The Ulster Cycle

The Ulster Cycle is a group of legendary stories from early Irish literature, set in and around the reign of Conchobar mac Nessa in Ulster. His warriors include his nephews, Cú Chulainn and Conall Cernach. His main enemies are queen Medb and her husband Ailill of Connacht, and their ally, Fergus mac Róich, former king of Ulster in exile.

I’m the creator of a series of webcomics adapting these legends on my main website, paddybrown.co.uk. The first storyline, which follows Conchobar’s mother Ness as she turns outlaw to pursue an illegal quest for vengeance, is complete and also available in print. The second, The Cattle Raid of Cooley, began weekly serialisation on Wednesday 6 August 2008. A first print issue is available and a second will be published shortly.

I used to run a website collecting translations and paraphrases of the stories of the Ulster Cycle. That’s been mothballed for a while, but I’m gradually reconstructing it with original translations. I’ve also provided links to translations on other sites, primarily Mary Jones’ Celtic Literature Collective, which is an enormous collection of myths, legends and literature from all the Celtic nations. I’ve also included the titles of stories I’m aware of that I haven’t found on the web, and hope to fill them in as I go.

Original translations on this site

• The Taking of the Síd-Mound
• The Quarrel of the Two Swineherds
• The War of Fergus and Conchobar
• The Conception of Conall Cernach
• The Conception of Cú Chulainn version 1
• Athirne the Unsociable
• Does Greth Eat Curds?
• Cú Chulainn’s Shield
• The Revealing of the Táin Bó Cúailnge

Translations on other sites

• The Affliction of the Ulstermen
• The Debility of the Ulstermen
• The Martial Career of Congal Cláiringnech
• The Saga of Fergus mac Léti
• The Tragic Death of Fergus mac Leide
• The Birth of Conchobar
• Tidings of Conchobar son of Ness
• The Battle of the Boyne
• The Genealogy of Cú Chulainn
• The Wooing of Emer
• The Death of Aífe’s Only Son
• Bricriu’s Feast
• The Death of Cú Roí
• The Sick-Bed of Cú Chulainn
• The Violent Death of Derbforgaill (pdf: edition and translation with intro and notes)
• The Pursuit of Gruaidh Ghriansholus
• The Siege of Howth
• The Exile of the Sons of Usnech
• Deirdre
• The Lament of Deirdre
• The Cattle Raid of Fráech
• The Cattle Raid of Regamon
• The Raid for Dartaid’s Cattle
• The Driving of the Cattle of Flidais
• The Cattle Raid of Regamna
• The Courtship of Ferb – Book of Leinster and Egerton MS 1782 versions
• The Adventure of Nera
• The Dream of Óengus
• Táin Bó Cúailnge – Recension 1 and Recension 2
• The Colloquy of the Two Sages
• The Story of Mac Dathó’s Pig
• The Battle of Ross na Ríg
• The Intoxication of the Ulstermen
• The Destruction of Da Derga’s Hostel
• The Death of Celtchar mac Uthechair
• The Death of Lóegaire Búadach
• The Death of Cú Chulainn
• The Death of Conchobar
• The Battle of Airtech
• The Death of Cet mac Mágach
• The Death of Fergus mac Róich
• The Death of Medb
• The Phantom Chariot of Cú Chulainn

The Metrical Dindshenchas

Poetic traditions of places, including the following featuring characters from the Ulster Cycle:

• Achall
• Findglais
• Srúb Brain
• Áth Cliath Medraige
• Rath Cruachan
• Carn Fráich
• Áth Luain
• Mag Mucrime
• Duma Selga
• Mag Luirg
• Carn Conaill
• Carn Furbaide
• Druim Criaich
• Áth Grencha
• Ard Macha
• Lecht Óen-Fhir Aífe
• Sliab Callann
• Inber Cichmaine
• Fich Buana
• Mag Léna
• Gairech
• Inber Bicne
• Brí Léith
• Druim Suamag I
• Druim Suamag II
• Dún Mac Nechtan Scéne
• Áth Crocha
• Mag Mandachta
• Dún Ruissarach
• Úaig Búana
• Lind Feic
• Grellach Dolluid
• Emain Macha
• Lecht Héile
• Fert Medba

Stories not yet online

• The Battle of Leitir Ruaid
• The Sons of Conaire
• The Seed of Conaire Mór
• The Battle of Cumar
• The Battle of the Assembly of Macha
• The Battle of Findchorad
• The Cause of the Exile of Fergus mac Róich
• The Conception of Cú Chulainn version 2
• Medb Enjoined Illegal Contracts
• The Birth of Athirne
• The Guesting of Athirne
• The Words of Scáthach
• The Training of Cú Chulainn
• The Elopement of Emer
• The Siege of the Men of Falga
• The Eulogy of Cú Roí
• The Vision of Ferchertne
• The Deaths of Goll and Garb
• Cú Chulainn’s Meeting with Senbecc
• The Wooing of Treblann
• The Scythed Battle-Chariot
• The Exile of the Sons of Dóel Dermait
• The Wooing of Luaine
• Da Choca’s Hostel
• The Deaths of Ailill and Conall Cernach
• The Death of Conchobar’s Sons
• The Guests of Guaire
• Nede and Caier