The Legends (2 page)

When the door was thrown open, Culann and his guests saw the young boy standing immobile while the mighty hound began his attack. Since the gate was some distance from the door there was little they could do except watch in horror, knowing that the small boy would certainly be torn to pieces. The confrontation ended in a matter of seconds and yet to the witnesses, it seemed like time slowed and every movement was seared on their minds and memories.

The great hound took three quick steps and launched himself into air, intent on clamping his mighty jaws around the boy’s throat. Setanta courageously stood his ground and then, at the last instant, took one step back, flipped his hard leather ball into air and took a mighty swing. The shot was meant to hit the beast in the head, knocking him unconscious but at the last instant the dog opened his mouth and the ball passed through the gaping jaws, flew down the throat of the beast and into his heart, killing the mighty hound. The dog that very nearly killed the young boy was dead before he hit the ground but Setanta was horrified at what he had done. He immediately ran to the animal, and began rubbing his head in a vain attempt to bring life to his adversary but, of course, no amount of care could bring the dog back.

Meanwhile, the entire party stood in shocked silence, amazed at the strength and courage of the little boy. While everyone was relieved that the boy survived, Culann, who lost his prize guard-dog, was angry that he would have no dog to guard his house. Even though he would surely have been killed had he not defended himself, Setanta took full responsibility for the dog’s death and he volunteered to train another dog from the same line as the slain beast. While the dog was being trained, Setanta announced that he himself would guard Culann’s home. When everyone agreed that this was a fair outcome, Cathbad the Druid declared that from that day on, Setanta would be called Cúchulainn, which means “Hound of Culann.”

After fulfilling his promise to Culann, Cúchulainn trained diligently under Fergus and the rest of Conchubar’s champions and in only a few years, he decided that he was ready to take up arms. This opinion was undoubtedly not shared by either his teachers or the older boys who were much closer to completing their training. One day, Cúchulainn overheard Cathbad the Druid tell the senior students that if any of the young men took up arms for the first time that day, his name would be greater than any other name in Ireland, but his life-span would be short. Now that suited Cúchulainn who was not the slightest bit worried about a short life span but knew he was destined to be a great hero. Cúchulainn approached Conchubar the King and told him that he was taking up arms that very day. Conchubar smiled at the little fellow and said, “Whoever put that idea into your head?”

When Cúchulainn replied that it was Cathbad the Druid, Conchubar responded, “Well, if Cathbad thinks the time is right, I have no reason to think otherwise.”

With that, Conchubar ordered that Cúchulainn be given a sword, spears and a shield. Cúchulainn tested several weapons but found that they were weak and they broke in his hands. Finally Conchubar presented Cúchulainn with his own weapons and the young boy agreed that they were strong and true. When Cathbad the Druid saw Cúchulainn with his arms he commented to Conchubar that it seemed the boy was a little too young to take up arms.

Conchubar replied, “Sure wasn’t it you who told him to take up arms?”

“You must be joking,” Cathbad responded, “why he’s only a little boy.”

Cúchulainn was immediately called before the king and the chief druid and he was severely scolded for not telling the truth. Cúchulainn however, was not intimidated and he stood his ground. “With due respect Great Cathbad, I did hear you say that whoever took up arms for the first time this day would have a name greater than any name in Ireland, and that is exactly what I did. So I did not lie to Conchubar, when he asked me who put the idea into my head. In truth, Cathbad, you did put the idea into my head.”

Neither Conchubar nor Cathbad could find fault in what Cúchulainn had said and done so the young boy became the youngest person ever to take up arms and shortly after, he began his career as a great champion. Cúchulainn soon reddened his sword against all measure of brigands and thieves who threatened the safety and security of his beloved Ulster. He was still a young man when he became one of the twelve great knight heroes of Conchubar’s Red Branch. So great was his skill that he thought nothing about attacking as many as a hundred enemies at one time. The reason he was able to do this was that Cúchulainn had inherited certain gifts, perhaps from his birth father, the immortal, Lugh of the Long Hand.

