Fionn’s Pedigree#
The legend of Fionn Mac Cumhaill typically seems to start with Fionn, orphaned by the loss of his father at the Battle of Cnuchna, being taken by his mother to a place a safety, lest the members of the clan Morna, who killed Fionn’s father, Uiall / Cumhaill, son of Baiscne (“Bash-k-nuh”) sought also to put paid to any claim Fionn might have on the leadership.
But just in case there is some colour we can add to our tale in accounts that describe the death of Fionn’s father, Uail (Cumhaill, “Cool”), or perhaps his mother, Muirne’s, backstory (Muirne, daughter of Tadgh (“Tye-guh”) / Teigue (“Taygh”)).
The gist of the story is this:
Cumhall fell in love with Muirna of the fair neck, daughter of Tadhg, younger sister of Bodhmall, older sister of Tuiren, and elopes with her. Tadgh appeals to Conn of the Hundred Battles, who tells Cumhall to leave Ireland or return Muirne. Conn sent Urgriu and Morna Wryneck (along with Morna’s son, Aed) into battle at Cnuchna. Luchet wounded Aed, blinding him in one eye, from which he gets his name, Goll (one-eyed). Goll then killed Cumhall. But Muirne was pregnant with Cumhall’s child…
Let’s see what rather more literal translations of the source material — the Saltair of Cashael — have to say. We begin with a translation by Kuno Meyer from 1904, around the time that Lady Gregory published “Gods and fighting men”. Several footnotes cite O'D., which refers to an earlier translation of the same source material by John O’Donovan, which we shall also meet below.
The following translation includes not just a summary of the causes and outcome of the battle of Cnuchna, but also the birth of Fionn, his childhood exploits and his defeat of Aillen, following which he took on the leadership of the Fianna and won Goll’s allegiance.
The Boyish Exploits of Finn, transl. Kuno Meyer, in Ériu, 1904.
In Kuno Meyer, THE BOYISH EXPLOITS OF FINN in Ériu: The Journal of the School of Irish Learning, Dublin by School of Irish Learning (Dublin , Ireland), Royal Irish Academy, 1904, pp180-190:
THE BOYISH EXPLOITS OF FINN [Translated from the original Irish in *Revue Celtique* v., p. 197 ff. Cf. Archiv fiir Celtische Lezikographie, vol. I., p. 482.]
Kuno Meyer
1. THERE befell a meeting of valour and a contest of battle about the chieftaincy of the fian and about the high-stewardship of Ireland between Cumall, son of Trénmór, and Urgriu, son of Lugaid Corr of the Luaigni. [A famous military sept in Meath," O'D.] That Cumall was of the Corco Oche of Cuil Contuind, ["A territory situated on the borders of the present counties of Meath and Cavan," O'D.] for to these the Ui Tairrsig, Cumall’s tribe, belonged. Torba, daughter of Eochaman of the Erne, was the wife of Cumall, until he married Muirne of the fair neck.
2. Then the battle of Cnucha [Now Castleknock, near the Liffey, Co. Dublin.] was fought between them, to wit, between Cumall and Urgriu. Daire the Red, son of Echaid the Fair, son of Coirpre the Valorous, son of Muiredach, and his son Aed were fighting the battle along with Urgriu. Another name for that Daire was Morna Wryneck. So the battle was fought. Luchet and Aed, son of Morna, met in the battle. Luchet wounded Aed, and destroyed one of his eyes, whence the name of Goll (ix. the One-eyed) clave to him from that time forth. Luchet fell by Goll. The man who kept Cumall’s treasure-bag wounded Cumall in the battle. Cumall fell in the battle by Goll, son of Morna, who carried off his spoils and his head, whence there was a hereditary feud between Finn and the sons of Morna.
3. Hence sang the shanachie : —
“ Goll, son of Daire the Red, with fame,
Son of Echaid the Fair, of valour fair,
Son of Cairpre the Valorous with valour.
Son of Muiredach from Findmag.”[A plain in the barony of Athlone, Co. Roscommon," O'D.]“ Goll slew Luchet of the hundreds
In the battle of Cnucha, ‘tis no falsehood :
Luchet the Fair of prowess bright[Read *Luicet Finn in gaiscid glain*.]
Fell by the son of Morna.“ By him fell great Cumall
In the battle of Cnucha of the hosts.
‘Tis for the chieftaincy of Erin’s fian
That they waged the stout battle.The children of Morna were in the battle
And the Luaigni of Tara, Since to them belonged the leadership[i.e. the headship of the fian (*fianus*)]of the men of Fál[A poetical name for Ireland.]
By the side of every valorous king.“ Victorious Cumall had a son,
The Finn, bloody, of weapons hard :
Finn and Goll, great their fame,
Mightily they waged war.“ Afterwards they made peace,
Finn and Goll of the hundred deeds,
Until Banb Sinna fell
About the pig at Tara Luachra.[See the " Cause of the Battle of Cnucha," translated by Hennessy, Rev. Celt. II., p. 86 ff.]“ Aed was the name of the son of Daire
Until Luchet with glory wounded him :
Since the fierce lance had wounded him, Therefore was he called Goll.”
4. Cumall left his wife Muirne pregnant. And she brings forth a son, to whom the name of Demne was given. Fiacail, son of Conchenn, and Bodbmall the druidess, and the Grey one of Luachair came to Muirne, and carry away the boy, for his mother durst not let him be with her. Muirne afterwards slept with Gleor Red-hand, king of the Lamraige, [" A people of Kerry," O'D.] whence* the saying, [Read *conid [d]eiside*.] ‘ Finn, son of Gleor.’ Bodbmall, however, and the Grey one, and the boy with them, went into the forest of Slieve Bloom. There the boy was secretly reared That was indeed necessary, for many a sturdy stalwart youth, and many a venomous hostile warrior and angry fierce champion of the warriors of the Luaigni and of the sons of Morna were lying in wait for that boy, and for Tulcha, the son of Cumall. In that manner then those two women-warriors reared him for a long time.
5. Then, at the end of six years, his mother came to visit her son, for she had been told that he was in that place, and besides, she was afraid of the sons of Morna for him. However, she passed from one wilderness to another, until she reached the forest of Slieve Bloom. She found the hunting-booth and the boy asleep in it. And then she lifts the boy to her bosom, and presses him to her, and she pregnant at the time. [The Irish is *ocus si irom iarum* which should not, I think, as has been suggested, be rendered ' and she pregnant thereafter,' *iarum* here having the force oi *tra* (see Windisch, Wörterbuch, p. 613) and not of *iarsin*. Besides, *ocus si* denotes an accompanying circumstance.] It was then she made the quatrains, fondling her son : —
“ Sleep in peaceful slumber,” &c.
Thereupon the woman bade farewell to the women-warriors, and told them to take charge [For this meaning of *indgabaim*, see Manners and Customs, i., p. lxxxv, n. 104.] of the boy till he should be fit to be a warrior. And so the boy grew up till he was able to hunt.
6. On a certain day the boy went out alone, and saw ducks upon a lake. He sent a shot among them, which cut off the feathers and wings of one, so that a trance fell upon her ; and then he seized her and took her with him to the hunting-booth. And that was Finn’s first chase.
7. He afterwards went with certain cairds to flee from the sons of Morna, and was with them about Crotta. ["i.e. Crotta Cliach, now the Galty mountains in the south of County Tipperary," O'D.] These were their names : Futh [Wrongly printed *Tuth* in Rev. Celt, v., p. 199.] and Ruth and Regna of Moy Fea, and Temle, and Olpe, and Rogein. There scurvy came upon him, and therefrom he became a scald, whence he used to be called Demne the Bald. At that time there was a reaver in Leinster, Fiacail, the son of Codna. Then in Feeguile ["In the parish of Cloonsast, north of Portarlington, King's County," O'D.] Fiacail came upon the cairds and killed them all save Demne alone. After that he was with Fiacail, the son of Codna, in his house in Sescenn Uairbeóil. [i.e. the Swamp of Uar-bélee or Cold-Month, somewhere in Leinster.] The two women-warriors came southwards to the house of Fiacail, the son of Codna, in search of Demne, and he is given to them. And then they take him with them from the south to the same place.
8. One day he went out alone until he reached Moy Liffey, [ " The plain of the Liffey, a very level plain in County Kildare,*' O'D.] and a certain stronghold there ; and he saw the youths hurling upon the green of the stronghold there. He went to contend in running or in hurling with them. He came again the next day, and they put one-fourth of their number against him. Again they come with one-third of their number against him. However, at last they all go against him, and he won his game from them all.
9. “What is thy name?” they said. “Demne,” said he. The youths tell that to the man of the stronghold. “ Then kill him, [Read *marbid-si de é*.] if ye know how to do it — if ye are able to do it,” said he. “ We should not be able to do aught to him,” said they. “ Did he tell you his name ? “ says he. “ He said,” say they, “ that his name was Demne.” “ What does he look like ? “ said he. “ A shapely fair (finn) youth,” said they. “ Then Demne shall be named Finn (the Fair),” said he. Whence the youths used to call him Finn.
10. He came to them on the next day, and went to them at their game. All together they throw their hurlets at him. He turns among them, and throws seven of them to the ground. He went from them into the forest of Slieve Bloom.
11. Then, at the end of a week, he came back to the same place. The youths were swimming in a lake that was close by. The youths challenge him to come and try to drown them. Thereupon he jumps into the lake to them, and drowns nine of them in the lake. And after that he goes to Slieve Bloom. “ Who drowned the youths ? “ everybody asks. “ Finn,” say they. So that henceforth [the name] Finn clave to him.
12. Once he went forth across Slieve Bloom, and the two women-warriors together with him, when a fleet herd of wild deer is seen [by them] on the ridge of the mountain. “ Alas ! “ say the two old women, “ that we cannot get hold of one of those !” [Read ni tic din astud, &c.] “I can,” [says Finn], and he dashes upon them, and lays hold of two bucks among them, and brings them with him to their hunting-booth. After that he would hunt for them constantly. “ Go from us now, lad,” said the women-warriors to him, “ for the sons of Morna are watching to kill thee.”
13. Alone he went from them until he reached Lough Leane, [The great Lake of Killarney.] above Luachair [i.e. Luchair Dedad, "a district in the County of Kerry, containing the two Pap mountains," O'D.], and there he took military service with the king of Bantry. At that place he did not make himself known. However, there was not at that time a hunter his equal. Thus said the king to him : — “ If Cumall had left a son,” says he, “ one would think thou wast he. However, we have not heard of his leaving a son, except Tulcha mac Cumaill, and he is in military service with the king of Scotland.”
14. He afterwards bids farewell to the king, and goes from them to Carbrige, which at this day is [called] Kerry, [The territory so called extended in ancient times only from Tralee to the Shannon," O'D.] and takes military service with the king of that land. Then, on a certain day, the king came to play fidchell. He was prompted by Finn, and won seven games one after another. “ Who art thou ? “ says the king. “ The son of a peasant of the Luaigni of Tara, says he. “No,” says the king, “but thou art the son whom Muirne bore to Cumall, and be here no longer, lest thou be slain [while] under my protection.”
15. Then he went forth to Cullen ["In the County of Tipperary, near the borders of the County of Limerick," O'D.] of the Ui Cuanach [Coonagh is now the name of a barony, County Limerick.], to the house of Lochán, a chief smith, who had a very beautiful daughter, Cruithne by name. She fell in love with the youth. “ I shall give thee my daughter, though I know not who thou art.” Thereupon the girl slept with the youth. “ Make spears for me,” said the youth to the smith. So Lochán made two spears for him. He then bade farewell to Lochán, and went away, “ My son,” says Lochán, “ do not go upon the road on which is the sow called the Beo.” She it was that devastated the midlands of Munster. But what happened to the youth was to go upon the very road on which the sow was. Then the sow charged him ; but he thrust his spear at her, so that it went through her, and left her without life. Then he takes the head of the sow with him to the smith as a bridal gift for his daughter. Hence is Slieve Muck [*Sliab Muicce*, ' the Mountain of the Sow.'] in Munster.
16. After that the youth went onwards into Connaught to seek Crimall, the son of Trénmér. As he was on his way, he heard the wail of a woman. He went towards it, and saw a woman ; and now it was tears of blood, and now a gush of blood, so that her mouth was red. “ Thou art red-mouthed, woman ! says he. “ Good cause have I,” says she, “ for my only son has been slain by a tall, very terrible warrior who came in my way. “ What was thy son’s name ?” says he. “ Glonda was his name,” says she. Hence is the Ford of Glonda and the Causeway of Glonda on Moinmoy, [ “ Not identified, unless it be Ballyderg,” O’D.]and from that redness of mouth the Ford of the Red Mouth[“A territory lying round Lough Reagh, County Galway,” O’D. ]` has been so called ever since. Then Finn went in pursuit of the warrior, and they fight a combat, and he fell by him. This is how he was : he had the treasure-bag with him, to wit, the treasures of Cumall. He who had fallen there was the Grey one of Luachair, who had dealt the first wound to Cumall in the battle of Cnucha.
