Wyld ☾ Folk

Cú Chulainn (Irish for “Culann’s Hound”), born Sétanta, is an Irish mythological hero who appears in the stories of the Ulster Cycle. He is believed to be an incarnation of the god Lugh, who is also his father. He gained his name as a child after killing Culann’s fierce guard-dog in self-defence and offered to take its place until a replacement could be reared. At the age of seventeen he defended Ulster single-handedly against the armies of queen Medb of Connacht in the famous Táin Bó Cúailnge. It was prophesied that his great deeds would give him everlasting fame, but his life would be a short one. 

Emer was the queen of Ulster, married to Cú Chulainn. The Ulstermen searched for a suitable wife for him, but he would have none but Emer. He visited and wooed her by trading cryptic riddles with her. Emer agreed to accept Cú Chulainn as a husband, but only when his deeds justified it. Emer’s father opposed the match and suggested that Cú Chulainn should train in arms with the renowned warrior-woman Scáthach in Scotland, hoping this would kill him. Cú Chulainn returned from Scotland fully trained, but Forgall still refused to let him marry Emer. Cú Chulainn stormed Forgall’s fortress, killing twenty-four of Forgall’s men, abducted Emer and stole Forgall’s treasure. Having proved his prowess, Emer now agreed to marry him.

Though Cú Chulainn had many lovers, Emer’s only jealousy came when he was entranced into love with Fand, wife of Manannán mac Lir, the king of the great sea, as recounted in the narrative Serglige Con Culainn. She decided to kill her rival, but when she saw the strength of Fand’s love for Cú Chulainn she decided to give him up to her. Fand, touched by Emer’s magnanimity, decided to return to her own husband. Manannán shook his cloak between Cú Chulainn and Fand, ensuring the two would never meet again, and Cú Chulainn and Emer drank a potion to wipe the whole affair from their memories.