The Táin Bó Cúailnge, the centre-piece of the eighth-century Ulster cycle of heroic tales, is Ireland's nearest approach to a great epic. It tells the story of a grand cattle-raid: the invasion of Ulster by the armies of Medb and Ailill, queen and king of Connacht, and their allies. Their goal? To carry off the great Brown Bull of Cúailnge.

The hero of the tale is Cúchulainn, the Hound of Ulster, who single-handedly resists the invaders while Ulster's warriors lie sick. Thomas Kinsella presents a complete and vibrant version of this story. His translation is based on the partial texts in two medieval manuscripts, with elements from other versions, and includes a group of related stories that set the stage for the action of the Táin.

This edition is enriched with brush drawings by Louis le Brocquy, offering a unique combination of medieval epic and modern art.