Laoch na Laochra, Hero of Heroes – the story of Cú Chulainn talk
CúChulainn is one of the most famous Irish mythological heroes. He appears in the stories of the Ulster Cycle, and Scottish and Manx folklore, but how much of the story of his life do you know or remember? Join the Ring of Gullion team and local man Reamonn Ó Ciaráin in Crossmaglen Library as he tells the story of the great warrior Cúchulainn on Wednesday 8th November at 7.00pm in Crossmaglen Library.
This event is part of the Ring of Gullion Winter Solstice Festival. There will be a variety of talks happening over the next two months in the area.
Laoch na Laochra is the book of that name written by Reamonn with artwork by Dara Vallely which was published by Gale Linn in 2015 with support from the Ultach Trust- Cúchulainn: Ulster’s Greatest Hero has just been published by national organisation Gael Linn and retells the Cúchulainn stories in English.
Professor Séamus Mac Mathúna had the following to say about Réamonn’s book:‘It is a tremendous achievement on the part of Réamonn and Dara. The book is beautifully produced. It captures the spirit of the original Irish. It is terse and pithy on the one hand and expansive enough elsewhere to portray the full grandure of these epics.’
Councillor Roisin Mulgrew, Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council states “The story of Cúchulainn dates back to the 7th Century AD but still dominates the mythological and imaginative landscape of Ireland. I am looking forward to hear Reamonn tell this action packed story. We are also grateful to Crossmaglen Library for providing the venue for this great talk!”
The mythological narrative tells the story of Cúchulainn; from his origins and when he first slew Culann’s beloved hound in self defence and then agreed to be the replacement guard hound by way of recompense – to his death by Lughai’s spear. During his short but heroic life magic, romance, betrayal and violence mark every twist and turn in the epic story of the Tain, the Cattle Raid of Cooley, as Cúchulainn defends Ulster against the entire invading army of Queen Meabh of Connaught on the Ulster borderlands.
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