Fionn mac Cumhaill (pronounced /fʲiːn̪ˠ mˠak 'kuwaːlʲ/ in Irish or /fɪn mɘ 'kuːl/ in English) (earlier Finn or Find mac Cumail or mac Umaill, later Anglicised to Finn McCool) was a mythical hunter-warrior of Irish mythology, occurring also in the mythologies of Scotland and the Isle of Man. The stories of Fionn and his followers, the Fianna, form the Fenian cycle or Fiannaidheacht, much of it supposedly narrated by Fionn's son, the poet Oisín. Fionn or Finn is actually a nickname meaning "fair" (in reference to hair colour), "white", or "bright". His childhood name was Deimne, and several legends tell how he gained the nickname when his hair turned prematurely white. The name "Fionn" is related to the Welsh name Gwyn, as in the mythological figure Gwyn ap Nudd, and to the continental Celtic deity Vindos. The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... The mythology of pre-Christian Ireland did not entirely survive the conversion to Christianity, but much of it was preserved, shorn of its religious meanings, in medieval Irish literature, which represents the most extensive and best preserved of all the branches of Celtic mythology. ... This article is about the country. ... In Irish mythology, the Fianna were Irish warrior-hunters who served the High King of Ireland in the 3rd century AD. Their adventures were recorded in the Fenian Cycle. ... The Fenian Cycle also known as the Fionn Cycle, Finn Cycle, Fianna Cycle, Finnian Tales, Fian Tales, Féinne Cycle, Feinné Cycle, Ossianic Cycle and Fianaigecht, is a body of prose and verse centering on the exploits of the mythic hero Fionn mac Cumhaill and his warriors the Fianna Éireann. ... Ossian, by François Pascal Simon Gérard Ossians dream, Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, 1813 Oisín (Old Irish, pronounced , or roughly uh-sheen), son of Fionn mac Cumhail, is a poet and warrior of the fianna in the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology. ... This article is about the country. ... In Welsh mythology, Gwyn or Gwynn ap Nudd was the ruler of Annwn (the Underworld). ...

The 19th century Irish revolutionary organization known as the Fenian Brotherhood took its name from these legends. The Scottish name Fingal comes from a retelling of these legends in epic form by the eighteenth century poet James Macpherson. The Fenian Brotherhood was an Irish nationalist organization based in the United States in the mid-nineteenth century. ... James Macpherson (October 27, 1736–February 17, 1796), was a Scottish poet, known as the translator of the Ossian cycle of poems (also known as the Oisín cycle). ...

Legend

Birth

Most of Fionn's early adventures are recounted in the narrative The Boyhood Deeds of Fionn. He was the son of Cumhaill, leader of the Fianna, and Muirne, daughter of the druid Tadg mac Nuadat who lived on the hill of Almu in County Kildare. Cumhaill abducted Muirne after her father refused him her hand, so Tadg appealed to the High King, Conn of the Hundred Battles, who outlawed him. The Battle of Cnucha was fought between Conn and Cumhaill, and Cumhaill was killed by Goll mac Morna, who took over leadership of the Fianna. The Boyhood Deeds of Fionn (Irish: Macgnímartha Finn) is a medieval Irish narrative belonging to the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology. ... In Irish mythology, Muirne was the wife of Cumhail and mother of Fionn mac Cumhail. ... Two druids, from an 1845 publication, based on a bas-relief found at Autun, France. ... Tadg, son of Nuada, was a druid and the maternal grandfather of Fionn mac Cumhail in the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology. ... Statistics Province: Leinster County Town: Naas Code: KE Area: 1,693 km² Population (2006) 186,075 Website: www. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... Conn Cétchathach (Conn of the Hundred Battles) was a legendary High King of Ireland. ... Goll mac Morna (or Goal mac Morn) was a member of the fianna and an uneasy ally of Fionn mac Cumhail in the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology. ...

Muirne was already pregnant, so her father rejected her and ordered his people to burn her, but Conn would not allow it and put her under the protection of Fiacal mac Conchinn, whose wife, Bodhmall the druidess, was Cumhaill's sister. In Fiacal's house she gave birth to a son, who she called Deimne. (Note that cumal is Old Irish for a female slave; Fionn may once have been "the slave-girl's son" before a more noble origin was invented for him.) In Irish mythology, Bodhmall (or Bodbal) was a druidess who helped raise Fionn mac Cumhail. ... Old Irish is the name given to the oldest form of the Irish language which can be more or less fully reconstructed from extant sources. ...

