An Táin Bó Cúailnge

An Táin Bó Cúalinge or The Cattle Raid of Cooley is often described as the 'Irish Iliad'. It is the pre-eminent tale among all the ancient Irish tales and contains all the elements one would expect in an heroic epic tale. The story of the Táin (as the it is generally referred) is central to the group of tales known as the Ulster Cycle, a collection of stories that focuses on the live of the heroes of Ulaid, the 'Knights of the Red Branch', among whom Cú Chulainn was the pivotal figure.
The story of the Táin has been in existence for at least 1300 years and was probably being recalled by storytellers following an oral tradition for many hundred years before it was ever transcribed by Christian monks. A scribe who was responsible for writing the 12th Century version in the Book of Leinster wrote the following words:
 "But I who have written this story, or rather this fable,give no credence to the various incidents related in it. For some things in it are the deceptions of demons, others poetic figments; some are probable, others improbable; while still others are intended for the delectation of foolish men."

The Táin is the story of a great raid made by Mebh (Maeve) Queen of Connaght and her allies against the men of Ulaid (Ulster) to claim the Donn Bó Cúaligne, (the Brown Bull of Cooley). At the time of the raid the heroes of Ulster are laid low by a debilitating curse for there mistreatment of the Goddess Macha in an earlier tale. The Kingdom of Ulster is left only with Cú Chulainn to defend its borders, as, for reasons of his divine lineage (he is the son of Lú, the Celtic Sun God), Cú Chulainn is not afflicted by the curse.

The tale describes Cú Chulainn's heroic defence of Ulster and the great battle that ensues between the army of Queen Mebh and the army of Conchobar, the Ulster King, when the army of Ulster rises for the curse.



There are many modern retellings of the tale, some written in a simple style and suitable for young readers but to get a true flavour of the poetry and beautiful language and violence of the tale I recommend either Thomas Kinsella's version, with fantastic artwork by Louis Le Brocuy, or the recent translation by Ciaran Carson.

I will return to the Táin in later postings and for those who have not read this epic tale I may provide more information but I have left the retelling of the tale to true poets such as Carson and Kinsella. So if you haven't already READ IT!!

Slieve Gullion Mountain

Setanta Tours offer guided heritage walking, cycling and coach trips of many of the sites mentioned in the Táin and the Ulster cycle http://www.setantatours.com/ for details.