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Introduction to the Táin bó Cúailnge

  • prose
  • Táin bó Cúailnge
Title
Introduction to the Táin bó Cúailnge
This is the first episode of Recension I, described in its concluding statement as being ‘the introductory part’ (titulrad) of the Táin. It is the second one in Recension II, after the story of the pillow-talk between Medb and Ailill, although in the final note, it appears to be distinguished from that preface as being more intrinsically part of the Táin proper (tairngire ⁊ remfástini ⁊ cendphairt in sceóil ⁊ fotha a fagbála ⁊ a dénma, ⁊ comrád chind cherchaille doringni Ailill ⁊ Medb i Crúachain connice sain, translated by O’Rahilly as “prophecy and augury, and the prelude to the tale, [and] the basis of its invention and composition, and the pillow-talk held by Ailill and Medb in Crúachu”).(1)n. 1 See Abigail Burnyeat, ‘Córugud and compilatio in some manuscripts of Táin bó Cúailnge’ in Ulidia 2... (2009).
First words (prose)
  • Táin bó Cúailnge inso sís
As in LU.
Context(s)The (textual) context(s) to which the present text belongs or in which it is cited in part or in whole.
Manuscripts
Recension I
Recension II
Form
prose (primary)
verse (secondary)
Contains poems
‘Atchíu fer find firfes cles’ » Fedelm’s prophecy. This poem occurs in both recensions.
Textual relationships
For the prefatory matter in Recension II, see Comrád chindcherchailli (‘The pillow-talk’) . Both recensions continue with In scél iar n-urd (‘The story in due order’).
Associated items
Atchíu fer find firfes clesAtchíu fer find firfes clesPoem attributed to Fedelm, a poetess (banfhili) and seeress from Connacht, in the first two recensions of the Táin bó Cúailnge. In this poem, she prophesies the coming of Cú Chulainn and his heroic deeds.

Classification

Táin bó Cúailnge
Táin bó Cúailnge
id. 624

Sources

Notes

1.
See Abigail Burnyeat, ‘Córugud and compilatio in some manuscripts of Táin bó Cúailnge’ in Ulidia 2... (2009).

Primary sources Text editions and/or modern translations – in whole or in part – along with publications containing additions and corrections, if known. Diplomatic editions, facsimiles and digital image reproductions of the manuscripts are not always listed here but may be found in entries for the relevant manuscripts. For historical purposes, early editions, transcriptions and translations are not excluded, even if their reliability does not meet modern standards.

See Táin bó Cúailnge for a fuller list
[ed.] [tr.] OʼRahilly, Cecile [ed. and tr.], Táin bó Cúailnge: Recension I, Dublin: DIAS, 1976.
CELT – edition: <link> CELT – translation: <link>
Lines 1–134 Recension I.
[ed.] [tr.] OʼRahilly, Cecile [ed. and tr.], Táin bó Cúalnge: from the Book of Leinster, Irish Texts Society, 49, Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1967.
CELT – edition: <link> CELT – translation: <link>
Lines 147–296 Recension II in LL.
web page identifiers
Contributors
Dennis Groenewegen
Page created
May 2012, last updated: November 2022
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