Cú Chulainn

• Birth of Cú Chulainn

• Hound of Culann

• Wooing of Emer

• Bricriu's Feast

• Deirdre and the Sons of Uisnech

• Death of Connla

• Cattle Raid of Cuailnge

• Sickness of Cú Chulainn

• Death of Cú Chulainn

• The End of the Cycle

Genealogy

House of the Red Branch (Ulaid)

Birth of Cú Chulainn

Cathbad was the Ari-Druid of Ulaid and an adviser for King Conchobar of Ulster. Cathbad married Maga and was the father of three daughters. One of his daughters, named Deichtine, vanished with her 50 companions. For several years, Conchobar sent men to find Deichtine.

One day, Conchobar was hunting birds with his followers including Fergus Mac Roich, the king's uncle. When the weather changed and it started to snow, the king sent a couple of men to find shelter. They found a house and stayed overnight. Conchobar discovered that Deichtine was in the house. They were told that she and her companions were spirited away by Lugh Lamfada. Before the king and his followers left the house, they discovered a child belonging to Deichtine and Lugh.

Conchobar and Fergus decided to raise the child, and left them in the care of Findchaem (Finchoom), also a daughter of Cathbad and the mother of Conall Cernach. They named the infant Sétanta (Setanta).

Hound of Culann

One evening, Conchobar went with his warriors to visit and have dinner with a friend named Culann, a master-smith. The king invited Setanta (Cu Chulainn) to come along, but the boy wanted to play hurley (hockey?), and told Conchobar he would turn up later when he finished playing.

Culann was becoming quite rich and owned a huge mansion in Quelgny. Every night he allowed his great hound loose on his property. The hound was fearsome and deadly; Culann had no fear of anyone who wished to rob him, with the hound guarding his manor.

After a few hours of feasting, the king and his retinue forgot about Setanta until they heard Culann's hound baying at the stranger. Then the host and guests heard fighting. The men in the mansion rushed out to find Setanta standing over the dead hound. The hound was killed by the hurley-stick that the boy held in his hands.

Conchobar and the other guests cheered the boy for his bravery, but Culann was distressed that he had lost his best hound. Setanta promised the smith that he would guard his property himself with a spear and shield for a year, while he trained the dead hound's pup to be a better guard dog. Again, the king and his retinue cheered at Setanta.

That night, Setanta's name was forever remembered as Cú Chulainn, which means the "Hound of Culann".

Wooing of Emer

When Cú Chulainn (Cu Chulainn) became old enough to begin his training, the youth fell in love with Emer, the daughter of the chieftain Fogall Monach. Cú Chulainn set about to woo her. He drove his chariot to Dun Fogall. Cú Chulainn discovered that she would not marry any man without him having performed a heroic deed.

Cú Chulainn decide he would train under a woman warrior named Scáthach. Scathach lived in Skatha (Skye), the "Land of the Shadow". Many heroes sought training from her, but few ever passed her tests.

Cú Chulainn had to cross the mire "Plain of Ill-luck" and avoid the creatures of "Perilous Glen", before he arrived at the "Bridge of Leap". Here, Cú Chulainn met his friend Fer Díad MacDamann, the young but giant Firbolg warrior.

In the middle of the gorge, there was a moving platform that moved up and down. A warrior had to leap onto this platform before he could leap again to the safety of the other side of the gorge. Either the warrior was thrown back where he started, or he would fall into water below that was infested with sea-monsters. Neither Fer Diad nor the other warriors with him made it to the other side of the gorge.

After resting for a while, Cú Chulainn decided to make the leap. Three times he leaped to the middle platform, each time he was thrown. The fourth tremendous leap, Cú Chulainn succeeded in passing the Bridge of Leap.

Having succeeded in all the perilous tests, Scáthach agreed to teach Cú Chulainn her martial arts. Before a year went by, Cú Chulainn learned new fighting skills and warfare. He stayed with the woman warrior until Scáthach decided to teach him her final skill, the gae bolg.

The way I understand it, the deadly spear was thrown by the toes of the foot. By piercing your enemy in the belly, the spear would fill almost every part of foe's body with barbs. Cú Chulainn mastered the skill of the gae bolg.

Before he was due to leave, war broke out between Scáthach and another woman warrior named Aífe. Even Scáthach was wary of facing Aife, who was the strongest and most fearsome warrior in Britain.

