The Bull Raid - A Free Version of the Irish Prose Epic Táin Bó Chuailgne or Cattle Raid of Cooley

London: Egmont, 2004. A Fine unmarked copy with near Fine dustjacket which is not price clipped. First edition, first printing. ix + 403 pages. The book is a re-telling of the narrative given in the ancient Irish prose epic, Táin Bó Chuailgne or Cattle Raid of Cooley. This is the most famous and extensive of the legends of Cúchulainn and is the story of the war fought over the Brown Bull of Cooley (Cualgne). the story of two bulls of the Sidhe (the race of immortals). The bulls themselves were immortal and had been transformed from other forms and origins. First they were the swineherds of the gods Bodb (King of the Sidhe of Munster) and Ochne (King of the Sidhe of Connaught). The two swineherds were in rivalry with one another, changing shape in pursuit of their endless quarrel. They became ravens and battled for a year, then they changed to water creatures, then they changed to human champions and then finally into eels. One of these magical eels swam into the River Cruind in Cualgne in Ulster and was swallowed by a cow belonging to Daire of Cualgne. The other swam into the spring of Uaran Garad, in Connaught, where it was swallowed by a cow belonging to Queen Medb. From these origins were born two bulls, the Brown Bull of Ulster, and the White Horned Bull of Connaught. L . First Edition. Hard Cover. Fine/Near Fine. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.