Cú Chulainn

The greatest hero in Celtic myths was one of the principal characters in the Ulaid Cycle. Cú Chulainn (or Cu Chulainn) was the son of Deichtine and the sun god, Lugh Lamfada. Though Lugh was his father, he called himself Cu Chulainn Mac Sualtam after his stepfather, who was the brother of Fergus Mac Roich. Cú Chulainn was also grandson of the great druid Cathbad, and cousin of the sons of Uisnech and of Conall, who was also his foster-brother.

Cú Chulainn was called Sétanta (Setanta or Setante) at birth. His name was changed to Cé Chulainn when he was still a boy; he killed a great hound belonging to Culann, a master-smith. The name Cú Chulainn means "Hound of Culann".

Cu Chulainn overheard from Cathbad that the youth who took up arms that day would become the greatest warrior in Ireland; his life would be the most glorious, but short. Cu Chulainn immediately went to his king. He asked to take up arms like a man. Conchobar agreed and gave him spears and a chariot, but the spears broke when he shook them, and the bottom of the chariot shattered when he stomped his foot on it. He broke many spears and chariots. Cu Chulainn was not satisfied with any of them, until he received two spears that belonged to Conchobar, and the king's own war-chariot. His favourite horses were Liath Macha (Grey of Macha) and Dubh Sainglenn (Saingliu). His charioteer was named Laeg Mac Riangabra.

Cu Chulainn trained under Fergus before he received training under Scathach, a warrior woman from the Land of Shadow (island of Skye). From Scathach he learned the Salmon's Leap and the dreaded gae bolg, a deadly spear. His sword was either called Caladbolg or Claidheamh Soluis (Sword of Light). He was a lover of another woman warrior named Aife, whom he had a son with. Years later, he would kill his son Connla in single combat when he used the gae bolg on his son.

Cu Chulainn was named champion of Ireland during the beheading game at Bricriu's Feast. Cu Chulainn single-handedly defended Ulster from Medb and the army of Connacht in the cattle raid at Cuailnge. The war-goddess Morrigan attacked him when he refused to return her love during his duel with Loch. He also fought an unfair duel with the evil Druid named Calatin and his sons, until an Ulster exile named Fiacha aided him.

Cu Chulainn used the gae bolg on his friend Fer Diad Mac Damann. Cu Chulainn was wounded and too exhausted to face another duels the next day. Medb and her army were free to invade Ulster.

By this time, the curse upon the warriors of Ulster was lifted.

Cu Chulainn married Emer, daughter of a chieftain named Fogall (Forgall). Cu Chulainn lived in Dun Murthemney with Emer. He had many mistresses in his short life. They included Niam, wife of Conall, and Bláithíne (Blathnat), wife of Cú Roi. (I didn't include Aife, because he was not married to Emer yet.) Emer, who was aware of her husband's love affairs, was never jealous. It wasn't until Cu Chulainn met Fand, the beautiful wife of Mananann Mac Lir, the god of sea and magic, that Emer became jealous.

In the last year of his life, Medb plotted Cu Chulainn's death to avenge her defeat. Cu Chulainn was driven mad by phantoms sent by daughters of Calatin (witches). He was lured into fighting another battle against Medb's army. Cu Chulainn broke his geis when an old woman (Morrigan) gave him dog meat to eat.

In the unfair fighting, Cu Chulainn's horses and faithful charioteer Laeg were killed. Cu Chulainn was mortally wounded from his own spear, gae bolg, hurled by Lugaid Mac Cu Roi. When Cu Chulainn was dead, Lugaid beheaded the hero and severed his hand. Conall Cernach arrived to the battlefield to save his cousin, and avenged his death by beheading Lugaid.

The "Hound of Culann", Cú Chulainn, died at the age of twenty-seven.