cúchulainn's childhood are told in a flashback sequence in Táin Bó Cúailnge. As a small child, living in his parent's house on Muirthemne Plain, he begs to be allowed to join the boy-troop at Emain Macha, but his mother thinks he is too young and should wait for a company of warriors to take him there. However, he sets off on his own, and when he arrives at Emain he runs onto the playing field without first asking for the boys' protection, being unaware of the custom. The boys take this as a challenge and attack him, but he has a ríastrad and beats them single-handed. Conchobar puts a stop to the fight and clears up the misunderstanding, but no sooner has Sétanta put himself under the boys' protection than he chases after them, demanding they put themselves under his protection. [6]

Culann the smith invites Conchobar to a feast at his house. In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, Culann was a smith whose house was protected by a ferocious watchdog A smith, or metalsmith, is a person involved in the shaping of Metal objects Before going, Conchobar goes to the playing field to watch the boys play hurling. Hurling (in Irish, iománaíocht or iomáint) is an outdoor team Sport of ancient Gaelic origin administered by the Gaelic He is so impressed by Sétanta's performance that he asks him to join him at the feast. Sétanta has a game to finish, but promises to follow the king later. But Conchobar forgets, and Culann lets loose his ferocious guard dog to protect his house. When Sétanta arrives, the enormous dog attacks him, but he kills it in self-defence, in one version by smashing it against a standing stone, in another by driving a sliotar (hurling ball) down its throat with his hurley. A sliotar (or sliothar - may derive from Irish sliabh, meaning "mountain" and A hurley, also known as a camán (the Irish word and lesser known as hurl, a hurley stick, shtick (jocular Eye dialect Culann is devastated by the loss of his dog, so Sétanta promises he will rear him a replacement, and until it is old enough to do the job, he himself will guard Culann's house. The druid Cathbad announces that his name henceforth will be Cú Chulainn – "Culann's Hound". A druid was a member of the priestly and learned class in the ancient Celtic societies Cathbad ( Old Irish pronunciation /ˈkaθvað/ is the chief Druid in the court of Conchobar mac Nessa in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology [7]

One day at Emain Macha, Cúchulainn overhears Cathbad teaching his pupils. One asks him what that day is auspicious for, and Cathbad replies that any warrior who takes arms that day will have everlasting fame. Cúchulainn, though only seven years old, goes to Conchobar and asks for arms. None of the weapons given to him withstand his strength, until Conchobar gives him his own weapons. But when Cathbad sees this he grieves, because he had not finished his prophesy – the warrior who took arms that day would be famous, but his life would be short. Soon afterwards, in response to a similar prophesy by Cathbad, Cúchulainn demands a chariot from Conchobar, and only the king's own chariot withstands him. He sets off on a foray and kills the three sons of Nechtan Scéne, who had boasted they had killed more Ulstermen than there were Ulstermen still living. In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology Nechtan Scéne ( Nechta Scéne, Nechtan Scéine) was the mother of three warriors named Fannell Foill He returns to Emain Macha in his battle frenzy, and the Ulstermen are afraid he will slaughter them all. Conchobar's wife Mugain leads out the women of Emain, and they bare their breasts to him. Mugain, daughter of Eochaid Feidlech, is the wife of Conchobar mac Nessa, king of Ulster, in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. He averts his eyes, and the Ulstermen wrestle him into a barrel of cold water, which explodes from the heat of his body. They put him in a second barrel, which boils, and a third, which warms to a pleasant temperature. [8]

