Irish King and Hero Tales

Translations and retellings of medieval Irish legends.

Conaire the Great
Nine geasa (taboos) have been placed on Conaire, High King of Ireland in the first century BC. In revenge for his grandfather’s destruction of their mounds, the Otherworld Sidhe people will manipulate Conaire’s breaking of the geasa, leading to his destruction by Irish and British marauders and their druids.

The Champion’s Portion (The Feast of Bricriu)
Ulster heroes Cúchulainn, Loegaire and Conall vie for supremacy. This 8th-century tale is one of the finest examples of the colourful characters, wild imaginings, vibrant action and black humour that are characteristic of the Golden Age of Irish literature.

The Bórama (The Cattle Tribute)
When a Leinster king caused the deaths of the daughters of the high king in the first century AD, the high king imposed the Cattle Tribute on Leinster as compensation. For the next 900 years, high kings attempted to impose the Tribute with varying results, providing the thread that links a series of battles and other historical and legendary incidents until the time of Brian Boru – Brian of the Tributes. This version incorporates “The Battle of Allen” and “The Head of Donn Bó”, which are not part of the Bórama saga proper.

The Saga of Maelodrán
Seventh-century Leinster hero Maelodrán kills the two sons of the high king and coerces the king into pardoning him. Later, his wife, the daughter of the king of an enemy clan, plots with her father to kill him. Surviving that, Maelodrán is eventually killed by the king with his own spear. A year later, Maelodrán returns from the dead to kill the king with the same spear.

The Spear of Maelodrán and the Spear of Belach Durgein
This side-telling explains how Maelodrán’s spear came to be identified as the demon-possessed guardian Spear of Belach Durgein, nowadays known as the Punchestown Standing Stone, which is pictured on the front cover.

Robert Bruce and the Spider
The Scottish king is inspired to mount one more battle against the English.

The Red Hand of Ulster
The bloody origin of the symbol.

The Battle Goddess of Clan Turlough
A goddess figure from the Otherworld threatens the enemies of Clan Turlough before two historical 14th-century battles.

The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne
A comprehensive version that incorporates the Kind Old Woman interlude from Munster oral tradition. Gráinne, young daughter of High King Cormac mac Airt, is betrothed to the aging leader of the Fianna, Fionn mac Cumhaill, but has fallen in love with Diarmuid, a handsome young Fianna hero. At the wedding feast, she puts him under geasa to elope with her, with tragic results.

Éachtach’s Revenge
A little-known 14th-century ballad, which tells how Diarmuid and Gráinne’s daughter avenged her father’s death. When she learns that Fionn was responsible, she leads her brothers in a battle against the Fianna and defeats Fionn in single combat.

Fionn’s Shield
A tree poisoned by the severed head of Fionn’s great-grandfather, Fomorian leader Balor of the Evil Eye, is used to make an indestructible shield called Ancient Dripping Hazel. It passes through many hands until Fionn inherits it and uses it to defend himself against Éachtach, who shatters it with her sword.

How Diarmuid Got His Love Spot
A woman from the Otherworld so admires Diarmuid for his great beauty that she gives him a love spot. Any woman who sees it falls instantly and completely in love with him, including Gráinne in another version of the Pursuit tale.

The Death of Fionn
Two versions: he slipped on a rock crossing a river and broke his head, and he was killed in the final battle of the Fianna in AD 284.

Caoilte Laments the Passing of the Fianna
After spending 200 years in an Otherworld sídh mound, Fionn’s nephew Caoilte returns to this world and meets Saint Patrick, who tries to convert him to Christianity.