h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Cuchulainn - Irish Mythological Character - A4394306
Author: echomikeromeo (O+){Now back from abroad!} - U929375

Here's an entry about the only Irish mythological figure I know anything about.

I've a feeling I read an entry on Cúchulainn just a few weeks ago. Was it this one? Or is there another one floating around? If there is another one in Peer Review at the moment, this one shouldn't really be here. But the search doesn't seem to be very reliable, so it's hard to tell.

Two points it might be worth including:

The battle of Ferdia and Cúchulainn was one of the saddest ever, because they were great friends, having trained together. Cúchulainn really didn't want to kill his friend, but he had to defend the kingdom. One of the great tragic moments in the Irish stories.

When Cúchulainn was dying, he strapped himself to a pillar so that he could continue to fight when he was too weak to stand. After a while he stopped moving, but the enemies were reluctant to approach. Eventually a crow flew down and landed on his - then they knew he must be dead.

I think it was a different version of this entry that you read. I got the idea from a Challenge h2g2 thread, and posted a link to the first version there before I reworked it a bit for PR. AFAIK, there are no other entries on Cuchulainn around.

Thanks for those points. I'll certainly add them presently.

Is it more correct to include an accent over the first 'u' in Cúchulainn? I didn't in the entry, but if that's more acceptable I'll change it.

In the Irish language, there should certainly be a "síne fada" on the first u, but when you're writing it in English, it's perfectly acceptable to leave it out.

Hey, has anyone got any more advice/criticism?

Good entry, I'd always wondered about Cuchulainn: when I was over in Belfast for work earlier this year I saw him mentioned on both loyalist and republican murals.

One small "heads up" with the text:

"The great war between Ulster and Connacht that forms the basis of the story about the Cattle Raid began when Maeve, the queen of Ulster, ... and so Maeve sent in spies to determine the best way to take the bull back to Connacht"

Is Maeve the Queen of Ulster or Connaught? She seems to be on the Connaught side for the rest of the tale, but the above paragraph mentions Ulster.

Otherwise, good entry

Hi EMR - this is a marvellous piece. You have really done Cuchullain a service here.

I can't really see any major problems with the piece at all. It is very well written.

Just a few things about Cuchullainn - a famous bronze status of him tied to the stone can be found in Dublin's G.P.O. - the epicentre of the 1916 Easter Rising. The symbolism of Cuchullain's fight was used as an inspiration for the rebels at the time.

The story of Cuchullain is also used by elements with Ulster Loyalism to portray him as a defender of Ulster.

Cuchullain was the inspiration for the story of Sláine, in the 2000 AD magazine (available I think only on this side of the pond).

A few places in Ireland are named after some of the principal characters of the Táin, particularly Ardee, Co. Louth. In Irish, it means "Ford of Ferdia" - and I think it is the place where legend has it that Ferdia was killed.

Thanks all for your comments. I'll incorporate them all in about six hours, after school.

rockhound_jo - sorry if there was any confusion, but Maeve is the queen of Connaught. I've fixed that error now.

Thanks for your info, Woodpigeon. I've added it all in a section about modern references to the legend. I've also credited you and Gnomon with the new customisable credits, since you both contributed info that has been incorporated in the entry now.

Good grief. How has this been here so long?

Well written, great piece of mythology and I'm sure it won't hang around too long

Hi EMR!

There are just two phrases in this that I am not happy with now:

"Each of the men, including Cuchulainn, determined that they would demand the champion's portion"

determined --> was determined


"pleaded with Fergus to, as a friend, leave the kingdom alone"
-->
"pleaded with Fergus as a friend to leave the kingdom alone"

Fingers crossed, whichever sub gets this article will be able to correct those couple of minor points...

Paully

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!

Well done!

Gnomon, I would disagree with your first suggestion. AFAIK, it's perfectly acceptable to say that someone 'determined' to do something, meaning that they decided to do it.

But I'll prod the sub to fix the second one.

Well done EMR!

Thanks!