Emer and Cúchulainn's training

Main article: Tochmarc Emire

In Cúchulainn's youth he is so beautiful the Ulstermen worry that, without a wife of his own, he will steal their wives and ruin their daughters. Tochmarc Emire (" The Wooing of Emer " is one of the longest stories in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. They search all over Ireland for a suitable wife for him, but he will have none but Emer, daughter of Forgall Monach. Emer, or in modern Irish Eimear, daughter of Forgall Monach, is the wife of the hero Cúchulainn in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Forgall Monach or Manach (the dextrous wily is a character in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. However, Forgall is opposed to the match. He suggests that Cúchulainn should train in arms with the renowned warrior-woman Scáthach in the land of Alba (Scotland), hoping the ordeal will be too much for him and he will be killed. Scáthach ("Shadowy" is a figure in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Cúchulainn takes up the challenge. In the meantime, Forgall offers Emer to Lugaid mac Nóis, a king of Munster, but when he hears that Emer loves Cúchulainn, Lugaid refuses her hand. Munster ( Irish: An Mhumhain, ənˈvuːnʲ Cúige Mumhan or Mumha) is the southernmost of the four Provinces of Ireland.

Scáthach teaches Cúchulainn all the arts of war, including the use of the Gáe Bulg, a terrible barbed spear, thrown with the foot, that has to be cut out of its victim. The Gáe Bulg (also Gáe Bulga, Gáe Bolg, Gáe Bolga, meaning "notched spear" "belly spear" His fellow trainees include Ferdiad, who becomes Cúchulainn's best friend and foster-brother. Ferdiad (also Fer Diad, Ferdia, Fear Diadh) son of Damán son of Dáire of the Fir Domnann, is a warrior of Connacht in the During his time there, Scáthach faces a battle against Aífe, her rival and in some versions her twin sister. Aífe ( Modern Irish Aoife /iːfʲə/ is a character from the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Scáthach, knowing Aífe's prowess, fears for Cúchulainn's life and gives him a powerful sleeping potion to keep him from the battle. However, because of Cúchulainn's great strength, it only puts him to sleep for an hour, and he soon joins the fray. He fights Aífe in single combat, and the two are evenly matched, but Cúchulainn distracts her by calling out that Aífe's horses and chariot, the things she values most in the world, have fallen off a cliff, and seizes her. He spares her life on the condition that she call off her enmity with Scáthach, and bear him a son.

Leaving Aífe pregnant, Cúchulainn returns from Scotland fully trained, but Forgall still refuses to let him marry Emer. Cúchulainn storms Forgall's fortress, killing twenty-four of Forgall's men, abducts Emer and steals Forgall's treasure. Forgall himself falls from the ramparts to his death. Conchobar has the "right of the first night" over all marriages of his subjects. Droit de seigneur (dʀwa d(ə sɛɲœʀ French for the lord's right, is a term now popularly used to describe an alleged legal right allowing the He is afraid of Cúchulainn's reaction if he exercises it in this case, but is equally afraid of losing his authority if he does not. Cathbad suggests a solution: Conchobar sleeps with Emer on the night of the wedding, but Cathbad sleeps between them. [9]

Cúchulainn kills his son

Seven years later, Connla, Cúchulainn's son by Aífe, comes to Ireland in search of his father, but Cúchulainn takes him as an intruder and kills him when he refuses to identify himself. Connla or Conlaoch is a character in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, the son of the Ulster champion Cúchulainn and the Scottish [10] The story of Cúchulainn and Connla shows a striking similarity to the legend of Persian hero Rostam who also kills his son Sohrab. The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia For the historical general who fought at the Battle of al-Qādisiyyah for the Sassanid Empire, also mentioned in the Shahnameh, see Rostam Farrokhzād Sohrab or Suhrab ( سهراب) was the son of Rostam, and Rostam was from Samangan who later married Thahamina daughter of Shah Kabul "king Rostam and Cúchulainn share several other characteristics, including killing a ferocious beast at a very young age, their near invincibility in battle, and the manner of their deaths.

