INTRODUCTION
The Táin Bó Cuailnge, ‘Driving of the Kine of Cuailnge,’ is the principal story in the collection known as the Cúchulainn Saga, ‘the oldest existing literature of any of the peoples who dwelt to the north of the Alps.’[1] The written tale is as Old as the seventh century. The chief characters flourished, according to tradition, about the beginning of the Christian era. Ireland was at that period divided into the five provinces of Ulaidh, Connachta, Laighin, and the two divisions of Mumha. Each of these was ruled by its own king, while an over-king of the whole country ruled at Tara. The armies opposed in the Táin are Fir Éireann (The Men of Ireland), or Ceithre Ollchóigidh Eireann (The four great Provinces of Ireland) on one side, and on the other Fir Uladh (The Men of Ulster). The latter seem to have been regarded as a distinct race. In the tale called ‘The Sick Bed Of Cú Chulainn,’ there is a reference to the election of a high king, the electors being the rulers of Connachta, Laighin and Mumha. ‘These men,’ continues the redactor, ‘used not to take kingly counsel with the Ulaidh, for they were united against Ulaidh’ (Irische Texte I., p 212). The three principal races of Ireland according the Laws (I. 70, 78) were the Féne, the Ulaidh and the Gailiain or Laighin (Leinstermen).
- ↑ W. Ridgeway, “The date of the first shaping of the Cuchulainn Saga,” Proc. British Academy, 1905, p. 135.