17. Thereupon he goes into Connaught, and finds Crimall as an old man in a desert wood there, and a number of the old fian together with him ; and it is they who did the hunting for him. Then he shows (?) him the bag, and told him his story from beginning to end ; how he had slain the man of the treasures. Finn bade farewell to Crimall, and went to learn poetry from Finnéces, who was on the Boyne. [For the poets thought that the place where poetry was revealed always was upon the brink of water " (*ar bd baile fallsigthe éicsi dogrés lasna filedu for brú usci*), LL. p. 186 a.] He durst not remain in Ireland else, until he took to poetry, for fear of the son of Urgriu, and of the sons of Morna.
18. Seven years Finnéces had been on the Boyne, watching the salmon of Fec’s Pool [A deep pool in the River Boyne, near Fer/a Fer Fecc, the ancient name of the village of Slane, on this river," O'D.]; for it had been prophesied of him that he would eat the salmon of Féc, when nothing would remain unknown to him. The salmon was found, and Demne was then ordered to cook the salmon; and the poet told him not to eat anything of the salmon. The youth brought him the salmon after cooking it. “ Hast thou eaten anything of the salmon, my lad ?” says the poet. “ No,” says the youth, “ but I burned my thumb, and put it into my mouth afterwards.” “What is thy name, my lad?” says he. “Demne,” says the youth. “ Finn is thy name, my lad,” says he ; “ and to thee was the salmon given to be eaten, and verily thou art the Finn.” Thereupon the youth eats the salmon. It is that which gave the knowledge to Finn, to wit, whenever he put his thumb into his mouth, and sang through teinm ldida ["Illumination (?) of song."] then whatever he had been ignorant of would be revealed to him.
19. He learnt the three things that constitute a poet, to wit, teinm láida and imbas forosna ["Knowledge which illumines."] and dichetul dichennaib. ["Extempore incantation."] It is then Finn made this lay to prove his poetry [ A translation of this poem appeared in my '* Four Songs of Summer and Winter " (London, D. Nutt, 1903), whence I reprint it here.] : —
20. May-day, season surpassing ! Splendid is colour then. Blackbirds sing a full lay, if there be a slender shaft of day.
The dust-coloured cuckoo calls aloud : Welcome, splendid summer ! The bitterness of bad weather is past, the boughs of the wood are a thicket.
Summer cuts the river down, the swift herd of horses seeks the pool, the long hair of the heather is outspread, the soft white bog-down grows.
Panic startles the heart of the deer, the smooth sea runs apace, — season when ocean sinks asleep, — blossom covers the world.
Bees with puny strength carry a goodly burden, the harvest of blossoms ; up the mountain-side kine take with them mud, the ant makes a rich meal.
The harp of the forest sounds music, the sail gathers — perfect peace. Colour has settled on every height, haze on the lake of full waters.
The corncrake, a strenuous bard, discourses ; the lofty virgin waterfall sings a welcome to the warm pool ; the talk of the rushes is come.
Light swallows dart aloft, loud melody reaches round the hill, the soft rich mast buds, the stuttering quagmire rehearses.
The peat-bog is as the raven’s coat, the loud cuckoo bids welcome, the speckled fish leaps, strong is the bound of the swift warrior.
Man flourishes, the maiden buds in her fair strong pride ; perfect each forest from top to ground, perfect each great stately plain.
Delightful is the season’s splendour, rough winter has gone, white is every fruitful wood, a joyous peace is summer.
A flock of birds settles in the midst of meadows; the green field rustles, wbeiein is a brawling white stream.
A wild longing is on you to race horses, the ranked host is ranged around : a bright shaft has been shot into the land, so that the water-flag is gold beneath it.
A timorous tiny persistent little fellow sings at the top of his voice, the lark sings clear tidings : surpassing May-day of delicate colours !
21. However, Finn went to Cethern, the son of Fintan, further to learn poetry with him. At that time there was a very beautiful maiden in Bri Ele, [Now the Hill of Croghan, King's County. Cf. Cruachan Brig Ele, s. 26.] that is to say, in the fairy-knoll of Bri Ele, and the name of that maiden was Ele. The men of Ireland were at feud about that maiden. One man after another went to woo her. Every year on Hallowe’en the wooing used to take place ; for the fairy-knolls of Ireland were always open about Hallowe’en ; for on Hallowe’en nothing could ever be hidden in the fairy-knolls. To each man that went to woo her this used to happen : one of his people was slain. This was done to mark the occasion, nor was it ever found out who did it.
22. Like everybody else, the poet Cethern went to woo the maiden. However, Finn did not like the poet’s going on that errand. At that time the name of Cumall’s son was Finnéces. As they went to the wooing they formed themselves into three bands. There were nine in each band. As they went towards the fairy-knoll, a man of their people was slain between them ; and it was not known who had slain him. Oircbel the poet was the name of the man that was slain there. Hence is Fert Oircbeil (the Grave of O.) in Clonfad. Thereupon they separated, and Finn went from them and … [I do not know what to make of *ni thaire*] However, Finn thought it a grievance and a great disgrace. [The whole incident is mentioned in a poem by Gilla in Chomded in LL. p. 144 b, 44 ff.]
23. He went until he came to the house of the champion Fiacail macjConchinn, at Slievemargpe [In the S.E. of Queen's County.] It is there his dwelling was at that time. To him, then, Finn made his complaint, and told him how the man had been slain among them in the fairy-knoll. Fiacail told him to go and sit down by the two Paps of Anu [Two mountains still so called in the barony of Magunihy, County Kerry.] behind Luachair. [i.e. Luchair Dedad.] So he went and sat down between the two strongholds which are between the two Paps of Anu.
24. Now, when Finn was there between them, on Hallowe’en night, he saw the two fairy-knolls opened around him, even the two strongholds, their ramparts having vanished before them. And he saw a great fire in either of the two strongholds ; and he heard a voice from one of them, which said : “ Is your sweet food good ? “ “ Good, indeed ! “ said a voice in the other fairy-knoll. “ A question. Shall anything be taken from us to you ? “ “ If that be given to us, something will be given to you in return.” While Finn was there he saw a man coming out of the fairy-knoll. A kneading-trough was in his hand with a … [I do not know the meaning of *slainsi*.] pig upon it, and a cooked calf, and a bunch of wild garlic upon it. That was Hallowe’en. The man came past Finn to reach the other knoll. Finn made a cast with the spear of Fiacail mac Conchinn. He hurled it southward from him towards Slieve-margue. Then said Finn : “ If the spear should reach any one of us, may he escape (?) alive from it ! I think this was a revenge for my comrade.” [This incident is referred to in the poem beginning *Échta Lagen for Leth Chuind*, LL. 48 b 41 ; and again in Gilla in Chomded*s poem, LL. 145 a 2.]
25. That passes, till forthwith he heard a lament, and a great wail, saying : —
“On the Barrow, by a sharp-pointed spear,
Aed, Fidga’s son, has fallen :
By the spear of Fiacail, Codna’s son,
Finn has slain him …[*iar n-imdai* = *ic feiss*, LL. 144 b 52.]“
Then Fiacail came to Finn, and was at the two Paps of Anu. Fiacail asked him whom he had slain. (“I know not,” saith Finn, “whether any good has come from the cast which I have thrown.” “ Tis likely, indeed,” said Fiacail, “ that some one has been slain. It seems to me if thou do not do it to-night, thou wilt not do it to the end of another year.” However, Finn said that he had sent a cast, and that it seemed likely to him that it had reached some one. And he heard a great wailing in the fairy-knoll, saying : —
“Venom is this spear,
And venomous he whose it is,
Venomous whoever threw it,
Venom for him whom it laid low.”
26. Outside the fairy-knoll of Cruachan Brig Ele Finn seized a woman in pledge for his spear. The woman promised to send out the spear if he released her. Finn let the woman from him into the knoll. Then, as she went into the knoll the woman said : —
Venom the spear,
And venom the hand that threw it !
If it is not cast out of the knoll,
A murrain will seize Ihe land.”
Thereupon the spear is thrown out, and Finn takes it with him to where Fiacail was. “ Well,” said Fiacail, “ keep the spear with which thou hast done the famous deed.” Then Fiacail said the occasion was fortunate, since the man had been slain who had killed Finn’s comrade. “ He whom thou hast slain here,” said he, “ ‘tis he who used to kill every man that came to woo the maiden, because it is he who loved the maiden.”
27. Thereupon Finn and Fiacail went onward. Now, Fiacail had a tryst with the fian at Inver Colptha. [The estuary of the Boyne. ] Then he said to Finn that they should go home … [I cannot translate *gid daimh*.] since their business was finished. Said Finn : “ Let me go with thee,” says he. “ I do not wish thee to go with me,” says Fiacail, “ lest thy strength should fail thee.” “ I shall find out,” says Finn. Then they went forth. Twelve balls of lead were round the neck of Fiacail to hem his vigour, such was his swiftness. He would throw one ball after another from him, and Finn took them with him, and (yet) Fiacail’s running was no swifter than Finn’s.
28. They reach Inver Colptha. Then Finn brought all the twelve balls of lead to him, and he was pleased. That night they slept there. Then they make Finn keep watch that night, and he was told to wake the warrior if he heard any [cry of] outrage. Now, one hour of the night, as Finn was watching, he heard a cry from the north, and did not wake the warrior. He went alone in the direction of the cry to Slieve Slanga. [Now Slieve Donard, County Down.] While Finn was there, among the men of Ulster, at the hour of midnight, [This I take to be the meaning of *tráth nóna do aidchi*.] he overtook three women before him, at a green mound, with horns (?) of fairy-women. As they were wailing on that mound, they would all put their hands on the mound. Then the women flee into the fairy-mound before Finn. Finn caught one of the women as she was going into the fairy-knoll of Slanga, and snatched her brooch out of her cloak. The woman went after him, and besought Finn to give her back the brooch of her cloak, and said it was not fit for her to go into the fairy-knoll with a blemish, and she promises a reward … [As we learn from Gilla in Chomded's poem (LL. 145 b 8), the fairy presented Finn with a vessel full of gold and silver, which he divided among the *fian*.]
PRESENTED AS “THE BOYISH EXPLOITS OF FINN”, [Translated from the original Irish in Revue Celtique, v., p. 197 ff. Cf. Archiv für Celtische Lezikographie, vol. I., p. 482.]
An earlier translation appears in the transactions of the Ossianic Society, vol. iv. 1853 (1859), by John O’ Donovan, the “O’D” referenced in several footnotes by Kuno Meyer.
This earlier version is prefaced by a letter from O’Dohnovan to the Editor, that describes the manuscript and some context regarding the translation. A genealoogy of Fionn is also provided.
Letter, prefacing “Boyish Exploits”, John O’ Donovan, 1858
https://archive.org/details/transactionsofos40ossi/page/283/mode/1up
THE BOYISH EXPLOITS OF FINN MAC CUMHAILL.
EDITED BY JOHN O’DONOVAN, LL.D., M.R.I.A.
CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, BERLIN.
DUBLIN :
PRINTED FOR THE OSSIANIC SOCIETY.
Letter addressed by Dr. John O’Donovan, to the President of the Ossianic Society.
Dublin, Dec. 27th, 1858.
Dear Sir— Having, at your request, undertaken to translate into English — to lengthen out the abbreviations, and to fix the grammatical endings of the contracted words, in this notice of the boyish exploits of the celebrated Finn Mac Cumhaill, the Fingal of Mac Pherson’s Ossian, — I beg to offer you a few observations on the age and importance of the little tract, as well as of the manuscript from which it has been taken. This tract was copied letter for letter, and contraction for contraction from a fragment of the Psalter of Cashel now preserved in the Bodleian Library at Oxford (Laud. 610), by the Rev. Euseby D. Cleayer, M. A., of Christ Church, Oxford, in 1854, and now curate of S. Barnabas, Pimlico, London, whose progress in the study of the Irish language is truly wonderful, considering the slight advantages of oral instruction which he has possessed. He has copied this little tract so faithfully that I was able to understand it as well as if I had the original manuscript before me. No artist ever copied a portrait or inscription more accurately. This manuscript was examined in the year 1844 by the Rev. Dr. Todd, S.F.T.C.D., who published a full account of its contents in the Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, vol. 2, p. 336, sq. [archive.org:proceedingsofroy02proc] In 1846 I examined it again with the most anxious care, and published a brief notice of its more important contents in the introduction to Leabhar na g-Ceart. It consists of 292 pages folio, vellum, and was transcribed in 1453 by John Boy O’Clery and others at Pottlerath, in the barony of Crannagh, and county of Kilkenny, for Edmund Butler, the head of the sept of Mac Richard, who afterwards became Earls of Ormonde. This manuscript remained in the possession of Mac Richard Butler till the year 1462, when Ormonde aod he were defeated in a battle fought at Baile-an-phoill, now Pilltown, in the barony of Iverk, county of Kilkenny, by Thomas, Earl of Desmond, to whom he was obliged to give up this very copy of the Psalter of Cashel, together with another manuscript (now unknown), called the Book of Carrick-on-Suir. This fact appears from a memorandum on fol. 110, p. b, of which the followiog is a literal translation :—
“ This was the Psalter of Mac Richard Butler, until the defeat at Baile-an phoill, was given to the Earl of Ormonde, and to Mac Richard by the Earl of Desmond (Thomas), when this book and the book of Carrick, were obtained in the redemption of Mac Richard ; and it was this Mac Richard that had these books transcribed for his own use ; and they remained in his possession until Thomas, Earl of Desmond, wrested them from him.”