Lugaid and Derbforgaill

During his time abroad, Cúchulainn had rescued Derbforgaill, a Scandinavian princess, from being sacrificed to the Fomorians. In Irish mythology, the Fomorians, Fomors, or Fomori ( Irish Fomóiri, Fomóraig) were a semi-divine race who inhabited She falls in love with him, and she and her handmaid come to Ireland in search of him in the form of a pair of swans. Cúchulainn, not realising who she is, shoots her down with his sling, and then saves her life by sucking the stone from her side. Having tasted her blood, he cannot marry her, and gives her to his foster-son Lugaid Riab nDerg. Fosterage, the practice of a family bringing up a child not their own differs from Adoption in that the child's genetic parents not the foster-parents remain the Lugaid Riab nDerg ("the red-striped" son of the three Findemna, triplet sons of Eochu Feidlech, was according to medieval Irish legend Lugaid goes on to become High King of Ireland, but the Lia Fáil (stone of destiny), fails to cry out when he stands on it, so Cúchulainn splits it in two with his sword. A High King of Ireland ( Ard Rí na hÉireann) is a historical or legendary figure who claimed lordship over the whole of Ireland. The Lia Fáil ( Irish for Stone of Destiny) is a Standing stone at the Inauguration Mound (an Forrad on the Hill of Tara in County [11] When Derbforgaill is mutilated by the women of Ulster out of jealousy for her sexual desirability and dies of her wounds, Lugaid dies of grief, and Cúchulainn avenges them by demolishing the house the women are inside, killing 150 of them. [12]

The Cattle Raid of Cooley

Main article: Táin Bó Cúailnge

At the age of seventeen, Cúchulainn single-handedly defends Ulster from the army of Connacht in the Táin Bó Cúailnge. Medb, queen of Connacht, has mounted the invasion to steal the stud bull Donn Cúailnge, and Cúchulainn allows her to take Ulster by surprise because he is with a woman when he should be watching the border. Medb ( Old Irish spelling mɛðv Meḋḃ Meaḋḃ modern Meadhbh mɛɣv reformed modern Irish Meabh, Meːv sometimes Anglicised Maeve or Maev In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology Donn Cúailnge, the Brown Bull of Cooley, was an extremely fertile stud bull over whom the Táin Bó Cúailnge The men of Ulster are disabled by a curse, so Cúchulainn prevents Medb's army from advancing further by invoking the right of single combat at fords. Medb ( Old Irish spelling mɛðv Meḋḃ Meaḋḃ modern Meadhbh mɛɣv reformed modern Irish Meabh, Meːv sometimes Anglicised Maeve or Maev He defeats champion after champion in a stand-off lasting months.

Before one combat a beautiful young woman comes to him, claiming to be the daughter of a king, and offers him her love, but he refuses her. The woman reveals herself as the Morrígan, and in revenge for this slight she attacks him in various animal forms while he is engaged in combat against Lóch mac Mofemis. The Morrígan ("terror" or "phantom queen" or Mórrígan ("great queen" (also known as Morrígu, Morríghan, Mor-Ríoghain As an eel, she trips him in the ford, but he breaks her ribs. As a wolf, she stampedes cattle across the ford, but he puts out her eye with a sling-stone. Finally she appears as a heifer at the head of the stampede, but he breaks her leg with another slingstone. After Cúchulainn finally defeats Lóch, the Morrígan appears to him as an old woman milking a cow, with the same injuries he had given her in her animal forms. She gives him three drinks of milk, and with each drink he blesses her, healing her wounds.

After one particularly arduous combat Cúchulainn lies severely wounded, but is visited by Lugh, who tells him he is his father and heals his wounds. When Cúchulainn wakes up and sees that the boy-troop of Emain Macha have attacked the Connacht army and been slaughtered, he has his most spectacular ríastrad yet:

