The Boyhood of Cú Chulainn

Story

Born with the name Sétanta, as a child Cú Chulainn gains his new name when he kills a ferocious guard dog. He grows up to be a fearsome warrior, fighting against whole armies by himself and facing many challenges along the way. There is a prophecy stating that he will have great fame but his life will be short.

Why we chose it

Cú Chulainn is one of the great heroes of Irish legends.

Where it came from

Cú Chulainn is one of the main characters in the Ulster Cycle, a series of Irish myths and legends dating back to the 1^st century. It is one of four great Irish story cycles and it is written in Old and Middle Irish. The 7^th Century bard, Sechan Torpeist revived the stories.

Where it went next

The superhero Irish Wolfhound, who features in Marvel comics, is based on The Hound of Ulster.

Associated stories

There are many stories about Cú Chulainn. One of the most famous is the Táin Bó Cúailnge, the story of the great cattle raid of Cooley when, at the age of 17, Cú Chulainn single-handedly fights off the enemies of this kingdom. In her 2020 YOung Adult novel On Midnight Beach, Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick re-imagines the legend of Táin Bó Cúailnge, setting it in Ireland in the long, hot summer of 1976 and telling the story of Dog Cullen, a teenager based on Cú Chulainn.