The foregoing memorandum was written in the manuscript, while it was in the possession of Thomas, Earl of Desmond, whose name “ Thomas, of Desmond,” appears in English, in his own hand, on fol. 92, a., See Leahhar na g-Ceart, Introduction, pp. xxviii—xxx. The publication of this manuscript, as it stands, would be a great desideratum in Irish literature, and I trust that Sir John Romilly will not think it unworthy of his attention.
I am of opinion that this little tract is of great antiquity, and contains, perhaps, the oldest account we have remaining of Finn and his cotemporaries. You will observe that the style is extremely simple, and altogether devoid of that redundancy of epithets which characterises the prose compositions of later ages, which are equalled only by those of “Ei famoso Feliciano de Silva.”
The celebrated Irish antiquary, Duald Mac Firbis, in his genealogical work, pp. 435, 436, gives various pedigrees of the famous Irish hero, Finn Mac Cumhaill. Some deduce his descent from the Orbhraighe of Druim Inmocht, others from the Coroo Oiche, a sept of the ni-Fidhgeinte, who were seated in the present county of Limerick. Some state that he sprung from the Ui-Tairsigh of Ui-Failghe, a plebeian sept, while other genealogists maintain that he came of the Ui-Tairsigh of the Luaighni Teamhrach of Fera-Cul in Bregia, which was one of the three septs from whom the chief leader of the Fians, or Irish militiai was elected. Mac Firbis, however, states that this discrepancy must have arisen from mistaking one Finn for another ; but that by far the greater number of the authentic Irish authorities agree in deducing the pedigree of the famous Finn Mac Cumhaill from Nuada Neacht, the fourth son of Sedna Sithbhaic, the ancestor of the kings of Leinster.
By the mother’s side, Finn Mac Cumhaill was descended from Tadhg, son of Nuadhat, son of Aice, son of Daite, son of Brocan, son of Fintan of Tuath-Daite in Bregia. This Mac Firbis believes to be his true maternal descent, though others state that his mother was Torba, daughter of Echuman of the Ernaans of Dun-Cearmna (the old head of Kinsale, in the county of Cork), and that he had a half-brother by the mother’s side, who was called Finn Mac Gleoir.
Mac Firbis adds that Finn Mac Camhaill possessed, in right of his office of leader of the Fians, seven hallys, or townlands, out of every tricha-ched, or hundred, in Ireland ; that he was born in the third year of the reign of Conn of the Hundred Battles, and died in the year 283.
Some genealogical books give the pedigree of our hero thus : — Finn, son of Cumhall, son of Trénmor, son of Subalt, son of Ealtan, son of Baiscne, son of Nuada Necht : others, Finn, son of Cumhall, son of Baiscne, son of Trénmor, son of Ferdarath, son of Goll, son of Forgall, son of Daire, son of Deaghaidh, son of Sin ; but of the yarious pedigrees of our hero which Mac Firbis has copied from Irish authorities, the following is the only one that can be considered authentic : —
Nuada Necht,
Fergus Fallge, ancestor of the Kings of Leinster,
Boesa Buadh, 3. So-alt,
Finn, the poet, king of Leinster, 4. Alt,
Conchobhar Abhraruadh, 5. Cairbre Qarbhroin,
Moghcorb, king of Leinster, 6. Baeiscne,
Cucorb, king of Leinster, 7. Modh,
Nia Corb, 8. Buan,
Cormac Gealtagaoith, 9. Fergus,
Feilimidh Firurglais, 10. Trendorn,
Cathaeir Mor (A.D., 177.), monarch of Ireland, 11. Trenmor,
Cumhall,
Finn Mac Cumhaill, sl. 284.
He had a sister named Sidh, who was proverbial in Ireland for her fleetness of foot, and who was the mother of Caoilte Mac Ronain, also famous in the Fenian tales for his agility. He had another sister, Seogen, who was the mother of Cobhthach, son of Crunnchu.
I have always believed that Finn Mac Cumhaill was a real historical personage, and not a myth or god of war, like the Hercules of the Greeks, the Odin of the Scandinavians, or the Siegfried of the Germans. He was the son-in-law of the famous Cormac Mac Airt monarch of Ireland, and the general of his standing army. He was slain in the year A.D., 284, according to the Annals of Tighemach, a period to which our authentic history unquestionably reaches. (See Ogygia, part iii, c. 70).
This celebrated warrior was, as we have seen, of the regal line of the kings of Leinster, of the Milesian or Scotic race (for my ingenious friend Mr. Herbert F. Hore has theorised in vain to prove him of Scandinavian origin) ; he had two residences in Leinster, one at Allen ( Almhain,) in the present county of Kildare, and the other at Moyelly in the (now) King’s County, both of which descended to him from his ancestors. Pinkerton, the most critical and sceptical writer that has ever treated of Irish and Scottish history, has the following remarkable words, in which he expresses his conviction of Finn’s undoubted historical existence : —
“ He seems,” says he, “to have been a man of great talents for the age, and of celebrity in arms. His formation of a regular standing army, trained to war, in which all the Irish accounts agree, seems to have been a rude imitation of the Roman legions in Britain. The idea, though simple enough, shows prudence, for such a force alone, could have coped with the Romans had they invaded Ireland. But this machine, which surprised a rude age, and seems the basis of all Finn’s fame, like some other great schemes, only lived in its author, and expired soon after him.” — Inquiry into the History of Scotland, vol. ii, p. 77.
Our own poet and historian, Moore, who read all that had been written by the Mac Phersons and the modern critics on the history of Finn, expresses his conviction that he was a real man of flesh and blood, and no god of war or poetical creation. He concludes his account of him in the following poetical strain.
“ It has been the fate of this popular Irish hero, after a long course of traditional renown in his country, where his name still lives, not only in legends and songs, but yet in the more indelible record of scenery connected with his memory, to have been all at once transferred by adoption to another country (Scotland), and start under a new but false shape, into a fresh career of fame.” — History of Ireland, vol. i. p. 133.
The only known descendants of our hero, now known to exist, are the Dal-Cais Le. O’Briens of Munster and their correlatives. Cormac Gas, king of Munster, who married Samhair (Samaria), the daughter of Finn by Gráinè, daughter of Cormac Mac Airt, monarch of Ireland, and had by her, according to the Irish genealogists, three sons, Tinnè and Connla, of whose race nothing is known, and Fearcorb, the progenitor of the Dal Cais, the hereditary enemies of the race of Conn of the Hundred Battles. After the death of Finn, the monarch Cairbre Liffechair, son of Cormac, the grandson of Conn of the Hundred Battles, disbanded and outlawed the Clanna-Baeiscnè, of whom Finn was then the head, and retained in his service their enemies, the Clanna-Morna, a military tribe of the Firbolgs of Connacht. The Clanna-Baeiscè then repaired to Munster to their relative, Fearcorb, who retained them in his service, contrary to the orders of the Irish monarch. This led to the bloody battle of Gabhra (near the Boyne in Meath), in which the two rival military tribes slaughtered each other almost to extermination. In the heat of the action, Oscar, the grandson of Finn (and son of Oisin,) met the monarch in single combat ; but fell, and the monarch retiring from the combat, was met by his own relative Semeon, one of the Fotharta, (a tribe that had been expelled into Leinster) who fell upon him after being severely wounded in the dreadful combat with Oscar, and despatched him by a single blow.
Oisin and Caeilte Mac Ronain survived all the followers of our hero, and are fabled to have lived down to the time of St. Patrick (A.D. 432), to whom they related the wonderful exploits of Finn and his cotemporaries. This, however, is incredible ; but it is highly probable that both lived to converse with some Christian missionaries who preceded the great apostle of Ireland, and who found it difficult to convert them from their pagan notions.
There is a very curious dialogue, partly preserved in the book of Lismore, and partly in a MS. in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, said to have been carried on between Caeilte, son of Ronan, and St. Patrick. This dialogue, notvithstanding ita anachronism, or perhaps rather misnomer, is of great value to the Irish linguist, topographer, and antiquary, on account of the curious ancient forms of the language which it preserves, and the various forts, mounds, sepulchres, plains, mountains, estuaries and rivers which it mentions by their primitive and mediaeval names.
Hoping that this tract will soon see the light under your auspices, as President of our Society,
I remain, dear Sir,
Yours very truly,
JOHN O’DONOVAN.
To
William Smith O’Brien, Esq.
President of the Ossianic Society.
The translation then follows. We note that in the translation of the penultimate stanza of the song claimed to be sung about Fionn and the sons of Morna, the footnote only provides a geographical, rather than explanatory context regarding their final meeting at Teamhair Luachra (Tara Luachra in Kuno Meyer’s account). Which is to say: no mention of the pigs, that we will hear about from another translated poem.
The Boyish Exploits of Finn, transl. John O’Donovan, 1858(?)
THE BOYISH EXPLOITS OF FINN, DOWN HERE.
THERE happened a meeting of valour and contention of battle, respecting the chieftainship of the Fians [i.e. the leadership of the Irish militia.] and the head-stewardship of Erin, between Cumhall, [The best account of the military leader will be found in the battle of Cnucha, preserved in the book of Lismore] son of Tréanmór, and Uirgrenn, son of Lughaidh Corr, [one] of the Luaighne [a famous military lept in Menth descended from Luaighni. one of the brothers of Conn of the hundred battles, *Oggyia*, part iii. c, 57.], i.e. this Cumhall was of the Corca-oiche of Cuil-contuinn [a territory situated on the borders of the present counties of Meath and Cavan], for of these the Hui-Tarsigh his tribe were [a subsection]. Torba, daughter of Eochaman [one] of the Ernaans, had been the wife of Cumhall, untll he married Muireann Muncbaeinh, [Murinda of the fair neck]. The battle of Cnucha [Connell Magheoghegan states in his translation of the annals of Clonmacnoiie, A.D. 726. that this is the place called Cattleknock, [near the river Liffey, county of Dublin.]] was afterwards fougbt between them, i.e. between Cumhall and Uirgren.
Daire Dearg, son of Eochaidh Finn, son of Coirpre Galach, son of Mniredhach Muinderg, and his son Aedh, were fighting the battle along with Muirgrenn. Another name for this Daire was Morna Munchaim. The battle was then fought, Laichet and Aedh son of this Morna met together [in single combat] in the battle ; Luichet wounded Aedh, and destroyed one of his eyes, so that from this the name of Goll [*Goll* is glossed *Caèch*, and means one-eyed, the same the the latin *luscus*.] [Luscus] adhered to him from that time forth. Luichet fell by Goll. The keeper of his own corrhbolg [I.e. a round bag, *sed* means a jewel or any article of value.] of séds [treasure bag] wounded Cumhall, and Cumhall fell by Goll son of Morna in the battle, and carried off his arms and his head ; and from this there was a fundamental hatred between Finn and the sons of Morna, concerning which the historian sang: —
“ Goll was son of Daire Dearg of fame,
Son of Eochaidh Finn of valiant deeds,
Son of Cairbre Galach of prowess,
Son of Muireadhach of Finnmhagh.[*Finnmhagh*, otherwise Maghfinn, a plain in the barony of Athlone, county of Roscommon, at this period possessed by the Firbolgs, of whom the Clanna-Morna were a sept.]This Goll slew Luichet of hundreds.
In the battle of Cnucha, no falsehood,—
Luichet Finn of noble chivalry,
By the son of Morna fell !It was by him fell Cumhall the Great,
In the battle of Cnucha of embattled hosts
What they fought this stout battle for,
Was for the Fian leadership in Erin.The Clanna Morna were in the battle,
And the Luaighni of Teamhair
For the Fiannship of the men of Fail was theirs
Under the hand of each valiant king.The victorious Cumhall had a son ;
The blood shedding Finn of hard weapons,
Finn and Goll of great fame.
Mightily they waged war.After this they made peace
Finn and Goll, of the hundred deeds,
Until the Banbh Sinna fell
On the plain at Teamhair Luachra,[Teamhair Luachra, a place in Kerry not far from Castle Island, in the district of Sliabh Luacbra.]Aedh was the name of Daire’s son.
Until Luichet wounded him with dexterity.
But since the stout son of Luaighne wounded him
He was called by the name of Goll.”
