John Behan RHA (b.1938)
Cú Chulainn (1980)
Bronze, 69cm high (27¼'')
Signed and dated 1980

 

Cú Chulainn is a legendary Irish warrior and demigod from the Ulster Cycle of mythology. The son of the...

John Behan RHA (b.1938)
Cú Chulainn (1980)
Bronze, 69cm high (27¼'')
Signed and dated 1980

 

Cú Chulainn is a legendary Irish warrior and demigod from the Ulster Cycle of mythology. The son of the god Lugh and the mortal Deichtine, he was originally named Sétanta. He earned the name Cú Chulainn (“Hound of Culann”) after killing a guard dog in self-defence and vowing to take its place.

Trained in martial arts by the warrior woman Scáthach, he wielded the deadly spear Gáe Bulg. Though destined for glory, it was foretold his life would be short. At seventeen, he single-handedly defended Ulster in the epic Táin Bó Cúailnge, famously entering a berserk rage known as ríastrad. He rode a chariot driven by his charioteer Láeg, pulled by the horses Liath Macha and Dub Sainglend.

Cú Chulainn’s wife was Emer, though he had other lovers, including Aífe, with whom he fathered Connla, whom he tragically killed in combat. Cú Chulainn himself died heroically, tied to a standing stone so he could die on his feet.

He remains a national symbol of heroism, notably commemorated in Oliver Sheppard’s bronze statue in Dublin’s GPO and in stained glass at St. Enda’s School. His story has been retold in literature, including Lady Gregory’s 1902 Cuchulain of Muirthemne, which popularized and softened the ancient tales.

View more View less