Compert Con Culainn facts for kids

Compert Con Culainn (which means "The Conception of Cú Chulainn" in English) is an old Irish story. It tells us all about how the famous hero Cú Chulainn was conceived and born. This tale is a key part of the Ulster Cycle, a collection of stories from Irish mythology. We know the story today because it survived in two main versions.

Discovering Cú Chulainn's Story

These ancient stories about Cú Chulainn's birth come from very old handwritten books. These books are called manuscripts. There are two main versions, or "recensions," of the tale.

Old Manuscripts: How We Know the Story

The oldest copy of the first version is found in a book called the Lebor na hUidre. This book was put together way back in the 1100s. The people who copied these stories often added their own notes. Sometimes, they even changed parts of the story.

One scribe, or writer, named H, even erased the end of the story. He wanted to add his own version of what happened next. This shows us how these stories changed over time. According to H's notes, the story was originally in an even older book. This book was called the Cín Dromma Snechtai, from the 700s. Sadly, that very old book is now lost.

Other copies of this first version exist in six other manuscripts. These were written in the 1400s and 1500s. Most of them are connected to the Connacht region of Ireland.

The second version of the story is found in two other manuscripts. These are called Egerton 1782 and D IV 2. In D IV 2, this second version is also known as Feis Tige Becfholtaig. This means "The feast of (or: passing of the night in) Becfholtach's house."

• Cín Dromma Snechtai (This old book is now lost)
• Lebor na hUidre (A very important manuscript from Dublin)
• 23 N 10 (Another manuscript from Dublin)
• D IV 2 (A manuscript from Dublin, containing both versions)
• Egerton 1782 (A manuscript from London, containing both versions)
• Egerton 88 (A manuscript from London, titled Gineamain Chonculainn)
• MS 1363 (A manuscript from Dublin's Trinity College)
• G 7 (A manuscript from Dublin's National Library)
• MS 1287 (Another manuscript from Dublin's Trinity College)

The Story of Cú Chulainn's Birth

The story of Cú Chulainn's birth is quite magical! It explains how this great hero came into the world. There are two main ways the story is told.

The First Version of the Story

In the earliest version of Compert Chon Culainn, Cú Chulainn's mother is Deichtine. She is the daughter of Conchobar mac Nessa, who is the king of Ulster. Deichtine also drives the king's chariot.

One day, Deichtine and the nobles of Ulster are hunting. They are chasing a flock of magical birds. Suddenly, snow begins to fall heavily. The Ulstermen need shelter from the storm. They find a house where they are welcomed inside.

While they are there, their host's wife goes into labor. Deichtine helps her give birth to a baby boy. At the same time, a mare (a female horse) gives birth to two colts.

The next morning, the Ulstermen wake up. They find themselves at the Brug na Bóinde. This is a famous ancient mound at Newgrange. The mysterious house and its people are gone! But the baby boy and the two colts are still there.

Deichtine takes the baby home and raises him. But sadly, the child gets sick and dies. Then, the god Lug appears to Deichtine. Lug tells her that he was their host that night. He also tells her that he placed his child in her womb. This child is to be named Sétanta.

Deichtine's pregnancy causes a stir. She is already promised to marry Sualtam mac Róich. People in Ulster suspect King Conchobar is the father. To avoid scandal, the pregnancy ends. Deichtine then marries Sualtam. After this, she becomes pregnant again and gives birth to a son. She names him Sétanta. This part of the story suggests a very special birth for the hero.

The Second Version of the Story

The later, and more widely known, version of Compert Con Culainn is a bit different. In this version, Deichtine is King Conchobar's sister. She disappears from Emain Macha, which is the capital city of Ulster.

Just like in the first version, the Ulstermen go hunting. They chase a flock of magical birds. A snowstorm catches them, and they look for shelter. They find a house nearby. Their host is the god Lug. But this time, his wife, who gives birth to a son that night, is Deichtine herself! The child is named Sétanta.

Who Raised Cú Chulainn?

After Sétanta's birth, the nobles of Ulster argue. Each one wants to be the boy's foster-father. A wise man named Morann helps them decide. He says Sétanta should be raised by several people. This way, he would learn many important things.

Here's who helped raise him:

• King Conchobar himself.
• Sencha mac Ailella: He taught Sétanta good judgment and how to speak well.
• Blaí Briugu: This wealthy man protected Sétanta and made sure he had everything he needed.
• Fergus mac Róich: A noble warrior who cared for Sétanta. He taught him how to protect those who were weak.
• Amergin: A poet who educated Sétanta.
• Findchóem: Amergin's wife, who nursed Sétanta as a baby.

Sétanta grew up in the house of Amergin and Findchóem. Their home was on the Muirthemne Plain, in what is now County Louth. He grew up alongside their own son, Conall Cernach.