The Ulster Cycle is a group of legendary stories from early Irish literature, set in and around the reign of Conchobar mac Nessa in Ulster. His warriors include his nephews, Cú Chulainn and Conall Cernach. His main enemies are queen Medb and her husband Ailill of Connacht, and their ally, Fergus mac Róich, former king of Ulster in exile.

I’m the creator of a series of webcomics adapting these legends on my main website, paddybrown.co.uk. The first storyline, which follows Conchobar’s mother Ness as she turns outlaw to pursue an illegal quest for vengeance, is complete and also available in print. The second, The Cattle Raid of Cooley, began weekly serialisation on Wednesday 6 August 2008. A first print issue is available and a second will be published shortly.

I used to run a website collecting translations and paraphrases of the stories of the Ulster Cycle. That’s been mothballed for a while, but I’m gradually reconstructing it with original translations. I’ve also provided links to translations on other sites, primarily Mary Jones’ Celtic Literature Collective, which is an enormous collection of myths, legends and literature from all the Celtic nations. I’ve also included the titles of stories I’m aware of that I haven’t found on the web, and hope to fill them in as I go.

Original translations on this site

Translations on other sites

The Metrical Dindshenchas

Poetic traditions of places, including the following featuring characters from the Ulster Cycle:

Stories not yet online

The Battle of Leitir Ruaid

The Sons of Conaire

The Seed of Conaire Mór

The Battle of Cumar

The Battle of the Assembly of Macha

The Battle of Findchorad

The Cause of the Exile of Fergus mac Róich

The Conception of Cú Chulainn version 2

Medb Enjoined Illegal Contracts

The Birth of Athirne

The Guesting of Athirne

The Words of Scáthach

The Training of Cú Chulainn

The Elopement of Emer

The Siege of the Men of Falga

The Eulogy of Cú Roí

The Vision of Ferchertne

The Deaths of Goll and Garb

Cú Chulainn’s Meeting with Senbecc

The Wooing of Treblann

The Scythed Battle-Chariot

The Exile of the Sons of Dóel Dermait

The Wooing of Luaine

Da Choca’s Hostel

The Deaths of Ailill and Conall Cernach

The Death of Conchobar’s Sons

The Guests of Guaire

Nede and Caier