Fionn mac Cumhaill facts for kids

Fionn mac Cumhaill meets his father's old friends in the forests of Connacht

Fionn mac Cumhaill (pronounced fin mə-KOOL), often called Finn McCool in English, was a legendary hunter and warrior. He appears in the old stories of Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. Fionn and his brave group of followers, called the Fianna, are the main characters in a collection of tales known as the Fenian Cycle. Many of these stories are told by Fionn's son, the poet Oisín.

Fionn's Early Life

"Finn heard far off the first notes of the fairy harp", illustration by Stephen Reid

Fionn's birth and first adventures are told in stories like The Boyhood Deeds of Fionn. Fionn was born after his father, Cumhall, died. Cumhall was the leader of the Fianna. Fionn's mother was Muirne.

Fionn's father, Cumhall, was from Leinster. He was part of a group called Clan Bascna. Cumhall took Muirne away after her father, Tadg mac Nuadat, refused to let them marry. Tadg asked the high king, Conn, for help. Conn then declared Cumhall an outlaw.

A big battle happened between King Conn and Cumhall. In this fight, Goll mac Morna killed Cumhall. Goll then became the new leader of the Fianna.

A Secret Childhood

Muirne was pregnant when Cumhall died. Her father, Tadg, was very angry and wanted to harm her. But King Conn protected Muirne. He sent her to live with Fiacal mac Conchinn. Fiacal's wife, Bodhmall, was Cumhall's sister and a druid.

Muirne gave birth to a son and named him Deimne. This name means "sureness" or "young male deer." Later, he got the name Fionn because his hair turned white very early.

Fionn and his brother were hunted by Goll and his followers, who were part of Clan Morna. To keep Fionn safe, he was separated from his mother. Bodhmall and another woman, Liath Luachra, raised him in secret. They taught him how to fight and hunt in the Sliabh Bladma forest.

As he grew older, Fionn worked for different local kings. But each time, they recognized him as Cumhall's son. They would then ask him to leave, fearing they couldn't protect him from his enemies.

The Salmon of Knowledge

Fionn was a great hunter. He often hunted with the Fianna on the hill of Allen in County Kildare. Many people believe Fionn caught the famous Salmon of Knowledge in the River Slate.

The story of how Fionn gained his special wisdom is told in The Boyhood Deeds of Fionn. Young Fionn, still called Demne, met a poet named Finn Éces near the River Boyne. Fionn became his student.

Finnegas had spent seven years trying to catch a special salmon. It was said that if he ate this salmon, he would know everything. Finnegas finally caught the fish and told Demne to cook it. While cooking, Demne accidentally burned his thumb. He quickly put his thumb in his mouth to soothe it.

When he did this, the wisdom of the salmon passed into him. Finnegas saw that Demne had gained great knowledge. He then gave the entire salmon to the boy to eat. From that day on, Demne was called Fionn.

After this, whenever Fionn put his thumb in his mouth, he gained any knowledge he needed. This special ability helped him later in life, especially when he sought revenge against Goll. Sometimes, this power is called "The Tooth of Wisdom."

Defeating the Fire-Breather

Fionn fighting Aillen, illustration by Beatrice Elvery

One amazing feat Fionn performed when he was just ten years old was defeating Áillen. Áillen was a fire-breathing man from the Tuatha Dé Danann. Every year, on the festival of Samhain, Áillen would attack Tara, the capital of Ireland. He would play music that put everyone to sleep. Then, he would burn down the city and its treasures. This had happened for 23 years!

The King of Ireland asked who would guard Tara. Fionn bravely volunteered. He got a special spear called the "Birga" from Fiacha mac Congha. This spear could stop Áillen's sleep-inducing music. If Fionn touched the bare steel blade to his forehead, he would stay awake.

Fionn defeated Áillen and saved Tara. Because of this brave act, everyone recognized him as Cumhall's son. He was given command of the Fianna. Goll mac Morna stepped aside and became a loyal follower of Fionn.

Reclaiming His Birthright

Before Fionn defeated Áillen, he was seen as a young adventurer and an outlaw. When he grew up and became strong, he went to his grandfather, Tadg. Fionn demanded payment for his father's death. If Tadg refused, Fionn would fight him.

Tadg agreed and gave Fionn the estate of Almu (now the Hill of Allen). Fionn also received payment from Goll mac Morna for his father's death.

Fionn's Adult Life

Fionn's famous sword was called "Mac an Luinn."

Love and Loss

Fionn met his most famous wife, Sadhbh, while hunting. A druid named Fear Doirich had turned her into a deer because she refused to marry him. Fionn's special hounds, Bran and Sceólang, recognized her as human. They were born from a human who had been turned into a hound.

Fionn brought Sadhbh home. The moment she stepped onto his land, she turned back into a woman. This was the only place she could regain her true form. Fionn and Sadhbh married, and she soon became pregnant.

While Fionn was away defending Ireland, Fear Doirich returned. He turned Sadhbh back into a deer, and she vanished. Fionn searched for her for years but could not find her. Later, Bran and Sceólang found her son, Oisín, who looked like a fawn. Oisín transformed into a child and grew up to be one of the greatest Fianna warriors.

