The Táin

"The Táin" by Mary A. Hutton and John Patrick Campbell is an epic poem written in the early 20th century. It is a poetic retelling of the Irish saga Táin Bó Cúailnge, centering on Queen Maev of Connaught, King Ailill, and their clash with Ulster, with warriors such as Fergus mac Róich and, later, the famed youthful champion of Ulster. The story blends mythic combat, royal rivalry, and the fate of legendary cattle at the heart of a continent-spanning raid. The opening of this work sets its scope and method: a preface explains Hutton’s sources, her reshaping of the two medieval prose recensions, and her choice to preserve a Gaelic spirit in English verse. A framing tale follows, in which saints of Ireland fast at Fergus mac Róich’s grave until his spirit rises to recount the Táin. Book I begins at Rath Croohan, where Maev and Ailill compare wealth; Ailill’s prized white-horned bull shames Maev, prompting her to seek an equal—Donn Cuailnge of Cooley. After a druid recounts the bulls’ mythic origins, Maev’s envoy Mac Roth first wins, then loses Dáire mac Fiachna’s consent to lend the Donn, and Maev resolves on a grand winter hosting against Ulster. Book II pauses the march for a tale at Maev’s court: Lowercam relates the tragedy of Daerdra and the Sons of Usna—prophecy, elopement to Alba, and Fergus’s ill-fated guarantee—ending in their ambush and deaths at Emain by Conor’s design. Outraged, Fergus burns and ravages around Emain, defects with his following to Connaught, and is royally welcomed by Maev as an ally for the coming raid, while Daerdra remains in Conor’s keeping, lamenting her slain beloveds as the section breaks off. (This is an automatically generated summary.)