The Historical Context for the Book of Leinster version of Táin Bó Cúailgne

Abstract: In the first half of the twentieth century, scholars viewed the Táin as a reflection of a historical period which they termed "the Pentarchy" when large provincial kingdoms dominated the island of Ireland. This period was thought to date to the first couple of centuries after Christ. Subsequently, under the influence of Kenneth Jackson's famous work, the Ulster cycles were seen as "a window on the Iron Age" and their historical value was seen primarily in terms of Celtic social custom. More recently, scholars such as John Kelleher and Pádraig Ó Riain have sought to establish a historical background for the 'original' Táin in the early ninth century.

In this paper, I argue that Recension I and Recension II should be seen as two different manifestations of a
traditional epic, whose compilers chose to emphasise different elements of the story. In my view, there is much to be gained by examining Recension II, not solely in the context of earlier accounts but rather against the backdrop of material of similar date such as Lebor na Cert. Marie-Therese Flanagan has done one such study on the specific topic of military equipment but this approach can also yield interesting insights into the contemporary political forces which may have shaped this version of the epic.

Catherine Swift

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