Fairies, leprechauns and giants roam the eons and niches of Irish Folklore, but it is Fionn Mac Cumhaill who dominates. In the Finian Cycle of Irish Mythology, Fionn was the most renowned, the wisest, the bravest and the smartest of heros. He was born to a Druid father and a royal mother. Their tragic relationship led to his father’s death and his mother’s banishment.
In her pain, his mother fostered him out to the druidess Bodhmall and the female warrior, Liath Luachra. They trained him into manhood with the knowledge of a Druid and the skills of a great warrior. The handsome teen was swift,lethal and clever. As he became more celebrated, he became a target by other warriors. Bodhmall and Liath Luachra grew concerned for their own safety, so sent him out on his own to make his mark on history. And boy did he.
Very quickly, Fionn defeated Goll, the man who killed his father. Goll lead the legendary Fianna, and Fionn’s win made him the new leader. The Fianna were brave, strong, but landless warriors that worked as mercenaries to the constantly warring fiefdoms. Their deeds were just and adventurous, making them legendary in their own time. Fionn became the best of them.
Irishmen still brag about the great Fionn Mac Cumhaill and will tell you proudly over a beer or two. One of the favorites tales is the story how Fionn caught and ate the Salmon of Wisdom, becoming the wisest warrior in all of Ireland.
Another is the story of Fionn’s battle with the famous Scottish Giant Benandonner. Benadonner challenged him and Fionn built a bridge from Ireland to Scotland by taking pieces of Ireland’s shores and making a bridge to Scotland. Once there, Fionn realized Benadonner was huge, too huge to fight, so he ran home. Benadonner went searching for him, but Fionn’s wife dressed Fionn as an infant. Mistaking Fionn for a baby, Benadonner believed that the adult Fionn would be too big to fight, so he ran back to Scotland. Fionn was honored for his cleverness by all the Fianna.
But the best part of this folktale hero for this American audience is his name. For you see, Fionn Mac Cumhaill is pronounced Finn McCool. And he is the cool-kid warrior.
Learn more at https://www.theirishroadtrip.com/fionn-mac-cumhaill/