Page 52 - Demo

52 Stephen Dunford: The Journey of The IrIsh
Mac Righ, cousin of and bitter adversary to King Conor Mac Nessa of Ulster, these Ulster warriors were willing, ready, and eager to revenge themselves upon King Conor and their native province, because of Conor’s odious treatment of Déirdre and his slaying of the sons of Uisneach.
Drawing of Cúchulainn by John Duncan, Scottish 19th C. artist
So it came to pass, that Meadhbh, at the head of this mighty army marched upon Ulster-in the gap of which province they were met by an unprepared Conor and his much smaller force, the most celebrated of whom is Cúchulainn, the central figure in the tale. Single-handed, Cúchulainn undertook the defence of Ulster, and performing wonderful deeds of heroism, it is told, he succeeded in stemming the advance of Meadhbh’s host until his own Ulstermen were mobilised and ready to give battle. The greatest and most exciting portion of this epic details the account of Cúchulainn’s battle with his dear friend Ferdia, at a river ford. It is told that the fierceness with which these two hero-friends, each fighting for his own people, battled each other, and then the concern, tenderness and brotherliness shown by each for the other when the fighting ceased each evening, was astonishing to all who viewed it. The contest at the ford between the two champions, in full view of both assembled armies, lasted for four days, before a seriously wounded Cúchulainn finally over- came his friend and foe.
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