Though Scáthach did not want Cú Chulainn to come into battle with her, he came anyway. Cú Chulainn challenged Aífe to mortal combat. Before the duel began, the young hero learned from Scáthach that the thing Aífe cherished the most was her chariot and horses.

In the fighting, Aífe was more than a match for Cú Chulainn. Soon Aífe managed to disarm Cú Chulainn of all his weapons. Before Aífe could dispatch the unarmed hero, Cú Chulainn exclaimed that her horses had fallen. Momentarily distracted Aífe, Cú Chulainn leaped upon her, disarming her and threatening to kill the woman warrior. Cú Chulainn agreed to spare her, if Aífe agreed not to attack his mentor again. Aífe agreed.

Cú Chulainn stayed longer, and he and Aífe became lovers. When she fell pregnant, Cú Chulainn gave her a ring that Aífe was to give to their son. Cú Chulainn told her to send their son to him when he was old enough to wear the ring. Cú Chulainn put a geis upon the unborn son. The geis she had placed on their son named Connla was that he was to never reveal his name, and to never refuse combat or a challenge. Years later, this geis would have tragic consequences upon Connla.

Cú Chulainn returned to Ireland with his charioteer Laeg. Alone, he challenged and fought against the sons of Nechtan. In a berserker rage, all of the sons of Nechtan were killed by the youth; he lopped off all their heads which he kept as trophies. Still suffering from the battle fury, he captured many animals alive, tying them to his chariot before returning to Emain Macha.

Conchobar, realising that many people would die because Cú Chulainn was still raging. The king ordered all the beautiful women to meet Cú Chulainn outside the gates, naked! When Cú Chulainn became embarrassed at seeing so many naked women, this served to distract the young hero. While he was distracted, the warriors of Emain Macha seized him and threw him in a vat of cold water. The water boiled in the vat before exploding. Several times he was dunked down in cold water, until the battle-rage left him and he regained his composure.

Having performed a heroic deed, Cú Chulainn set about wooing Emer again. Her father learned of Cú Chulainn's interest in his daughter, but Fogall Monach did not want the hero as his son-in-law. Fogall locked the dun gates, but Cú Chulainn leaped onto the high wall of the dun and attacked the warriors. Fogall fell to his death when he tried to escape from the youth.

Cú Chulainn carried Emer off and returned to Emain Macha, where they were married.

Bricriu's Feast

In Ulster, a man named Bricriu, who enjoyed causing strife among people, invited the great warriors of Ireland to a feast. Bricriu wanted to know who was the greatest hero in Ireland. Cu Chulainn, Conall Cernach and Laegaire Buadach were the most popular claimants. To decide which of these warriors was the greatest, a giant or demon named Uath (Horror) appeared and challenged them to a beheading game.

Each would be allowed to behead the demon, but face his axe the next day. Conall and Laegaire would not accept this challenge. Cú Chulainn accepted the challenge and beheaded the demon. The demon stood up and retrieved his head before leaving them.

The next day, the demon returned with his axe and demanded that Cú Chulainn fulfill his obligation. Reluctantly, Cú Chulainn placed his head on the chopping block. Three times the demon swung his axe towards the hero's neck, but each time the demon deliberately missed.

The demon then claimed to the people in the hall that Cú Chulainn was the greatest champion in Ireland.

The beheading game would later reappear in a tale of Arthurian legend. In this tale, Gawain was the hero. See Sir Gawain and the Green Knight for the story.

Deirdre and the Sons of Uisnech

The tale of Deirdre and the sons of Uisnech is the most famous of Irish romance. This romance of a love triangle would influence other tales, such as The Pursuit of Diarmait and Grainne of the Fenian Cycle and the legend of Tristan.

There are however two main versions to this romance, which are quite different.

I am more familiar with Longes mac nUislenn or "The Exile of the Sons of Uisliu", which can be found in the manuscript known as the Book of Leinster (1160) and in the Yellow Book of Lecan c. 1300. However, it was probably first composed in the 9th century. This version can be found in several books that I have, Early Irish Myths and Sagas (translated by Jeffrey Gantz), The Tain (translated by Thomas Kinsella), and Ancient Irish Tales (translated by T. P. Cross and C. H. Slover). Here, the heroes Cu Chulainn and Conall Cernach are absent.