Boyhood

Muirne left the boy in the care of Bodhmall and a warrior woman, Liath Luachra, who brought him up in secret in the forest of Sliabh Bladma, teaching him the arts of war and hunting. As he grew older he entered the service, incognito, of a number of local kings, but when they recognised him as Cumhal's son they told him to leave, fearing they would be unable to protect him from his enemies. In Irish mythology, Liath Luachra was a female warrior who taught Fionn mac Cumhail. ... The Slieve Bloom Mountians rise from the central plain of Ireland to a height of about 560 metres. ...

The young Fionn met the leprechaun-like druid and poet Finn Eces, or Finnegas, near the river Boyne and studied under him. Finneces had spent seven years trying to catch the salmon of knowledge, which lived in a pool on the Boyne: whoever ate the salmon would gain all the knowledge in the world. Eventually he caught it, and told the boy to cook it for him. While cooking it Fionn burned his thumb, and instinctively put his thumb in his mouth, swallowing a piece of the salmon's skin. This imbued him with the salmon's wisdom. He then knew how to gain revenge against Goll, and in subsequent stories was able to call on the knowledge of the salmon by sucking his thumb. In Irish mythology, a leprechaun (Modern Irish: leipreachán) is a type of male faerie said to inhabit the island of Ireland. ... Finn Eces (Finneces, Finegas, Finnegas) is a legendary Celtic poet. ... Finn Eces (Finneces, Finegas, Finnegas) is a legendary Celtic poet. ... The Boyne is a river in Leinster, Ireland, which course is about 70 mi (112 km) long. ... Fionn and the Salmon of Knowledfe An Irish folk tale about a young man named Fionn who unintentionally eats a fabled salmon of knowledge and goes on to become a great warrior. ...

The salmon's place in this tale displays the esteem in which this particular family of fish is held in many different mythologies. The particular species thought to be referenced in this tale, is the Salmonidae midlandus variant. This species held a special place of esteem in traditional Irish stories due to its strength, its appearance, (significantly more scales than other species, and therefore a more striking range of colours), and its relative scarcity. The story of Fionn and the salmon of knowledge bears a strong resemblance to the Welsh tale of Gwion Bach, indicating a possible common source for both stories. Genera (see text) Salmonidae is a family of ray-finned fish, the only family of order Salmoniformes. ... Taliesin or Taliessin (c. ...

Adulthood

Every year for twenty-three years at Samhain, the fire-breathing fairy Aillen would lull the men of Tara to sleep with his music before burning the palace to the ground, and the Fianna, led by Goll mac Morna, were powerless to prevent it. Fionn arrived at Tara, armed with his father's crane-skin bag of magical weapons. He kept himself awake with the point of his own spear, and then killed Aillen with it. After that his heritage was recognised and he was given command of the Fianna: Goll willingly stepped aside, and became a loyal follower of Fionn, although in many stories their alliance is uneasy and feuds occur. Fionn demanded compensation for his father's death from Tadg, threatening war or single combat against him if he refused. Tadg offered him his home, the hill of Almu, as compensation, which Fionn accepted. Look up Samhain in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... by Sophie Anderson For other uses, see Fairy (disambiguation). ... In Irish mythology, Aillen or Áillen was a monster from Mag Mell, the underworld. ... The Hill of Tara, located near the River Boyne, is today a mound in County Meath, Leinster, Ireland, on which the grass has veiled the rich heritage of the country. ... Genera Grus Anthropoides Balearica Bugeranus Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds of the order Gruiformes, and family Gruidae. ...

Love life

Fionn met his most famous wife, Sadbh, when he was out hunting. She had been turned into a deer by a druid, Fer Doirich. Fionn's hounds, Bran and Sceolang, who were once human themselves, recognised she was human, and Fionn spared her. She transformed back into a beautiful woman, she and Fionn married and she was soon pregnant. However Fer Doirich returned and turned her back into a deer, and she vanished. Seven years later Fionn was reunited with their son, Oisín, who went on to be one of the greatest of the fianna. In Irish mythology, Sadbh (Sadb, Shahv) was the Sidhe mother of Oisin by Fionn mac Cumhail. ... “Fawn” redirects here. ... Ossian, by François Pascal Simon Gérard Ossians dream, Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, 1813 Oisín (Old Irish, pronounced , or roughly uh-sheen), son of Fionn mac Cumhail, is a poet and warrior of the fianna in the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology. ...