In another famous story, The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne, the High King Cormac mac Airt promised his daughter Gráinne to the aging Fionn. But at the wedding feast, Gráinne fell in love with Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, one of the Fianna, who was known for his good looks. She forced him to run away with her.

Fionn chased them, but the lovers were helped by other Fianna members and by Diarmuid's foster-father, the god Aengus. Eventually, Fionn made peace with Diarmuid and Gráinne.

Years later, Fionn invited Diarmuid on a boar hunt. Diarmuid was badly wounded by a boar. Water from Fionn's hands had healing power. But each time Fionn gathered water, he let it run through his fingers before he reached Diarmuid. His grandson, Oscar, shamed Fionn for this. But by the time Fionn finally brought water, it was too late. Diarmuid had died.

Fionn by Beatrice Elvery

Fionn's Slumber

The most popular story about Fionn's death says he isn't dead at all. Instead, he sleeps in a cave, surrounded by the Fianna. One day, he will wake up and protect Ireland when it needs him most. Some say he will awaken when the Dord Fiann, the hunting horn of the Fianna, is sounded three times. He will then be as strong as he ever was.

Popular Legends

Many places in Ireland are linked to Fionn. Legend says he built the Giant's Causeway as stepping-stones to Scotland. He wanted to cross the sea without getting his feet wet. Another story says he once scooped up part of Ireland to throw at an enemy. He missed, and the clump of land landed in the Irish Sea, becoming the Isle of Man. The hole he left became Lough Neagh.

Fingal’s Cave in Scotland is also named after him. It has similar hexagonal rock columns to the Giant's Causeway.

In both Irish and Manx folklore, Fionn mac Cumhail (Finn McCool) is a kind, magical giant. A famous story tells how Fionn was building the Giant's Causeway. He heard that a giant named Benandonner (or a buggane in the Manx version) was coming to fight him. Fionn knew he couldn't beat the huge Benandonner.

So, Fionn asked his wife, Oona, for help. She dressed Fionn as a baby and hid him in a cradle. Then, she made some griddle-cakes, hiding hard griddle-irons inside some of them. When Benandonner arrived, Oona told him Fionn was out but would be back soon.

While waiting, Benandonner tried to show off his strength. He broke rocks with his little finger. Oona offered him a griddle-cake. When he bit into the iron, he chipped his teeth! Oona scolded him, saying her "baby" ate such cakes easily. She gave a cake without an iron to Fionn, who ate it easily.

Benandonner was amazed by the "baby's" strong teeth and huge size. Oona told him to feel the baby's teeth. Fionn bit Benandonner's little finger. Terrified of meeting the baby's father, Benandonner ran back to Scotland. He smashed the Causeway as he went, so Fionn couldn't follow him.

The Manx version adds that Fionn and the buggane fought at Kirk Christ Rushen. Fionn's feet carved out channels in the sea. The buggane injured Fionn, who fled over the water. But the buggane tore out one of his own teeth and threw it at Fionn. The tooth fell into the sea, becoming the Chicken Rock. Fionn cursed the tooth, which is why it's dangerous for sailors.

Fionn in Modern Stories

Macpherson's Ossian

James Macpherson created a character called "Fingal" in his poem series Ossian (1760). Macpherson said he had translated these poems from old Scottish Gaelic writings. "Fingal" comes from the Gaelic Fionnghall. Macpherson's poems became very popular and influenced many writers. However, people soon questioned if they were truly ancient works. Today, most people believe Macpherson wrote them himself, though they might have been based on parts of old Gaelic legends.

Twentieth Century Literature

Fionn mac Cumhaill appears in many modern Irish books. He is often mentioned in James Joyce's Finnegans Wake (1939). Some think the title, from a song called "Finnegan's Wake", also means "Finn again is awake." This refers to Fionn eventually waking up to save Ireland.

Fionn is also a character in Flann O'Brien's funny book, At Swim-Two-Birds (1939). In this book, parts of Irish myths are made fun of. Morgan Llywelyn's book Finn Mac Cool (1994) tells the story of Fionn becoming the leader of the Fianna. The band Dropkick Murphys also has a song about him called "The Legend of Finn MacCumhail."

John Prebble's book Glencoe: The Story of the Massacre (1966) tells a legend about Fionn mac Cumhaill living in Glencoe, Scotland. It describes a battle between Fionn and a Viking army. The Norsemen were defeated by Fionn's warriors, and their chief was killed.

Finn McCool is also a character in Terry Pratchett and Steve Baxter's book The Long War. The novella "The Final Fighting of Fion Mac Cumhail" by Randall Garrett explores Fionn's adventures after his "death." Maggie Brace's book 'Tis Himself: The Tale of Finn MacCool looks at Fionn's early childhood.

Fionn Mac Cumhail also appears in two of The Corliss Chronicles stories. He is a trusted friend to Prudence Corliss and helps her defeat an evil king.

Plays and Shows

In the 1999 Irish dance show Dancing on Dangerous Ground, Tony Kemp played Fionn. This show was a modern version of The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne. In this version, Diarmuid dies after running away with Gráinne. Gráinne then dies of a broken heart.

In 2010, a rock musical called Finn McCool was first shown in Washington DC. It tells Fionn mac Cumhaill's legend using punk-inspired rock music.

See also

In Spanish: Fionn mac Cumhaill para niños