Culanns

Culanns refers to the epithet Culann’s (the Hound of Culann) used for the Ulster hero Cú Chulainn in Irish mythology. The name literally translates as “Culann’s hound” and identifies the hero by his early association with Culann, a smith of Ulster.

In the Ulster Cycle, the young Sétanta travels to Culann’s forge to learn the smith’s craft. On a first visit, he kills Culann’s guard dog in self-defense after the animal attacks him. Grieved by the loss of his protector, Culann asks who will guard his house. Sétanta offers to serve as guardian until a new hound can be reared, promising lifelong protection. From this episode the hero acquires the epithet Cú Chulainn, meaning “the hound of Culann,” which becomes the name by which he is known in subsequent legends.

The Culann referenced here is depicted as a skilled craftsman, and the story links his craft with the hero’s martial prowess. The epithet serves to anchor Cú Chulainn’s identity in Irish folklore, signaling loyalty, oath-keeping, and an early display of extraordinary valor. Over time, the phrase Culann’s hound came to symbolize the legendary warrior himself, appearing in various medieval retellings and later literary references as a name for one of Ireland’s most famous mythic heroes.