Queen Maeve: Oil on canvas: 30" x 40" or 76 cm x 010 cm
A feud began when Queen Maeve of Connacht and her husband Ailill decided
to compare their possessions one night. After many comparisons were made, it
became clear that they had equally valuable possessions, except for the great
white bull that Ailill owned. Queen Maeve had no match for this, but soon she
realised that the only bull in Ireland that could match this great white bull
was the Great Brown Bull of Cooley. Maeve decided that she must have this Great
Brown Bull of Cooley, and so began the story of the Táin Bó Cuailgne.
The only thing that stood in Queen Maeve’s way to getting this bull was Cúchulainn,
who was the defender of the Brown Bull. There were many duels and fights fought
between Queen Maeve and Cúchulainn, and there was also the fatal duel between Cúchulainn
and his foster brother, as well as his best friend, Ferdia.
This battle was one of the most ferocious battles that Cúchulainn ever fought.
Cúchulainn was a very strong and ferocious warrior, and Ferdia was the only
other warrior in Ireland who could match his strength and ferocity.