CUCHULAINN

CUCHULAINN: Known as the Hound of Ulster, he was a champion tough-guy of many legends and adventures.

The son of LUGH and DECHTIRE, he performed all manner of manly heroic deeds, armed with his trusty Gae-Bholg — a rather nasty spear. Whenever it penetrated a body, thirty barbs opened up, causing irreparable damage and a horrid mess.

CUCHULAINN's original name was Setanta — but he changed it after having destroyed the guard dog of Cullan the Smith. Regretting this action, the hero offered to stand in until a replacement beast could be found.

We're not sure if he actually crouched down on all fours and made barking noises, but he certainly kept the burglars away. From that day forth, he called himself CUCHULAINN — 'The Hound of Cullan'.

Our hero had many adventures, and in the end believed he was tough enough to beat death itself. Heroes like him didn't need wimpish immortality bestowed, so he turned it down. The MORRIGAN taught him a lesson about that...