The Brown Bull Of Cooley - Cruachan

Maeve was a queen with a passion for war

She had riches and wealth, but still wanted more

She wanted the bull that dwelled in Cooley —

A magnificent beast that she longed to see

Maeve was a queen with a passion for war

She had riches and wealth, but still wanted more

She longed for the bull that dwelled in Cooley —

A magnificent beast that she longed to see

The men of Ulster would not concur

«No one shall threaten us, certainly not her!»

She gathers her armies she looks to the north

On the eve of the solstice, the armies march forth

The men of Ulster would not concur

«No one shall threaten us, certainly not her!»

She gathers her armies she looks to the north

On the eve of the solstice, the armies march forth

Maeve is warned by a faerie prophet:

She had a vision of evil, malice and death

«This cannot be, as anyone will tell

The men of Ulster are held by an ancient spell.»

But true this news was and here I will tell why —

Ulster’s defender was merely a boy

Cuchulainn was his name;

he was free from the curse

Single combat was arranged and he would fight first

He slays many soldiers through the day and night

No matter whom he faces, Cuchulainn wins the fight

He is watched by The Morrigan, the Goddess of war

Love grows in her heart as she views from afar

The combat continues, Cuchulainn kills with spite

Until his old friend Ferdiad enters the fight

Cuchulainn kills Ferdiad, with a slash of his sword

He feels sad and angry and will fight no more

The combat continues, Cuchulainn kills with spite

Until his old friend Ferdiad enters the fight

Cuchulainn kills Ferdiad, with a slash of his sword

He feels sad and angry and will fight no more

Cuchulainn’s father then rode to the North

To Eamhain Macha, King Conchobar’s fort

«Men are being killed, women carried away!»

He called to the warriors who were in disarray

Cuchulainn’s father then rode to the North

To Eamhain Macha, King Conchobar’s fort

«Men are being killed, women carried away!»

Their lines are broken, in disarray

An accident happened and his head was cut off

But continued to speak and choke and cough

This spectacle brings Ulster out of its spell;

They go to Cuchulainn and Ulster fights well

Maeve has been defeated and to Connaught he returns

But there is a twist to this tale, a very strange turn

She captured the bull and brought it to Cruachan

It killed her own bull and in the morning was gone