How Cuchulainn got his name

1. How Cuchulainn got his name Pauline O’Shea

2. 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.

3. 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?? All he had with him was his hurley stick and sliotar(ball).

4. 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.

5. 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.