The other version, titled Oidheadh Chloinne hUisneach or "The Violent Death of the Children of Uisneach", is actually a part of Three Sorrows of Storytelling. A version of this can be found in the following translations: Oidheadh Chloinne hUisneach: The Violent Death of the Children of Uisneach (translated by Caoimhin Mac Giolla Leith), and Old Celtic Romances (translated by P. W. Joyce).

I will tell both versions, but will begin with Longes mac nUislenn.

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A chieftain named Fedlimid Mac Daill was soon to become the father of Deirdre. The chieftain held a feast with Conchobar and his warriors as his guests. As the guests were about to retire, a despairing scream could be heard throughout the house of Fedlimid. It came from the womb of Fedlimid's wife.

When Conchobar asked for divination of the girl's future, his chief druid Cathbad told the king that she would become the fairest woman in Ireland but she would bring great sorrow to Ulster if she were to be wooed by or marry a king. Cathbad warned the king that his own son would die, and another son of Conchobar would be exiled along with Fergus Mac Roich and a number of Ulster's best warriors.

For their king's sake, the warriors thought that it would be in "Ulster's best interest" to kill the girl when she was born. But Conchobar foolishly declared that the girl would not marry any king but him. Conchobar hoped to marry and bed the girl, when she grew to marriageable age. Conchobar was known for his sexual appetites and could not pass up a woman of great beauty.

Conchobar had Deirdre brought up in the dun, where she was not to see any man but him and her foster father. As Deirdre grew into fairest maiden in Ireland, the girl had a dream of marrying a young man with dark hair, red cheeks and white body. Deirdre didn't want to marry a man who was old enough to be her father (meaning Conchobar), even if he was a king. Her nurse Leborcham told the girl that her description matched with Noísi (Noíse), son of Uisnech. Noísi was the one of the warriors of the Red Branch, cousin to the heroes Cu Chulainn and Conall Cernach. Noísi had two equally brave brothers: Ainhé and Ardan. Deirdre vowed that she would marry Noísi (Noisi), not Conchobar.

When Noísi arrived one day, Deirdre persuaded Noísi to take her away and marry her. She imposed a geis upon the hero. Noísi fell in love with her and agreed to help her. With her brothers' help, Noísi and Deirdre fled from Ulster. Conchobar, learning of this, sent his warriors to find them. At first, the sons of Uisnech moved from one place to another in Ireland, but with increasing dangers of being trapped by Conchobar's men, they were forced to cross over to Alba (Scotland).

There they were married in Alba (Scotland), at first serving the king of the Picts. Because of her great beauty, they tried to keep Deirdre hidden, but the Pictish king discovered the beauty of Deirdre from one of his advisers. Deirdre discovered the Pictish king's intention to kill her husband and his brothers, so she warned Noísi. Noísi and his brothers were forced to flee from the new danger. They hid and lived on a tiny, wooded island.

When news reached Emain Macha that the Alban warriors were now interested in capturing the fugitives, friends and kinsmen of the sons of Uisnech urged Conchobar to make peace with them allow them to come home. The king agreed. A messenger was sent to Noísi, which he only agreed if Fergus Mac Roich, Cormac Connloinges and Dubthach Dóeltenga would guarantee their safety and protection. Noísi refused to listen to Deirdre, when she suspected treachery from Conchobar.

(It should be noted that the other version actually started here, but getting back to the story....)

Fergus and his companions were happy that Conchobar would make peace, so he and his envoy escorted Deirdre and the sons of Uisnech back to Ulster. However, upon their arrival, a chieftain named Baruch invited Fergus to a feast, which he couldn't refuse because of his geis. The sons of Uisnech had vowed earlier that they would not eat their first meal back in Ulster until they had eaten at Conchobar's own table. So Noísi and his wife continued on the journey with Fiacha, Fergus' son, in charge.

Deirdre still had misgivings, and feared treachery. She favoured returning to the island they had left, but no one would listen to her warnings.

Fiacha escorted the sons of Uisnech to Emain Macha. Eogan Mac Durthacht met them outside of Emain Macha, with hired mercenaries. Eogan and Conchobar were enemies, but they had recently made peace between them. Eogan agreed to slay Noísi and his brothers.

Eogan greeted Noísi by running his spear through him, breaking Noísi's back. Fiacha tried to save him by pulling Noísi down and protecting him with his own body. Eogan gave another mighty thrust of his spear, killing both Noísi and Fergus' son. Noísi's brothers and other warriors were also killed in the fighting. Deirdre was brought to the king with hands bound behind her back.

