The Cattle Raid of Cooley
How did one bull trigger a war in ancient Ireland?
4.1 (34)
36 mins
Explore the ancient Irish tale of Queen Medb’s attempt to seize the prized Brown Bull of Cooley from Ulster. Discover how her quest for one extraordinary animal triggered a massive conflict and placed the young warrior Cú Chulainn at the heart of the legendary battle.
Ep 1:
A Bedroom Quarrel Sparks a War
A quarrel over wealth between Queen Maeve and King Ailill spirals into a quest for a legendary bull, a botched negotiation, and a goddess's devastating curse on Ulster.
Ep 2:
The Boy Who Held Back an Army
With Ulster's warriors crippled by Macha's curse, teenage demigod Cú Chulainn single-handedly defies Maeve's invading army, drawing the wrath of the Morrigan and sacrificing Ulster's boy troop.
Ep 3:
Brothers in Arms, Enemies at the Ford
Grief and fury unleash Cú Chulainn's monstrous warp spasm, but nothing prepares him for the agonizing duel against Ferdia, his beloved foster-brother turned foe.
Ep 4:
Two Bulls, One Ruinous Reckoning
As Ulster finally rises and the armies clash, Maeve's desperate gambit for the Brown Bull leads to a devastating final reckoning for queens, champions, and the two fated bulls themselves.
Discussions (5)
McCain
Level 6 · 6 days agoMaeve didn't lose tho. She came back with the bull. You can't call that a loss when the whole war was about the bull in the first place.
Joyce
Level 6 · 6 days agoÁth Fhirdia (Ferdia's Ford) being the origin of Ardee in County Louth checks out. The town's Irish name Baile Átha Fhirdia literally means 'town of Ferdia's ford.'
Roger
Level 10 · 6 days agoMaeve started it tho
