The summer sun shines on a willow tree beside the bridge over the river Dee in Ardee, County Louth

---

Ardee has a special place in Irish mythology as the site of the four day battle between Cúchulainn and Ferdia described in the Cattle Raid of Cooley, An Táin Bó Cúailnge. Cúchulainn was the single-combat champion of Ulster; Ferdia, one of the fiercest solders of Connacht's Queen Meadhbh (Maeve). Cúchulainn and Ferdia were foster brothers, before they found themselves on opposing sides in battle. They met in single-combat at the fording point on the River Dee and fought furiously. Cúchulainn finally won, killing Ferdia with the Gae Bolga, a fearsome magic spear. Heartbroken by his actions, Cúchulainn carried Ferdia across the ford so he could die in honour. A bronze sculpture, created by Ann Meldon-Hugh, commemorates the mythical battle.

---

Size: 6000px × 4000px
Location: Ardee, County Louth, Ireland
Photo credit: © ArdeeSnapper / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

Keywords: ardee, bridge, brown, bull, cooley, cuchulainn, dee, ferdia, ireland, irish, louth, maeve, meadhbh, mythology, queen, river