Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #cattleraid
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I’ve arrived at Newgrange to find that it is closed, I’m not having much luck on this otherworldly journey. Not to worry tho, what had Newgrange to do with Cuchulainn? #CattleRaid 
The Ulstermen were surprised when a flock of birds landed on the green outside Emann Macha. They were further surprised to see that each pair of birds were linked by a silver chain “Strange” they thought #CattleRaid
The birds ate all the grass “let’s chase them” thought the Ulstermen. They chased the birds all the way to Newgrange (it would take 17 hours and 26 minutes to walk it). Supposing they ran some of the way, probably 10 hours - fair play lads #CattleRaid
I’m about to head off up the mountain to where Cuchulainn killed the hound. #CattleRaid
I’m back down from Slieve Gullion, the Ulstermen have not yet installed WiFi in their mountain fort but I got some great photos #CattleRaid
If you want to hear how Cuchulainn received his name, please retweet #CattleRaid
I’ve arrived in Finea just now. It’s east of Granard and the place where Fergus turned the army southwards. This aroused suspicions - was he leading the army astray - into an ambush perhaps. “Hang on” thought Meave “where is the Ulster army””Fergus come here” she said #CattleRaid
I passed a few interesting roadside memorials. Here’s one about an ambush near Ballinalee near Granard #CattleRaid
And another memorial here in the lovely village of Finea, to Myles “the Slasher” O’Reilly, a hero of the Irish Confederate War 1641 - 50. #CattleRaid
The army of the men of Ireland resumed their march in the morning. They were heading for the fords on the Shannon at Termonbarry. The names of the places they passed tells us it was a very wet place, the Marshy Lakebed, the PeatRidge. It is difficult country. #CattleRaid
They were following the route of one of the four great roads of Ireland - Sligh Asail. The word Sligh means trackway, the word Asail means Donkey (it probably doesn’t of course but sounds too much like the Irish word for Donkey for us not to use it) The Donkey Track #CattleRaid
If the army looked back West from Slieve Ban (if they had a drone) they would be able to see the place from which they came [Slieve Ban to Rathcroghan Image 1] #CattleRaid
I’ve left the terrible entrance to the otherworld, without too much trouble, except covered in mud from climbing into it. I am now sitting on/in Maeve’s fort. It is right here that the Cattle Raid began, and this exact spot where Maeve and her husband quarreled #CattleRaid
We will have many more digressions but now it is time to start the Cattle Raid. It started with a quarrel and ended in the destruction of two kingdoms. Maeve and her husband, Ailill, were in bed - how often do those words preceded a row? #CattleRaid
“Maeve” said Ailill “Aren’t you lucky I married you” “§$*#@“ (an expressive and ancient expletive) replied Maeve “you are only king because I have allowed you be king”. And so began the fatal quarrel. “But I am richer than you” continued the innocent husband #CattleRaid
I have arrived at Queen Meave’s Connaught fortress at Rathcroghan. But before we start talking about it, I’ll first visit the entrance to the otherworld - the dreadful cave Oweynacat - the deceivingly innocently named Cave of the Cats #CattleRaid
This cave is referenced several times in the Cattle Raid. It is the home of the goddess of war and death - the Morrigan who causes all sorts of trouble later on. Magical and greedy pigs live here, also cats #CattleRaid
A dreadfully destructive fairy also lives here who burns Rathcroghan every Halloween. Women in the shape of wolves hide in the cave as well. It truly is an awful place #CattleRaid
I have just arrived at a freezing cold and grey Clonmacnoise in County Offaly. You might be wondering what this important early Christian centre has to do with our pre-Christian Cattle Raid of Cooley #CattleRaid
The earliest version we have of Tain Bo Cuailnge - the Cattle Raid of Cooley - is found in a manuscript called Lebor na hUidre - the Book of the Dun Cow - so called because it was made from the skin of St Keiran’s favourite cow #CattleRaid
The Book of the Dun Cow was written here at Clonmacnoise in the year 1100AD by (wait for it) Maol Mhuire Mac Ceilechair Meic Cuinn na mBocht. There are many building here that existed in his time - a physical link to the Cattle Raid story #CattleRaid
Tonight we start our great adventure into the (other)world of Irish myth and folklore. Following the route of Queen Maeve’s army on the Cattle Raid of Cooley. I’ll tell the story and explore the landscape of Ireland’s national epic tale. Join me here #CattleRaid
The story tells of Maeve’s attempt to capture the mighty Brown Bull of Cooley from the Ulstermen. Standing in her way is a lone hero, Cuchulainn. At the end of it all, Ireland is wrecked - so who was this fabulous bull? #CattleRaid
The otherworld kings of Munster and Connaught each had a pig keeper. One was called ‘Friuch’ - a boar’s bristle, the other ‘Rucht’ - a pig’s grunt. (As you can see, we are off to a great start - this ain’t a normal world) #CattleRaid