When Fergus, Cormac and Dubthach heard of their king's treachery and violation of the surety, they entered Emain Macha and attacked Conchobar's household. Fergus killed Traigthrén, Traigthrén's son and his brother, while Dubthach killed Maine, Conchobar's son, and Fiachna, son of Conchobar's sister Fedelm. Dubthach also massacred all of the maidens in Emain Macha, while Fergus burned down Emain Macha.

Three thousand warriors joined Fergus in exile, including Cormac Connloinges, living in the court of Ailill and Medb in Cruachan, Connacht. This was the reason why 3000 of Ulster's exiles later fought together with Medb in the Cattle Raid at Cuailnge (Tain Bo Cuailnge). Thereby, Cathbad's prophecy was fulfilled.

For a whole year, Deirdre lived in Emain Macha, but she refused to eat much nor would she sleep, and she never once smiled. No music or entertainment could comfort her, since Noísi had been treacherously killed. For a whole year, she lamented for Noísi and his two faithful brothers, Ainhé and Ardan.

When Conchobar tried to comfort her, she stingingly rebuked him. When Conchobar asked her who she hated most, Deirdre replied, "you and Eogan Mac Durthacht." Conchobar taunted her, deciding to force her to live with Eogan for a year.

The next day, as Eogan drove his chariot out of Emain Macha with Deirdre beside him, she bent over so that her head was dashed against a boulder, beside the dirt road. She was instantly killed.

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Alternative version:

The Oidheadh Chloinne hUisneach ("The Violent Death of the Children of Uisneach") begin with Conchobar holding a feast at Emain Macha, where some of his warriors were petitioning that the king should make peace with Noísi and his brothers.

Conchobar agreed, because he had a plan to be rid of his rival. In order to select the most appropriate emissary, he decided to choose one of the following champions as emissary to the sons of Noísi: Conall Cernach, Cu Chulainn or Fergus Mac Roich. (Notice, Conall and Cu Chulainn didn't appear in the previous version.)

Conchobar cunningly told each warrior what would happen if he broke the surety to Noísi. Both Conall and Cu Chulainn replied that they would take action against him, if Conchobar proved treacherous. Only Fergus' answer proved satisfactory to the wicked king, so he decided to send Fergus on the mission instead of the other heroes.

Like in the previous version, Deirdre and the sons of Uisnech were living on a little island, because they had fled from the treacherous king of Alba (Scotland). When Fergus arrived on the island, the sons of Uisnech were happy to hear the news of a reconciliation with their king, since Fergus gave them surety, offering them his protection. Only Deirdre didn't trust Conchobar, but Noísi and his brothers refused to listen to her warning that the king was treacherous. Deirdre had no other choice but to follow them back to Ulster.

However upon arriving on the shore of Ireland, a chieftain named Baruch invited them to a feast. Fergus couldn't refuse because he was under a geis to always to attend such invitations. Deirdre was upset that they wouldn't have Fergus' protection. Fergus said that his sons, Buinne and Illann, would provide them with the protection they needed.

Deirdre had a vision that the sons of Uisnech would be headless, including Fergus' son Illann. Buinne would survive only because he would betray them. She also warned that the king would betray them, if the king accommodated them in House of the Red Branch, instead of in Conchobar's own mansion. Despite the warning, Noísi continued to ignore Deirdre's advice. Noísi also ignored her advice of either staying until Fergus returned from the feast or seeking protection from Cu Chulainn. The brothers preferred to face death rather than returning to the island like cowards.

As she had foretold, Conchobar invited his guests to stay in the House of the Red Branch. Yet, this didn't seem to convince Noísi. Here, they waited for Fergus' return. Noísi and Deirdre played games of fidchell (which is a sort of board game like chess).

Back at the hall, Conchobar contemplated what to do next. He asked for someone to go to the Red Branch quarters to see if Deirdre was as beautiful now as she was before her exile. Leborcham volunteered to go because she loved Deirdre and the sons of Uisnech.

The old nurse saw that Deirdre was even more beautiful than before, and she knew that there would be trouble. Leborcham also suspected the king of treachery. Leborcham advised them that they must either leave or defend themselves, because surely Conchobar would break his surety once the king realised that Deirdre's beauty had not faded.

Leborcham returned to the king, saying that Deirdre's beauty had faded because of hardship and exile. However, Conchobar didn't believe Deirdre's former nurse. So Conchobar sent Gelbann or Treandorn to spy on Deirdre.