“ The first warp-spasm seized Cúchulainn, and made him into a monstrous thing, hideous and shapeless, unheard of. His shanks and his joints, every knuckle and angle and organ from head to foot, shook like a tree in the flood or a reed in the stream. His body made a furious twist inside his skin, so that his feet and shins switched to the rear and his heels and calves switched to the front. . . On his head the temple-sinews stretched to the nape of his neck, each mighty, immense, measureless knob as big as the head of a month-old child. . . he sucked one eye so deep into his head that a wild crane couldn't probe it onto his cheek out of the depths of his skull; the other eye fell out along his cheek. His mouth weirdly distorted: his cheek peeled back from his jaws until the gullet appeared, his lungs and his liver flapped in his mouth and throat, his lower jaw struck the upper a lion-killing blow, and fiery flakes large as a ram's fleece reached his mouth from his throat. . . The hair of his head twisted like the tange of a red thornbush stuck in a gap; if a royal apple tree with all its kingly fruit were shaken above him, scarce an apple would reach the ground but each would be spiked on a bristle of his hair as it stood up on his scalp with rage. ”

—Thomas Kinsella (translator), The Táin, Oxford University Press, 1969, pp. Thomas Kinsella (born May 4, 1928) is an Irish poet, Translator, editor and publisher 150-153

He attacks the army and kills hundreds, building walls of corpses.

When his foster-father Fergus mac Róich, now in exile in Medb's court, is sent to face him Cúchulainn agrees to yield, so long as Fergus agrees to return the favour the next time they meet. Finally, he fights a gruelling three-day duel with his best friend and foster-brother, Ferdiad, at a ford that was named Áth Fhir Diadh (Ardee, County Louth) after him. Ferdiad (also Fer Diad, Ferdia, Fear Diadh) son of Damán son of Dáire of the Fir Domnann, is a warrior of Connacht in the Ardee ( is a town in County Louth, Ireland. It is located at the intersection of the N2, N52, and N33 roads. County Louth (Contae Lú is a County on the East coast of Ireland, on the border with Northern Ireland.

The Ulstermen eventually rouse, one by one at first, and finally en masse. The final battle begins. Cúchulainn stays on the sidelines, recuperating from his wounds, until he sees Fergus advancing. He enters the fray and confronts Fergus, who keeps his side of the bargain and yields to him, pulling his forces off the field. Connacht's other allies panic and Medb is forced to retreat. At this inopportune moment she gets her period, and although Fergus forms a guard around her, Cúchulainn breaks through as she is dealing with it and has her at his mercy. However he spares her because he does not think it right to kill women, and guards her retreat back to Connacht as far as Athlone. Athlone ( is a town that lies on the River Shannon near the southern extremity of Lough Ree, Ireland. [13]

Bricriu's Feast

Main article: Fled Bricrenn

The troublemaker Bricriu once incites three heroes, Cúchulainn, Conall Cernach and Lóegaire Búadach, to compete for the champion's portion at his feast. Fled Bricrenn ( Old Irish " Bricriu 's Feast" is a story from the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Briccriu ( Bricriu, Briccirne, Bricne) is a warrior poet and troublemaker in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology. Conall Cernach is a heroic warrior of the Ulaid in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, Lóegaire Búadach (Lóegaire the Victorious is a hapless Ulster warrior who mainly functions as Comic relief The Curadmír or Champion's Portion was an ancient custom referred to in Early Irish literature, whereby the warrior acknowledged as the bravest present In every test that is set Cúchulainn comes out top, but neither Conall nor Lóegaire will accept the result. Cú Roí mac Dáire of Munster settles it by visiting each in the guise of a hideous churl and challenging them to behead him, then allow him to return and behead them in return. In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, Cú Roí ( Cú Ruí, Cú Raoi) mac Dáire is a king of Munster and a sorcerer who Conall and Lóegaire both behead Cú Roí, who picks up his head and leaves, but when the time comes for him to return they flee. Only Cúchulainn is brave and honourable enough to submit himself to Cú Roí's axe; Cú Roí spares him and he is declared champion. [14] This beheading challenge appears in later literature, most notably in the Middle English poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Middle English is the name given by Historical linguistics to the diverse forms of the English language spoken between the Norman invasion of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a late 14th-century Other examples include the 13th century French Life of Caradoc and the English romances The Turke and Gowin, and The Carle off Carlile. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Caradoc Vreichvras (more correctly in Welsh, Caradog Freichfras, meaning Caradoc Strong (or Stout Arm) was a semi-legendary ancestor to the kings Gawain (ˈgɔːwɪn or /gəˈweɪn/ also called Gwalchmei Gawan Gauvain Walewein etc

