Failinis facts for kids

Failinis (pronounced FAW IHN-ish) is a famous dog from old Irish stories, especially in the Mythological Cycle. This amazing hound belonged to Lugh Lámhfhada, a powerful leader of the Tuatha Dé Danann, who were like ancient gods or heroes in Ireland. Failinis was so special that it was one of the valuable items demanded as a payment (called an éraic) from the sons of Tuireann after they did something wrong.

Failinis was originally a puppy owned by a smith or king from a mythical place called Iruaith. Later, in different stories from the Fenian Cycle, Lugh's dog, sometimes called Fer Mac, was owned by three visitors from Iruaith who met the famous warrior Fionn mac Cumhaill and his Fíanna warriors.

What's in a Name?

The puppy is first mentioned in a very old book from the 12th century called the Lebor Gabála Érenn (which means "Book of Invasions"). In this book, it's just called the "whelp of the royal smith of Ioruath" and doesn't have a specific name.

However, in a longer, more romantic version of the story called Oidheadh Chloinne Tuireann (meaning "Fate of the Children of Tuireann"), the dog is clearly named Failinis. This version of the story comes from manuscripts written much later, around the 17th century.

Some people, like Eugene O'Curry, thought the name Failinis might be a mix-up of "Inis Fáil," which is an old name for Ireland. But it turns out a very similar name, Failinis or Shalinnis, was used for a dog in an even older poem from the 11th or 12th century, showing it wasn't a modern mistake.

In another story from the Fenian Cycle, called The Colloquy with the Ancients, the dog's name is Fer Mac. Even though the names and some details are different, experts believe these stories are connected.

Amazing Powers of Failinis

Failinis was no ordinary dog! It had incredible powers:

• Invincible in Battle: No enemy could defeat it in a fight.
• Master Hunter: It could catch any wild animal it chased, even fish!
• Magical Water: One of its most amazing tricks was that any running water it bathed in would magically turn into a special drink, like wine or mead. This magical ability is mentioned in several old texts.

Failinis was also described as a "hound of the loveliest color," very strong and wonderful. The dog named Fer Mac was said to be "parti-colored," meaning it had many different colors, including white, black, and blue.

This magical dog could also change size! By day, it was huge, strong enough to "overcome fifty men." But by night, it became a "thunderbolt, a ball of fire." Fer Mac was usually very large, bigger than any other hound, but when it magically produced its special drink, it would shrink down to the size of a small pine marten sitting on a queen's lap. Fer Mac could even produce gold and silver when needed!

How Failinis Changed Owners

Failinis was one of the most valuable treasures that Lugh Lámhfhada demanded from the children of Tuireann (Brían, Iuchar, and Iucharba). This was part of the éraic (reparation) they had to pay for killing Lugh's father, Cian.

The hound originally belonged to the royal smith or the King of Iruaid, a mythical kingdom often thought to be in Scandinavia. The children of Tuireann took the hound and gave it to Lugh as part of their payment.

In the Fenian Cycle stories, the same dog, Failinis (or Shalinnis), which once belonged to Lugh, appears again. This time, it's owned by three foreign princes from Iruaith.

Trouble and the Dog's End

In both the old poem and the prose stories of the Fenian Cycle, the three owners of the dog were secretly making their special drink with Failinis when some warriors from the Fíanna spied on them. The three princes then killed the spies.

In the poem, Finn mac Cumhal used his "tooth of wisdom" to find out that the three princes were responsible for the death. As compensation, the princes had to give up Failinis. They swore they would never take the dog alive out of Ireland. But then, they killed the hound, skinned it, and carried its hide away to foreign lands.

In The Colloquy, the Fíanna couldn't find the missing princes. The three princes and their dog even got Finn mac Cumhal's protection for a while. Fer Mac's attacks were quite magical: it could summon a strong wind by lifting its tail, making enemies drop their weapons. The dog and its masters even helped the Fíanna by defeating other enemies, using magic to send them to sea and make them fight each other.

Stories About Failinis

Book of Invasions

In the "Book of Invasions," one of the items Lugh demanded was an unnamed puppy belonging to the royal smith of Ioruath, a legendary Scandinavian kingdom. This book describes the puppy as being a hound by night and a sheep by day, and that any water poured on its skin would turn into wine.

The Fate of the Children of Tuireann

The full story of Failinis and its name appears in The Fate of the Children of Tuireann. In this version, Failinis belonged to the King of Ioruaidhe. It was said that all wild beasts would bow down to it, and it was "more splendid than the sun." The story tells how Brian, son of Tuireann, fought and defeated the King of Ioruaidhe to get the hound.

12th-Century Poem

The name Failinis is also found in a medieval poem from the 12th century. This poem tells how three people from Iruaid brought a magical dog (Shalinnis or Failinis) that could turn spring water into mead or wine. This dog once belonged to Lugh. When a Fíanna warrior spied on them, the three killed him. Finn mac Cumhal discovered their secret, and they had to give up Failinis. They killed the dog and took its hide across the sea.

The Colloquy of the Elders

The stories about the three princes of Iorúaithe and their amazing dog are also found in Acallam na Senórach (The Colloquy of the Ancients). In this book, an old Fíanna warrior named Caílte tells stories to Saint Patrick. He describes how the three princes and their dog arrived, how the dog killed spies, and how the dog helped the Fíanna in battles. It's in this story that the dog's name is revealed as Fer Mac.