Legend of Setanta

Cú Chulainn, also spelt Cú Chulaind or Cúchulainn Cú Chulainn also became known as Setanta.

Where is he from? It is unknown where exactly Setanta is from because it is a legend and not fact. All we know is that he was from Ulster and that his uncle was the king of Ulster and owned a hurling team.

What did he look like? Cúchulainn was short in stature yet no one could look upon him in his splendor without blinking. The heat of his body could melt snow and ice for yards around, he glowed red and when he dipped his body in water to bathe the water hissed and turned to steam. He could send himself into a battle fury

What did he look like? His hair was brown, in the middle it was red; on the outside and it was gold About his neck were a hundred tiny links of red gold flashing, with pendants hung from them. His headgear was adorned with a hundred different jewels.

Setanta When Cuchulainn was young he had a different name, Setanta. This is the story of how he became Cuchulainn. He was a great hurling player and one day he was playing when the king and others were going to a feast at Culainn’s. He said he would follow them when he had finished.

Arrival at the fort. Later that night he set off. It was a long trip. He got to the fort and found a wolfhound guarding it. The wolfhound leapt at Cuchulainn trying to attack and kill him. What could Setanta do?? He defended himself with his hurl and sliotar.

The fight The dog advanced on Setanta and so he swung his hurley and hit his sliotar. He gave it a mighty whack and the sliotar flew into the hound’s mouth. This, of course, choked the dog and Setanta was standing over it, when all the guests came out to see what had happened.

Irish Wolfhound

Cuchulainn ‘What shall I do now?’ asked Culainn. ‘Who will guard my fort?’ ‘I will’ replied Setanta. He promised to stay and guard the fort for Culainn ‘til a new dog had been trained in. The Gaeilge for hound is ‘Cú’ and so Setanta became known as ‘Cuchulainn’ - the hound of Culainn.

Typical Character Features... Cuculainn was extremely athletic which is why he was famous before he even became Cucullainn. His characteristical features where that he cared for the man after he killed his hound and because he felt sorry and cared he decided to replace the hound out of sympathy