Among them was the salmon leap, which enabled Cúchulainn to spring a great distance, perhaps over a river or over a wall, to attack an enemy. The other gift was a fury, which came over him in times of struggle. When the fury, or red mist as it became known, came over Cúchulainn, he entered another dimension and his mortal body seemed to disappear to be replaced by a blinding light. At such times he moved with incredible speed and the only thing an opponent would see was the flash of sword or spear that would end the enemy’s life. These were mighty gifts that Cúchulainn seldom employed in single combat but reserved for those moments when his enemy attacked in mass or without honor or when his life was in mortal peril.

Perhaps the campaign that made the name Cúchulainn famous as the greatest champion in the history of Ireland occurred during the war for the Brown Bull of Cooley. While this battle was his greatest triumph, it also created for Cúchulainn a mortal enemy who would eventually cause his death. What happened was that Ailell and Maeve, the King and Queen of Connaught, were having an argument over who brought the most wealth to that province. When everything was added up, Maeve discovered that Ailell owned one fine bull that she could not match in her list of possessions. She was so determined to win the argument with her husband that Maeve sent her messengers throughout the country to locate the finest bull anywhere. As it happened, a great brown bull was discovered in Cooley, near the present town of Carlingford so Maeve attempted to acquire the bull. When the owner told her he wouldn’t sell his prize animal Maeve decided to invade Ulster and take the bull by force.

Maeve knew that the army of Ulster would be unable to stop her because Conchubar and his entire court were under a spell that took all their energy leaving them asleep most of the time. The spell was punishment for mistreating a woman who was about to have a baby and so, in truth, it was justified. Of all the knights, only Cúchulainn was spared because he had settled with his wife Emer near the present day city of Dundalk and had not been in the king’s court when the incident occurred.

As a result when Queen Maeve attacked, only Cúchulainn stood between the coveted brown bull and the entire army of Connaught. Almost immediately armies from the provinces of Munster and Leinster, which pledged their support to Connaught, joined Maeve in the attack.

At first, Cúchulainn waged a guerrilla type war, disposing of the various scouts Maeve sent out. Soon she began sending champions to finish the job, but these men met with a similar fate. Still, however, Maeve’s army moved forward into Ulster toward Cooley, the home of the great brown bull. Because she was losing so many men and champions to Cúchulainn, Maeve decided to negotiate with the young champion. First, she tried to bribe Cúchulainn to change his allegiance but this offer offended Cúchulainn’s sense of honor and so he refused. Maeve then struck a bargain, which she hoped would save her army.

Cúchulainn agreed to fight one champion each day and while the fight was on, Maeve’s army would be allowed to proceed without delay. If Cúchulainn was successful in defeating the champion, Maeve’s army would be required to halt their march until the next day and the next champion. After all, Maeve concluded, it is better to lose one man each day than to lose one hundred every night, especially as her army could move while the battle progressed. Certainly, she assumed, even if Cúchulainn was successful it would take at least several hours for him to defeat her champions. In that case the bull might well be hers before she even needed to dispose of Cúchulainn.

In the days and weeks that followed champion after champion fell to Cúchulainn’s sword and spear. So quickly did he dispose of Maeve’s soldiers that her army barely broke camp when they had to stop for the day. Eventually Maeve became impatient, broke her promise and began to send two and three men against Cúchulainn, but he destroyed them all. Of course all this fighting began to take its toll on the great champion who was wounded many times and lost a great deal of blood.

Just as it appeared that he could fight no more, Cúchulainn’s father, Lugh of the Long Hand, appeared from his fairy fort in the nether world and stood guard to protect his son while Cúchulainn recovered. While Lugh was reluctant to intervene in human affairs, even on behalf of his son, he was angry that Maeve had broken her word and he was not about to let his son die a slow and painful death as a result of this treachery. While Lugh stood guard, he also brought women especially trained in the healing arts who treated Cúchulainn’s wounds with special herbs so the when the young warrior awoke three days later he was refreshed and cured.

