The Gae Bulga, Arm Cúchulainn.

The Gae Bulga was a type of harpoon with retractable barbs, it was given by Scathach the warrior woman to Aoife.  When Cúchulainn conquered aoife, he demanded that she give him the Gae Bulga  It had thirty barbs and was made from the bones of a sea monster.  When the Gae Bulga entered someones flesh, the barbs opened up.  Therefore to take this weapon out, one had to cut a whole in the flesh around it!  An-pianmhar ar fad!

Click on any part of the Gae Bulga to find out more!

There was a special way of throwing the Gae Bulga.   Read the following extract written in the book of Leinster;

'Then Cúchulainn asked Laeg for the Gae Bulga.   The manner of the weapon was this; it had to be set down the stream, and cast from between the toes.  It made the wound of one spear entering the body, but it had thirty barbs to open and could not be withdrawn from the body but must be cut out.... the servant set the spear down the stream and Cúchulainn caught it between the toes of his foot and threw an unerring cast at Ferdiad......  the Gae Bulga passed through Ferdiad's firm deep apron of wrought iron, and broke his shield made of stone into three parts.  It passed through these protective coverings into his body, so that every part of his insides was filled with barbs.'