Heeding Leborcham's caution, the sons of Fergus had closed all the doors and windows, except one window, to prevent any of the king's men from observing Deirdre. Gelbann (Treandorn) found this window and peeked inside of the House of the Red Branch. Deirdre saw the spy as she continued to play finchell with her husband. When Noísi saw this spy, he unerringly hurled a fidchell piece, putting out Gelbann's eye, but not before the spy saw Deirdre's face and body.

The spy reported to the king of her beauty, which gave Conchobar reason to have Noísi and his brothers killed for maiming his servant.

Buinne was standing guard at the entrance of the House of the Red Branch. When Conchobar went to storm the building, Buinne at first defended the sons of Uisnech, killing 100 warriors who dared to enter the building. Buinne deserted them when Conchobar offered land to him, if he betrayed his father's own words and the sons of Uisnech. Buinne agreed and he was given piece of land. However, this land immediately became a desert the moment he set foot on that land, because he had betrayed the sons of Uisnech.

Illann, the other son of Fergus, was more faithful to the sons of Uisnech and refused to disgrace his father, like his brother had. When the warriors tried to storm the building, he killed 300 men, while Noísi continued to play fidchell with Deirdre.

Conchobar then sent his son, Fiacha, with armed his shield Ocean. The Ocean made a noise that the king was being attacked. So when Illann defeated and captured Fiacha, Conall Cernach heard and immediately responded to the call of the shield.

Conall arrived and mortally wounded Illann. When Conall realised that Conchobar had treacherously broken the surety to the sons of Uisnech, Conall regretted wounding Fergus' son. Conall immediately cut off Fiacha's head in revenge.

With Illann wounded, Conchobar again ordered his warriors to storm the building, but this time, the sons of Uisnech took action to defend the building. Conchobar ordered his chief druid Cathbad to help him capture the sons of Uisnech. Conchobar promised the druid that the sons of Uisnech would come to no harm from him. So Cathbad used his magic to stun and disarm the sons of Uisnech.

Conchobar captured the three brothers and Deirdre. When Conchobar ordered someone to cut off their heads, none of his warriors would obey the king for such a treacherous act. So he turned to Maine, the son of the King of Norway. Since Noísi had killed Maine's brothers, Unthach and Triathach, Maine had no hesitation about killing the sons of Uisnech, since they were bound and helpless to defend themselves.

Since none of the brothers were willing to let the other die first, Noísi suggested that one sword stroke should behead all three of them. So Maine cut off their heads with a single sweep of his sword.

Deirdre loudly lamented the death of her lover and his faithful brothers. Cu Chulainn hearing her cry, came at once. Once he discovered the treachery of Conchobar and the death of the sons of Uisnech, he immediately lopped off Maine's head, to avenge his friends' death.

Graves were set up for the three brothers. Deirdre continued to lament over them, before she leaped into the grave with Noísi, lay down beside her husband, and died.

Death of Connla

When Connla, the young son of Cu Chulainn and Aífe, was old enough to wear Cu Chulainn's ring, he set out for Emain Macha in search of his father. Cu Chulainn had placed a terrible geis upon Connla before he was born. Connla was to never reveal his name to any man. Connla was to fight any man who impeded his path.

Connla encountered many warriors of the Red Branch. He refused to give each warrior his name, and he would either bind, wound or kill each warrior who blocked his path. Even Conall Cernach was no match for the lad.

Finally Conchobar sent Cu Chulainn against the boy. Emer warned her husband that the boy was possibly his son by Aife, and told him not to go. However, his duty to his king would not allow him to refuse any order.

When Connla refused to give his name, Cu Chulainn realised he faced his son, yet was unable give way to the boy. They fought on the sandy beach, Connla proving to be more than a match for Cu Chulainn.

Unable to overcome the boy, Cu Chulainn finally used the gae bolg (spear) on his son. Dying, Connla told his father that Scáthach (Connla's foster-mother) had not taught him the skill of gae bolg. Cu Chulainn saw the final evidence that boy's finger was his ring he had given to Aife.

Cu Chulainn carried his son back to Emain Macha, telling his king that he had performed his duty. Everyone mourned for the death of Connla, where Conchobar gave the boy a hero's funeral.

