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
Every second year, they brought their vast herds of pigs to each other’s land. Nothing could separate these great friends. Except, the people of Connaught said that their pig keeper was better than his Munster friend. The Munster man got mad #CattleRaid
They quarrelled and one cast a spell on the herd of the other. When he got home, the people laughed when they saw the miserable pigs - skinny and wretched. This insult could not go unpunished. The following year they confronted each other #CattleRaid
This being Celtic Ireland, we might not expect a normal fight, nor will we get one; the pig keepers transformed themselves into birds of prey and in this shape the fought for two years. They annoyed everyone. #CattleRaid
Next, they transformed themselves into stags and as stags they fought for 2 years. Next, warriors gashing each other, then phantoms terrifying themselves, after that dragons and finally .. you guessed it ... #CattleRaid
... maggots.. they transformed into maggots. One entered into the river Cron in Cooley and was drank up by an Ulster cow. The other entered the Shannon and was drank up by a Connaught cow. And so were born two mighty bulls. #CattleRaid
Finnbannacht - the White bull of Connaught and Donn Cuailnge - the Brown of Cooley. No ordinary bulls these, mighty beasts without peer, equal in all qualities. (We will note here that the Celtic god of the dead is also called Donn). We are in the otherworld #CattleRaid
Pig’s grunts and Boar’s bristles, a war over an insult, shape-shifting, fighting birds, stags, warriors, phantoms and maggots, incredible births and ferocious bulls - what could possible go wrong. Please retweet #CattleRaid
A bit about the bulls: some of the words used when describing the Brown bull; “fiery flanks” “curly brow” “growling and eyes glaring””snorting mighty”. “30 boys could climb on his back” (if their mothers let them) #CattleRaid
The White Bull of Connaught “body the colour of blood” “heavy mane and great hoofs” “a cow’s eye apple” “born to bear victory”. There’s no messing with these lads. It won’t be long before we get a war #CattleRaid
Tomorrow I’ll be tweeting from Clonmacnoise. Join me here at lunchtime to see and hear why I am telling the great tale of pre-Christian Ireland from the holiest site in early Ireland. #CattleRaid
