Hello, my name is Oisín Ó Dubhshláine and welcome to the fourth part of our five part series on Animals. Last week, we spoke about horses. This week, we’ll turn to Cows.
As we’ve previously shared, before paper and numbers on a screen, cows were the main currency in Ireland. It’s certain that these were very important animals. They produced milk and their meat could be eaten when they died. As well as this, their skin can be used to make clothes. In the stories where cows are central, they have an air of destiny around them.
Regarding the Tuatha Dé Danann, there is a strong connection between cows and Boann, the River Goddess of the Boyne. Very often, she would emerge from the river in the form of a white cow. She travelled over farming land and it’s often that she would be followed by white cows with red ears. If they stayed on certain lands, it’s said that good luck would come to the owner of that land. The owner had to show great respect to these cows or bad luck would come to their community.
The theme of destiny can be clearly seen in the Ulster Cycle. As Cú Chulainn defends the ford, the Morrigan attacks him three times. She transforms into a wolf and sets a stampede of cows on Cú Chulainn. She then transforms into a cow and joins this stampede. As well as this, when Cú Chulainn meets her later, she milks a cow. He drinks three sups of this milk, blessing her each time. He doesn’t understand that by doing so, he heals the wounds of a goddess who attacked him.
In the story of Deirdre of the Sorrows, as she grows up, Deirdre has a dream. In this dream, she saw the man she’d fall in love with. Leabharcham asked her to describe the man. Deirdre looked out the window and saw a dead cow on the ground, with a raven eating from it.
She said “he had hair as black as a raven, skin as white as a cow, and cheeks as red as blood.”
From this, Leabharcham understood that she was talking about the warrior, Naoise. Without this description, Deirdre would not know who the man was and the tragic events to follow would never have happened. But here we are now.
I mentioned white cows with red ears before now. Now, I’m not sure about you, but I’ve never seen such a beast before now. It’s said that this type of cow comes from the Otherworld. There’s a story in the Historical Cycle about Mongán. Mongán was son of the Queen of Ulster and Manannán Mac Lir. Before the birth of Mongán, the king of Ulster, Fiachra Finn visited Scandinavia. Unfortunately, at this time, the King of Scandinavia was sick and the only thing that could heal him was the meat of a white cow with red ears. After a bit of searching, Fiachra Finn made a deal with an old woman. For this deal, the old woman gave him her wonky cow. Fiachra Finn promised that the King would give her four cows of the same kind when he was healed. Unfortunately, the King of Scandinavia didn’t uphold this agreement and a war began between Ulster and Scandinavia when the old woman sought revenge.
The most important story involving a cow is the story of Glas Gaibhneann. In the time of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the Fomorians oppressed the Tuatha Dé Danann. They had to pay taxes and the Fomorians didn’t treat heroes such as the Dagda and Ogma well. At this time, there was a cow named Glas Gaibhneann. This cow was a magical cow. She could produce milk at any time without stopping. It’s said that if anyone heard her lowing, they would covet her and do their best to steal away with her. Balor of the Evil Eye, the King of the Fomorians was one such person. Cian took care of this cow. He had two brothers. Goibhniú, the smith, and Samhthainn. One day, Cian left Glas Gaibhneann with Samhthainn. He went to the forge with Goibhniú because he needed a new sword.
Samhthainn stood outside the forge, keeping an eye on Glas Gaibhneann. As Goibhniú worked, Balor of the Evil Eye came along in the form of a young boy with red hair.
“Hey, hey, you!” Balor said.
“Yes?” Samhthainn said. “What do you want?”
“Well, I was just walking and I heard the men inside talking about their new swords. They said that they were going to use all the steel they had.”
“But I own that steel!”
“They didn’t mention your name. I don’t think they care,” Balor said.
“Arragh. Wait here with the cow. I’ll only be a minute.”
Samhthainn ran inside the forge and as soon as he locked eyes with Cian, Cian knew that Glas Gaibhneann was gone. Cian left the forge and Glas Gaibhneann was nowhere to be seen. Balor had disappeared with her.
Cian went searching for the two of them and saw that they were in the Tower of Glass on Tory Island. Cian spoke to the druid Birog, who promised to help him. She summoned a strong wind and the pair of them flew to Tory Island. Birog dressed Cian in women’s clothes and called out when they reached the Glass Tower. She told the women that Cian was a queen and that he needed shelter. As soon as the doors opened, Birog enchanted the twelve women inside. These women fell asleep. Cian went to the top of the tower and met EIthne. Eithne was the daughter of Balor. He’d trapped her in the tower because there was a prophecy that only Balor’s grandson could kill him. As such, Eithne was not allowed to have a son.
But Eithne was a magical woman. Every night when she slept, she saw Cian and she fell in love with him. When she saw him standing at the top of the stairs, she understood that it was destiny. Cian stayed with her as long as he could but eventually, Birog raised the wind once more and Cian flew home with her. Nine months later, Eithne had a son. Balor heard about this and came to kill the boy.
Eithne covered her son in a cloth and fastened it with a pin. Balor took the baby from her and when he grabbed him, the pin moved and the cloth opened. The infant fell into the sea and Balor and Eithne both guessed he’d died there. But, the god of the sea, Manannán Mac Lir came and collected the baby. He gave the baby to Birog, who gave him to Cian. That was how Lugh of the Long Hand, the most powerful hero Ireland has ever known, was born. Unfortunately, it is not known what happened to Glas Gaibhneann.
These were our stories on the Cows of Ireland. Join us next week for our last story.
Comments