Cumhall left his wife pregnant, i. e. Muirenn, [Muireann. This was very common as the proper proper name of a woman among the ancient Irish. It is explained in Cormac's Glossary, as meaning *mor-fhinn*, long-haired.] and she brought forth a son, and gave him the name of Deimne. Fiacail the son of Guchenn, and Bodhmall the Druidess and Liath Luachra came to Muirenn and carried away the son, for his mother durst not keep him with her. Muirenn afterwards married Gleoir the Bedhanded, king of Lamhraighe, [a people of Kerry in the west of Munster] from which Finn is called the son of Gleoir. However Bodhmall and Liath taking the boy with them went to the forests of Sliabh Bladma, [Sliabh Bladhma, i.e. the mountain of Bladhma, (Ogygia III, 16.) now Slieve Bloom on the confines of the King’s and Queen’s Counties. It is sometimes called Sliabh Smoil. The summit of this mountain is called Mullach Eireann), the summit of Erin, and from it, the O’Dunnes have taken the motto of Mallach Eireann aba]` where the boy was nursed secretly. This was indeed necessary, for many a sturdy stalworth youth, and many a venomous inimical hero and angry morose champion of the warriors of Luaighni, and of the sons of Morna, were ready to despatch that boy, and [also] Tulcha the son of Cumhall. But however the two heroines nursed him for a long time in this manner.
His mother came at the end of six years after this to visit her son, for it was told to her, that he was at that place, and she feared the sons of Morna for him, i.e. [might kill him.] But however, she passed from one solitude to another, until she reached the forest of Sliabh Bladhma [Slieve Bloom,] and she found the hunting booth [hut] and the boy asleep therein, and she afterwards lifted him and pressed him to her bosom, and she then pregnant [from her second husband,] and then she composed these quatrains caressing her son :
“ Sleep with gentle pleasant slumber, &c.” [The rest of this Lullaby is ls t. Indeed it vould appear from the shortness of the sentences, and the abrupt and flighty nature of the composition, that the whole story has been very much condensed, and in some places mutilated.]
The woman afterwards bids farewell to the heroines, and asked them if they would take charge of him till he should be of heroic age ; and the son was afterwards reared by them till he was fit for hunting.
The boy came forth alone on a certain day, and saw the [the pras lacha with her brood of] ducks upon the lake. He made a shot at them, [The original Irish is defective here. The words obviously omitted are supplied in brackets. In *Feis tighe Chonain* p. 129, it is stated that Finn in his first chase killed the *pras-lacha* (widgeon ?), and her clutch of twelve young birds.] and cut off her feathers and wings, so that she died, and he afterwards took her to the hunting booth : and this was Finn’s first chase.
He afterwards went away with certain poets to flee from the sons of Morna ; and they had him [concealed] about Crotta.[i.e. Crotta Cliach, now the Galty mountains in the south of the county of Tipperary.] These were their names, Futh and Ruth, and Regna of Mad Feada, and Teimle, and Oilpe, and Rogein. Here he was seized with the scurvy, so that he became a carrach [scald,] and was thence called Deimne Mael. There was a plunderer in Leinster at this time, by name Fiacuil, son of Codhna. Fiacuil came into Fidh Gaibhle [now Feegile, in the parish of Cloonsast, north of Portarlington, in the King's County. This was the name of a famous wood in Leinster, in which St. Berchan, the Irish prophet, erected his church of Cloonsast, the ruins of which still remain.] upon the poets, and killed them all except Deimne alone, who was afterwards with Fiacuil (in his house in a cold sheskin [marsh]. The two heroines came southwards to the house of Fiacuil, son of Codhna, in search of Deimne, and he was given to them ; and they took him from the south to the same place [where they had him previously].
He went forth one day alone [and never halted] till he reached Magh Life, [i.e., the plain of the Liffey; a very level plain in the county of Kildare, through which the river Liffey winds its course.] and on the green of a certain Dun [fort] there he saw youths hurling. He went to contend in agility or to hurl along with them. He came with them next day, and they sent the fourth of their number against him. He came again, and they sent the third of their number against him, and finally they went all against him, and he won one game from them all. What is thy name said they?
Deimne replied he. The youths tell this to the owner of the dun [fort] “ Do ye kill him if he comes again, if ye are able,” said he. We are not able to do aught unto him, replied they ; Deinme is his name. What is his appearance ? said he. He is a well-shaped fair [finn] youth, replied they, Deimne shall be named Finn therefore, said he. And hence these young men used to call him Finn,
He came the next day to them, and joined them in their game, they attacked him all together, with their hurlets, but he made at them and prostrated seven of them, and [then] made off from them into the forests of Sliabh Bladhma.
He afterwards returned at the end of a week to the same place. What the youths were at [then] was swimming in the lake which was close by [the dun.] The youths challenged him to swim with them. He plunged into the lake to them, and afterwards drowned nine of them in the lake, and then made to Bliabh Bladhma himself. Who drowned the youths ? enquired all. Finn, replied they [i.e. the survivors]. And from this the name of Finn clung to him [among all who heard of this deed of drowning.]
He came forth on one occasion out beyond Sliabh Bladhma, the two heroines being along with him, and they perceived a fleet herd of the wild deer of the forest of the mountain. Alas ; said the two old women, that we cannot detain one of these with us. I can, [said Finn] and he ran upon them, and catching two bucks of them, brings them with him to his hunting booth. After this he used to himt for them constantly. Depart from us now, young man, said the female warriors to him, for the sons of Morna are watching to kill thee.
He went away from them alone [and halted not,] till he reached Loch Lein [*Loch Lein*, now the Lakes at Killamey in Kerry.], and over Luachair [*Luachra*, i.e., Luachair Deaghaidh, a district in the now county of Kerry, containing the two Pap mountains.], till he hired in military service, with the king of Bentraighe. [a district in South Munster, believed to have been coextensive with the barony of Bantry in the county of Cork.] He did not go by any name here, but there was not at this time a hunter like him, and so the king said to him : if Cumhall had left any son, methinks thou art he, but we have not heard of Cumhall having left any son, but Tulcha Mac Cumhaill, but he is in military service with the king of Albain. [Albain*, i.e., Scotland.]
He afterwards bids farewell to the king, and goes away from him to Cairbrighe, at this day called Ciarraighe [*Ciarraighe*, now Kerry. The territory so called extended in ancient times only from Tralee to the Shannon. Its more ancient names would appear to have been Cairbrighe, or Corbraighe.] [Kerry], and he staid with this king in military service. The king came one day to play chess. He [Finn] played against him, and won seven games in succession. Who art thou ? said the king. The son of a peasant of the Luaighni of Teamhair, replied he ; Not so, said the king ; but thou art the son whom Muirenn [my present wife] brought forth for Cumhall ; and do not be here any longer, that thou mayest not be killed while under my protection.
After this he went to Guilleann g-Guanach [*Cuilleann O' g-Cuanach*. This is the present name of Cullen, in the county of Tipperary, near the borders of the county of Limerick. It originally belonged to the territory of Coonagh, now a barony, in the north-east of the county of Limerick.] to the house of Lochan, a chief smith : he had a very comely daughter, Cruithne by name ; she fell in love with the youth. I will give thee my daughter, said the smith, although I know not who thou art. The daughter then cohabited with the unknown youth. Make lances for me, said the youth, to the smith. Lochan then made two spears for him. He then bade farewell to Lochan, and went his way. My son, said Lochan, do not go on the passage on which the boar called Beo is usually [to be] seen ; it has devastated the [whole of] Middle Munster. But the youth happened to go on the very pass where the pig was. The pig afterwards rushed at him ! but he made a thrust of his spear at it, and drove it through it, so that he left it lifeless, and he brought the head of the pig with him to the smith as a dower for his daughter. From this is derived Sliabh muice [*Sliabh Muice*, i.e., the Pig's mountain, now Slieve Muck, situated between the town of Tipperary and the glen of Aherlow.] in Munster.
The youth then went into Connaught to look for [his uncle] Crimall, son of Trenmor. As he went on his way he heard the wail of one [solitary] woman. He went towards her, and viewed the woman : The first tear she shed was a tear of blood; and the other was a gush of blood, so that her mouth was red. “ Thy mouth is red, woman !” said he- I have cause for it, said she : my only son was killed by a huge ugly hero, who came to me. What is thy son’s name ? said he. Glonda is his name, said she. From him Ath-Glonda and Tochar-Olondain Maenmhagh [*Maenmhagh*, Moinmoy, a territory lying round Lough Reagh in the present county of Galway ; but the situations of *Ath-Glonda*, i. e. the ford of Glonda, and of *Tochar Glonda*, the causeway of Glonda, are now unknown by these names.] are called, and from this Belderg the name Ath-beldeirg [*Ath'Beldeirg*, i.e., ford of Red mouth, not identified unless it be Ballyderg.] remains ever since. Finn then went in pursuit of the hero, and they fought a combat, in which he fell by him [Finn.] The way he was situated was, he had the treasure bag with him, i.e., the [bag containing the] treasures of Cumhall. The person who fell here was Liath Luachra, he who first wounded Cumhall in the battle of Cnucha.
He now proceeds into Connaught, and finds Crimall, then an old man, in a desert there, and some of the old Fianns along with him, who were wont to chase for him. He gave him the Corrbholg, and told him the news from beginning to end :-— how he had killed the possessor of the treasures. He bids farewell to Crimall, and goes forward to Finicés [who lived at the Boinn [i.e. the river Boyne in Meath.] ] to learn poetry. He durst not remain in any part of Ireland until he took to learn poetry, from fear of the sons of Uirgrenn, and the sons of Morna. [Here ends folio 119 of the original MS. and on the upper margin of folio 120, in the handwriting of the scribe, is the following observation :— *O Mary [Virgin] it is long till Edmund comes from the meeting.* This was Edmund Butler for whom the MS. was transcribed.]
Seven years Finn-eges remained at the Boinn [Boyne] watching the salmon of linn-Feic, [*Linn Feic* i. e. the pool of Fec, a deep pool in the Rirer Boyne, near *Ferta fer fecc*, the ancient name of the village of Slane, on this river.] for it had been prophesied that he would eat the [sacred] salmon of Fec, and that he would be ignorant of nothing afterwards ! He caught the salmon, and ordered [his pupil] Deinme to roast it, and the poet told him not to eat of the salmon. The young man brought him the salmon after cooking it. Hast thou eaten any part of the salmon, young man ? said the poet, “ No,” replied the young man, but I burned my thumb, and put it into my mouth afterwards. What name is upon thee, youth ? said he. Deimne, replied the youth. “ Finn is thy name, [It appears that our hero had concealed from his master Finn-Egés that he had been known by the name of Finn, after he had drowned the nine boys in Magh-Liffe. But the poet finding that be had first tasted of the salmon of *Linn Feic* without intending it, saw that the ancient prophecy was fulfilled in him, and that his real name must be Finn. O'Flaherty states that our hero assisted his father-in-law Cormac son of Art, in compiling codes of laws ; and the Life of St Columkille compiled by Manus O'Donnell, states that he possessed the gift of prophecy, and foretold the birth and future greatness of St. Columbkille.] O youth,” said he, and it was to thee the salmon was [really] given, [in the prophecy] to be eaten [not to me], and thou art the Finn truly. The youth afterwards consumed the salmon, and it was from this the [preternatural] knowledge was given to Finn, i.e., when he used to put his thumb in his mouth, and not through Teinm Laegha [poetical incantation,] whatever he had been ignorant of used to be revealed to him.
He learned the three compositions which signify the poets, namely the Teinm Laegha, [For a curious account of this poetical incantation as given in Cormac's glossary, the reader is referred to the " *Battle oMagh Rath*," printed for the Archaeological Society, p. 46. It is said that St. Patrick abolished the *Teinm Laegha* and the *Imbas for Osna*, as being profane rites, and allowed the poets to use another called *Dichedal do chendaibh* which was in itself not repugnant to Christianity, as requiring no offering to false gods or demons.] the Imus for Osna, and the Dicedul dicennaib ; and it was then Finn composed this poem to prove his poetry :
May-day [May-day, *cettemain*, is glossed *belltaine* by O'Clery. It signifies the beginning of summer.] delightful time ! how beautiful the color [color, [but also] face, countenance, mien.]
The blackbirds sing their full lay, would that Laighaig were here
The cuckoos sing in constant strains, how welcome is the noble
Brilliance of the seasons ever; on the margin of the branchy woods
The summer suaill [gl. the swallows. The words of this fragment, which was considered to be the first composition of Finn, after having eaten the salmon of the Boyne, is very ancient and exceedingly obscure. The translation is only offered for the consideration of Irish scholars, for it is certain that the meaning of some of the lines are doubtful. The poem obyiously wants some lines at the end ; and Mr. Cleayer states, that the remaining portion of the manuscript is so defaced as to render it totally illegible.] skim the stream, the swift horses seek the pool,
The heath spreads out its long hair, the weak fair bogdown grows.
Sudden consternation attacks the signs, the planets in their courses running exert an influence :
The sea is lulled to rest, flowers cover the earth.