In The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne, one of the most famous stories of the cycle, the High King Cormac mac Airt promises the now aging Fionn his daughter Gráinne as his bride, but Gráinne falls instead for one of the Fianna, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, and the pair runs away together with Fionn in pursuit. The lovers are aided by Diarmuid's foster-father, the god Aengus. Eventually Fionn makes his peace with the couple. Years later, however, Fionn invites Diarmuid on a boar hunt, and Diarmuid is badly gored by their quarry. Water drunk from Fionn's hands has the power of healing, but when Fionn gathers water he deliberately lets it run through his fingers before he gets back to Diarmuid. His grandson Oscar threatens him if does not bring water for Diarmuid, but when Fionn finally returns it is too late; Diarmuid has died. The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne (Irish: Tóraigheacht Dhiarmada agus Ghráinne) is an Irish prose narrative surviving in many variants. ... Cormac Mac Airt is probably the most famous of the ancient kings of Ireland, and is now thought to have been an authentic historical king. ... In Irish mythology, Gráinne (pronounced or GRAWNyeah) was the daughter of Cormac mac Airt. ... In Irish mythology, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne (also known as Diarmuid of the love spot) was son of Donn and a warrior of the Fianna. ... In Irish mythology, Aengus (Áengus, Óengus, Angus, Aonghus, Anghus) aka Aengus Óg (Aengus the Young), Mac ind Óg (son of the young), Maccan or Mac Óg (young son) was a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann and probably a god of love, youth and poetic inspiration. ... Oscar in Irish mythology was the warrior son of Oisín and a fairy woman called Niamh, who also bore his sister, Plor na mBan. ...

Death

Accounts of Fionn's death vary; according to the most popular, he is not dead at all, rather, he sleeps in a cave below Dublin, to awake and defend Ireland in the hour of her greatest need. Another legend states that Fionn, his wife and son were turned into pillars of stone in the crypt of Lund Cathedral, in Sweden.^{[citation needed]} Lund Cathedral Byggnaden The Lund Cathedral, or Lunds Domkyrka, is a cathedral in Lund, Sweden. ...

Folklore

Many geographical features in Ireland are attributed to Fionn. Legend has it he built the Giant's Causeway as stepping-stones to Scotland, so as not to get his feet wet; he also once scooped up part of Ireland to fling it at a rival, but it missed and landed in the Irish Sea — the clump became the Isle of Man and the pebble became Rockall, the void became Lough Neagh. Fingal's Cave in Scotland is also named after him, and shares the feature of hexagonal basalt columns with the nearby Giant's Causeway in Ireland. Legend also has it that he was tricked into building a cathedral at Lund, in Sweden. For other uses, see Legendary (disambiguation). ... This article or section includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... This article is about the country. ... Relief map of the Irish Sea. ... This article contains a trivia section. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Entrance to Fingals cave, 2004 Entrance to Fingals cave, 1900 (Showing a lower tide) View from the depths of the cave with the island of Iona visible in the background, 2004 Fingals Cave is a sea-cave on the uninhabited island of Staffa, in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland... Lund Cathedral Byggnaden The Lund Cathedral, or Lunds Domkyrka, is a cathedral in Lund, Sweden. ...   IPA: is a city in SkÃ¥ne in southern Sweden. ...

In Newfoundland, and some parts of Nova Scotia, "Fingal's Rising" is spoken of in a distinct nationalistic sense. Made popular in songs and bars alike, to speak of "Fingle," as his name is pronounced in English versus "Fion MaCool" in Newfoundland Irish, is sometimes used as in lieu of Newfoundland or its culture. For other uses, see Newfoundland (disambiguation). ... Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit(Latin) One defends and the other conquers Capital Halifax Largest city Halifax Regional Municipality Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor Mayann E. Francis - Premier Rodney MacDonald (PC) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 11 - Senate seats 10 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area... Newfoundland Irish (Irish: Gaeilge Talamh an Éisc) is a dialect of the Irish language specific to the island of Newfoundland and widely spoken until the mid-20th century. ...

