The Táin
The Táin is Thomas Kinsella's English translation of the Old Irish epic Táin Bó Cúailnge, first published by the Dolmen Press in Dublin in 1969 with brush drawings by Louis le Brocquy, in a limited edition of 1,750 copies. Oxford University Press published an edition in 1970.
- Editions tracked
- 1
- First published
- Dolmen Press, Dublin, 1969
- First UK edition
- Oxford University Press, 1970
- Series
- Ulster Cycle
Which edition do you have?
Editions
- Oxford University Press, London1975 Hardback · Ulster Cycle I own The Tain (from the Irish Epic Tain Bo Cuailnge), Oxford University Press, London 1975 Log in to want this
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
Adaptations
- An Táin comic, 2006
- The Cattle Raid of Cooley comic
Setting and characters
- Characters
- Cú Chulainn, Medb, Ailill mac Máta, Ferdiad, Conchobar mac Nessa, Lugh, The Morrígan, Láeg
In print
- Editions recorded
- 1 on Open Library, 1 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 25 languages
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
Questions about The Táin
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Reviews of The Táin
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Know what you are looking at
How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
How many editions of The Táin are there?
We track 1 edition of The Táin. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
Has The Táin been adapted?
Yes, including The Cattle Raid of Cooley (comic), An Táin (comic, 2006), according to Wikidata.
When was The Táin first published?
The Táin by Thomas Kinsella was first published in 1969.
Where these facts come from
- Thomas Kinsella, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Táin Bó Cúailnge, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- The 1969 edition of The Táin: Thomas Kinsella, Louis le Brocquy and a masterpiece of Irish book production, de Burca Rare Books (deburcararebooks.com)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 22 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.