Cattle Raid of Cuailnge

The Cattle Raid of Cuailnge (Cooley) or "Táin Bó Cuailnge" (Irish Gaelic) was perhaps the best known tale in Irish literature. It was longest tale and the closest thing to an epic in Old Irish literature.

• Brown Bull of Cuailnge

• Defence of the Ford

• Cu Chulainn and Fer Diad

• Battle of Garach

Brown Bull of Cuailnge

The cause of the war between Ulaid and Connacht began in the court of Connacht. Ailill boasted to his wife Medb (Maeve) that his white bull was the best bull in the province, if not in of all Ireland. Ailill bragged that his bull was better than hers, as well as expressing his male superiority over her as a female. Angry at such a comment from her husband, Medb was determined to obtain the best bull of all of Ireland. By force if required. She found out that the brown bull belonging to an Ulster chieftain named Dara Mac Fachtna, in Cuailnge, was perhaps superior to Ailill's white bull.

At first Medb sent an embassy, hoping that Dara would loan the brown bull to her for a year, promising the chieftain rich gifts in return. At first, Dara was happy to do business with Maeve, but then heard a rumour that she might take it by force if she were refused. Negotiations broke down, giving Medb an excuse to raid Ulster. Medb began gathering a large host of fighting men. The other provinces joined Connacht. Fergus Mac Roich and Cormac, son of Conchobar, asked that the Ulster exiles would join Medb's army. Fergus hoped to avenge the death of his son and the sons of Uisnech, for the king's treachery.

Even though the men of Ulster were debilitated, a seeress named Fedelm warned Maeve that Connacht would suffer a defeat at the hands of a young warrior. Fedelm said three times when she looked at her army: "I see crimson. I see red." Fedelm said a lone hero would bar Medb's way, killing many before the army of Ulster came and defeated her own army. Despite the ill omen, Medb was more than ever determined to invade her neighbouring province.

Defence of the Ford

When news arrived of the army of Connacht entering Ulster, the warriors of Emain Macha suffered from the curse of Macha. Conchobar and all the warriors of the Red Branch were helpless and and weak. Only Cú Chulainn did not suffer from the curse, probably because he was still considered young ('not old enough to shave?' I suppose).

Accompanied by his charioteer Laeg, Cu Chulainn set about, single-handedly, to defend Ulster from Medb's army. Cu Chulainn sent his stepfather Sualtam to warn the men of Ulster of the invading army and to rouse the Red Branch warriors to war.

Cu Chulainn set about placing geis and ambushing scouts, in order to slow down Medb's host. Many trained warriors from Connacht were killed in raids night after night. Unable to see and confront their enemy, Cú Chulainn was quickly demoralising the Connacht host.

Finally, Fergus met with his former pupil, and Cu Chulainn agreed to face a champion of Maeve each day at the ford of the River Dee. The army was allowed to march during the duel, but must camp till the next day if Cu Chulainn won the duel. In return, Cu Chulainn would not harry Medb's army.

After several days of duels, Cu Chulainn encountered the war-goddess Morrígan, disguised as beautiful young girl. When Cu Chulainn refused her advances, Morrigan set about harrying Cu Chulainn during his duel with Loch son of Mofebis. Morrigan attacked Cu Chulainn in various forms as a heifer, an eel, and a wolf. But Cu Chulainn repelled each attack, though Loch wounded him. Cu Chulainn went into berserker frenzy and killed Loch with gae bolg.

Though the army's march had slowed down considerably, Medb finally captured the Brown Bull of Cuailnge. She sent the bull back to Connacht.

Cu Chulainn was too seriously wounded to continue the duel the next day. His father, Lugh Lamfada the sun god, came to the hero and asked his son to rest while his wound healed; he would take up the duel in his form in the next three days. Lugh fought and overcame each of Medb's champions until Cu Chulainn was fully healed.

Meanwhile, back at Emain Macha, Conchobar tried unsuccessfully to rouse the warriors of Red Branch to battle. They were still suffering from the curse of Macha. Many young sons of the warriors, hearing the news of heroic defence of the ford by Cu Chulainn, decided to take up arms and face Connacht's army. Follamin, Conchobar's youngest son, commanded the boy troop. They were no match against the enemy's army. Medb's warriors slaughtered these children to the last boy.

When Cu Chulainn regained consciousness, he heard news of massacre of the boy-warriors while he was recovering. Cu Chulainn went into his berserker frenzy, and seventy warriors were killed in Murthemney.

