The Tain By Ciaran Carson

[LadyWentworth]

Well, I see that the thread has started up again.

I am just about finished with the book.

Niamh, I have to admit that I felt a little stupid when you told me the OBVIOUS way to find this thread again.

[Niamh]

Next question: In Chap VII They find the Bull at the end it says the Cu "went up to the girl and cut off her two plaits and thrust a pillar-stone through her cloak and her tunic.....Their standing stones are still there, Finnabairs stone....Cu ..left them like that..."

What does that mean?? I assumed it meant that he killed both Finnabair and the Fool but when I got to Chapter IX Finnabair is being given to Fer Diad so now I'm lost as to the meaning.

yeah it does mean that finnabair has been killed. I'll have to look up my copy of it and see. But i have to find it first as it seems to have gone on a walk.

Well, I see that the thread has started up again.

I am just about finished with the book.

Niamh, I have to admit that I felt a little stupid when you told me the OBVIOUS way to find this thread again.

[papayahed]

One more question. The book keeps refering to two groups the Ulsterman and Alill and Medb's group which is called the men of Ireland. I thought they were all 'Men of Ireland"?

[Niamh]

A yes! But even back then Ulster saw itself as separate from the south! They did after all dig a ditch that ran from the cooley mountain to the coast of donegal to separate themselves back in the late Iron age, when this story is set. Its called the Dorsey or Black Pigs Dyke. Some of it is still in existance today, and i've known Archaelogists that have excavated parts of it. If you could imagine the Kingdom of ulster under Conner MacNassa, and then the rest of Ireland, Alill and Meave being more or less Conaught and Munster, but they themselves were below the high king seated at Tara, where Conner wasnt. Hence, Usltermen and Irish men. Also only the Ulstermen are affected by the curse.

BTW i'm still trying to locate my copy of the book to look at your last query!