Explore Series 6: Circling the Táin

A graphic showing a ringed planet, with a bull on the central planet, and images representing characters from the Táin on satelites around the planet

This Series remains ‘unfininshed. Isolde’s health and finally, the pandemic, intervened. However through the seven remscéla that we tackled a pattern began to emerge. Wheras the theme of Moytura is the stuggle to restore the matural flow of fertility and prosperity in the land, the Táin cycle recounts tales of conflict and, frequently, heroic failure. What is significant is how many of the stories that funnel into the centepiece story of the Táin Bó Cuailnge include themes of betrayed birth customs and acts against the natural flow of prosperity and fertility, often for personal gain. From the tale of ‘The Two Swineherds, the story of Macha, the story of Medb and her sisters to the conception of Cú Chulainn, the theme continues. However, they still remain powerful and exciting stories, so well worth the telling.