Cu Chulainn's next duel was with Calatin and his sons. Calatin was an evil Fomorian sorcerer whose body was merged with those of his twenty-seven sons. With twenty-seven arms, Calatin had an unfair advantage over the young hero. Cu Chulainn would have died, had one of Ulster exiles named Fiacha not taken pity on the distressed hero. Without any one seeing him, Fiacha severed the twenty-seven arms of Calatin's sons. Cu Chulainn was then able to defend himself better, swiftly dispatching Calatin.

Cu Chulainn and Fer Diad

Fergus and many of the former warriors of the Red Branch refused to face Cu Chulainn in single combat, not so much for fear for Cu Chulainn as their love for the young hero. Many of them were his friends. Another famous warrior who did not want to fight Cu Chulainn was Fer Díad Mac Damann. Fer Diad was a Firbolg warrior who had become Cu Chulainn's blood brother when they were childhood friends. Fer Diad was also one of the warriors who sought training from the woman warrior Scathach. They had sworn never to fight one another.

Medb tried several times to induce Fer Diad to fight Cu Chulainn at the ford; each time the Firbolg refused. The Connacht queen offered the young warrior gold, land, and even her own daughter in marriage. Finally angry at his refusal, she threatened to pay all the bards and musicians in the land to sing that Fer Diad was a coward. With his own courage and honour at stake, Fer Diad had no choice to face Cu Chulainn in single combat.

One morning when Cu Chulainn found his Firbolg friend on his side of the ford, the hero was saddened that he had to fight one of the people he loved most. For the first two days, the two warriors fought one another until both agreed to retire for the day. Those first two nights they tended each other's wounds and shared a blanket together. On the third day, however, after fighting all day, their friendship was strained to the limits. This time they did not attend each other's wounds, nor did they share a blanket, like the two previous nights.

On the final morning, they fought even harder, without restraints. Finally, Cu Chulainn used his deadly spear, the gae bolg, upon his dearest friend. Cu Chulainn caught Fer Diad when he collapsed from his mortal wound. Cu Chulainn carried his dying friend away from the ford to a small clearing. When Fer Diad died, Cu Chulainn was stricken by grief. He also lost consciousness from weakness and his own wounds. Laeg bore the wounded Cu Chulainn away.

When the Connacht did not see Cu Chulainn on the other side of the ford, Medb believed that Cu Chulainn had died and so army was free to cross the ford. Connacht army began to raid other towns and villages. They began looting Ulster of cattle and other possessions.

Battle of Garach

However, in Emain Macha, Conchobar and his warriors had recovered from the curse and set about arming themselves to face Medb's army. They pursued Medb's army until they reached the Plain of Garach, where a battle took place. Fergus would have killed Conchobar, had Cormac not pleaded for his father's life. Cu Chulainn recovered from his wounds, and persuaded Fergus and the other Ulster exiles to withdraw from the battle. Other provinces began withdrawing their armies from the battle, leaving Connacht to fight for themselves.

When Cu Chulainn joined the battle, the tide began to turn and favoured Conchobar's army. Connacht's army was routed. Cu Chulainn found Medb in the field. She pleaded for her life. Cu Chulainn swore that he would never harm her, and escorted safely back to Connacht until they reached the border.

The Brown Bull that arrived in Connacht, suddenly attacked the White Bull belonging to Ailill. Both bulls were killed in the clash. In the end, Connacht, lost many men in the cattle raids, including both fine bulls; they were even worse off than before their conflicts with Ulster.

Sickness of Cú Chulainn

Cu Chulainn had a dream of two women beating him with rods while he was tied to a stone pillar. When he woke the next day, he was weakened from the dream, and for a year he suffered from wasting sickness. Cu Chulainn learned that he could recover from his illness if he went to the pillar where he was beaten. Cu Chulainn learned that a Danann woman named Fand, wife of Manannán Mac Lir, needed him to fight off three demons who were besieging her palace. Fand would reward him with her love.

Cu Chulainn entered the Otherworld, defeated the demons and spent a month in Fand's loving arms. Cu Chulainn returned to the surface, promising to meet Fand again. However, Emer learned of his affair, and for the first time she became jealous of his infidelity.

Emer, learning where her husband and Fand were meeting for their arranged tryst, turned up with 50 maidens, armed with knives, hoping to kill the Danann woman. Cu Chulainn came to Fand's defence. Cu Chulainn told Emer that he was still in love and would never leave her. However, both women decided to leave him with the other woman. Fand decided that she would return to her husband, leaving her lover behind. Cu Chulainn was distressed until Manannan used his magic cloak to make them forget one another.