We can compare the two translations directly:
Trans. Ossianic
Eriu
THERE happened a meeting of valour and contention of battle, respecting the chieftainship of the Fians `[i.e. the leadership of the Irish militia.]` and the head-stewardship of Erin, between Cumhall, `[The best account of the military leader will be found in the battle of Cnucha, preserved in the book of Lismore]` son of Tréanmór, and Uirgrenn, son of Lughaidh Corr, [one] of the Luaighne `[a famous military lept in Menth descended from Luaighni. one of the brothers of Conn of the hundred battles, *Oggyia*, part iii. c, 57.]`, i.e. this Cumhall was of the Corca-oiche of Cuil-contuinn `[a territory situated on the borders of the present counties of Meath and Cavan]`, for of these the Hui-Tarsigh his tribe were [a subsection]. Torba, daughter of Eochaman [one] of the Ernaans, had been the wife of Cumhall, untll he married Muireann Muncbaeinh, [Murinda of the fair neck]. The battle of Cnucha `[Connell Magheoghegan states in his translation of the annals of Clonmacnoiie, A.D. 726. that this is the place called Cattleknock, [near the river Liffey, county of Dublin.]]` was afterwards fougbt between them, i.e. between Cumhall and Uirgren.
1\. THERE befell a meeting of valour and a contest of battle about the chieftaincy of the *fian* and about the high-stewardship of Ireland between Cumall, son of Trénmór, and Urgriu, son of Lugaid Corr of the Luaigni. `[A famous military sept in Meath," O'D.]` That Cumall was of the Corco Oche of Cuil Contuind, `["A territory situated on the borders of the present counties of Meath and Cavan," O'D.]` for to these the Ui Tairrsig, Cumall's tribe, belonged. Torba, daughter of Eochaman of the Erne, was the wife of Cumall, until he married Muirne of the fair neck.
Daire Dearg, son of Eochaidh Finn, son of Coirpre Galach, son of Mniredhach Muinderg, and his son Aedh, were fighting the battle along with Muirgrenn. Another name for this Daire was Morna Munchaim. The battle was then fought, Laichet and Aedh son of this Morna met together [in single combat] in the battle ; Luichet wounded Aedh, and destroyed one of his eyes, so that from this the name of Goll `[*Goll* is glossed *Caèch*, and means one-eyed, the same the the latin *luscus*.]` [Luscus] adhered to him from that time forth. Luichet fell by Goll. The keeper of his own corrhbolg `[I.e. a round bag, *sed* means a jewel or any article of value.]` of séds [treasure bag] wounded Cumhall, and Cumhall fell by Goll son of Morna in the battle, and carried off his arms and his head ; and from this there was a fundamental hatred between Finn and the sons of Morna, concerning which the historian sang: —
2\. Then the battle of Cnucha [`Now Castleknock, near the Liffey, Co. Dublin.]` was fought between them, to wit, between Cumall and Urgriu. Daire the Red, son of Echaid the Fair, son of Coirpre the Valorous, son of Muiredach, and his son Aed were fighting the battle along with Urgriu. Another name for that Daire was Morna Wryneck. So the battle was fought. Luchet and Aed, son of Morna, met in the battle. Luchet wounded Aed, and destroyed one of his eyes, whence the name of Goll (ix. the One-eyed) clave to him from that time forth. Luchet fell by Goll. The man who kept Cumall's treasure-bag wounded Cumall in the battle. Cumall fell in the battle by Goll, son of Morna, who carried off his spoils and his head, whence there was a hereditary feud between Finn and the sons of Morna.
> " Goll was son of Daire Dearg of fame, > Son of Eochaidh Finn of valiant deeds, > Son of Cairbre Galach of prowess, > Son of Muireadhach of Finnmhagh. `[*Finnmhagh*, otherwise Maghfinn, a plain in the barony of Athlone, county of Roscommon, at this period possessed by the Firbolgs, of whom the Clanna-Morna were a sept.]` > > This Goll slew Luichet of hundreds. > In the battle of Cnucha, no falsehood,— > Luichet Finn of noble chivalry, > By the son of Morna fell ! > > It was by him fell Cumhall the Great, > In the battle of Cnucha of embattled hosts > What they fought this stout battle for, > Was for the Fian leadership in Erin. > > The Clanna Morna were in the battle, > And the Luaighni of Teamhair > For the Fiannship of the men of Fail was theirs > Under the hand of each valiant king. > > The victorious Cumhall had a son ; > The blood shedding Finn of hard weapons, > Finn and Goll of great fame. > Mightily they waged war. > > After this they made peace > Finn and Goll, of the hundred deeds, > Until the Banbh Sinna fell > On the plain at Teamhair Luachra, `[Teamhair Luachra, a place in Kerry not far from Castle Island, in the district of Sliabh Luacbra.]` > > Aedh was the name of Daire's son. > Until Luichet wounded him with dexterity. > But since the stout son of Luaighne wounded him > He was called by the name of Goll."
3\. Hence sang the shanachie : — > " Goll, son of Daire the Red, with fame, > Son of Echaid the Fair, of valour fair, > Son of Cairpre the Valorous with valour. > Son of Muiredach from Findmag." `[A plain in the barony of Athlone, Co. Roscommon," O'D.]` > > " Goll slew Luchet of the hundreds > In the battle of Cnucha, 'tis no falsehood : > Luchet the Fair of prowess bright `[Read *Luicet Finn in gaiscid glain*.]` > Fell by the son of Morna. > > " By him fell great Cumall > In the battle of Cnucha of the hosts. > 'Tis for the chieftaincy of Erin's fian > That they waged the stout battle. > > The children of Morna were in the battle > And the Luaigni of Tara, > Since to them belonged the leadership `[i.e. the headship of the fian (*fianus*)]` of the men of Fál `[A poetical name for Ireland.]` > By the side of every valorous king. > > " Victorious Cumall had a son, > The Finn, bloody, of weapons hard : > Finn and Goll, great their fame, > Mightily they waged war. > > " Afterwards they made peace, > Finn and Goll of the hundred deeds, > Until Banb Sinna fell > About the pig at Tara Luachra. `[See the " Cause of the Battle of Cnucha," translated by Hennessy, Rev. Celt. II., p. 86 ff.]` > > " Aed was the name of the son of Daire > Until Luchet with glory wounded him : > Since the fierce lance had wounded him, > Therefore was he called Goll."
Cumhall left his wife pregnant, i. e. Muirenn, `[Muireann. This was very common as the proper proper name of a woman among the ancient Irish. It is explained in Cormac's Glossary, as meaning *mor-fhinn*, long-haired.]` and she brought forth a son, and gave him the name of Deimne. Fiacail the son of Guchenn, and Bodhmall the Druidess and Liath Luachra came to Muirenn and carried away the son, for his mother durst not keep him with her. Muirenn afterwards married Gleoir the Bedhanded, king of Lamhraighe, `[a people of Kerry in the west of Munster]` from which Finn is called the son of Gleoir. However Bodhmall and Liath taking the boy with them went to the forests of Sliabh Bladma, [*Sliabh Bladhma*, i.e. the mountain of Bladhma, (Ogygia III, 16.) now Slieve Bloom on the confines of the King's and Queen's Counties. It is sometimes called *Sliabh Smoil*. The summit of this mountain is called Mullach Eireann), the summit of Erin, and from it, the O'Dunnes have taken the motto of *Mallach Eireann aba*]` where the boy was nursed secretly. This was indeed necessary, for many a sturdy stalworth youth, and many a venomous inimical hero and angry morose champion of the warriors of Luaighni, and of the sons of Morna, were ready to despatch that boy, and [also] Tulcha the son of Cumhall. But however the two heroines nursed him for a long time in this manner.
4\. Cumall left his wife Muirne pregnant. And she brings forth a son, to whom the name of Demne was given. Fiacail, son of Conchenn, and Bodbmall the druidess, and the Grey one of Luachair came to Muirne, and carry away the boy, for his mother durst not let him be with her. Muirne afterwards slept with Gleor Red-hand, king of the Lamraige, `[" A people of Kerry," O'D.]` whence* the saying, `[Read *conid [d]eiside*.]` ' Finn, son of Gleor.' Bodbmall, however, and the Grey one, and the boy with them, went into the forest of Slieve Bloom. There the boy was secretly reared That was indeed necessary, for many a sturdy stalwart youth, and many a venomous hostile warrior and angry fierce champion of the warriors of the Luaigni and of the sons of Morna were lying in wait for that boy, and for Tulcha, the son of Cumall. In that manner then those two women-warriors reared him for a long time.
His mother came at the end of six years after this to visit her son, for it was told to her, that he was at that place, and she feared the sons of Morna for him, i.e. [might kill him.] But however, she passed from one solitude to another, until she reached the forest of Sliabh Bladhma [Slieve Bloom,] and she found the hunting booth [hut] and the boy asleep therein, and she afterwards lifted him and pressed him to her bosom, and she then pregnant [from her second husband,] and then she composed these quatrains caressing her son :
5\. Then, at the end of six years, his mother came to visit her son, for she had been told that he was in that place, and besides, she was afraid of the sons of Morna for him. However, she passed from one wilderness to another, until she reached the forest of Slieve Bloom. She found the hunting-booth and the boy asleep in it. And then she lifts the boy to her bosom, and presses him to her, and she pregnant at the time. `[The Irish is *ocus si irom iarum* which should not, I think, as has been suggested, be rendered ' and she pregnant thereafter,' *iarum* here having the force oi *tra* (see Windisch, Wörterbuch, p. 613) and not of *iarsin*. Besides, *ocus si* denotes an accompanying circumstance.]` It was then she made the quatrains, fondling her son : —
" Sleep with gentle pleasant slumber, &c." `[The rest of this Lullaby is ls t. Indeed it vould appear from the shortness of the sentences, and the abrupt and flighty nature of the composition, that the whole story has been very much condensed, and in some places mutilated.]`
> " Sleep in peaceful slumber," &c.
The woman afterwards bids farewell to the heroines, and asked them if they would take charge of him till he should be of heroic age ; and the son was afterwards reared by them till he was fit for hunting.
Thereupon the woman bade farewell to the women-warriors, and told them to take charge `[For this meaning of *indgabaim*, see Manners and Customs, i., p. lxxxv, n. 104.]` of the boy till he should be fit to be a warrior. And so the boy grew up till he was able to hunt.
The boy came forth alone on a certain day, and saw the [the *pras lacha* with her brood of] ducks upon the lake. He made a shot at them, `[The original Irish is defective here. The words obviously omitted are supplied in brackets. In *Feis tighe Chonain* p. 129, it is stated that Finn in his first chase killed the *pras-lacha* (widgeon ?), and her clutch of twelve young birds.]` and cut off her feathers and wings, so that she died, and he afterwards took her to the hunting booth : and this was Finn's first chase.
6\. On a certain day the boy went out alone, and saw ducks upon a lake. He sent a shot among them, which cut off the feathers and wings of one, so that a trance fell upon her ; and then he seized her and took her with him to the hunting-booth. And that was Finn's first chase.
He afterwards went away with certain poets to flee from the sons of Morna ; and they had him [concealed] about Crotta.`[i.e. Crotta Cliach, now the Galty mountains in the south of the county of Tipperary.]` These were their names, Futh and Ruth, and Regna of Mad Feada, and Teimle, and Oilpe, and Rogein. Here he was seized with the scurvy, so that he became a carrach [scald,] and was thence called Deimne Mael. There was a plunderer in Leinster at this time, by name Fiacuil, son of Codhna. Fiacuil came into Fidh Gaibhle `[now Feegile, in the parish of Cloonsast, north of Portarlington, in the King's County. This was the name of a famous wood in Leinster, in which St. Berchan, the Irish prophet, erected his church of Cloonsast, the ruins of which still remain.]` upon the poets, and killed them all except Deimne alone, who was afterwards with Fiacuil (in his house in a cold sheskin [marsh]. The two heroines came southwards to the house of Fiacuil, son of Codhna, in search of Deimne, and he was given to them ; and they took him from the south to the same place [where they had him previously].
7\. He afterwards went with certain *cairds* to flee from the sons of Morna, and was with them about Crotta. `["i.e. Crotta Cliach, now the Galty mountains in the south of County Tipperary," O'D.]` These were their names : Futh `[Wrongly printed *Tuth* in Rev. Celt, v., p. 199.]` and Ruth and Regna of Moy Fea, and Temle, and Olpe, and Rogein. There scurvy came upon him, and therefrom he became a scald, whence he used to be called Demne the Bald. At that time there was a reaver in Leinster, Fiacail, the son of Codna. Then in Feeguile `["In the parish of Cloonsast, north of Portarlington, King's County," O'D.]` Fiacail came upon the *cairds* and killed them all save Demne alone. After that he was with Fiacail, the son of Codna, in his house in Sescenn Uairbeóil. `[i.e. the Swamp of Uar-bélee or Cold-Month, somewhere in Leinster.]` The two women-warriors came southwards to the house of Fiacail, the son of Codna, in search of Demne, and he is given to them. And then they take him with them from the south to the same place.
