The Brown Bull of Cooley
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (340118)
Rockingham, Australia
February 7, 2017 6:47am CST
In 2015, we travelled round Ireland in a motor-home. At one point we came across this magnificent statue of a bull near Carlingford. We found out later it is the 'The Tain Bó Cualigne' which translates as 'The Brown Bull of Cooley'. This is an Irish literary saga and as far as Irish Celtic mythology goes there can be few tales to equal it.
Carlingford is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Ireland, situated in the heart of the Cooley Peninsula, on the shores of Carlingford Lough and overlooking the Mountains of Mourne.
The tale is a bit long and convoluted to explain here but eventually becomes a fight between a brown and a white bull. The moral of the tale is the futility of war and the worthlessness of possessions.
I thought this was a magnificent sculpture. The muscling and energy is very evident in every line of the bull.
31 people like this
32 responses
@xFiacre (13028)
• Ireland
7 Feb 17
@JohnRoberts He is the invisible goat in snowy weather.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340118)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Feb 17
A goat? A GOAT???? That's not a goat! However you got the magnificent bit right. :)
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
7 Feb 17
Is he a goat that got caught in the snow?
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
7 Feb 17
I could play matador and beat that bull!
5 people like this
@allknowing (136481)
• India
7 Feb 17
This statue looks so real with minute details. I also see it has no protection and is still in one piece.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (340118)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Feb 17
The muscling is well done isn't it? And yes, great that it hasn't been vandalised. Edit: I've just discovered thieves tried to steal it in 2013 but it has steel rods through it which were welded to the base so they didn't succeed.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
7 Feb 17
it is truly magnificent! I travelled in Ireland any years ago and love the folklore and history!
4 people like this
@JudyEv (340118)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Feb 17
@MarymargII I'll remember your suggestion if I'm ever out that way again. 
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
11 Feb 17
@JudyEv Yes, Don't wear red---lol!
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (167025)
• Boise, Idaho
7 Feb 17
How interesting. It has always been my dream to go and experience Ireland. I doubt I will get there now but a girl can dream. Your motor home adventure sounds like a great way to do this. How long did you travel in Ireland that time?
3 people like this
@celticeagle (167025)
• Boise, Idaho
7 Feb 17
@JudyEv .....That mush have been wonderful. I would love to see Ireland and the UK, Whales, Scotland and France.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
8 Feb 17
it is a very impressive looking sculpture
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
8 Feb 17
@JudyEv me too, no idea why anyone would want to be a matador
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340118)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Feb 17
@arthurchappell My thoughts exactly. There were moves to stop it all but I don't know how far that has progressed. Some of these things are deeply ingrained in the psyche of a country and not easily shifted.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340118)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Feb 17
Wouldn't it be great to create something like this?
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
7 Feb 17
going to say, that is one ripped bull, lol
4 people like this
. There was a lot of folklore we heard in Ireland and Scotland.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
7 Feb 17
Sounds like a gorgeous place to visit! You're so lucky that you've been able to see so much of the world!
2 people like this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
8 Feb 17
@JudyEv So lucky!
Hubby was just looking at all the Groupon offers for European trips, and there are cruises around Ireland and I was looking at the pictures just wishing I could do it! I think we're going to work on getting our passports this year so that hopefully sometime in the near future we can start taking some of these trips we've been dreaming about!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340118)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Feb 17
That's true. We have been very fortunate. We hope to go back in May as we still have our motor-home in Ireland.
@JudyEv (340118)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Feb 17
@katsmeow1213 I hope you are able to do a few trips. Some are expensive which is why we bought the motor-home. It made it easier buying a vehicle by having our son in Ireland. We had the money for the van and when we sell it we'll get most of that back. But we couldn't have afforded to stay in hotels or whatever the whole time.
@averygirl72 (37845)
• Philippines
7 Feb 17
How nice to travel in a motor-home. Yes the sculpture is magnificent looking
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340118)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Feb 17
Someone tried to steal it but it had reinforcing within it and is welded to the base so they weren't able to succeed. I presume it's been repaired by now as this was back in 2013.
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
7 Feb 17
That is a moral that we can all learn from in today's world.
2 people like this
@TheInvisibleMan (17597)
•
7 Feb 17
Great photo! I would like to have that statue.
2 people like this
