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Táin Bó Cúailnge
Anonymous (Ulster Cycle)
Táin Bó Cúailnge
Anonymous (Ulster Cycle) · c. 8th century CE (oral tradition; earliest manuscripts 12th century CE) · Old Irish
Old Irish
The central epic of the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, telling how Queen Medb of Connacht invaded Ulster to seize the Brown Bull of Cooley, and how the young hero Cu Chulainn held the province alone against her army.
Notable Academic Translations
Thomas Kinsella (1969)Ciaran Carson (2007)
Recommended Reading Order
Thomas Kinsella's 1969 translation is the classic English starting point; Ciaran Carson's 2007 Penguin Classics translation is a livelier modern alternative.
Canonical Figures in this Text
Key heroes and divinities who feature prominently across the chapters of this work
Heroes & Mortals
Deities & Immortals
Key Dramatic Scenes
Pivotal passages and mythological turning points recorded in this canon
- I
The Pillow Talk
(the prologue)Queen Medb goes to war with Ulster after a boasting contest with her husband over their wealth turns on the Brown Bull of Cooley's equal.
- II
Cu Chulainn's Single Combats
(the main cattle-raid narrative)With Ulster's warriors disabled by a curse, the young Cu Chulainn holds off Medb's army alone in a series of ford duels.
- III
The Death of Ferdiad
(the Ferdiad episode)Cu Chulainn is forced to kill his foster-brother and friend Ferdiad in a grueling multi-day duel.
- IV
The Battle of the Bulls
(the conclusion)The Brown Bull of Cooley and Connacht's White-Horned Bull fight to the death as Ulster's men finally rise to rout Medb's army.