He went forth one day alone [and never halted] till he reached Magh Life, `[i.e., the plain of the Liffey; a very level plain in the county of Kildare, through which the river Liffey winds its course.]` and on the green of a certain Dun [*fort*] there he saw youths hurling. He went to contend in agility or to hurl along with them. He came with them next day, and they sent the fourth of their number against him. He came again, and they sent the third of their number against him, and finally they went all against him, and he won one game from them all. What is thy name said they?
8\. One day he went out alone until he reached Moy Liffey, `[ " The plain of the Liffey, a very level plain in County Kildare,*' O'D.]` and a certain stronghold there ; and he saw the youths hurling upon the green of the stronghold there. He went to contend in running or in hurling with them. He came again the next day, and they put one-fourth of their number against him. Again they come with one-third of their number against him. However, at last they all go against him, and he won his game from them all.
Deimne replied he. The youths tell this to the owner of the dun [*fort*] " Do ye kill him if he comes again, if ye are able," said he. We are not able to do aught unto him, replied they ; Deinme is his name. What is his appearance ? said he. He is a well-shaped fair [*finn*] youth, replied they, Deimne shall be named Finn therefore, said he. And hence these young men used to call him Finn,
9\. "What is thy name?" they said. "Demne," said he. The youths tell that to the man of the stronghold. " Then kill him, `[Read *marbid-si de é*.]` if ye know how to do it — if ye are able to do it," said he. " We should not be able to do aught to him," said they. " Did he tell you his name ? " says he. " He said," say they, " that his name was Demne." " What does he look like ? " said he. " A shapely fair (*finn*) youth," said they. " Then Demne shall be named Finn (the Fair)," said he. Whence the youths used to call him Finn.
He came the next day to them, and joined them in their game, they attacked him all together, with their hurlets, but he made at them and prostrated seven of them, and [then] made off from them into the forests of Sliabh Bladhma.
10\. He came to them on the next day, and went to them at their game. All together they throw their hurlets at him. He turns among them, and throws seven of them to the ground. He went from them into the forest of Slieve Bloom.
He afterwards returned at the end of a week to the same place. What the youths were at [then] was swimming in the lake which was close by [the dun.] The youths challenged him to swim with them. He plunged into the lake to them, and afterwards drowned nine of them in the lake, and then made to Bliabh Bladhma himself. Who drowned the youths ? enquired all. Finn, replied they [i.e. the survivors]. And from this the name of Finn clung to him [among all who heard of this deed of drowning.]
11\. Then, at the end of a week, he came back to the same place. The youths were swimming in a lake that was close by. The youths challenge him to come and try to drown them. Thereupon he jumps into the lake to them, and drowns nine of them in the lake. And after that he goes to Slieve Bloom. " Who drowned the youths ? " everybody asks. " Finn," say they. So that henceforth [the name] Finn clave to him.
He came forth on one occasion out beyond Sliabh Bladhma, the two heroines being along with him, and they perceived a fleet herd of the wild deer of the forest of the mountain. Alas ; said the two old women, that we cannot detain one of these with us. I can, [said Finn] and he ran upon them, and catching two bucks of them, brings them with him to his hunting booth. After this he used to himt for them constantly. Depart from us now, young man, said the female warriors to him, for the sons of Morna are watching to kill thee.
12\. Once he went forth across Slieve Bloom, and the two women-warriors together with him, when a fleet herd of wild deer is seen [by them] on the ridge of the mountain. " Alas ! " say the two old women, " that we cannot get hold of one of those !" `[Read ni tic din astud, &c.]` "*I* can," [says Finn], and he dashes upon them, and lays hold of two bucks among them, and brings them with him to their hunting-booth. After that he would hunt for them constantly. " Go from us now, lad," said the women-warriors to him, " for the sons of Morna are watching to kill thee."
He went away from them alone [and halted not,] till he reached Loch Lein `[*Loch Lein*, now the Lakes at Killamey in Kerry.]`, and over Luachair `[*Luachra*, i.e., Luachair Deaghaidh, a district in the now county of Kerry, containing the two Pap mountains.]`, till he hired in military service, with the king of Bentraighe. `[a district in South Munster, believed to have been coextensive with the barony of Bantry in the county of Cork.]` He did not go by any name here, but there was not at this time a hunter like him, and so the king said to him : if Cumhall had left any son, methinks thou art he, but we have not heard of Cumhall having left any son, but Tulcha Mac Cumhaill, but he is in military service with the king of Albain. `[Albain*, i.e., Scotland.]`
13\. Alone he went from them until he reached Lough Leane, `[The great Lake of Killarney.]` above Luachair `[i.e. Luchair Dedad, "a district in the County of Kerry, containing the two Pap mountains," O'D.]`, and there he took military service with the king of Bantry. At that place he did not make himself known. However, there was not at that time a hunter his equal. Thus said the king to him : — " If Cumall had left a son," says he, " one would think thou wast he. However, we have not heard of his leaving a son, except Tulcha mac Cumaill, and he is in military service with the king of Scotland."
He afterwards bids farewell to the king, and goes away from him to Cairbrighe, at this day called Ciarraighe `[*Ciarraighe*, now Kerry. The territory so called extended in ancient times only from Tralee to the Shannon. Its more ancient names would appear to have been Cairbrighe, or Corbraighe.]` [Kerry], and he staid with this king in military service. The king came one day to play chess. He [Finn] played against him, and won seven games in succession. Who art thou ? said the king. The son of a peasant of the Luaighni of Teamhair, replied he ; Not so, said the king ; but thou art the son whom Muirenn [my present wife] brought forth for Cumhall ; and do not be here any longer, that thou mayest not be killed while under my protection.
14\. He afterwards bids farewell to the king, and goes from them to Carbrige, which at this day is [called] Kerry, `[The territory so called extended in ancient times only from Tralee to the Shannon," O'D.]` and takes military service with the king of that land. Then, on a certain day, the king came to play *fidchell*. He was prompted by Finn, and won seven games one after another. " Who art thou ? " says the king. " The son of a peasant of the Luaigni of Tara, says he. "No," says the king, "but thou art the son whom Muirne bore to Cumall, and be here no longer, lest thou be slain [while] under my protection."
After this he went to Guilleann g-Guanach `[*Cuilleann O' g-Cuanach*. This is the present name of Cullen, in the county of Tipperary, near the borders of the county of Limerick. It originally belonged to the territory of Coonagh, now a barony, in the north-east of the county of Limerick.]` to the house of Lochan, a chief smith : he had a very comely daughter, Cruithne by name ; she fell in love with the youth. I will give thee my daughter, said the smith, although I know not who thou art. The daughter then cohabited with the unknown youth. Make lances for me, said the youth, to the smith. Lochan then made two spears for him. He then bade farewell to Lochan, and went his way. My son, said Lochan, do not go on the passage on which the boar called Beo is usually [to be] seen ; it has devastated the [whole of] Middle Munster. But the youth happened to go on the very pass where the pig was. The pig afterwards rushed at him ! but he made a thrust of his spear at it, and drove it through it, so that he left it lifeless, and he brought the head of the pig with him to the smith as a dower for his daughter. From this is derived Sliabh muice `[*Sliabh Muice*, i.e., the Pig's mountain, now Slieve Muck, situated between the town of Tipperary and the glen of Aherlow.]` in Munster.
15\. Then he went forth to Cullen `["In the County of Tipperary, near the borders of the County of Limerick," O'D.]` of the Ui Cuanach `[Coonagh is now the name of a barony, County Limerick.]`, to the house of Lochán, a chief smith, who had a very beautiful daughter, Cruithne by name. She fell in love with the youth. " I shall give thee my daughter, though I know not who thou art." Thereupon the girl slept with the youth. " Make spears for me," said the youth to the smith. So Lochán made two spears for him. He then bade farewell to Lochán, and went away, " My son," says Lochán, " do not go upon the road on which is the sow called the Beo." She it was that devastated the midlands of Munster. But what happened to the youth was to go upon the very road on which the sow was. Then the sow charged him ; but he thrust his spear at her, so that it went through her, and left her without life. Then he takes the head of the sow with him to the smith as a bridal gift for his daughter. Hence is Slieve Muck `[*Sliab Muicce*, ' the Mountain of the Sow.']` in Munster.
The youth then went into Connaught to look for [his uncle] Crimall, son of Trenmor. As he went on his way he heard the wail of one [solitary] woman. He went towards her, and viewed the woman : The first tear she shed was a tear of blood; and the other was a gush of blood, so that her mouth was red. " Thy mouth is red, woman !" said he- I have cause for it, said she : my only son was killed by a huge ugly hero, who came to me. What is thy son's name ? said he. Glonda is his name, said she. From him Ath-Glonda and Tochar-Olondain Maenmhagh `[*Maenmhagh*, Moinmoy, a territory lying round Lough Reagh in the present county of Galway ; but the situations of *Ath-Glonda*, i. e. the ford of Glonda, and of *Tochar Glonda*, the causeway of Glonda, are now unknown by these names.]` are called, and from this Belderg the name Ath-beldeirg `[*Ath'Beldeirg*, i.e., ford of Red mouth, not identified unless it be Ballyderg.]` remains ever since. Finn then went in pursuit of the hero, and they fought a combat, in which he fell by him [Finn.] The way he was situated was, he had the treasure bag with him, i.e., the [bag containing the] treasures of Cumhall. The person who fell here was Liath Luachra, he who first wounded Cumhall in the battle of Cnucha.
16\. After that the youth went onwards into Connaught to seek Crimall, the son of Trénmér. As he was on his way, he heard the wail of a woman. He went towards it, and saw a woman ; and now it was tears of blood, and now a gush of blood, so that her mouth was red. " Thou art red-mouthed, woman ! says he. " Good cause have I," says she, " for my only son has been slain by a tall, very terrible warrior who came in my way. " What was thy son's name ?" says he. " Glonda was his name," says she. Hence is the Ford of Glonda and the Causeway of Glonda on Moinmoy, [ " Not identified, unless it be Ballyderg," O'D.]` and from that redness of mouth the Ford of the Red Mouth `["A territory lying round Lough Reagh, County Galway," O'D. ]` has been so called ever since. Then Finn went in pursuit of the warrior, and they fight a combat, and he fell by him. This is how he was : he had the treasure-bag with him, to wit, the treasures of Cumall. He who had fallen there was the Grey one of Luachair, who had dealt the first wound to Cumall in the battle of Cnucha.
He now proceeds into Connaught, and finds Crimall, then an old man, in a desert there, and some of the old Fianns along with him, who were wont to chase for him. He gave him the Corrbholg, and told him the news from beginning to end :-— how he had killed the possessor of the treasures. He bids farewell to Crimall, and goes forward to *Finicés* [who lived at the Boinn `[i.e. the river Boyne in Meath.]` ] to learn poetry. He durst not remain in any part of Ireland until he took to learn poetry, from fear of the sons of Uirgrenn, and the sons of Morna. `[Here ends folio 119 of the original MS. and on the upper margin of folio 120, in the handwriting of the scribe, is the following observation :— *O Mary [Virgin] it is long till Edmund comes from the meeting.* This was Edmund Butler for whom the MS. was transcribed.]`
17\. Thereupon he goes into Connaught, and finds Crimall as an old man in a desert wood there, and a number of the old *fian* together with him ; and it is they who did the hunting for him. Then he shows (?) him the bag, and told him his story from beginning to end ; how he had slain the man of the treasures. Finn bade farewell to Crimall, and went to learn poetry from Finnéces, who was on the Boyne. `[For the poets thought that the place where poetry was revealed always was upon the brink of water " (*ar bd baile fallsigthe éicsi dogrés lasna filedu for brú usci*), LL. p. 186 a.]` He durst not remain in Ireland else, until he took to poetry, for fear of the son of Urgriu, and of the sons of Morna.
Seven years Finn-eges remained at the Boinn [Boyne] watching the salmon of linn-Feic, `[*Linn Feic* i. e. the pool of Fec, a deep pool in the Rirer Boyne, near *Ferta fer fecc*, the ancient name of the village of Slane, on this river.]` for it had been prophesied that he would eat the [sacred] salmon of Fec, and that he would be ignorant of nothing afterwards ! He caught the salmon, and ordered [his pupil] Deinme to roast it, and the poet told him not to eat of the salmon. The young man brought him the salmon after cooking it. Hast thou eaten any part of the salmon, young man ? said the poet, " No," replied the young man, but I burned my thumb, and put it into my mouth afterwards. What name is upon thee, youth ? said he. Deimne, replied the youth. " Finn is thy name, `[It appears that our hero had concealed from his master Finn-Egés that he had been known by the name of Finn, after he had drowned the nine boys in Magh-Liffe. But the poet finding that be had first tasted of the salmon of *Linn Feic* without intending it, saw that the ancient prophecy was fulfilled in him, and that his real name must be Finn. O'Flaherty states that our hero assisted his father-in-law Cormac son of Art, in compiling codes of laws ; and the Life of St Columkille compiled by Manus O'Donnell, states that he possessed the gift of prophecy, and foretold the birth and future greatness of St. Columbkille.]` O youth," said he, and it was to thee the salmon was [really] given, [in the prophecy] to be eaten [not to me], and thou art the Finn truly. The youth afterwards consumed the salmon, and it was from this the [preternatural] knowledge was given to Finn, i.e., when he used to put his thumb in his mouth, and not through Teinm Laegha [poetical incantation,] whatever he had been ignorant of used to be revealed to him.
