The Táin Bó Cuailnge, centre-piece of the eighth-century Ulster cycle of heroic tales, is Ireland's greatest epic. It tells the story of a great cattle-raid, the invasion of Ulster by the armies of Medb and Ailill, queen and king of Connacht, and...
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The Táin Bó Cuailnge, centre-piece of the eighth-century Ulster cycle of heroic tales, is Ireland's greatest epic. It tells the story of a great cattle-raid, the invasion of Ulster by the armies of Medb and Ailill, queen and king of Connacht, and their allies, seeking to carry off the great Brown Bull of Cuailnge. The hero of the tale is Cuchulainn, the Hound of Ulster, who resists the invaders single-handed while Ulster's warriors lie sick. Thomas Kinsella presents a complete and living version of the story. His translation is based on the partial texts in two medieval manuscripts, with eleme
Cover; Contents; Translator's Note and Acknowledgements; Artist's Note; Introduction; Maps; I: The Ireland of the Táin; II The Route of the Táin; III In Conaille and Cuailnge; Some Recommended Books; Pronunciation of Irish Words; BEFORE THE TAIN; How the Táin Bó Cuailnge was found again; Conchobor:; How Conchobor was Begotten and how he took the Kingship of Ulster; The Pangs of Ulster; Exile of the Sons of Uisliu; Cúchulainn:; How Cúchulainn was Begotten; Cúhulainn's Courtship of Emer and his Training in Arms with Scáthach; The Death of Aife's One Son
The Quarrel of the Two Pig-keepers and how the Bulls were BegottenTHE TAIN; I: The Pillow Talk; II: The Táin Bó Cuailnge begins; III: The Army Encounters Cúchulainn; IV: Cúhulainn's Boyhood Deeds; V: 'death death!'; VI: From Finnabair Chuailnge to Conaille; VII: Single Combat; VIII: The Bull is Found. Further Single Combats. Cúchulainn and the Morrígan; IX: The Pact is Broken. The Great Carnage; X: Combat with Fergus and others; XI: Combat of Ferdia and Cúchulainn; XII: Ulster Rises from its Pangs; XIII: The Companies Advance; XIV: The Last Battle; Notes on the Text;
