by David Pownall
with The Paines Plough Company

The play is inspired by one of the legends of ancient Ireland - The Cattle Raid of Cooley which was recorded in the 12th century by a monk at the monastery of Clonmacnoise. The characters of the legend, Queen Maeve, her husband Ailill, her lover Fergus, and the Mad Cuckoo - an extraordinary interpretation of the hero Cuchulain - invade Ulster during the Pope's visit to Ireland in 1979.
Directed for radio by Ian Cotterell
(Beef, presented by The Poines Plough Company directed by John Adams , was first perfomed at The Arts Centre, University of Warwick, on 28 January)