The Death of Cú Roí

Cú Roí, again in disguise, joins the Ulstermen on a raid on Inis Fer Falga (probably the Isle of Man), in return for his choice of the spoils. Inis Fer Falga is a Legendary Island, mentioned in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. The Isle of Man (Ellan Vannin ˈɛlʲən ˈvanɪn or Mann (Mannin) is a self-governing Crown dependency, located in the Irish Sea at the geographical They steal treasure, and abduct Blathnát, daughter of the island's king, who loves Cúchulainn. Blathnát is a figure in Irish legend. Her father is either Mend of Inis Fer Falga (identified as the Isle of Man) Iuchna or Midhir But when Cú Roí is asked to choose his share, he chooses Blathnát. Cúchulainn tries to stop him taking her, but Cú Roí cuts his hair and drives him into the ground up to his armpits before escaping, taking Blathnát with him. Like other heroes such as the Biblical Samson, Duryodhana in the Mahabharata and the Welsh Llew Llaw Gyffes, Cú Roí can only be killed in certain contrived circumstances, which vary in different versions of the story. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin Samson, Shimshon ( Hebrew: שמשון, Standard Šimšon Tiberian Šimšôn; meaning In the Hindu epic the Mahābhārata, Duryodhana (दुर्योधन is the eldest son of the blind king Dhritarashtra by Queen Gandhari Welsh mythology, the remnants of the Mythology of the pre Christian Britons, has come down to us in much altered form in medieval Welsh manuscripts Lleu Llaw Gyffes (/ɬeɨ ɬau gəfes/ sometimes misspelled Llew Llaw Gyffes is a figure of Welsh mythology. Blathnat discovers how to kill him and betrayes him to Cúchulainn, who does the deed. However Ferchertne, Cú Roí's poet, enraged at the betrayal of his lord, grabs Blathnát and leaps off a cliff, killing her and himself. [15]

Emer's only jealousy

Cúchulainn rebuked by Emer (1905 illustration by H. R. Millar)
Cúchulainn rebuked by Emer (1905 illustration by H. R. Millar)
Main article: Serglige Con Culainn

Cúchulainn has many lovers, but Emer's only jealousy comes when he falls in love with Fand, wife of Manannán mac Lir. Serglige Con Culainn ( Old Irish: "The Sick-Bed" or "Wasting Sickness of Cúchulainn " also known as Oenét Emire Fand is an early Irish sea goddess later described as a "Queen of the Fairies " In Celtic mythology, Manannán mac Lir is the god of the sea He is often seen as a Psychopomp, and considered to have strong connections to the Otherworld Manannán has left her and she has been attacked by three Fomorians who want to control the Irish Sea. In Irish mythology, the Fomorians, Fomors, or Fomori ( Irish Fomóiri, Fomóraig) were a semi-divine race who inhabited The Irish Sea ( Irish: Muir Éireann or Muir Meann; Scottish Gaelic: Muir Eireann Welsh: Môr Iwerddon, Cúchulainn agrees to help defend her as long as she marries him. She agrees reluctantly, but they fall in love when they met. Manannán knows their relationship is doomed because Cúchulainn is mortal and Fand is a fairy; Cúchulainn's presence would destroy the fairies. Emer, meanwhile, tries to kill her rival, but when she sees the strength of Fand's love for Cúchulainn she decides to give him up to her. Fand, touched by Emer's magnanimity, decides to return to her own husband. Manannan shakes his cloak between Cúchulainn and Fand, ensuring the two will never meet again, and Cúchulainn and Emer drink a potion to wipe the whole affair from their memories. [16]