18\. Seven years Finnéces had been on the Boyne, watching the salmon of Fec's Pool `[A deep pool in the River Boyne, near Fer/a Fer Fecc, the ancient name of the village of Slane, on this river," O'D.]`; for it had been prophesied of him that he would eat the salmon of Féc, when nothing would remain unknown to him. The salmon was found, and Demne was then ordered to cook the salmon; and the poet told him not to eat anything of the salmon. The youth brought him the salmon after cooking it. " Hast thou eaten anything of the salmon, my lad ?" says the poet. " No," says the youth, " but I burned my thumb, and put it into my mouth afterwards." "What is thy name, my lad?" says he. "Demne," says the youth. " Finn is thy name, my lad," says he ; " and to thee was the salmon given to be eaten, and verily thou art the Finn." Thereupon the youth eats the salmon. It is that which gave the knowledge to Finn, to wit, whenever he put his thumb into his mouth, and sang through *teinm ldida* `["Illumination (?) of song."]` then whatever he had been ignorant of would be revealed to him.
He learned the three compositions which signify the poets, namely the *Teinm Laegha*, `[For a curious account of this poetical incantation as given in Cormac's glossary, the reader is referred to the " *Battle oMagh Rath*," printed for the Archaeological Society, p. 46. It is said that St. Patrick abolished the *Teinm Laegha* and the *Imbas for Osna*, as being profane rites, and allowed the poets to use another called *Dichedal do chendaibh* which was in itself not repugnant to Christianity, as requiring no offering to false gods or demons.]` the *Imus for Osna*, and the *Dicedul dicennaib* ; and it was then Finn composed this poem to prove his poetry :
19\. He learnt the three things that constitute a poet, to wit, *teinm láida* and *imbas forosna* `["Knowledge which illumines."]` and *dichetul dichennaib*. `["Extempore incantation."]` It is then Finn made this lay to prove his poetry `[ A translation of this poem appeared in my '* Four Songs of Summer and Winter " (London, D. Nutt, 1903), whence I reprint it here.]` : —
May-day `[May-day, *cettemain*, is glossed *belltaine* by O'Clery. It signifies the beginning of summer.]` delightful time ! how beautiful the color `[color, [but also] face, countenance, mien.]` The blackbirds sing their full lay, would that Laighaig were here The cuckoos sing in constant strains, how welcome is the noble Brilliance of the seasons ever; on the margin of the branchy woods The summer suaill `[gl. the swallows. The words of this fragment, which was considered to be the first composition of Finn, after having eaten the salmon of the Boyne, is very ancient and exceedingly obscure. The translation is only offered for the consideration of Irish scholars, for it is certain that the meaning of some of the lines are doubtful. The poem obyiously wants some lines at the end ; and Mr. Cleayer states, that the remaining portion of the manuscript is so defaced as to render it totally illegible.]` skim the stream, the swift horses seek the pool, The heath spreads out its long hair, the weak fair bogdown grows. Sudden consternation attacks the signs, the planets in their courses running exert an influence : The sea is lulled to rest, flowers cover the earth.
20\. May-day, season surpassing ! Splendid is colour then. Blackbirds sing a full lay, if there be a slender shaft of day. The dust-coloured cuckoo calls aloud : Welcome, splendid summer ! The bitterness of bad weather is past, the boughs of the wood are a thicket. Summer cuts the river down, the swift herd of horses seeks the pool, the long hair of the heather is outspread, the soft white bog-down grows. Panic startles the heart of the deer, the smooth sea runs apace, — season when ocean sinks asleep, — blossom covers the world. Bees with puny strength carry a goodly burden, the harvest of blossoms ; up the mountain-side kine take with them mud, the ant makes a rich meal. The harp of the forest sounds music, the sail gathers — perfect peace. Colour has settled on every height, haze on the lake of full waters. The corncrake, a strenuous bard, discourses ; the lofty virgin waterfall sings a welcome to the warm pool ; the talk of the rushes is come. Light swallows dart aloft, loud melody reaches round the hill, the soft rich mast buds, the stuttering quagmire rehearses. The peat-bog is as the raven's coat, the loud cuckoo bids welcome, the speckled fish leaps, strong is the bound of the swift warrior. Man flourishes, the maiden buds in her fair strong pride ; perfect each forest from top to ground, perfect each great stately plain. Delightful is the season's splendour, rough winter has gone, white is every fruitful wood, a joyous peace is summer. A flock of birds settles in the midst of meadows; the green field rustles, wbeiein is a brawling white stream. A wild longing is on you to race horses, the ranked host is ranged around : a bright shaft has been shot into the land, so that the water-flag is gold beneath it. A timorous tiny persistent little fellow sings at the top of his voice, the lark sings clear tidings : surpassing May-day of delicate colours !
Another translation is given by David Comyn, in The youthful exploits of Fionn. The original text, from the “Saltair of Cashel,” of 1881. See the Boyish Exploits of Finn Mac Cumhaill chapter.
The Battle of Cnucha#
The following account of the Battle of Cuchna describes it origins, as well the birth of Fionn and his ultimate reconciliation with Goll Mac Morna.
The Battle of Cnuchna, in Revue Celtique, transl. W. M. Hennessy
https://archive.org/details/revueceltiqu02pari/page/86/mode/2up Revue celtique Tome 2 1871-1875
The Battle of Cnucha ; a médiéval Irish text, with a translation, by W. M. Hennessy W. M. Hennessy, 1875
pp.86-91
THE BATTLE OF CNUCHA.
[The principal value of the following story from Lebor na huidre, an Irish Ms. written circa A. D, 1100, is that it presents probably the oldest written form of one important fragment of the legendary history so widely extended among the Celtic family in the British Islands, in which Find mac Cumhaill (or Fingal) occupies the part of principal hero, and Oisin, or Ossian, the part of narrator. The style of the narrative, so terse and simple, is in favourable contrast with the prosy, redundant, oftentimes absurdly bombastic compositions of a later period, and justifies the opinion of scholars that it was written some centuries earlier than the date of the Ms. from which the present text has been copied. The language, also, is singularly pure; on which account care has been taken to print in different type the portions of words represented by abbreviations in the original.
The admirers of Mac Pherson’s ambitious attempt to localize the Ossianic legend within the narrow limits of North Britain, now happily through the growth of a more independent and unselfish spirit of criticism fast becoming fewer in number, will see with surprise that all the characters in this most ancient fragment of the literature of which he would rob all other branches of the Celtic race, are purely Irish. The places mentioned are likewise Irish. But though the Irish may justly claim to have nursed Find, or at least to have stood to him in the traditional relationship of God-parents, they cheerfully allow all their tribal connections (and foremost among them the Scotch people) to share the glory of his manhood.
There are other versions of the birth and origin of Find Mac Cumhaill, some of which are noticed in Campbell’s Leabhar na Feinne, vol. I. pp. 33, 34, etc.; but all are of much later date. The most important of these is the tract pubiished by the late Dr O’Donovan, from a fifteenth century Ms., in the Transactions of the Ossianic Society, vol. IV. (Dublin, 1859), on the “ Boyish Exploits of F. m. C. “ Dr O’Donovan, like most other Irish antiquaries, regarded Find Mac Cumhaill as a genuine historical personage, who resided mostly at Almhu in the County of Kildare, but possessed another residence at a place called Magh-Elle (now Moyelly) in the adjoining King’s County. That a person named Find Mac Cumhaill did live at the time indicated (3rd cent.) I do not deny. But it is as certain that his history has degenerated into a pure myth, as that there is now no trace of a dun or fortress on the hill of Almu, or Allen.
In autumn last I had the pleasure of visiting the hill of Allen with Mr. J. F. Campbell, the indefatigable and enlightened coUector of Ossianic legends, and although we were shewn the thicket out of which Find’s hounds, Bran and Sceolán, are still fabled to start nightly, to the alarm of late wayfarers, we could find no trace of such a dun as is referred to in the following tract. The hill is almost a bare rock, on which materials to erect a dun or even a rath are now scarcely obtainable. But beautifuUy situated in the midst of a lovely country, over which it commands a wide prospect, it was well adapted for a place of assembly, or for the chase.
The allusion to Tadg’s command that Find’s mother should be burned is curious. The existence of the practice of burning women for incontinency among the Celts of Britain and Ireland is borne out by other references in ancient tracts. But the discussion of the question hère would extend this note beyond reasonable limits. — W. M. Hennessy.]
THE CAUSE OF THE BATTLE OF CNUCHA [*Cnucha.* The place now called Castleknock (in Irish *Caislen-Cnucha*), on the river Liffey, near Dublin, where there is a remarkable tumulus. Some good copies of the old Irish taie called " the battle of Cnucha ", a tale well worthy of publication, are in the collection of the Royal Irish Academy.] HERE :
When Cathair Mór [*Cathair Mor*. Cathair the Great. As the name Cathair is now generally anglicised " Charles, " Cathair Mor might be rendered as "Charlemagne. " The Four Masters give his obit under A. D. 122, which would be much too early for the chronology of the Fingalian era. O'Flaherty, who refers the death of Cathair Mor to A. D. 177 (*Ogygia*, pp. 310-12) is nearer to the mark.], son of Fedelmith Fir-urglais, son of Cormac Gelta-gaith, was in the kingship of Temhair [*Temhair*. Now Tara, co Meath.] and Conn Ced-chathach [*Conn Ced-chathach*. Hundred-battled Conn. Obiit A. D. 197 (O'Flaherty).] in Cenandos, in (the) rigdomna’s land, Cathair had a celebrated druid, to wit, Nuadu son of Achi, son of Dathi, son of Brocan, son of Fintan, of Tuath-Dathi in Bregas [*Brega*. A district anciently comprising the greater part of the present county of Meath, aud portions of Westmeath and Dublin counties.]. The druid was soliciting land in Laigen [*Laigen*. Lagenia, or Leinster, which province did not anciently include any of the counties north of Dublin county. The expression illaignib means " in Lageniensibus "; for Irish writers in speaking of the provinces, regarded the people, not the districts inhabited by them.] from Cathair; for he knew that it was in Laigen his successorship would be.
Cathair gave him his choice of land. The land the druid chose was Almu [*Almu. Now the hill of Allen, near Newbridge in the county of Kildare.].
She that was wife to Nuadhu was Almu, daughter of Becan.
A dûn was built by the druid then in Almu, and alamu [*Alamu*. Some kind of colouring stuff.] was rubbed to its wall, until it was ail white; and perhaps it was from that ,the name) ‘ Almu ‘ was applied to it; of which was said :
All-white is the dún of battle renown
As if it had received the lime of Ireland;
From the aîamu which he gave to his house
Hence it is that ‘ Almu ‘ is applied to Almu.
Nuadu’s wife, Almu, was entreating that her name might be given to the hill; and that request was granted to her, to wit, that her name should be upon the hill; for it was in it she was buried afterwards; of which was said :
Almu — beautiful was the woman ! —
Wife of Nuadhu the great, son of Achi.
She entreated — the division was just —
That her name (should be) on the perfect hill.
Nuadu had a distinguished son, to wit, Tadhg son of Nuadhu. Rairiu, daughter of Dond-duma, was his wife. A celebrated druid, also, (was) Tadg.
Death came to Nuadu [*Death came to Nuadu*. An unusual way, in Irish, of saying that Nuadu died. The ordinary form would be *fuair Nuadu bas* lit. " N. found death. "]; and he left his dún, as it was, to his son ; and it is Tadg that was druid to Cathair in the place of his father.
Rairiu bore a daughter to Tadhg, i e. Murni Muncaim [*Murni Muncaim* lit. Murni "of the fair neck ". The dimin. of *Murni* (*murnin*, pron. *moorneen*) is a term of endearment still applied to girls by the Irish-speaking people.] her name.
This maiden grew up in great beauty, so that the sons of the kings and mighty lords of Ireland were wont to be courting her.
Cumall, son of Trenmor, king-warrior of Ireland, was then in the service of Cond [*In the service of Cond*. The original is *fri laim cuind*; lit. " ad manus Quinti. "]. He also, like ever every other person, was demanding the maiden. Nuadu gave him a refusal, for he knew that it was on account of him Cumall he would have to leave Almu [*To leave Almu*. The original of the clause " he would have to leave Almu " (*no biad scarad do fri Almain*), literally translated, would read " there would be separation for him with Almu. "].
The same woman [*Woman*. She is described, in the Irish genealogical tracts, as "Baine, daughter of Scal Balb, king of the Fomori, i. e. of Finland ". See the Account of the celebrated women of Ireland, in the Book of Lecan, fol. 184 sq.] was mother to Cumhall and to Cond’s father, to wit, Fedelmid Rechtaide.
