Cumhal mac Art was a mighty warrior, the leader of the Fianna. Clan Morna grows jealous of Cumhal's power. They defeat his men and kill Cumhal. They take the treasures that belong to Cumhal's clan and entrust it to their treasurer, Lia, the chief of Luachtar in Connacht.
Muirne of the White Neck, Cumhail's pregnant wife, consequently flees into the wilderness. There she gives birth to a son that she names Demne. Fearing for his life, she leaves him to be fostered by two old warrior women who live in the forest known as Slieve Bloom. These women train him in the magic arts and in fishing and hunting. As a result, there is no better hunter or fisherman in all of Erinn. They also tell him about his heritage and the history of his nation and how one day he will, like his father, become Captain of the Fianna.
In some versions of this myth, the hags rename the beautiful blond boy "Finn," which translates into "the golden one" or "the fair one."
In another version, Demne earns the name after defeating a gang of seven boys. When asked who did this, they answer, Finn, which, as I said, means "the fair one" or "the golden one."
When Finn is about seven, the hags send him to the wise and knowledgeable and multi-talented Finegas the Bard. Finegas will teach Finn how to write verse and make music on the harp. He will also instruct him in the magic arts. Finegas lives in the woods, near the River Boyne, because everyone knows that rivers are conducive to discovering the right words.
For years, Finegas has tried to capture the famous Salmon of Knowledge, a fish fed on the nuts of the magical hazel trees. Ancient ireland is apparently full of hazel trees, and they all seem connected with magic, both good and evil.
Shortly after the arrival of his apprentice, Finegas manages to catch the Salmon of Knowledge. He orders Finn to cook it for him. In doing so, Finn burns his thumb. Instinctively, he puts the thumb in his mouth.
When Finn presents the fish to Finegas, the Druid bard suspects something. He asks if Finn has eaten of the fish. Finn says he has not, but admits to having accidentally tasted it. In some versions of this myth, Finegas finishes the fish. In others, he lets his apprentice do so.
After this, Finn has the gift of prophecy and the wisdom and wit to know exactly what to do in just about any situation.
As a young man, and armored with his gifts, Finn manages to reclaim his birthright from the evil Clan Morna. He then looks for his surviving uncle, Crimmal, who, long ago, had fled to Connact. The tall, handsome Finn approaches the old men, who have fallen on hard times. Astonished, they welcome him.
"I am Finn, son of Cumhal," he says. In tears, Crimmal takes his hand. Finn gives him the treasure bag as proof of his heritage. The bag holds many jewels and a magic spear that had been fashioned by fairies.
Finn learns that his mother has remarried and lives happily with Gleor, Lord of Lamrigh, which is in the south.
How Finn Becomes Captain of the Fiana
Conn, the High King of Ireland, sits with his men in the Celtic version of the mead-hall. In recent months, the land has been terrorized by a goblin who uses music to charm the warriors to sleep. Once asleep, the goblin burns down the towns. This has been going on for a while.
One day, a tall handsome youth appears and introduces himself as Finn mac Cumhail. Conn asks what the young man wants, and he answers that he wants to take his father's place as Captain of the Fianna. In order to prove his worthiness, he offers to defeat the Celtic manbane, the goblin.
Fiacha is one of Conn's men. Fiacha had also been a friend to Finn's father. Fiacha offers Finn a magical spear. Finn takes the spear with him as he stakes out the goblin. As night falls, a white mist arises, and with it, some beautiful music. Even the mighty Finn is almost lulled into sleep. That is when he remembers the spear. He touches it to his brow and the music has no power. He takes up his spear and chases the goblin into his lair at Slieve Fuad. Here, he drives the spear through the goblin's back.
Conn is pleased and Finn becomes Captain of the mighty Fianna.
The Story of Bran and Sceolan
Finn's mother had a sister named Tuiren. Iollan Eachtach, a chieftain of the Ulster Fianna, falls in love with Tuiren. Finn promises to bring her to him so that they may marry.
Uchtdealb of the Fair Breast, one of the Sidhe, is not happy about the upcoming nuptials. She disguises herself as Finn's messenger and convinces Tuiren that she is to accompany her to a great feast in the land beyond.
Once in the woods, Uchtdealb takes out a hazel wand and changes Tuireninto a hound. Uchtdealb gives the beautiful animal to Fergus Fionnliath, a man who hates dogs. She tells him that the dog is a gift from Finn. The dog is pregnant and Uchtdealb tells Fergus that he might take the dog hunting, but he must refrain from doing so when the time for giving birth draws near.
The hound turns out to be the best hunter ever. It actually turns Fergus into a dog-lover. He does as instructed, and lets her rest as her time draws near. She gives birth to two puppies, which Fergus gives to Finn. Finn names the dogs Bran and Sceolan, and like their mother, they are gifted hunters.
Finn Falls In Love
As usual, Finn and his men are out hunting with Bran and Sceolan and the other hounds. They come upon a beautiful deer. They follow it for hours, and all the dogs, except Bran and Sceolan, grow tired and give up. When Finn catches up with Bran and Sceolan, they are sitting and playing with the deer, licking its face and neck.
Finn takes this as a sign that he should not kill the deer. Instead he takes it back to his castle on the dun of Almhuin.
That night, Finn awakens to see a beautiful woman standing before him. "I was the deer you were chasing," she says. "Fear Doirche, a Druid, enchanted me three years ago because I refused his love. Another Druid took pity and said that I could break free of the spell if I could find my way to the dun of Almhuin. My name is Sabdhe."
The two gaze into each other's eyes for hours, days, and weeks. Finn is so in love that he gives up all his worldly pleasures, including fighting, hunting, and fishing. All he wants to do is to behold the sight of his beloved.
Eventually, however, Finn has to go back to work as Captain of the Fianna. He is gone for seven days. When he returns, he looks for his wife but she does not appear. His people tell him that Bran and Sceolan and a figure that looked just like Finn had appeared the day before. Sadbh was elated; she was about to tell him that she is pregnant with Finn's child. As soon as Sadbh reaches the border of Almhuin, the figure changes. It lifts a hazel rod and turns her into a deer. They disappear into the woods.
Heartbroken, Finn retreats into his castle. He decides that he will do nothing but search for his beloved until he finds her. He searches for seven years.
He spends seven more years resuming his duties as Captain of the Fianna. He doesn't allow himself the worldly pleasures of hunting and fishing, however, in part because he does not want to kill the wrong deer.
Life returns to normal after fouteen years. He even resumes hunting. He and his men are hunting in Beinn Gulbain. The hounds cry out and lead the hunters to a tree. Five of Finn's hounds surround a young boy. He is naked and has long hair. In spite of the baying hounds, the boy seems unafraid. Bran and Sceolan go up to the boy and lick his face. Finn then realizes that the boy looks a little like his beloved Sadbh.
The boy tells a story of living with a deer. Sometimes a dark stranger would come and speak kindly to her. At other times, he grew angry. Either way, the deer would withdraw. This made the man even angrier. Eventually, he strikes both her and the boy with a hazel rod. The deer follows the dark man, looking back now and then, but seemingly unable to stop following the man. The boy tries to get up, to follow her, to protect her, but he cannot move. Instead he finds himself on this hill, under a tree, and surrounded by dogs.
Finn names the boy Oisin (OO-shin) and he, like his father will become a great poet and warrior and lover.
THE END.
