Fionn mac Cumhaill

Goll mac Morna returned from exile, defeated Cumhal, killed him, and scattered the Clan Baíscne. Cumhal’s posthumous son was taken away and raised in secret. He trained in martial skills and became a capable warrior. After defeating a rival in a contest, he was called Fionn, meaning “the fair boy”. He was also known as Fionn mac Cumhaill, Fionn son of Cumhall.

Fionn continued his training with the warrior woman Buanann and the warrior Cethern mac Fintain. By manhood, he could run faster than any other person, strike his target with a spear, and swim across any body of water. He could also suck his thumb and learn the whereabouts and weaknesses of an enemy. His skill and judgement won him recognition as a warrior.

For a time, the Fianna served the High King of Ireland. They remained ready to march against disturbances within Ireland or foreign enemies. Their demands angered the people, while their pride offended the king. Disputes within the Fianna led to fighting among themselves. The king and the people then joined forces against them.

Before this decline, Fionn performed a deed of prowess and the High King offered him a boon. Fionn asked for his lawful inheritance and declared his name. The king ordered Goll to acknowledge Fionn’s rights. Goll opposed him and claimed the chieftainship of the Fianna. Fionn accused Goll of murdering his father and ruling wrongfully. He challenged Goll to mortal combat. The king gave the signal. Fionn proved his martial ability, and the High King recognised his claim. Fionn became leader of the Fianna despite Goll’s opposition.

The couple ran from the feasting hall at Tara and found horses in a nearby field. They rode towards the Shannon, but Diarmuid feared that the horses would make them easy for Fionn to track. They left the horses, crossed the river on foot, and reached an oak forest in Connacht. Diarmuid made Gráinne a bed of birch boughs. The next morning, Fionn learned what had happened and sent men after them. Oisín sent his best hound ahead. The hound woke Diarmuid by pressing its muzzle against his neck. Diarmuid wanted to face Fionn, but Gráinne persuaded him to flee.

Fionn pursued them across Ireland. They crossed mountains, lakes, and rivers, and hid in caves and forests. Fionn’s own men were reluctant to pursue their friend, so he hired mercenaries from overseas. Diarmuid guarded Gráinne, and they became lovers. They continued running after Gráinne became pregnant. In some accounts, they slept apart at first in the Wood of the Two Tents. A danger in the night shamed Diarmuid into joining her. They slept on separate stone beds, later called the beds of Diarmuid and Gráinne. They never spent two nights in the same place or ate a cooked supper.

After many seasons, the men of Ireland persuaded Fionn to stop. The couple made a home and lived peacefully, raising four sons and a daughter. Another account says that Aonghus Óg pleaded their cause. Fionn had discovered Diarmuid hiding in a hazel tree by using a game of fidchell to draw him out. The pair were restored to favour, but settled near Gráinne’s rath by the cave of Keshcorran instead of returning to Fionn’s fort at Almu.

Fionn later lured Diarmuid into hunting the wild boar Gulben on Ben Bulben. Diarmuid was under a geis never to hunt boar. Gulben had once been a man whom Diarmuid’s father killed, and enchantment had changed him into that form. Diarmuid killed the boar without injury. Fionn then forced him to measure it. A sharp bristle pierced Diarmuid and caused uncontrollable bleeding. Diarmuid begged Fionn to bring magical healing, but Fionn withheld it. Diarmuid died from the wound.

Muirne gave birth to Fionn, the son of Cumhal mac Treunmor. Muirne was also called Murna, and Cumhal was also called Cumhall. The child belonged to the family later known as Clan Baíscne, the family of Fionn mac Cumhaill.

Goll mac Morna killed Cumhal while Fionn was still young. Goll was a one-eyed warrior and the head of Clan Morna. After Cumhal’s death, Fionn was hidden and raised in secret. His concealment separated him from his father’s feud with Goll and Clan Morna.

Cumhal’s death began the feud between Clan Morna and Clan Baíscne. Fionn later bore his father’s name and became known as Fionn mac Cumhaill. He became the leader of the Fianna, whose centre was at the Hill of Allen in Leinster.

In another episode, Fionn entered a contest and killed a rival who challenged his victory. He was then called “the fair boy”, or Fionn. The name remained with him.

In one telling, Fionn later claimed his lawful inheritance from the High King of Ireland. The king made Goll admit Fionn’s rights, and Fionn became leader of the Fianna.

Cucullin faced Oonagh while Fionn was away. He challenged the household over its bread. Oonagh told him that, if he could not eat it, he should say so quietly and not wake the child in the cradle. The child woke at once. Fin gave a loud cry that startled the giant, because it seemed to come from such a young infant.

“Mother,” said Fin, “I am hungry. Get me something to eat.” Oonagh gave him a cake made without a griddle. Fin ate it quickly while Cucullin watched. The giant was thunderstruck. He thought himself fortunate not to have met Fionn, since no man could face someone whose infant son could eat such bread. He asked Oonagh if he might look at the child in the cradle.

Cucullin saw Fin. The child called him a poor creature for claiming to be a giant. Fin asked him to hand over a stone. Cucullin could judge Fionn’s strength by seeing what Fionn’s little son could do. Fin took the stone and secretly exchanged it for curds. He squeezed the curds until whey, clear as water, ran from his hand like a small shower.

Fin said that he would return to his cradle. He scorned to waste time on anyone unable to eat Fionn’s bread or squeeze water from a stone. He warned Cucullin to leave before Fionn returned, because Fionn would make flummery of him in two minutes. Cucullin believed what he had seen. His knees knocked together with fear of Fionn’s return. He hurried away after bidding Oonagh farewell and said that he never again wished to hear of, or see, her husband.