In Manx folklore, Fionn is a giant known as Finn MacCooill. One story ^[1] says that he came to live in the Isle of Man, whereupon a Manx buggane came to fight against the famous Irish giant. Wanting to avoid a fight, Finn hid in the cradle while his wife entertained the buggane, pretending her husband was the baby and trying to scare off their visitor. She gave the buggane a griddle-cake with the iron griddle hidden in it, which he could not eat, and told him that her husband always ate such cakes. Then she gave a second cake to Finn, who easily ate it. Seeing that even the 'baby' was so strong, the buggane thought better of his fight and slunk off. However, later the two did meet and had a great battle at Kirk Christ Rushen. Finn's feet carved out the Channel between the Calf of Man and Kitterland, and the other channel between Kitterland and the Isle of Man. The buggane's feet at Port Erin made the opening for the port there. At last the buggane got the upper hand and the injured Finn had to flee. Finn could walk on the sea, but the buggane could not. Unable to follow, the buggane tore out a tooth and flung it after Finn, where it struck him and fell into the sea to become the Chicken's Rock. Finn turned and shouted a curse on the rock, which is why it is such a hazard to sailors. In Manx Mythology, a Buggane was a huge ogre-like creature, native to the Isle of Man. ... The Calf of Man is a small island, almost 1 square mile (2. ... Kitterland (Famman Kitterland in Manx) is an islet between the Isle of Man and the Calf of Man in the Irish Sea. ... Kitterland (Famman Kitterland in Manx) is an islet between the Isle of Man and the Calf of Man in the Irish Sea. ... Seafront at Port Erin Bradda Head with Milners Tower Port Erin (Manx: Purt Chiarn) is a town in the south of the Isle of Man. ...

Modern literature

Malvine, dying in the arms of Fingal, by Anne-Louis Girodet de Roussy-Trioson

In 1761 James Macpherson announced the discovery of an epic written by Ossian (Oisín) in the Scottish Gaelic language on the subject of "Fingal" (Fionnghall meaning "white stranger":^[2] it is suggested that Macpherson rendered the name as Fingal through a misapprehension of the name which in old Gaelic would appear as Finn^[3]). In December 1761 he published Fingal, an Ancient Epic Poem in Six Books, together with Several Other Poems composed by Ossian, the Son of Fingal, translated from the Gaelic Language. His cycle of poems had widespread influence on such writers as Goethe and the young Walter Scott, but there was controversy from the outset about Macpherson's claims to have translated the works from ancient sources. The authenticity of the poems is now generally doubted, though they may have been based on fragments of Gaelic legend, and to some extent the controversy has overshadowed their considerable literary merit and influence on Romanticism. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2024x1528, 260 KB) Description: Title: de: Malvine, in den Armen Fingals sterbend Technique: de: Öl auf Leinwand Dimensions: de: 113 × 147 cm Country of origin: de: Frankreich Current location (city): Current location (gallery): de: Museum Varzy Other notes: Source: The Yorck... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2024x1528, 260 KB) Description: Title: de: Malvine, in den Armen Fingals sterbend Technique: de: Öl auf Leinwand Dimensions: de: 113 × 147 cm Country of origin: de: Frankreich Current location (city): Current location (gallery): de: Museum Varzy Other notes: Source: The Yorck... Malvine, dying in the arms of Fingal, beginning of 19th century. ... James Macpherson (October 27, 1736–February 17, 1796), was a Scottish poet, known as the translator of the Ossian cycle of poems (also known as the Oisín cycle). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Oisín. ... Ossian, by François Pascal Simon Gérard Ossians dream, Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, 1813 Oisín (Old Irish, pronounced , or roughly uh-sheen), son of Fionn mac Cumhail, is a poet and warrior of the fianna in the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology. ... Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. ...  , IPA: , (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German polymath. ... Raeburns portrait of Sir Walter Scott in 1822. ... Wanderer above the sea of fog by Caspar David Friedrich Romanticism is an artistic, literary, and intellectual movement that originated in 18th century Western Europe during the Industrial Revolution. ...

A story of the battle between Fionn MacCumhail, who in this tale is claimed to have resided in the valley of Glencoe, in Scotland, and a Viking host led by Earragan makes an appearance in the book Glencoe: The Story of the Massacre, Secker & Warburg, 1966 by John Prebble. The story tells of the approach of forty viking galleys up the narrows by Ballachulish into Loch Leven, and the ensuing battle between the Norsemen and the Fionns of the valley of Glencoe, in which Earragan is killed by Goll MacMorna.

