ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Cú Chulainn

Cú Chulainn is a famous hero from Irish folklore. He was a brave and powerful warrior, almost like a superhero! He could run really fast, jump really high, and fight with swords and spears. People said he was so strong that he could even take on an army by himself!

One of Cú Chulainn's most famous stories is about how he got his name. When he was just a little boy, he was playing a game with his friends. The game involved throwing a ball up in the air and catching it on the end of a stick. One day, Cú Chulainn threw the ball so high that it got stuck in a tree. He climbed up to get it and saw a famous warrior's sword stuck in the branches. Cú Chulainn pulled the sword out and used it to defend his village from invaders. Now everyone knew how brave and strong he was, and they started calling him Cú Chulainn, which means "hound of Culann."

Cú Chulainn went on to have many more adventures and battles. He fought monsters, rescued damsels in distress, and even challenged other heroes to duels. He was almost invincible, but he did have one weakness. When he got really angry, he would go into a wild rage known as "warp spasm." During warp spasm, Cú Chulainn's face would contort, his muscles would bulge, and his eyes would pop out of his head! It was pretty scary, but it also made Cú Chulainn even stronger.

Today, people still tell stories about Cú Chulainn and how he saved Ireland from enemies and monsters. He reminds us to be brave and fight for what we believe in, even when things look impossible.