In his absence, however, the boy troop of Ulster, made up of the sons of Ulster champions, stood in Cúchulainn’s place and fought against Maeve’s army. These boys had not participated in dishonoring the pregnant woman so no spell was cast over them. Although they were able to fight, they were mere children fighting against seasoned champions. Unfortunately, although they fought gallantly and killed many of the enemy, the entire boy’s army was destroyed by the strength and experience of Maeve’s champions. Their supreme sacrifice purchased Ulster the time Cúchulainn needed to recover and as a result Maeve’s army had not moved forward.

When he heard of the death of these boys, many of whom were his friends, the fury, the red mist, came over Cúchulainn and he rode around Maeve’s army killing hundreds of the enemy in revenge. After that, not one of Maeve’s champions was interested in fighting Cúchulainn. She began to bribe her champions sending out great numbers against Cúchulainn but he slew them all. Eventually she blackmailed Cúchulainn’s old friend and great champion Ferdia by threatening that her bards and poets would spread stories and songs questioning his honor and courage. Because he was Maeve’s champion long before she began to covet the brown bull and he had pledged himself to her cause, Ferdia believed he had little choice but to fight Cúchulainn.

The two great champions met at the river where Cúchulainn reminded Ferdia of their long friendship which began when they were young boys being training in the court of Conchubar. He also reminded Ferdia of the pledge of eternal friendship they made to each other. Cúchulainn attempted to convince Ferdia that he should not fight because Maeve’s dishonorable deeds released him from any bond he may have made with the queen of Connaught. In the end, he was unable to convince his friend that there was no dishonor in refusing to fight for Maeve. The contest that followed was the greatest man-to-man fight in the history of Ireland and, perhaps, the history of the world. Day after day, the two great champions, and friends, met at the water’s edge and fought with swords, spears, slings and rocks. At times they fought with their fists striking each other with fearful blows that would have felled nearly anyone else. Each evening they fell asleep totally exhausted but when the dawn broke, they rose to fight again.

The days of fighting took their toll and neither warrior had any strength left when the end finally came. Sensing his own life was about to end, the fury came over Cúchulainn, the hero light shone and before Ferdia could react, Cúchulainn’s great spear, Gae Bulg, passed over Ferdia’s shield and through his armor. Although he won the battle and was proclaimed Ireland’s greatest hero, Cúchulainn could not enjoy this honor because it came at the death of his closest friend.

The battle with Ferdia effectively ended the siege by the army of Maeve and Ailell because soon after the men of Ulster recovered from the spell that had been cast. Faced with a battle against a fresh and superior force, the depleted army of Connaught returned home. Maeve, however, never forgot the disgrace brought on her by young Cúchulainn and she vowed that she would have her revenge. In the years that followed, Cúchulainn fought many great battles and killed many enemies of Ulster. In time, he became a living legend among the men and women of Ireland even though he was still a very young man who had not yet even grown a proper beard.

The difficulty with being so great a champion is that the families of those who have been defeated will often seek revenge for the death of their loved ones. In one case the sons of Curoi, who Cúchulainn killed in battle, sought revenge for their father’s death. First, however, they went to Maeve who saw an opportunity to even her own score with Cúchulainn. Maeve trained the boys for seven years and then cast a spell on the young men to give them false courage.

Finally, she sent the sons of Curoi out with poisoned spears to seek revenge. Without the spell, the young men would have been no challenge for the great Cúchulainn because they would have run before they even threw the first spear. In addition, there was no doubt that a mere spear thrust would have little effect on the great champion even if it happened to crease his flesh. This time, however, any advantage Cúchulainn might have enjoyed was offset by Maeve’s deceit and trickery.

The first poisoned spear thrown by a son of Curoi killed Laeg, Cúchulainn’s chariot driver, and the second killed Macha, Cúchulainn’s great war horse. Having lost his loyal friends, perhaps he was a little slow in reacting to the third spear, which brushed against his side and, when the poison took hold, cost Cúchulainn his life.

When the news of Cúchulainn’s death spread, all of Ireland mourned the passing of their greatest hero. No one was more distraught than Emer who lost her beloved husband. She could not imagine spending the rest of her days without him and no one could console her on her loss. When Cúchulainn was laid in his grave Emer followed him in and putting her arms around Cúchulainn for one last time, she died of a broken heart. When the leaders and druids saw what happened, they buried Emer with her husband and champion.