The Hound of Ulster

By Malachy Doyle

A retelling of a traditional Irish folk tale. The king is on the way to
visiting Culain's house, when he sees a young boy, Setanta, playing
hurling very bravely, and asks him to join them later. However, as he
forgets to inform his host that he will have an extra visitor. Setanta
is attacked by Culain's guard dog - which he bravely fights and kills.
As Culain is so sad at the loss of his prized hound, Setanta offers to
guard the house and its grounds until a replacement is found. The king,
impressed by the boy's bravery and skill, gives him the name
Culchulainn, the Hound of Ulster.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
• Release date: Sep 12, 2013
• ISBN: 9781408163429

Malachy Doyle

MALACHY DOYLE worked in advertising and as a teacher for children with special educational needs before writing children's books. He is the author of more than seventy books for children. Malachy Doyle lives in Ireland on a tiny island off the coast of Donegal, where he works full-time as a children's author. Malachy's picture book Owen and the Mountain was a runner-up for the Children's Book Award. Malachy also writes award-winning fiction, including Georgie and Who Is Jesse Flood? www.malachydoyle.com

Book preview

To Louis Isaac Cuchulainn,

he of the bark most tuneful

Contents

Chapter One: Setanta’s Dream

Chapter Two: The Young Warriors

Chapter Three: Big Talk

Chapter Four: Setanta and the Beast

Chapter Five: Cuchulainn

About the Author

Other White Wolves from different cultures...

Chapter One

Setanta’s Dream

Setanta always knew that he was different.

I’m going to be famous, he boasted to his mother, when he was only six years old. I’m going to be a Red Branch Knight!

Don’t be silly, child, said his mother, laughing. For one thing you’re too young, for a second you’re too skinny and for a third you’re too poor.

Setanta was sad, then, but his mother put her arm around him. Only the sons of noblemen become warriors, love, she told him. The great king of Ulster, Conor Mac Nessa, would never have one such as you! You’ll grow up to be a shepherd, like your father. Now fetch me some wood for the fire and put such thoughts from your mind.

But Setanta wouldn’t give