...learning English together ...: DUBLIN materials 24

Friday, 24 January 2025

Irish mythology is related to the island of Ireland. It was oral at the beginning, not written. It means: people talk stories one to another, grandparents to their children and grandchildren. The Irish mythology in books starts in early medieval era. Christian monks write the stories of Irish legends on the paper to form books. Irish mythology is very famous all over the world.

Irish Legend of SETANTA

Part 1: 7-year-old Setanta is a member of the famous Red Knights of Ulster.

His fater, the King of Dundalk, is talking about a special school called Macra. It is in Armagh and it is for the young boys who will join the brave warriors one day.

Setanta is amazed about hearing about this school. He wants to go there, but his parents finally refuse. „You are too much young, Setanta. Wait a little longer and then we can agree,“ says the father.

Setanta doesn’t want to wait any longer. Setanta wants to go there. He wants to study there. He wants to be a good knight.

Part 2: Setanta is on his journey to Armagh. He is still too young. His parents haven’t got any idea that Setanta is leaving.

Setanta has got his hurley and sliotar to play with. He needs to hit the sliotar far away. Then he needs to run and catch the sliotar before it hits the ground. He needs to catch it with his hurley stick.

Part 3: Setanta is in Armagh. The castle belongs to a King Connor.

There are hundred and fifty boys playing hurling and having fun. Hurling is Setanta’s favourite game. He is happy. He wants to join in. When he starts, he scores a goal. A brilliant goal. The other boys start being angry, some of them furious and jealous, because Setanta’s goal is perfect. But „Who invited Setanta to play?!“ ask the boys. Some of the boys want to attack Setanta.

Part 4: Setanta is fighting with some boys. The king is playing chess, but hearing that noise, he is quickly standing up and looking out of the window. „What is it happening outside?“ the King asks.

The servant is coming with Setanta into the castle. Setanta is polite: „Good afternoon, King Connor. I am Setanta, son of the King of Dundalk, your brother. I want to become one of the Red Knights.“

The King smiles, he likes Setanta´s brave words. „Welcome to the Macra!“ he says.

Part 5: Ona day, Culann, a blacksmith making swords for Connor, invites everybody to a party. Cullan is also an owner of a wolfhound. This animal always guards his house.

Part 6: Setanta is playing hurling and doesn’t want to finish before the game ends. Setanta says: „I will come as soon as the game is finished. I will join you later.“

However, the King Connor doesn’t mention it anywhere. He doesn’t mention it to anybody.

Part 7: „The party can start. All the guests are here.“ thinks Culann and he is unchaining the animal.

Part 8: The game is over. Setanta is ready for the party. When he comes closer to Culann’s house, he can hear the animal growling. Suddenly, Setanta can see sharp teeth of the animal. With all his strength Setanta is fighting with the furious animal using the sliotar from a hurling game. Finally, the animal is dead after Setanta’s hit it against a rock.

Part 9: „My nephew Setanta, where is he?! Oh no, the wolfhound’s voice sounds very strange. What has happened?“ says the King.

The knights are running towards the gate expecting to find Setanta dead. However, he is not dead. He is alive. The King Connor is amazed. He is proud of him.

Part 10: Culann is sad because of his animal friend.

„Let me take the place of your hound until I have trained one of its puppies,“ says Setanta to Culann.

Culann can’t disagree. From that day, Setanta has got a new name – Cú Chulainn = the Hound of Culann.