Táin Bó Cuailnge

Táin Bó Cuailnge: 264 pp; hardcover; 978-1-913814-27-4

School/college edition available HERE.

One of the greatest epics ever written, now available in Modern Irish in a new edition complete with index and notes.

Aodán Mac Póilin Prize

Táin Bó Cuailnge is the story of Cú Chulainn, the Hound of Ulster, and of how he stood his ground, along with his charioteer Lao, against the great host of Ailill and Maeve. Here, we read of his youth, of how he got his name, of his single combat with Ferdia, and of the deadly quarrel between Ailill and Maeve which led to the taking of the Brown Bull of Cooley.

Táin Bó Cuailnge was written in the 11th Century and translated into Modern Irish by Darach Ó Scolaí.

Shortlisted for IRISH BOOK AWARDS

“Tá síneadh nua curtha ag an saothar seo i slabhra athnuachana na Gaeilge. Ó tharla go bhfuil buneachtraí an scéil leagtha síos ag an traidisiún, braitheann feabhas an leagain seo ar chaighdeán na teanga agus na stíle. Caighdeán ard – an cineál is airde – atá ann. Tá an stíl nádúrtha, soléite, saibhir. Tá luas agus rithim ann. Tá beocht sna cuntais. Is cinnte go mbeidh Gaeilgeoirí bródúil as an maisiú seo ar an mílaois úr.”
—An tOllamh Máire Ní Annracháin

“Is fada an leabhar seo ag teastáil ó lucht léite na Gaeilge agus níl aon amhras ach gur clasaic a bheas ann in imeacht ama agus go sáraíonn sé leagan Béarla Thomas Kinsella. Fanann an leagan seo dílis do réim teanga an bhunleagain agus san am céanna aimsíonn an t-údar réim chuí teanga i nGaeilge an lae inniu. Sáraíonn Ó Scolaí deacrachtaí na roscanna cainte ón mbunleagan go han-mháistriúil ar fad agus tá na leaganacha de na buntéacsanna filíochta thar a bheith éifeachtach.”
— An tOllamh Gearóid Denvir, Comhar

The Linguistic and Stylistic Richness of the Ancient Epic

“The freshness and richness of Ó Scolaí’s version are a joy …. The author delights us with the linguistic and stylistic richness of the ancient epic in a modern-Irish version that reflects the original’s spirit and language.”
— Cathal Poirtéir, Books Ireland

“An scéal ó thús deireadh curtha inár láthair go snasta ag Ó Scolaí agus é aistrithe go dílis aige ó na foinsí Meán-Ghaeilge agus Gaeilge shaibhir an lae inniu curtha i mbéal na laochra … Níl aon amhras ann ach gurb í seo ardlitríocht na Gaeilge.”
— Maitiú Ó Coimín, Nós

Read the review by Marie Whelton in Léann

Read the review by Maitiú Ó Coimín in Nós

Read the review by Gearóid Denvir in Comhar

Read an excerpt from the book