Cúchulainn's death

The figure of Cúchulainn was used to commommorate the Easter Rising on the ten shilling coin
The figure of Cúchulainn was used to commommorate the Easter Rising on the ten shilling coin

Medb conspires with Lugaid, son of Cú Roí, Erc, son of Cairbre Nia Fer, and the sons of others Cúchulainn had killed, to draw him out to his death. The Easter Rising (Éirí Amach na Cásca was a rebellion staged in Ireland in Easter Week, 1916 In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, Lugaid mac Con Roí was the son of Cú Roí mac Dáire Erc mac Cairpri is a character from the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Cairbre Nia Fer ( Niafer, Niaper) was the King of Tara in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology. His fate is sealed by his breaking of the geasa (taboos) upon him. In Irish mythology and folklore a geis ( plural geasa) is an idiosyncratic Taboo, whether of obligation or prohibition similar to being under Cúchulainn's geasa included a ban against eating dog meat, but in early Ireland there was a powerful general taboo against refusing hospitality, so when an old crone offers him a meal of dog meat, he has no choice to break his geis. In this way he is spiritually weakened for the fight ahead of him.

Lugaid has three magical spears made, and it is prophesied that a king will fall by each of them. With the first he kills Cúchulainn's charioteer Láeg, king of chariot drivers. Láeg, or Lóeg, son of Riangabar is the Charioteer and constant companion of the hero Cúchulainn in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology With the second he kills Cúchulainn's horse, Liath Macha, king of horses. Liath Macha ("grey of Macha)" and Dub Sainglend ("black of Saingliu" were the two chariot-horses of the hero Cúchulainn in the With the third he hits Cúchulainn, mortally wounding him. Cúchulainn ties himself to a standing stone in order to remain standing. This stone is traditionally identified as one still standing at Knockbridge, County Louth. Knockbridge ( Cnoc Bríde, "Bridget's Hill" in Irish) is a small village situated about 4 [17] Only when a raven lands on his shoulder do his enemies believe he is dead. Raven is the common name given to the largest species of Passerine Birds in the Genus Corvus. Lugaid cuts off his head, but as he does so Cúchulainn's sword falls from his hand and cuts Lugaid's hand off.

Conall Cernach had sworn that if Cúchulainn died before him he would avenge him before sunset, and when he hears Cúchulainn is dead he pursues Lugaid. Conall Cernach is a heroic warrior of the Ulaid in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. As Lugaid has lost a hand, Conall fights him with one hand tucked into his belt, but he only beats him after his horse takes a bite out of Lugaid's side. He also kills Erc, and takes his head back to Tara, where his sister Achall dies of grief for her brother. The Hill of Tara ( Irish Teamhair na Rí, "Hill of the Kings" located near the River Boyne, is an archaeological complex that runs In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, Achall, the daughter of Cairbre Nia Fer, committed Suicide (or died of grief after her brother [18]

Later stories

The story is told that when Saint Patrick was trying to convert king Lóegaire to Christianity, the ghost of Cúchulainn appeared in his chariot, warning him of the torments of hell. Saint Patrick (Patricius Irish: Naomh Pádraig) was a Roman Britain -born Christian Missionary and is the Patron saint Lóegaire ( Floruit 5th century (died c 462 also Lóeguire, is said to have been been a son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings [19]

Appearance

Cúchulainn's appearance is occasionally remarked on in the texts. He is usually described as small, youthful and beardless. He is often described as dark: in The Wooing of Emer and Bricriu's Feast he is "a dark, sad man, comeliest of the men of Erin",[20] in The Intoxication of the Ulstermen he is a "little, black-browed man",[21] and in The Phantom Chariot of Cú Chulainn "[h]is hair was thick and black, and smooth as though a cow had licked it. Fled Bricrenn ( Old Irish " Bricriu 's Feast" is a story from the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Mesca Ulad ( English: The Intoxication of the Ulaid; the Ulstermen is a narrative from the Ulster Cycle preserved in the . . in his head his eyes gleamed swift and grey";[22] yet the prophetess Fedelm in the Táin Bó Cúailnge describes him as blond. See also Fedelm Noíchrothach Fedelm is a female poet and prophet in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. [23] The most elaborate description of his appearance comes later in the Táin:

“ And certainly the youth Cúchulainn mac Sualdaim was handsome as he came to show his form to the armies. You would think he had three distinct heads of hair – brown at the base, blood-red in the middle, and a crown of golden yellow. This hair was settled strikingly into three coils on the cleft at the back of his head. Each long loose-flowing strand hung down in shining splendour over his shoulders, deep-gold and beautiful and fine as a thread of gold. A hundred neat red-gold curls shone darkly on his neck, and his head was covered with a hundred crimson threads matted with gems. He had four dimples in each cheek – yellow, green, crimson and blue – and seven bright pupils, eye-jewels, in each kingly eye. Each foot had seven toes and each hand seven fingers, the nails with the grip of a hawk's claw or a gryphon's clench. ”

—Thomas Kinsella (translator), The Táin, Oxford University Press, 1969, pp. 156-158

Cultural depictions of Cúchulainn

Images

The image of Cúchulainn is invoked by both Irish nationalists and Ulster unionists. Irish nationalism (Náisiúnachas Éireannach refers to political and sociological movements and sentiment that embodies a love for Irish ancestry, culture and language and Unionism in Ireland, is a belief in the desirability of a full constitutional and institutional relationship between Ireland and Great Britain based on the terms and Irish nationalists see him as the most important Celtic Irish hero, and thus he is important to their whole culture. A bronze sculpture of the dying Cúchulainn by Oliver Sheppard stands in the Dublin GPO in commemoration of the Easter Rising of 1916. Dublin statues are a significant feature of the cityscape of Dublin and many have acquired nicknames The General Post Office (GPO (Ard-Oifig an Phoist in Dublin is the headquarters of the Irish postal service An Post, and Dublin's principal post The Easter Rising (Éirí Amach na Cásca was a rebellion staged in Ireland in Easter Week, 1916 By contrast, unionists see him as an Ulsterman defending the province from enemies to the south: in Belfast, for example, he is depicted in a mural on Highfield Drive, and was formerly depicted in a mural on the Newtownards Road, as a "defender of Ulster from Irish attacks", both murals ironically based on the Sheppard sculpture. Belfast ( is the capital city of Northern Ireland and the seat of government in Northern Ireland. [24] He is also depicted in murals in nationalist parts of the city and many nationalist areas of Northern Ireland. [25]

Samuel Beckett once asked a friend to go to the GPO and "measure the height of the ground to Cúchulainn’s arse", as Neary in his novel Murphy wished to "engage with the arse of the statue of Cúchulainn, the ancient Irish hero, patron saint of pure ignorance and crass violence, by banging his head against it. Samuel Barclay Beckett (13 April 1906 – 22 December 1989 was an Irish Writer, Dramatist and poet "[26] The statue's image was also used on the ten shilling coin produced for 1966. Events February 13 - The Bishop of Clonfert protests over the content of The Late Late Show.

A statue of Cúchulainn carrying the body of Fer Diad stands in Ardee, County Louth, traditionally the site of their combat in the Táin Bó Cúailnge. Ardee ( is a town in County Louth, Ireland. It is located at the intersection of the N2, N52, and N33 roads. County Louth (Contae Lú is a County on the East coast of Ireland, on the border with Northern Ireland. [27]

