An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir Dec 2016 / Jan 2017 www.dfmagazine.ie 38 | By JONNY DILLON J ust above ground level in the broad window of the GPo on o'Connell Street, stands an iconic statue, familiar to many; a figure that since its unveiling in 1935, has quietly borne witness to the endless flow of people that daily pass along Dublin's main thoroughfare. the statue is oliver Sheppard's The Death Of Cú Chulainn, and the figure portrayed is one of this country's earli- est mythic champions; a heroic demigod fated to attain fame and renown that would far outlast his short life, and a figure whose valour and courage in defence of his people has served as an inspi- ration to countless generations who came after him. Sheppard's sculpture shows the slain Cú Chulainn in his death pose; his limp frame tied to a rock, sword and shield still in hand, a large scald crow having alighted upon his shoulder. The scene portrayed reflects the final moments of the Táin Bó Cuailgne ('The Cattle Raid of Cooley'), the saga in which Cú Chulainn is the protagonist; an epic narrative that come down to us down through ancient written and oral traditions. The hero of the Táin found resonance as a symbol of Ireland's nationalist struggle in the twentieth century and Sheppard's statue stands today in the foyer of the GPO as the official memorial of the Easter Rising of 1916. A symbol, as Éamon de Valera put it, of the 'dauntless courage and abiding constancy of our people'. But what of this slain youth and what, likewise, of his daunt- less courage? Tradition tells us that Cú Chulainn was born with the name Setanta, in Dundalk, Co Louth, and the narrative in which he features is thought to be set in Ireland around the time of Christ. A prophesy made over the infant child foresaw that his praise would be in the mouths of all men, and that charioteers, warriors, kings and sages would all recount his deeds. From his earliest days Setanta was capable of incredible feats of agility, and strength. As a five-year-old Setanta would amuse him- self with his little shield, his bronze hurley, his javelin and wooden staff. First, taking his hurley he would strike a sliotar as far as he could, before promptly throwing hurley, javelin and staff through the air after it. Not sufficiently entertained by the above, Setanta would make a mad dash after his playthings; catching the hurley and picking up the sliotar before proceeding to snatch up his javelin and, finally, catching the wooden staff, which had not yet touched the ground! While travelling to a feast that was being laid out for him one day, Conchobhar MacNeasa, the king of Ulster, was astonished to see the young Setanta's skills and invited the young fellow to attend the feast that evening. Setanta promised to come along after he had finished sporting and playing for the day. The feast being prepared for the king and his entourage that night was held in the fort of Culann the smith. With Conchobhar having forgotten to mention the invitation earlier extended to young Setanta, Culann supposed all guests were assembled for the evening and duly stationed his much-prized watchdog on the green outside the fort. Setanta, arriving late to the feast, was now faced with the threat of Culann's ferocious, baying watch-hound. As the creature leapt to devour him, Setanta used his hurley to unerringly drive the sliotar down the dog's throat, dashing it against a pillar with such force that it was killed. Culann was greatly dismayed at the death of his beloved hound but Setanta offered wise compensation: to raise a whelp of the same breed until it was fit to do the business of its sire, and that until that time he, himself, would be the hound who would protect Culann's flocks, land and family. In commemoration of the boy's first deed of valour, the warriors assembled there conferred upon him the name that would be known throughout the ages, the name and the Hound of Culann Cú Chulainn in battle, from T.W. Rolleston's 'Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race', 1911. Illustration by J. C. Leyendecker

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