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EARLY IRISH SAGAS (ca. fourth century)
Whether oral-literary or literary-oral in source, Early
Irish EPIC literature remains a neglected genre. Irish
story lore derives from a very ancient pan-Celtic heroic
tradition: some scholars would place its earliest devel-
opment as far back as the Iron Age (third century B.
C.E.). During the medieval period, many of these heroic
narratives were committed to manuscript in Old and
Middle Irish. At the same time (10th–12th centuries),
medieval professional poets organized hundreds of
tales according to their titles and contents: “Destruc-
tions,” “Cattle Raids,” “Wooings,” “Elopements,” “Voy-
ages,” “Adventure Journeys,” “Expeditions,” “Visions,”
and “Love Tales.” The most studied—and perhaps the
most infl uential—stories are from the so-called Heroic
Cycle, which is a modern name. The Ulster Cycle, as it
is also named, recounts, in prose and in verse, exploits
of heroes in prehistoric northeastern Ireland, a region
famous for its legendary king Conchobar; his palace,
Emain Macha; his Red Branch knights; and their
extraordinary champion and central, precocious fi g-
ure, CÚ CHULAINN (“The Hound of Culainn”).
The ninth-century narrative of “Mac Dathó’s Pig” is
likely the oldest “fore-tale.” These are prefatory stories
giving plot and motivations, culminating in the climac-
tic Táin Bó Cúailgne, or Cattle Raid of Cooley, in which
Cú Chulainn plays a key role. Culturally free (mostly)
of Christian infl uence, the lively and entertaining Scéla
Mucce Meic Dathó (Story of Mac Dathó’s Pig) is embel-
lished by boasting, contention over the hero’s portion

and points of honor, and headhunting. It tells of a

communal warrior feast given by Mac Dathó during

which, one after the other, Ulstermen and rival Con-

nachtmen claim the right to divide an enormous pig

(to secure the champion’s portion). When Conall Cer-

nach (another heroic Ulster warrior) takes the best part

for himself in victory, a bloody and violent skirmish

ensues, and the Connacht party is put to fl ight in

defeat.

Similarly, Fled Bricrenn (Bricriu’s Feast, ca. eighth

century) also involves contention—among three heroes,

including Cú Chulainn—over the hero’s portion and

climaxes with a beheading. But the tale encompasses a

humorous and sophisticated (though misogynistic)

scenario in which the women of Ulster compete in a

foot race for the sake of arbitration. Three separate

companies of warrior’s wives, led by Cú Chulainn’s

own spouse, Emer, are told separately by “the poi-

soned-tongued” host, Bricriu, that the one who enters

the banquet hall fi rst will be queen of the whole prov-

ince. While running, the women raise their robes up to

their buttocks in their effort to reach the hall fi rst. Even

though Emer wins the race, a vicious scuffl e breaks out

and further mediation follows, proving unquestionably

Cú Chulainn’s fearlessness and preeminence.

Cés Ulad, or Noínden Ulad (“The Pangs of Ulster,”

also known as “The Debility of the Ulstermen”)

attempts to explain, with topographical reference to

Emain Macha (“the twins of Macha,” the royal seat),

why Cú Chulainn’s youthful warrior services were

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