Fionn mac Cumhaill features heavily in modern Irish literature. Most notably he makes several appearances in James Joyce's Finnegans Wake, and some have posited that the title, taken from the street ballad "Finnegan's Wake", may also be a portmanteau of "Finn again is awake," referring to his eventual awakening to defend Ireland. Irish writing of 8th century For a comparatively small country, Ireland has made a disproportionate contribution to world literature in all its branches. ... James Augustine Aloysius Joyce (Irish Séamus Seoighe; 2 February 1882 – 13 January 1941) was an Irish expatriate writer, widely considered to be one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. ... For the street ballad which the novel is named after, see Finnegans Wake. ... Wikisource has original text related to this article: Finnegans Wake Finnegans Wake is a ballad which arose in perhaps the 1850s in the vaudeville tradition of comical Irish songs. ... A portmanteau (IPA pronunciation: RP, US) is a word or morpheme that fuses two or more words or word parts to give a combined or loaded meaning. ...

Fionn also appears as a character in Flann O'Brien's comic novel, At Swim-Two-Birds, in passages that parody the style of Irish myths. Morgan Llywelyn's book Finn MacCool tells of Fionn's rise to leader of the Fianna and the love stories that ensue in his life, and the character is celebrated in "The Legend of Finn MacCumhail", a song by the Boston-based band Dropkick Murphys featured on their album Sing Loud Sing Proud!: Flann OBrien (October 5, 1911, Strabane, County Tyrone Ireland – April 1, 1966 Dublin) is a pseudonym of the twentieth century Irish novelist and satirist Brian ONolan (in Irish Brian Ó Nuallain), best known for his novels An Béal Bocht, At Swim-Two-Birds and The Third Policeman. ... At Swim-Two-Birds is a novel by Irish novelist Flann OBrien (one pen-name of Brian ONolan) published in 1939. ... Morgan Llywelyn is an American-born Irish author of historical fantasy, historical fiction, and historical non-fiction. ... In Irish mythology, the Fianna were Irish warrior-hunters who served the High King of Ireland in the 3rd century AD. Their adventures were recorded in the Fenian Cycle. ... Nickname: City on the Hill, Beantown, The Hub (of the Universe)1, Athens of America, The Cradle of Revolution, Puritan City, Americas Walking City Location in Massachusetts, USA Counties Suffolk County Mayor Thomas M. Menino(D) Area    - City 232. ... Dropkick Murphys are a celtic punk band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts, USA.[1] First playing together in the basement of a friends barbershop, they blended Oi!, Irish music, and hardcore. ... Sing Loud, Sing Proud! is the third studio album from Boston punk rock band the Dropkick Murphys. ...

This mighty soldier on the eve of the war he waged

told his troops of lessons learned from battles fought:

"May your heart grow bolder like an iron-clad brigade"

said this leader to his outnumbered lot.

Known as a hero to all that he knew,

long live the legend of Finn MacCool!

The brave celtic leader of the chosen few,

long live the legend of Finn MacCool!

Fionn mac Cumhaill was featured as a protagonist and ally in the first published adventure for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer RPG, The Dark Druid. The adventure features Fionn and his battle with the druid Fer Doirich in the modern age and posits that the witches Willow and Tara are the reincarnations of his foster mothers Bodhmall and Liath respectively. ^[4] He also features as a character in Matthew Barney's 2002 film Cremaster 3. The Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel RPGs are complementary, officially licensed role-playing games published by Eden Studios, Inc. ... Two druids, from an 1845 publication, based on a bas-relief found at Autun, France. ... Willow Rosenberg (born either in 1980 or very early 1981 in Sunnydale, California) is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. ... Tara Maclay (born October 16, 1980 and died May 7, 2002 in Sunnydale, California)[1] is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the cult television series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. ... In Irish mythology, Bodhmall (or Bodbal) was a druidess who helped raise Fionn mac Cumhail. ... In Irish mythology, Liath Luachra was a female warrior who taught Fionn mac Cumhail. ... Matthew Barney (born March 25, 1967 in San Francisco, California) is a contemporary artist who works with film, video, installations, sculpture, photography, drawing and performance art. ... Cremaster (films) The Cremaster Cycle is a sequence of five films by Matthew Barney, entitled Cremaster 1 to Cremaster 5. ...

References