This is a bit of craic in what is otherwise a vicious and blood saga. And it also sets the scene for everything about to come. It’s episode 53! headstuff.org/fireside/episo…

The maggots are eaten by two cows. One in Connaught, One is Ulster. The Connaught cow gives birth to Finnbenach - The White horned bull of Connaught The Ulster cow births Donn Cuailgne - The Brown Bull of Cooley.

Both Pig Keepers here the other is bitching about their team So they fight. With fists Then swords Then they turned into sea monsters. Then dragons Then maggots.

One of the silliest, least known but absolutely crucial stories of the Ulster Cycle is about two pig keepers. There is no Táin without these pig keeper. One supports the Fairy King of Munster One supports Mayo 4 Sam....I mean the Fairy King of Connaught.

Eventually Cú Chullain was told of a dangerous boy who was disrespecting the Red Branch Knights of Ulster. He went to take care of things personally. Find out his fate in episode 52! headstuff.org/fireside/episo…

He had been warned to give his name to no man except his father. Even at seven, Cumlann was one of the greatest warriors alive. Indeed his father’s son. He waited at the shore, defeating any man who asked his name.

Cu Chullain had only one son. The boy was the child of Aoife - rival sister of Scátach the Shadow. Before leaving Skye, the hound gave Aoife a ring and told her to send his son home when his finger fit it. At seven the boy - Cumlann sailed for Éire.

So Cú Chullain went to the trainer of true warriors - Scátach the Shadow. The woman warrior of the Isle of Skye. There he met a young Connaught man named Ferdia How the hound earned his love and stripes - episode 51! headstuff.org/fireside/episo…

Everyone was frantic Cú Chullainn would run off with their wife. So all of the Red Branch wanted him married and quick. Cu Chullainn took the task on himself, travelling to Leinster seeking one named Emer Emer told the hound she would only marry a true warrior.

But how Setanta became the Hound of Ulster and earned his much more famous name is the centre of Fireside’s 50th episode! headstuff.org/fireside/episo…

That night she had a dream of Lugh Lámh Fhada of the Tuatha Dé Danann. He told her she would bear his child. A short few months later, Deichtine gave brith to a boy identical to the one who had died. She named her son Setanta.

How ever, The next morning, the man, woman and entire cottage had disappeared and Deichtine awoke with the baby in her arms They took the baby home, but soon he died of a fever. Deichtine hit the bottle hard. And one night she drank something that didn’t sit well.

Setanta was was born twice. Deichtine - the sister of Conchobar Mac Nessa was in her chariot hunting birds that were ravaging Ulster. They took up lodgings in a cottage belonging to a man and his pregnant wife. The woman went into labour and Deichtine delivered the baby.

Deirdre of the Sorrows or Oidheadh Chloinne Uisneach is the third of the Three Sorrowful Tales of Eire. Hear the rest of the story of our most tragic heroine in episode 49. headstuff.org/fireside/episo…

Deirdre confronts Naoise, who will not go against the King of Ulster, so Deirdre grabs him by both of his ears until he agrees to elope with her. Deirdre, Naoise and his two brothers (why not?) flee to Alba (Scotland.)