The Cattle-Raid of Cooley (Tin B Calnge) is the central epic of the Ulster cycle of Irish myths.

This most famous and extensive of the legends of Cuchulainn (pronounced 'Cu-hoo-lan'), the legendary Irish warrior, is a story which involves both cattle theft and the concept of standing to fight out a battle single-handed. One cannot help but think Ned Kelly may have been told stories such as these at his mother's knees.

In traditional Irish folklore the head of the household was determined by property and it could be either a male or female depending on who owned the most goods. Having equal possessions was important to a marriage.

This ancient lore may also have nurtured Ellen Kelly's feisty spirit, and her determination to own land.

THE CATTLE RAID OF COOLEY (synopsis)

It is the story of a war fought over two bulls. The bulls, the Brown Bull of Ulster and the White Horned Bull of Connaught, were immortal.

The White Horned Bull roamed in the herd of Ailill, husband of Medb. When they were surveying their property one day they discovered that they had equality in all possessions except that Medb had no bull to equal the White Horned Bull in her husband's herd.

Queen Medb decided to get a loan of the Brown Bull of Cooley so that she might appear equal to her husband. However no agreement could be made to borrow the bull.

So began the great war of the Cattle Raid, with Queen Medb raising her army to take the bull by force.

She thought this would be an easy task as all the champions of Ulster were under the effects of the ancient curse of the Goddess Macha, who cursed them to feel the pains of labour at a certain time each year because of an insult Macha had received.

Cuchulainn because of his divine heritage was not affected by the curse of Macha and it fell to him to defend Ulster single-handed against the army of Connaught. This was possible because of the Celtic method of single combat - a champion would be chosen to fight against a champion from the opposing side.

He managed to kill many of the champions of Connaught that came against him in duels and many more from a distance with his sling. He slew one of Medb's serving girls because she had been wearing Medb's gold headdress and he mistook her for the queen.

Eventually Medb seeing how the duels were going decided to meet Cchulainn face to face. He agreed and she was amazed to meet a young man of only seventeen years, still without beard. Queen Medb offered him her friendship and great honour and possessions if he would leave Ulster and come work for her, but he refused her offer.

In the end he offered her terms of battle by which as long as he was in combat with one of her champions her main army was allowed to move forward, but as soon as combat ended her army was to stop. Medb agreed to these terms as she thought it a better bargain to gain a little ground daily, than to lose many men and gain no ground at all.

Medb's champions could not defeat Cchulainn, but they managed to engage his attention long enough for Medb's men to steal the Brown Bull and fifty heifers and head back to Connaught with them.

The captured Brown Bull of Cooley travelled with Medb's army into Connaught, where he challenged the White Bull of King Ailill. During the terrible battle between the bulls, the Brown Bull ripped the White to pieces tossing his loins as far as Athlone and the liver to Trim.

After the fight the Brown Bull returned to Cualgne, where he became maddened with rage and killed all before him. Finally his heart burst with the pressure of all this exertion and so he died. This ended the cattle raid of Cooley.

Story of Cuchulainn and the Cattle Raid of Cooley was abridged from a version at
http://www.shee-eire.com/Magic&Mythology and other sources which reveal the same traditional story.

THE DEATH OF CUCHULAINN

There are surprising parallels of story between the death of Cuchulainn, the heroic Irish warrior, and the death of Ned Kelly. Did the young Edward Kelly sit on his mother's lap listening to the stories of Cuchulainn's strength in battle, his stand-alone fights, his bravery and determination in death?

The story of Cuchulainn's death is brimming with curses, prophesies and tricks. The conniving Queen Medb plots her revenge on Cuchulainn and the Morrigan, disguised in many ways, assists in his downfall.

Having fought in battle already partially paralysed, against all odds and various tricks and challenges, Cuchulainn was finally speared with his own magic spear. Realising the wound was fatal, he requested a drink of water.

His request was granted and he went to the lake where he bound himself to a standing stone by the lakeside so that he might die standing up like a warrior, for he was losing all power in his legs.

The light was fading from Cuchulainn and his face became as white as snow, finally a crow (the totem of Morrigan the goddess of death) came and perched on his shoulder. His enemies, still slightly afraid to approach the great champion, knew for certain he was now dead, and cut off his head as a trophy.

Ned Kelly stood fighting till he dropped, wounded repeatedly. After execution his head was also cut off.

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