Irish Myths and Legends - Multiples 4

Other names and events referenced in the entries can be found in the book, which is available from all good book stores.

Finn
1. One of the most celebrated Irish heroes was Finn mac Cool. He may originally have been an aspect of the god Lugh. He is likely at any rate to have once been regarded as a god, equating to the Welsh Gwyn ap Nudd and perhaps having a Continental equivalent also, whose name is commemorated in such cities as Vienna (Latin Vindobona). The story of Finn as we have it, however, depicts a hero who is regarded as having flourished in the time of Cormac mac Art. His father, Cumhal, was leader of the Fianna. He was defeated by Clan Morna under Goll at the Battle of Knock, where he met his death. Finn’s mother entrusted him to the care of two women, Bodhmall the druidess and Liath Luachra. When Finn grew up he recovered the Treasure Bag of the Fianna. He placed himself under the tutelage of Finegas on the banks of the Boyne. There he consumed a Salmon of Knowledge, gaining wisdom, more of which valuable commodity he obtained from Beag’s well of the moon. He came to the court of the high king and there slew a man of the Tuatha De Danaan, who was wont to lull the folk of Tara to sleep with sorcerous music and then the place afire. Finn became, with Goll’s consent, head of the Fianna. His exploits involved hunting, fighting and sorcery. His hounds, Bran and Sceolan, were his own nephews, offspring of his bewitched sister. His son Ossian was the child of a woman transformed into a deer. He is a principal character in the tale of Dermot and Grania. The Battle of Ventry, fought against Daire Donn, high king of the World, was one of the great military events of his career. Accounts of Finn’s death are very vague. Perhaps in the original story, in which Finn was a god, nothing was known of his demise. One tale makes the sons of Uigreann his killers. According to one tale, Finn still survives, sleeping in a cave. This is an Irish version of the widespread Sleepers legend, also told of such persons as King Arthur, Frederick Barbarossa and Owen Llawgoch. A Christian variant may exist in the legend of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus. This legend perhaps dates back to prehistoric times, when a king was interred with his retainers. Folklore sometimes made Finn a giant. He was credited with building the Giant’s Causeway in County Antrim.
2. The sister of Fergoman. When the latter was dying wounded by a son, she, standing on a lakeside, heard the echo of his cries. She swam towards it, but on reaching the far side, she heard his cries, now on the other side. Perplexed, she swam back and forth, always hearing the cries on the opposite side, until she drowned. The lake was called Lough Finne after her.
3. The name of a son of Ossian and Niamh.
4. This Finn, called Finn the White, the son of Brasil, was a member of the Fianna.
5. The name of three brothers of Maeve, sons of Eocaidh Feidleach, king of Tara.

Gael
1. A son of Niul who dwelt in Egypt.
2. The son of Eatnor who, on Feinius Farsaidh’s instructions, arranged and divided the Gaelic language. The actual derivation of the word ‘Gael’ (Old Irish Goidel) is probably from Brythonic.

Extracts taken from the Appletree Press title Irish Myths and Legends flap book by Ronan Coghlan.

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