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Fionn MacCumhail
The so-called Fenian Cycle is a collection of legends regarding the live and heroic deeds of Fionn MacCumhail, sometime also known as Finn Mac Coul, and his elite corps the Fianna Éireann.
According to these legends the Fianna Éireann, also known as Champions of the Red Branch, were the most daring, courageous and skilled warriors ever. They only obeyed the Ard Rí, or High King, and their own extremely high moral standards. Scholars assume that the Arthurian saga originates from the Fenian Cycle. The concept of courtly love for example, which is usually ascribed to King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, was already practised by the Fianna Éireann.
In the second half of the nineteenth century the name Fianna or Fenian was used as umbrella term for nationalistic movements, such as the Fenian Brotherhood.
The Fenian Cycle as we know it originates from the third century CE, but there are indications that the legend is much older.
There are several versions of the Fianna legend and you are about to read a very short version of one of them. Occasionally we would point to other versions.
Cumhail
The life of Fionn MacCumhail starts with his father Cumhail. Cumhail was a great warrior, but suffered under the prophesy that if he got married he would be killed in the first battle after his marriage. Despite this curse he fell in love with the daughter of King Goll MacMorna and married her in secret. The prophesy came true and Cumhail was killed in the battle by Goal Mac Morn.
Although married in secret the king's druid of course knew about the love affair. He warned the king that the son of his daughter would dethrone him in the future. Not knowing the harm was already done MacMorna guarded his daughter day and night and let no man near her. When the king's daughter gave birth to a son she was terrified for his survival and gave it to Bodhmal, a female druid, and her sister Liath Luachra, a female warrior, to raise and protect.
There are some variations at this point. In an other version the king ordered to throw the new-born in a loch where he was rescued by Cumhails mother, thus his grandmother, who looked after him ever since.
Salmon of Wisdom
Hidden deep in the mountains the baby became a juvenile and Bodhmal and Liath Luachra taught him all the necessary lessons and skills a man needed in those days. Because the boy could not use his fathers name he was called Fionn, meaning Fair or Fair Haired.
When Fionn was old enough he left his protective home and tried to make a living as warrior under several kings. MacMorna was still looking for him and once the kings found out who Fionn really was they got scared and cast him away.
Disillusioned and bankrupt he wandered through Ireland until he met a poet near the River Boyne. The poet offered Fionn MacCumhail the freedom of his house. Fionn stayed for seven years and studied poetry in the meantime.
At one time, at the end of the seven years, he was ordered to catch and cook the Salmon of Wisdom. While it cooked a blister on the salmon bursts and Fionn MacCumhail inherited all its wisdom.
Finally, by combining this wisdom and the lessons he had learned, he dared to challenge MacMorna.
Fianna Éireann
He challenged MacMorna with an army of 150 men, the Fianna Éireann.
It is unknown when and how the Fianna Éireann were founded. According to one version the Fianna Éireann has been the elite corps of the Ard Rí Cormac Mac Art and Fionn MacCumhail gained command over the Fianna by saving the life of the Ard Rí. This version is disputed because it is believed that Cormac Mac Art was an authentic historical Ard Rí who reigned in the third century CE, while it is also believed that the tales of Fionn MacCumhail are much older.
An other version tells us that Fionn MacCumhail handpicked the best warriors of Ireland to form the Fianna Éireann.
However, whether he reformed the an existing elite corps or founded an new one, the selection was though and not limited to war skills:
- While standing in a hole as deep as his waist the candidate had to be able to defend himself against nine warriors using only a shield and a hazel rod.
- The candidate had to escape from nine warriors by running through the forest without breaking a twig under his feet or tearing his clothes on bramble.
- The candidate had to be able to jump over a branch as high as himself and run under another as low as his knee.
- While running at top speed through the forest the candidate had to be able to pick a thorn from his foot without stopping.
- The candidate had to learn twelve books of poetry by heart and also know many of the old legends and stories.
- The candidate should not to take a dowry with a wife.
Fionn MacCumhail managed to find 150 warriors matching the profile and after a fierce battle they defeated King MacMorna. Fion MacCumhail fulfilled the druid's prophecy by killing King MacMorna with his sword.
After the completion of his vendetta Fionn MacCumhail and his Fianna Ëireann served the Ard Rí. Their primarily task was to keep the peace under the Kings of Ireland. Apparently they fulfil their tasks without to much hassle as they had time enough to travel through Ireland and to hunt with their enormous Irish wolfhounds.
As you can imagine Fionn MacCumhail was an eligible bachelor. After several affairs he found the love of his life in the Goddess Sadb and she born him a son, Oisín, or Ossian.
Giants Causeway
Fionn is hold responsible for the Giants Causeway, a remarkable geographical phenomenon in Country Antrim.
One day Fionn heard about a giant in Scotland who was questioning his strength and fighting abilities. Fionn ignored the bighead for a while, but eventually he got sick of it and he threw a rock to Scotland with a duel invitation. The giant responded by returning the rock accompanied by the message that he could not swim to Ireland.
The hot-headed Fionn MacCumhail immediately started to collect volcanic rocks, piled them up and created a causeway between Ireland and Scotland. With no excuses left the giant had to accept the challenge. He walked over the causeway to Fionn's house. Disguised as a five meter tall baby Fionn chased the giant back to Scotland by throwing lumps of earth at him.
The amount of earth required was enormous, because this is how the largest lough of Ireland, Lough Neagh, was created. A large lump missed the giant and fell in the Irish Sea, this lump is now known as the Isle of Man.
Heroes like Fionn MacCumhail do not die. It is said that Fionn is asleep in the Sleebeg Tomb, County Leitrim, ready to wake up and defend Ireland if needed.