The Tain Bo Cualinge centrepiece of the eighth-century Ulster cycle of heroic tales is Ireland's great epic It tells the story of a great cattle-raid the invasion of Ulster by the armies of Medb & Ailill Queen & King of Connacht & their allies seeking to carry off the great Brown Bull of Cualige The hero of the tale is Cuchulainn the Hound of Ulster who resists the invaders single-handed while Ulster's warriors lie sick