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Púcas & Piseogs
Púcas & Piseogs
Of Gods & Fighting Men and Women
This tour is based on the Táin Bó Cuailnge, the story of the struggle between Queen Medb and Cúchulainn. It ranges from Roscommon to Louth, taking in parts of Longford and Meath en route.
For this one day tour we are focusing on Co. Louth and the Cooley Peninsula where much of the main activity of the Táin takes place. Leaving Slane, we will travel north to Ardee in Co. Louth, which takes its name from the three day battle between Cúchulainn and Ferdia which ended with Ferdia’s death. Ardee is a largely medieval town as we will see from the fourteenth century Norman castle. Just outside the town we will visit the ‘Jumping Church’ at Kildemock. Popular legend has it that the gable wall of the church jumped two or three feet within its own foundations in order to leave the grave of an excommunicated man outside.
Our tour continues on through Knockbridge where the mortally wounded Cúchulainn is said to have tied himself to a stone in order to face his enemies standing.
We will travel on then to Omeath where Cúchulainn defended the honour of Ulster against Medb’s forces. Omeath is a small village on the border of Co. Louth and Co. Down in Northern Ireland. The scenery around Omeath is breathtaking with views of the Mourne Mountains and the Cooley Peninsula. Another site of legend to be visited is the Long Woman’s Grave near Omeath. Leaving Omeath, we will drive alongside Carlingford Lough towards our next stop which will be the beautiful town of Carlingford. A heritage town, Carlingford has an abundance of historic sites to see, including King John’s Castle, built in the twelfth century; the Tholsel which is one of the last surviving gates into the town which also functioned as a tollgate; the Mint - fortified tower house dating from the fifteenth century; and the Dominican Priory which may have been founded in 1305.
As we leave Carlingford, we will drive around the Cooley Peninsula, and back down through Co. Louth, towards our final stops - the monastic sites of Monasterboice and Mellifont. Monasterboice is home to some excellent examples of the Irish High Cross and at Mellifont just a few miles away the extensive ruins of the first Irish Cistercian monastery can be seen.
Check here for tour dates and booking details
For this one day tour we are focusing on Co. Louth and the Cooley Peninsula where much of the main activity of the Táin takes place. Leaving Slane, we will travel north to Ardee in Co. Louth, which takes its name from the three day battle between Cúchulainn and Ferdia which ended with Ferdia’s death. Ardee is a largely medieval town as we will see from the fourteenth century Norman castle. Just outside the town we will visit the ‘Jumping Church’ at Kildemock. Popular legend has it that the gable wall of the church jumped two or three feet within its own foundations in order to leave the grave of an excommunicated man outside.
Our tour continues on through Knockbridge where the mortally wounded Cúchulainn is said to have tied himself to a stone in order to face his enemies standing.
We will travel on then to Omeath where Cúchulainn defended the honour of Ulster against Medb’s forces. Omeath is a small village on the border of Co. Louth and Co. Down in Northern Ireland. The scenery around Omeath is breathtaking with views of the Mourne Mountains and the Cooley Peninsula. Another site of legend to be visited is the Long Woman’s Grave near Omeath. Leaving Omeath, we will drive alongside Carlingford Lough towards our next stop which will be the beautiful town of Carlingford. A heritage town, Carlingford has an abundance of historic sites to see, including King John’s Castle, built in the twelfth century; the Tholsel which is one of the last surviving gates into the town which also functioned as a tollgate; the Mint - fortified tower house dating from the fifteenth century; and the Dominican Priory which may have been founded in 1305.
As we leave Carlingford, we will drive around the Cooley Peninsula, and back down through Co. Louth, towards our final stops - the monastic sites of Monasterboice and Mellifont. Monasterboice is home to some excellent examples of the Irish High Cross and at Mellifont just a few miles away the extensive ruins of the first Irish Cistercian monastery can be seen.
Check here for tour dates and booking details
The Táin
The Táin Bó Cuailnge (often translated as The Cattle Raid of Cooley) is the greatest work of Irish classical literature. It is an epic saga which centres on the struggle between Queen Medb of Connacht and the warrior hero of Ulster, Cúchulainn. Medb disputes with her husband, Ailill of Leinster, over the value of their possessions. He claims that his are greater because he owns the white horned bull, Finnbennach, who left Medb’s herds because it did not want to be ruled by a woman. All of Medb’s wealth seems worthless to her because she does not have a bull to rival Ailill’s. She resolves to possess the greatest bull in all of Ireland, the brown bull, Donn Cuailnge, of the Cooley peninsula in Ulster. Its owner refuses her approaches and so Medb decides to take the bull by force. She summons the armies of Connacht and Leinster and some Ulster exiles. The story of the Táin follows her fight to capture the bull and her encounters with Cúchulainn. The action moves across Ireland’s north-east and midlands and the tale ends with the two great bulls fighting, Donn Cuailnge kills Finnbennach and returns to the Cooley peninsula where he dies.
The Táin Bó Cuailnge (often translated as The Cattle Raid of Cooley) is the greatest work of Irish classical literature. It is an epic saga which centres on the struggle between Queen Medb of Connacht and the warrior hero of Ulster, Cúchulainn. Medb disputes with her husband, Ailill of Leinster, over the value of their possessions. He claims that his are greater because he owns the white horned bull, Finnbennach, who left Medb’s herds because it did not want to be ruled by a woman. All of Medb’s wealth seems worthless to her because she does not have a bull to rival Ailill’s. She resolves to possess the greatest bull in all of Ireland, the brown bull, Donn Cuailnge, of the Cooley peninsula in Ulster. Its owner refuses her approaches and so Medb decides to take the bull by force. She summons the armies of Connacht and Leinster and some Ulster exiles. The story of the Táin follows her fight to capture the bull and her encounters with Cúchulainn. The action moves across Ireland’s north-east and midlands and the tale ends with the two great bulls fighting, Donn Cuailnge kills Finnbennach and returns to the Cooley peninsula where he dies.
Cost: €60*
Tour includes transport from and return to central pick-up point (this will depend on where visitors are staying). Lunch is an optional extra and can be organised by arrangement.
*Price based on group of 10 - for larger or smaller groups, please get in touch for more information.
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