The Voyage of Mael Duin's Curragh Summary

The story starts off with the death of Ailill Ochair Aga, chieftain of the Owenacht Tribe. He and his lover, a nun, have just had a baby boy, Máel Dúin. However, due to Aga’s death, his mother gave the baby to her sister, the Queen of Owenacht, where she proceeds to rise him for the next few years as her own son.

Years later, Máel Dúin finds out of his true parentage and the death of his father, who had been murdered. Filled with vengeance, he sets off sail with a crew to find his father’s killer and avenge him.

On his journey, he visits many islands and witnesses many magical creatures. they come across an island filled with giant ants, an island inhabiting a monster with the legs of a dog and body of a horse, and an island with a palace full of treasure. However, Máel Dúin’s foster-brother becomes greedy and steals the treasure, resulting in his death.

The next island they visited, inhabited a Queen, who was ethereal and promised that on her land they would not age nor fall sick. Máel Dúin was bewitched and stayed as her lover for three months, but soon escaped.

In the next island they visited, they found the man who murdered Aga. The man asked for Máel Dúin’s forgiveness, which he grants.

The story ends with Máel Dúin returning home to his adopted mother, the Queen.