THE LEGEND OF FIONN MacCUMHAILL
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Fionn MacCumhaill was a mythical Irish warrior. 
His name has a number of different spellings and 
anglicized forms including Finn McCool and Fionn 
MacUmaill. The name Fionn is taken from the 
Gaelic word that translates as 'fair' likely 
referring to lightly coloured hair. Fionn was 
the son of Cumhaill who leader of the ancient 
Fianna, a band of mercenary warriors who lived 
apart from the rest of Gaelic society.

Hi mother was Muirne, who was daughter to 
Tadg mac Nuadat, a druid. Cumhaill kidnapped 
Muirne when her father refused him permission
to wed. Outlawed by the High King of the time, 
Conn of the Hundred Battles, the subsequent 
battle of Cnucha resulted in the demise of 
Cumhaill by Goll MacMorna, who assumed leadership 
of the Fianna. 

The now pregnant Muirne was exiled and was 
placed under the care of Fiacal MacConchinn, 
Cumhaills brother-in-law. After bearing her 
child Muirne left him in the care of his new 
family and a warrior woman named Liath Luachra, 
who was responsible for teaching him the ways of 
war and the Fianna. He was also tutored by 
Finnegas, the druid poet who had spent years 
searching for the 'salmon of knowledge', a 
mythical create that could endow all of the 
knowledge of the world. Eventually he caught the 
fish and instructed the young Fionn to cook it 
for him. While cooking the fish over the fire 
he scalded his thumb on the hot flesh and 
instinctively put the thumb to his mouth, 
instantly gaining the wisdom long sought after 
by Finnegas.

As an adult Fionn traveled to Tara, seat of the 
High Kings of Ireland. For 23 years the fairy 
Aillen razed the site to the ground every Samhain
having first lulled its guards into slumber with 
her music. Fionn managed to defeat Aileen however, 
by keeping himself awake by piercing his own skin 
with the point of his spear. His nobility was 
recognised and Goll MacMorna, who was still leader 
of thr Fianna, stepped aside to allow Fionn assume 
his rightful place. Gol even gave Fionn his home 
at the Hill of Almu as recompense for the death of 
his father.

His most famous wife was Sadbh who had been turned 
into a deer by the druid Fer Doirich. While out 
hunting, the hounds of Fionn, Bran and Sceolang, 
recognised the deer as a once-human form, since 
they too had once been human. Fionn did not kill 
the deer who was immediately transformed into his 
beautiful wife. She bore him a son, Oisin, who 
later became one of the greatest of all of the 
Fianna. The druid Fer Doirich returned however and 
re-cast Sadbh as a deer who then vanished into the 
forest forever.

Later in his life the reigning High King, Cormac 
mac Airt, promised Fionn the hand of his daughter 
Grainne. It was not be however as Grainne and 
Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, another of the Fianna, eloped 
with Fionn in pursuit. The mater was resolved when 
Fionn allowed the lovers to be together, only for 
him to take revenge in later life by not using his 
powers to heal Diarmuid and prevent his death, 
after he had been gored by a boar.

Fionn is credited with creating the Giants 
Causeway as stepping stones from the North of 
Ireland to Scotland. Another legend tells how he 
threw a large piece of the land into the sea at an 
enemy, that piece of land becoming the Isle of 
Man. The hole left behind by the clump of land 
he threw became Lough Neagh.

The death of Fionn MacCumhaill is shrouded in 
mystery. One legend suggests that he is not dead 
but merely sleeping in a cave under Dublin, ready 
to strike back against Ireland's enemies.