As a child, his name was Setanta, which means 'the little'. He only gained his name by killing a watchdog, and now he is found in Táin Bó Cualgne. Who is 'he'?

Baloo55th

Sounds like Cuchulain, the Hound of Ulster. And the Tain Bo Cualgne is the Cattle Raid of Cooley, one of the main bits of the Irish heroic legends. Apr 11 05, 12:32 PM

Flynn_17

Have a YaY. YaY! Apr 11 05, 12:37 PM

Baloo55th

Cualgne is also found as Cuailgne. After killing the dog, the owner Culainn was obviously rather upset, so the lad offered to guard the forge instead until a replacement was found. Hence Cu (dog) chulain (of Culainn). Later in life he had a great problem, for he was obliged to taste any food at a hearth he passed, and was also obliged not to eat dog. So Queen Medb arranged it that he had to pass a hearth where someone was cooking a dog.... Apr 11 05, 12:40 PM

lanfranco

Well, don't stop now! What, exactly, did Queen Medb have against him? Apr 11 05, 8:45 PM

Baloo55th

Well, Queen Medb (pronounced 'mave' as in the familiar form of Mavis) wanted the Great Brown Bull of Cooley (Cualgne), and she organised a raid to steal it. Cuchulain stood singlehanded against her might and won. In the course of this, he threatened her that he would cast a stone close to her head every time he saw her. So he did, and it killed the squirrel on her shoulder. (Ever had a squirrel on your shoulder? I have - and one on each knee and one in my hand at the same time.) So, as she a bit of a bitch and was into evil and bad sorcery, she cooked up this doggy plan... Apr 13 05, 5:32 PM

lanfranco

Thanks. Now I understand. I think. Apr 14 05, 7:26 PM