Death of Cú Chulainn

Her defeat at the Cattle Raid of Cuailnge did not sit well with Medb. She was to determined to avenge her defeat by having Cu Chulainn killed. Medb secretly conspired with other enemies of Ulster, particularly with Cu Chulainn's enemies. Among those she sought aid from were Lugaid Mac Cu Roi and the daughters of the wizard Calatin.

The daughters of Calatin were just as hideous in looks and powerful in their sorcery as their father. Through deception and hallucination they drove Cu Chulainn to the point of insanity, and they lured the young hero to face Medb's army again. Cu Chulainn continuously saw and heard phantoms of war.

Emer tried to dissuade her husband from leaving, but he ignored her pleas. Cathbad and his mother Deichtine tried to persuade him to wait for Conall Cernach, but Cu Chulainn was determined to end these illusions that had haunted him for weeks. With his faithful charioteer Laeg, he left his home to seek out the phantoms.

On his journey, he encountered three old hags (daughters of Calatin, again) who were sitting by the road. The three hags asked him to share her meal with him. When he ate the meat, he discovered that he ate the shoulder of a dog. A geis of the hero had forbidden him from eating the flesh of a dog (Some say that his geis was to not eat his namesake; the hound he ate was probably named after him). Cu Chulainn's death was now inevitable.

At Slieve Fuad, Cu Chulainn came once again upon Medb's army and her allies. Lugaid (Lewy) taunted him to give him his spear. Cu Chulainn hurled the gae bolg, missing Lugaid but killing nine men. Lugaid used the gae bolg and cast it back at Cu Chulainn. The spear missed and killed Laeg, the hero's charioteer. A satirist mocked him; Cu Chulainn again cast his spear, killing the satirist. Erc, king of Ireland, then used the gae bolg and mortally wounded Cu Chulainn's favourite horse. Cu Chulainn again killed another satirist who taunted him. Lugaid hurled the gae bolg back at the hero. The gae bolg disembowelled the hero.

Dying, Cu Chulainn went to the lake for a drink. There, he found a stone pillar, where he tied himself to the pillar. He did this so he would die standing on his feet. Even dying, none of his enemies dared to approach the hero. Morrígan transformed herself into a raven; she perched on Cu Chulainn's shoulder so that his enemies knew he was still alive. Only when he died did Morrígan finally fly away.

Lugaid had finally avenged his father's death, and approached Cu Chulainn with drawn sword. When Lugaid beheaded Cu Chulainn, the hero's sword fell out of his hand and severed Lugaid's own sword hand. Angry at this outrage, Lugaid also severed Cu Chulainn' hand.

Conall Cernach rushed to the scene, only to discover that he had arrived too late to save his foster-brother. Conall found Cu Chulainn's headless body still tied to the pillar. Cu Chulainn and Conall had vowed to avenge the other if he should meet his death first, so Conall pursued and attacked Cu Chulainn's enemies. Conall dispatched Lugaid and severed his head, avenging the hero of Ulaid.

Conall returned to Emain Macha with Cu Chulainn's body and severed parts, and the Hound of Culann was given a hero's funeral.

The End of the Cycle

Conchobar Mac Nessa died when the brain-ball lodged in his head ruptured. See Conchobar and Cet Mac Maga, for the story of his death.

In Connacht, because Ailill was jealous of his wife's lover, the king killed Fergus Mac Roich as he bathed in the lake. Ailill had hurled the spear at Fergus' back.

Conall heard the news of his former tutor's death, and avenged Fergus by slaying Ailill. Conall set about destroying the other enemies in Ireland who had participated in Cu Chulainn's death.

With the death of her lover and her husband, Medb retired to an island. Furbaide (Forbai) Ferbend, son of Conchobar and Clothra, sought her death because Medb had killed his mother (Clothra), who happened to be Medb's sister.

Furbaide Ferbend found out that Medb regularly enjoyed bathing in the lake (Galway). Furbaide measured the distance where he would hide to where she normally bathed. Practising with his sling each day, Furbaide became a marksman. One day, while she bathed, Furbaide sent a slingshot hurling towards her, cracking her skull, dead centre on the forehead. With his aunt's death, Furbaide had avenged his mother.