‘My only friend is my charioteer’: Láeg mac Riangabra in Táin Bó Cúailnge

This paper explores how Cú Chulainn’s charioteer, Láeg mac Riangabra, is portrayed across the three recensions of Táin Bó Cúailnge. I will demonstrate how each recension contains at least one unique Láeg episode, and how small differences in shared scenes emphasise different aspects of his character. In doing so, I will highlight Láeg’s crucial contribution to the story of TBC, the complexities of his characterisation, and his potential to help illuminate the tale’s development.