Ulster Cycle
The Ulster Cycle, formerly the Red Branch Cycle, is a large body of prose and verse centering around the traditional heroes of the Ulaid in what is now eastern Ulster. This is one of the four major cycles of Irish Mythology, along with the Mythological Cycle, the Fenian Cycle and the Historical Cycle.
The cycle centres around the reign of Conchobar mac Nessa, who is said to have been king of Ulster around the time of Christ. He ruled from Emain Macha (now Navan Fort near Armagh), and had a fierce rivalry with queen Medb and king Ailill of Connacht and their ally, Fergus mac Róich, former king of Ulster. The foremost hero of the cycle is Conchobar's nephew Cúchulainn.
The society depicted in the tales of the Ulster Cycle is substantially that of the pre-Christian Iron Age, although filtered through the perspective of its medieval Christian redactors, and contains many parallels with the society of the Celts of Europe as described by classical writers. Warriors fight from chariots, take their opponents' heads as trophies, contend for precedence at feasts, are advised by druids, and fight in single combat at fords. Poets have great power and privilege and wealth is reckoned in cattle.
The cycle consists of about eighty stories, the centrepiece of the which is Táin Bó Cúailnge, or the Cattle Raid of Cooley, in which Medb invades Ulster at the head of a huge army to steal the Brown Bull of Cooley, and only Cúchulainn stands in her way.
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Characters
Main Characters
- Conchobar mac Nessa (also Conor mac Nessa), king of Ulster
- Cúchulainn, Ulster hero
- Deirdre, tragic heroine
- Medb, queen of Connacht and Conchobar's enemy
- Ailill, king of Connacht
- Fergus mac Róich, former king of Ulster who goes into exile in Connacht
- The Mórrígan, goddess of war and death
- Lugh, solar god
Important Characters
- Amairgin mac Echit, poet and warrior
- Athirne, poet and troublemaker
- Blaí Briugu, hostel keeper and murder victim
- Briccriu, troublemaker
- Cathbad, chief druid in Conchobar's court
- Celtchar, Ulster warrior
- Cet mac Mágach, Connacht warrior
- Cethern mac Fintain, Ulster warrior and all-round tough guy
- Conall Cernach, Ulster hero
- Connla, Cúchulainn's son
- Cormac Cond Longas, Ulster prince in exile with Fergus
- Cú Roí, Munster king with supernatural powers
- Culann, smith
- Dáire mac Fiachna, cattle-lord
- Deichtine, Conchobar's sister and mother of Cúchulainn
- Donn Cuailnge, stud bull
- Dubthach Dóeltenga, cynical Ulster exile
- Emer, Cúchulainn's wife
- Finnbhennach, stud bull
- Fráech, Connacht hero
- Lóegaire Búadach, hapless Ulster would-be hero
- Lugaid mac Con Roí, Cú Roí's son out for revenge
- Macha, slighted goddess
- Naoise, Ulster warrior, hunter, singer and lover of Deirdre
- Nera, Connacht nobleman
- Ness, Ulster princess, mother of Conchobar
- Scáthach, warrior-woman who trains Cúchulainn in Scotland
Minor characters
- Achall
- Áed Ruad
- Bélchú
- Cairbre Cuanach
- Cairbre Nia Fer
- Condere mac Echach
- Cruinniuc
- Cúscraid
- Fedelm Noíchrothach
- Fedlimid mac Daill
- Fergus mac Leti
- Fiachu mac Fir Febhe
- Follomain mac Concobair
- Friuch
- Furbaide Ferbend
- Garb mac Stairn
- Goll mac Carbada
- Lugaid Riab nDerg
- Maine
- Mugain
- Sencha mac Ailella
- Uathach
Narratives
- Aided Fergusa (The violent death of Fergus)
- Aided Óenfhir Aífe (The tragic death of Aífe only son)
- Echtra Nerai (The adventure of Nera)
- Fled Bricrenn (Briccriu's Feast)
- Longas mac nUislenn (Exile of the sons of Uisnech)
- Mesca Ulad (The intoxication of the Ulad)
- Scéla mucce meic da thó (The story of Mac Da Thó's Pig)
- Serglige con Culainn agus ónét emire (The wasting sickness of Cúchulainn and the only jealously of Emer)
- Táin bó Cuailnge (The cattle raid of Cooley)
- Togail bruidne da Derga (The destruction of Da Derga's hostel)