Book Description

Herein, Eleanor Hull chronicles the life of Cuchulain in 30 chapters in what is now considered to be a classic volume. This volume is further enhanced with 9 full page plates illustrated by Stephen Reid. Cuchulain is an Irish mythological hero who appears in the stories of the Ulster Cycle, as well as in Scottish and Manx folklore. He is believed to be an incarnation of the god Lugh, who is also his father. His mother is the mortal Deichtine, sister of Conchobar mac Nessa. Born Sétanta, he gained his better-known name as a child, after killing Culann's fierce guard-dog in self-defence and offered to take its place until a replacement could be reared. At the age of seventeen he defended Ulster single-handedly against the armies of queen Medb of Connacht in the famous Táin Bó Cúailnge ("Cattle Raid of Cooley"). It was prophesied that his great deeds would give him everlasting fame, but his life would be a short one. He is known for his terrifying battle frenzy, or ríastrad (translated by Thomas Kinsella as "warp spasm" and by Ciaran Carson as "torque"), 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. In more modern times, Cú Chulainn is more often referred to as the "Hound of Ulster" TAGS: folklore, fairy tales, celtic myths, legends, children’s stories, fables, celt, Ireland, Irish, Scotland, Isle of Man, Conor, king of Ulster, queen meave, woman-seer, Setanta, boy-corps, king conor, Cuchulain, arms, first feats, championship, adventures, shadow land, woo, wife, brown bull, cooley, refuse, plucking out, four pronged pole, deer, ill-luck, etarcomal, fate, spits, holly wood, combat, ferdia, fall, awake, end, rising out, humbling, swan maidens, fairy land, fairyland, Deirdre, contentions, contend, bring up, sleep wanderer, wiles of king conor, sorrowful, death, usna’s sons, son, conla, hound at bay, fame, outlive, life, red rout, queen Medb, Connacht, Lugh, father, Conchobar mac Nessa, Táin Bó Cúailnge, Cattle Raid of Cooley, charioteer, Laeg, Liath Macha, Dub Sainglend