The central story of the Ulster cycle is the Cattle-raid of Cuailnge (Tain Bo Cuailnge). Queen Medbh of Connacht and her vanguard attempt to steal the great bull, Donn Cuailnge, owned by the men of Ulster. She desires this bull so that her possessions will equal those of her husband, King Ailill, who owns a great white-horned bull, Finnbennach.The Queen of Connacht, Medbh, was very jealous. She had as much jewellery and fighting warriors as her husband, King Ailill, but he owned the one possession that she envied beyond belief ~ the White Bull of Connacht.

It had come to the Queen's knowledge that a man called Daire owned a great brown bull in Cooley. Medbh ordered her army to capture this bull, thus she thought this acquisition would make her rich in possessions as her husband. The army set off for Ulster, and their march was known as the Táin - the "Cattle Raid". The warriors of Ulster had become sick and feverish; the curse of Macha had surfaced, with weakness in abundance when strength was most required. Cuchulain stood at the "Gap of the North", protecting the borders of Ulster against the impending onslaught by Medbh's armies. Medbh's armies had heard of Cuchulain and were scared, because he was the only warrior in the province of Ulster to have been spared of Macha's curse (not being born in Ulster).

When engaged in battle, young Cuchulain was said to be divine. In the battle, the Connacht warriors were no match for Cuchulain. Cuchulain fought with the strength of 20 men. Medbh's warriors were slayed left, right and centre. Medbh was cunning. She managed to bribe Ferdia, Cuchulain great friend, to engage in battle against him. Friend or no friend, Cuchulain had no choice, he had to fight against his friend. Ferdia was also a champion, and the ensuing battle lasted for four days. On day four, Ferdia allowed Cuchulain to choose his weapon first. Cuchulain opted to fight with his own weapon, the gae bolga, which was a spear with five sharp points. Ferdia was slain at last, at the death Cuchulain was sad to lose a great friend but praised his courage in battle.

The curse of Macha was lifted, as suddenly as it had come, it had gone! The warriors of Macha together with Cuchulain, drove Medbh's army back. However, the beaten Connacht men had already managed to capture the Brown Bull, and they paraded it before them as they quickly fled from the opposition. Back at Connacht, the White Bull was no match for the Brown Bull. The Brown Bull gored the White Bull to shreds, and then condescended on a wild rampage back towards Cooley! The Brown Bull reached Druim Tarb ~ "the Ridge of the Bull", where his heart burst and he died. All the Queen had succeeded in achieving was losing her bull, i.e. matching her husband's loss!

 

THE QUEEN'S TOMB.
The flat-topped hill of Knocknarea, near Sligo, is crowned by a huge cairn of stones. These are said to mark the tomb of Queen Maeve, or Medbh, whose jealousy led to the war between Connaught and Ulster, and the deeds and death of Cuchulainn. The cairn probably does cover a grave, believed to be much older than the Celtic legend.