Irish Legends
"A long, long time ago. If I were there then, I would not be there now. If I were there now and at that time, I would have a new story...or an old story...or I might have no story at all..."
The Telling of Ancient Legends
Most of the stories linked below are re-tellings, rather than bardic tradition or careful Victorian adherence to the language of the original. This "peasant" level of story-telling has its value.
"But what these usually beautifully illustrated books do often achieve is the mood of the legend, the atmosphere that can be lost in a literal translation. In that respect they do have their value. And so the precious stone, the Jewel of Truth, still exists...."
[www.dalriada.co.uk/Archives/bardcrft.htm accessed 10/24/98]
Celtic Myths and Legends Cycles
Today Irish legends are categorized by cycle, Mythological, Fenian (or Ossianic), Ulster (Ultonian, Red Branch), and Historical. Such categories weren't used by the ancient bards. Instead, they divided their tales according to topic:
"Births; Elopements; Adventures; Voyages; Battles; Feasts; Courtships; Visions; Cattle Raids; Invasions; Destructions; Slaughters; Irruptions; Loves; Expeditions; Caves; Violent Deaths; Sieges; Frenzies."
[www.dalriada.co.uk/Archives/legends.htm]
Especially for the basics, the
Cattle Raid and the
Salmon of Knowledge, it's worth it to read more than one version. In some stories only the details change; in others, it's hard to believe it's the same story. Spelling of names varies.
Ulster Cycle
In the Ulster cycle, the most popular story is that of the
Cattle Raid of Cooley. The stories feature
Cuchulain and
Queen Medb.
Queen Medb is jealous of her husband's bull, so she determines to outdo him by getting the best bull in Ireland. To this end, she goes to war against Daire a chieftain of Ulster.
CuChulainn is the son of the god Lugh and a leader of the Red Branch
History and story of the cattle raid legend.
Fenian Cycle
The Fenian cycle features heroes (most notably,
Fin and
Conan) and gods.
Cumhal has a child either by a neighboring king's daughter or by a woman who becomes the neighboring king's wife when Cumhal is killed in battle. This child, Fin, grows up in the care of wise women who, despite their advanced age train him to be a great warrior.
When he is about 15, Finn angers the king and is forced to flee. His flight is filled with magical adventures, the most important of which has to do with a salmon.