Cumall cornes, however, and takes Murni by force, in elopement with him, since she had not been given to him. Tadg comes to Cond, and relates to him his profanation by Cumall, and he began to incite Cond, and to reproach him.
Cond dispatches messengers to Cumall, and ordered him to leave Ireland, or to restore his daughter to Tadhg. Cumall said he would not give her; but everything he would give, and not the woman. Cond sent his soldiers, and Urgrend son of Lugaid Corr king of Luagni [*Luagni*, or *Luagni Temrach*. A sept seated near Tara, in the present county Meath.], and Daire Derc son of Eochaid, and his son Aed (who was afterwards called Goll [*Goll*, i. e. blind. Vid. O'Donovan's suppl. to *O'Reilly*, in voce.]) to attack Cumall. Cumall assembles his army against them; and the battle of Cnucha is fought between them, and Cumall is slain there, and a slaughter of his people is effected.
Cumall fell by Goll son of Morna. Luchet wounded Goll in his eye, so that he destroyed his eye. And hence it is that (the name) “Goll “ attached to him ; whereof was said :
Aed was the name of Daire’s son,
Until Luchet of fame wounded him;
Since the heavy lance wounded him,
Therefore, he has been called Goll.
Goll killed Luchet. It is for that reason, moreover, that a hereditary feud existed between the sons of Morna and Find.
Dairi had two names, to wit, Morna and Dairi.
Murni went, after that, to Cond; for her father rejected her, and did not let her (come) to him, because she was pregnant; and he said to his people to burn her [*To burn her*. Many instances occur in Irish taies of the existence of the practice of burning women for adultery. In the story of Corc Mac Lugdach (Book of Leinster, fol. 206, a, 2), we read, *Ba bés itossaig nach ingen dognid bais dar cenn a urnaidm do breothad. " It was the custom at first to burn any woman who committed lust in violation of her compact.]. And nevertheless, he dared not (compass) her destruction against Cond.
The girl was asking of Cond how she should act. Cond said: “ Go, “ said he, “ to Fiacal son of Concend, to Temhair-Mairci, and let thy delivery be effected there “ : (for a sister to Cumall was Fiacal’s wife, Bodball Bendron).
Condla, Cond’s servant, went with her, to escort her, until she came to Fiacal’s house, to Temhair-Mairci. Welcome was given to the girl then; and her arrivai there was good. The girl was delivered afterwards, and bare a son; and Demni was given as a name to him.
The boy is nursed by them, after that, until he was capable of committing plunder on every one who was an enemy to him. He then proclaims battle or single combat against Tadg, or else the full eric of his father to be given to him. Tadg said that he would give him judgement therein. The judgement was given; and this is the judgement that was given to him, to wit, that Almu, as it was, should be ceded to him for ever, and Tadg to leave it. It was done so. Tadg abandoned Almu to Find, and came to Tuath-Dathi, to his own hereditary land; and he abode in Cnoc-Réin, which is called Tulach-Taidg [*Tulach-Taidg*. " Tadg's hill." The situation of this place, which must be in Meath, has not yet been satisfactorily determined.] today; for it is from him it has been called Tulach-Taidg frora that time to this, So that hence was said this :
Find demands from Tadg of ihe towers,
For killing Cumall the great,
Battle, without respite, without delay,
Or that he should obtain single combat.
Because Tadg was not able to sustain battle
Against the high prince,
He abandoned to him, it was for him enough,
Almu altogether, as it stood.
Find went afterwards to Almu, and abode in it. And it is it that was his principal residence whilst he lived.
Find and Goll concluded peace after that ; and the eric of his father was given by the Clann-Morna to Find. And they lived peacefully, until (a quarrel) occurred between the min Temhair-Luachra [*Temhair-Luachra*. " Temhair of Luachair ". Luachair, or Luachair-Dedad, was the ancient name of the hilly district stretching between the counties of Limerick and Kerry. the latter of which is still called Ciarraighe-Luachra by the Irish-speaking people of Munster. The word " Temhair," the etymology of which is yet uncertain, enters into the composition of many topographical names in Ireland.], regarding the Slanga-pig [*Slanga-pig*. The Slanga-pigs, like the *mucca Drebrend*, or " pigs of Drebriu, " and the *mucca Manannain*, or " pigs of Manannan " (the Irish Neptune), were magical swine, which reappeared as often as they were killed and eaten. Irish romance is full of them; and in an account preserved in the Book of Fermoy, fol. 215, b. 2, it is stated that the last Slanga-pig distributed to the men of Ireland, satisfied 25 battalions!], when Banb-Sinna son of Maelenaig was slain; of which was said :
Afterwards they made peace —
Find and Goll of mighty deeds —
Until Banb-Sinna was slain
Regarding the pig, in Temhair-Luachra.
A brief, and slightly different, retelling of the pedigree of Fionn is also provided by Jeremiah Curtin in Myths and folk-lore of Ireland:
Myths and folk-lore of Ireland, Jeremiah Curtin , 1890
Myths and folk-lore of Ireland by Curtin, Jeremiah, 1835-1906
Publication date 1890
p204-5
BIRTH OF FIN MACCUMHAIL. [Cumhail, genitive of Cumhal, after Mac = son; pronounced Cool.]
CUMHAL MACART was a great champion in the west of Erin, and it was prophesied of him that if ever he married he would meet death in the next battle he fought.
For this reason he had no wife, and knew no woman for a long time ; till one day he saw the king’s daughter, who was so beautiful that he forgot all fear and married her in secret.
Next day after the marriage, news came that a battle had to be fought.
Now a Druid had told the king that his daughter’s son would take the kingdom from him ; so he made up his mind to look after the daughter, and not let any man come near her.
Before he went to the battle, Cumhal told his mother everything, told her of his relations with the king’s daughter.
He said, “ I shall be killed in battle to-day, according to the prophecy of the Druid, and I ‘m afraid if his daughter has a son the king will kill the child, for the prophecy is that he will lose the kingdom by the son of his own daughter. Now, if the king’s daughter has a son do you hide and rear him, if you can ; you will be his only hope and stay.”
Cumhal was killed in the battle, and within that year the king’s daughter had a son.
By command of his grandfather, the boy was thrown out of the castle window into a loch, to be drowned, on the day of his birth.
The boy sank from sight; but after remaining a while under the water, he rose again to the surface, and came to land holding a live salmon in his hand.
The grandmother of the boy, Cumhal’s mother, stood watching on the shore, and said to herself as she saw this : “ He is my grandson, the true son of my own child,” and seizing the boy, she rushed away with him, and vanished, before the king’s people could stop her.
When the king heard that the old woman had escaped with his daughter’s son, he fell into a terrible rage, and ordered all the male children born that day in the kingdom to be put to death, hoping in this way to kill his own grandson, and save the crown for himself.
Some filler material regarding the travails of Cumhall’s men betweem the death of Fionn’s father and Fionn’s ascent to the leadership of the Fianna is provided by Standish O’Grady:
“Finn and His Companions”. Standish O’Grady, 1892
https://archive.org/details/finnhiscompanion00ogra_0/page/125/mode/1up Finn and his companions by O’Grady, Standish, 1846-1928 p126-132
CHAPTER I
NOBLE ANCIENTS IN ADVERSITY
NOW that you are sufficiently acquainted with Finn as he appeared in the fulness of his power and glory, I desire to let you see him in his youth, while he was struggling upwards out of obscurity, when he was friendless, solitary, and surrounded by enemies. The lesson taught by Finn in his power is the lesson of flowing goodwill towards men. From his youth we learn the lesson of cheerfulness and courage.
In the heart of Connaught, a deep trackless forest, and in the heart of the forest a rude booth of timber, rudely roofed with rushes and heather. Brushwood grew above it and around it, so that one might pass many times and almost touch the house without discovering it. In this booth, one wild December evening, half a dozen old men — very old men — sat crouched around a small fire of sticks. They were clad in ancient rags, and in skins ; their faces were thin and hunger-bitten ; their fingers long, lean, and crooked. The meanest of them looked a king. Fate had pressed very hard on these old men, but had not conquered them, and their eyes shone under most rigid brows. Who were these noble old men clad in rags and skins, nourishing here in poverty and famine some unconquerable resolution ? I shall tell you.
The captain of the Fians in his time was Cool, son of Trenmor, the mightiest of the Fian captains down to his time, and Cool, remember, was the father of Finn. Then the sons of Morna evolted against him, saying that Gaul mac Morna, their brother, was the better man, and should be captain. Each party drew together an army, and the battle for the Fian leadership was fought on the banks of the Liffey. There Cool was defeated and slain ; the sons of Morna triumphed and raised their brother Gaul to the leadership. Luchat Mael was the champion who slew Cool and took from him his satchel, which contained the jewels of sovereignty and right leadership. He slung it to his own girdle. While he kept that bag, the tyranny of the sons of Morna was secure, and it was supposed that there was not a champion in the world who could conquer Luchat Mael. What these jewels were is not rightly known, but there was great power and virtue in them.
After the battle, the sons of Morna went through Ireland exterminating all the breed and seed of the overthrown family. Nearly all the warriors of Cool who escaped from the battle were obliged to make terms with the new tyranny, and swear allegiance to Gaul mac Morna. A very few did not. These were the old men whom we saw, clad in rags and skins, crouching around their feeble fire in the booth in the forest.
At first they lived by hunting, poaching it might be called, for all the forests and all the game belonged now to Gaul mac Morna. They shifted from mountain to mountain and forest to forest, from lake to river and river to lake, for the trackers and searchers of the sons of Morna were on their traces. Finally they were pressed into greater confinement, so that they could only hunt by night and by stealth, and while one man speared a salmon, there was another who kept watch, and oftentimes they were acquainted with the soreness of famine. Yet even thus they refused to make terms with the new tyranny.
“ To the sons of Morna,” they said, “ we will oppose a resolution which hunger and death shall never break.” But hardship and years began to tell upon their iron frames, and their great limbs wasted away. Then some of them grew too old to do anything but sit by the fire and keep it alive, while those who were not so old set traps and springes near the cabin, and sometimes snared a few birds and small game, and sometimes did not. Often the very old warriors turned hungry eyes on the others as they came back empty-handed, but no word of reproach was ever uttered, nor at any time one word signifying that famine had expelled their heroic determination from their hearts.
This night the younger men returned, bringing with them a red-winged thrush. Silently they plucked the bird and suspended it over the red embers by a twine of twisted grass. Grimly the seniors smiled as the small bird revolved over the glowing embers and dropped its scant fatness, which hissed slightly as it met the fire. They thought of nights in the Speckled House on Hill of Allen long ago, the feasts there, the strong carousing, and all the joyous and glorious days and nights of their youth, when Cool, son of Trenmor, their captain, was strong and unsubdued.
“ Brothers, we are coming very near the end,” said one noble elder. “ There is little nourishment in this thrush, and yesterday and the day before we had not even a thrush. Be it so, but I would like to die hearing that the tyranny of the sons of Morna was shaken.”
“Dear friend, that thou shalt both hear and see,” answered the one relative of Cool who had escaped the fury of the Clanna Morna and the hosts ot their trackers. His name was Crimall, son of Trenmor; he was chief over them. “ It was surely foretold to me, how, by a friendless and solitary youth, a banned, outlawed child of the wilderness, the sovereignty of the sons of Morna would be overthrown.”
“ That we believe,” they said, “ for it was surely prophesied, but not that the youth in skins would arise in our time.”
The bird being now roasted, Crimall made an even division of the same, viz. a seventh part to each man. Then he said, “O my coevals, listen to me. I now tell you tidings which I have concealed for a dark hour like this. The youth of many prophecies has appeared and there is perplexity in the councils of Gaul mac Morna. He and his fierce warriors are already looking for the end.”
In spite of sore famine the old men dropped their morsels and gazed upon the withered senior. “Yes, dear and faithful brothers,” continued Crimall, “ he has appeared; now from one point, now from another, he descends upon them out of the wilderness to burn and to slay, and again the wilderness covers him. He has the strength of a hundred men ; he is swifter than a deer, terrible as a dragon, and glorious as the sun on his fiery wheels. So much I know for a certainty ; the end truly draweth nigh. We, the few and faithful, will again sit at the right hand of our own Fian-captain, in the flashing hall of the Tech Brae, on the flat-topped hill.”
“ Oh, that we could believe thy words, Crimall, strong-hearted and wise, but even while we speak, the trackers of the Clanna Morna may be at the door, and the youngest of us has not strength even to raise the heavy swords, which were like switches in our hands while our power and manly force were still with us.” “ Hark,” said one of them, “ even now I hear some man bursting through the brushwood and young trees. Stand to your weapons, my brothers; it is an enemy, for friends in all broad Erin we have none.”
The story then recounts Fionn’s encounter with the old soldiers of the Fianna who had remained loyal to Fionn’s father.