Literature

Augusta, Lady Gregory retold many of the legends of Cúchulainn in her 1902 book Cuchulain of Muirthemne, which closely paraphrased the originals but glossed over some of the more extreme content. Isabella Augusta Lady Gregory (15 March 1852 – 22 May 1932 née Isabella Augusta Persse, was an Irish Dramatist and folklorist. Cuchulain of Muirthemne featured an introduction by William Butler Yeats, who wrote several pieces based on the legend, including the plays On Baile's Strand (1904), The Green Helmet (1910), At the Hawk's Well (1917), The Only Jealousy of Emer (1919) and The Death of Cuchulain (1939), and a poem, Cuchulain's Fight with the Sea (1892). At the Hawk's Well is a one act play by William Butler Yeats, first performed in 1916 and published in 1917 [17] Modern novels which retell Cúchulainn's story include Morgan Llywelyn's 1989 historical novel Red Branch, Randy Lee Eickhoff's series of adaptations, and Manfred Böckl's German language novel, Der Hund des Culann. Morgan Llywelyn (born 1937 is an American -born Irish Author of Historical fantasy, Historical fiction, and historical

Music

Other cultural references

References

  1. ^ Literally "the act of contorting, a distortion" (Dictionary of the Irish Language, Compact Edition, Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, 1990, p. Dictionary of the Irish Language Based Mainly on Old and Middle Irish Materials (also called "the DIL " published by the Royal Irish Academy The Royal Irish Academy ( RIA) (Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann is an all-Ireland, independent academic body that promotes study and excellence in the Sciences 507)
  2. ^ A. G. Van Hamel (ed), Compert Con Culainn and Other Stories, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1978, pp. 3-8
  3. ^ Jean Markale, The Epics of Celtic Ireland: Ancient Tales of Mystery and Magic, 2000, p. Jean Markale (May 23 1928-) is the pen name of Jean Bertrand, a French writer poet radio show host lecturer and retired Paris high school French 76
  4. ^ Tom Peete Cross & Clark Harris Slover (eds), Ancient Irish Tales, Henry Holt & Company, 1936 (reprinted by Barnes & Noble, 1996), pp. 134-136
  5. ^ Thomas Kinsella, The Táin, Oxford University Press, 1969, ISBN 0192810901, pp. Thomas Kinsella (born May 4, 1928) is an Irish poet, Translator, editor and publisher 23-25
  6. ^ Kinsella 1969, pp. 76-78.
  7. ^ Kinsella 1969, pp. 82-84; Cecile O'Rahilly, Táin Bó Cúalnge from the Book of Leinster, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1967, pp. Dr Cecile O'Rahilly (Sisile Ní Rathaille born 17 December 1894, Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland; died 2 May 1980 159-163
  8. ^ Kinsella 1969, pp. 84-92
  9. ^ Kinsella 1969, pp. 25-39
  10. ^ Kinsella 1969, pp. 39-45
  11. ^ Lebor Gabála Érenn §57
  12. ^ Carl Marstrander (ed. & trans. ), "The Deaths of Lugaid and Derbforgaill", Ériu 5, 1911, pp. 201-218
  13. ^ Kinsella 1969, pp. 52-253
  14. ^ Cross & Slover 1936, pp. 254-280
  15. ^ Cross & Slover 1936, pp. 328-332
  16. ^ Cross & Slover 1936, pp. 176-198
  17. ^ a b James MacKillop, Dictionary of Celtic Mythology, Oxford University Press, 1998, p. 104
  18. ^ Cross & Slover 1936, pp. 333-340
  19. ^ Cross & Slover 1936, pp. 347-354
  20. ^ Cross & Slover 1936, p. 156, 265
  21. ^ Cross & Slover 1936, p. 227
  22. ^ Cross & Slover 1936, p. 348
  23. ^ Kinsella 1969, p. 61
  24. ^ Photographs of the Newtownards Road mural and the Highfield Drive mural
  25. ^ Photos of murals on Ardoyne Avenue and Falcarragh Road
  26. ^ "Colm Tóibín on Beckett’s Irish Actors", London Review of Books Vol 29 No 7, 5 April 2007
  27. ^ Statue of Cuchulainn & Ferdia in Ardee
  28. ^ Dunloy Cuchullains page at Ulster GAA Council website
  29. ^ Cuchulain at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
  30. ^ Andromeda - "The Honey Offering" - Episode 119

Links to texts in translation

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