Eachtra Bhodaigh an Chóta Lachtna

Eachtra Bhodaigh an Chóta Lachtna (Adventure of the Churl of the Grey Coat), a 16th- or 17th-cent. tale of the Fionn cycle, in which the Fianna defend Ireland against invaders and receive assistance from the otherworld [see sídh]. Caol an Iarainn, the son of the King of Thessaly, agrees not to invade Ireland if someone can beat him in a race. The repulsive Churl competes against Caol. They race from Sliabh Luachra in Cork to Howth, and the Churl wins easily. He decapitates Caol and replaces his head backwards.

Irish title for a Fenian tale dating from the 17th century, known in English as ‘The Churl [or Clown] in the Grey [or Drab] Coat’, ‘The Adventure of the Churl in the Grey Coat’, ‘The Lay of the Churl in the Grey Coat’, etc. Scottish Gaelic spelling for the same title is Eachtra Bhodaig … In most versions the action begins when the Fenians are challenged by a lone warrior named ‘Ironbones’, who describes himself as the ‘Son of the King of Thessaly’. If the Fenians cannot defeat Ironbones in a contest, he will exact great tribute. Both sides agree on a foot-race from ‘Bineader’ [Benn Étair/Howth] to a point in south-west Munster, even though the swiftest Fenian runner, Caílte mac Rónáin, is away at Tara. While looking for Caílte, Fionn mac Cumhaill encounters a detestable giant, the Bodach [churl, clown, lout, etc.] of the title, who agrees to run on the Fenians' behalf. Once in the race, the Bodach affects to be unconcerned with its outcome. He rises late in the morning and eats a leisurely breakfast, only to find that Ironbones has left ahead of him. The Bodach passes Ironbones twice before stopping to eat blackberries, allowing his opponent to take the lead. Another time he backtracks to fetch a coat he has dropped. Despite his desultory effort, the Bodach wins the race easily and is then revealed to be Manannán mac Lir, the sea-god.

Standish Hayes O'Grady includes an Irish text and English translation, under the title ‘The Carle in the Drab Coat’, in Silva Gadelica (London, 1892). James Clarence Mangan adapted it as one of the earliest prose works (1840) of the Irish literary renaissance; see The Prose Works of James Clarence Mangan, ed. D. J. O'Donoghue (Dublin and London, 1904). Patriot leader Pádraic Pearse produced an Irish-language version, Bodach an Chóta Lachtna (Dublin, 1906).