THE RAID is a modern translation of the story that forms the basis of all Irish literature. Much as Greek literature descended from the ILIAD and the ODYSSEY, the fable of Queen Maeve, the boy warrior Cuchulainn, and the epic battle between Ulster and Connacht is regarded as the cornerstone of Irish mythology.

The story opens with a lusty contest between Queen Maeve and her husband Ailill, the King of Connacht, trying to determine which of the two is wealthiest. When they discover that they are equally rich except for a white bull owned by King Ailill, the jealous Maeve learns of a dark brown bull in the province of Ulster far superior to the king's, and launches a campaign to capture the Brown Bull of Cooley. Negotiations for the loan of the bull break down, and Queen Maeve, fired by her desire to outrank her husband, decides to wage war against the Ulster men.

A legendary child warrior, Cuchulainn, is the sole defense of the unprepared Red Branch of Ulster, and his exploits from childhood and prowess in killing legions of men under cover of darkness bring the vast armies of Connacht to their knees.

Eickhoff was fascinated by the prophetic nature of the myth, and compares Cuchulainn's lone stand against the invading Connacht forces to Ireland's fierce modern day attempt at self-determination against England. He explains, "Even the names the rebels took, Sinn Fein ("Ourselves Alone") appears inspired by the rebels' identification with the mythic hero." In THE RAID, Eickhoff illustrates the genesis of the Irish peoples' determination to stand alone against oppression.

The first thirty or so pages of the book are devoted to a scholarly discussion of the original tale, which Eickhoff has translated from the Gaelic. He offers a glossary of terms and a pronunciation guide to help the reader wrap his tongue around the melodious diphthongs and consonant sounds of the Irish language. He fills in some background on other Irish mythology to help move the rollicking tale along. For example, Cuchulainn is pronounced "Coo-HOOL-in." Helpful, if a little dry, the introduction stands as a useful reference to the serious reader.

  --- Reviewed by Roz Shea

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