For centuries the storytellers of ancient Ireland told of a shining fortress called Emain Macha, home of the Red Branch, where heroes gathered to feast, boast, and defend their borders. At its centre stands Cú Chulainn, the boy-warrior who earned his name at a smith's gate, trained among the wonders of the isle of Scáthach, and alone held a ford against the armies of Queen Medb while the men of Ulster lay stricken. This edition gathers the leading tales of the Ulster Cycle, from the curse of Macha to the tragedy of Deirdre, the great Cattle Raid of Cooley, and the last stand of Ulster's champion. Faithful in meaning and spirit to the medieval Irish sources, the language is freshly rendered in clear, present-day English, with an introduction, a glossary, and passages to remember. These are tales of honour, grief, and strange magic, told plainly and beautifully. Part of The World Scriptures Library.