TÁIN BÓ CUAILNGE AS FICTION?

Abstract

The article represents an attempt to analyze a famous Early Irish epic saga narrative, Táin bó Cuailnge, as a production of pseudo-historical monastic tradition. At the same time, the text is treated as a source of information about the mythology and archaic history of Early Ireland as well as a source of information about the Middle Irish political and historical background, which to a significant degree determined the narrative structure of the monument. The author also uncovers in the text an echo of national problems present in Ireland during 1st – 3rd century AD, but, as a rule, tabooed in later Middle Irish historical and literature tradition.