CELTIC MYTHOLOGY
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THE FIANNA OF ERIN
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A couple of the main characteristics of the Ossianic cycle of the
legends are romance and idealism. The legends of Finn MacCumhal and
his band of fighting men have these qualities displayed in abundance.
In my opinion, this legend provides a tremendous source of inspiration
for the warrior.
Let us begin with the definition of 'Fian'. The most common being foot
soldier. Indeed, this is their distinguishing feature, they almost
always fought on foot. Especially when compared to the Ulster cycle
which is known very much for its charioteering, for instance.
The Fianna's main function was to uphold order within Ireland in the
form basically of a police force. It was a very honourable institution
and considered essential to the welfare of the community at that time.
From Samhain to Bealtainne they were quartered among the people, whilst
in the summer half of the year they engaged in hunting to support
themselves. Their method of cooking their catches is well known to
primitive peoples. A hole was dug into the ground, inside of which red
hot stones were placed. On top of this was placed venison wrapped in
sedge. Then all was covered over and in time the meat was done to a
turn. In both seasons they were expected to police the country. Their
task is now outlined. What kind of man would the Fianna take into their
ranks? Several requirements were deemed necessary. You must be versed
in the twelve books of poetry, be a man of culture and pass the
following initiation tests:
At the start of the initiation test the man had to stand in a pit, dug
out to knee depth for him to stand in. His defensive weapons were a
shield and a hazel rod. These were used to deflect the spears cast by
nine men from a distance of nine ridges. These spears were cast
simultaneously at the prospective warrior and if he failed to deflect
these weapons then he was rejected.
The second test consisted of a chase through the forest, pursued by
armed men. The candidate was to avoid being caught or harmed in any way
by the armed men. Indeed, if he had a lock of his braided hair loosened
or if he had broken a branch on the forest floor in his hasty flight he
was rejected. After all that his hands could not be seen to be shaking
at all at the end or he would have failed. Iron discipline required
indeed.
On top of this the man was obliged to jump over a branch his own head
height and stoop below a branch his own knee height and also be able
to run at full speed whilst taking a thorn from his foot at the same
time, without breaking his stride. All these tasks seem nigh impossible
to achieve yet they illustrate perfectly the idealistic nature of this
group of legends.
Let us have a closer look at the leader of the band of perfect warriors.
Not the strongest, physically, of them all, but Finn was the truest,
wisest, kindest and most trusted of them. Generous to men and gentle to
women, his wisdom was such that he would never see anyone in trouble
or in poverty in his holding. He was leader of his people, a poet and
magician, the pinnacle of achievement for the Celtic warrior. But what
are the origins of such a great man, demi-god? Read further...
The epic begins with the leaders of two rival clans disputing who had
the right to leadership of the Fianna of Eire. One was called Clan
Morna, the other Clan Baiscne whose leader was Finn's father, Cumhal.
The two clans clashed in a bitter conflict at Cruachan (near Dublin)
whereupon the Clan Baiscne were defeated and scattered throughout
Ireland.
Finn's father was killed in the battle, but Muirne, his mother, soon
gave birth to their son, the hero himself. However, concerned for her
son's safety, she could not keep him by her. In fear of the Clan Morna
she gave him into the care of two druid women who took him to the wood
of Slieve Bladhma to nurse him secretly.
There he was given excellent training in the ways of the warrior and
manhood. A couple of the exercises deemed to be constructive by the
women were to throw him into a lake to teach him how to swim and to put
him in a closed off field with some hares. They told him to always keep
ahead of the hares no matter what until the day was over. Harsh
training.
However, this turned him into a fine young man, fair of appearance,
supple of limb and skilled to boot. So, after spending some time with
a troupe of poets being taught the way of words, he was put out on his
own and went to seek his living in the service of a king.
Eventually, he came to the king who had taken his mother for his wife
and fine service he gave. All was well until one day he was playing
chess with the king and won seven games in a row. It was then that the
king questioned this fine young man's origins and discovered that he
was the son of Cumhal. This displeased him greatly and Finn, who was
then called Deimne to conceal his lineage, was asked to leave.
He then decided to go into Connaught to seek out his father's brother,
Crimall. He was going on his way when a magical meeting took place.
He came across a woman crying tears of blood. Finn asked her why she
cried so and the woman answered that her only son had just been killed
by a champion. Finn vowed that after seeing such a sight that he would
follow the champion and slay him. Such sorrow he had not seen before.
So he killed the man and it was the same man who had given his father
his first wound in the battle that was to be his last.
The champion had on his person a treasure bag made of craneskin that
had previously belonged to Finn's father. The bag was full of magical
items that could only be used at full tide. The original owners of the
bag were Manannan MacLir, god of the sea, and Lugh of the Long Hand,
god of the sun. It was a precious find, marking another stage in the
boy's oncoming adulthood.
Finn found Crimall, now an old man, living in a lonely place with some
of the other old men of the Fianna. They exchanged stories and
conversation and it was here that Finn left the craneskin bag.
Finn then went on to learn wisdom and poetry from a man named Finnegas
who lived by the river Boyne. It is by the side of water that poets
gain inspiration. The border between land and sea, neither one world or
the other. It is where the goddess of poetry may be sought.
For seven years Finnegas had watched for the white, red speckled salmon
of knowledge. For in eating this fish a man may have all knowledge. At
last the fish did arrive and Finnegas, rejoicing, gave the fish to Finn
to roast but told him not to eat any of it.
However, alas, during the cooking of the salmon, Finn noticed a blister
appearing on its skin and put his thumb onto it to make it disappear.
Needless to say, Finn's thumb got badly burnt and he thrust it into his
mouth and onto his wisdom tooth.
The boy then gave Finnegas the fish and after looking at it for a while
he said to Finn: "What is your name, boy?"
"It is Deimne". Finn replied. "No, it is not", said Finnegas. "It is
Finn that is your name and the prophesy that someone named Finn will
gain the knowledge from the salmon has been fulfilled." The boy then
confessed to having inadvertently tasted the fish. From that time on
Finn had the knowledge from the nuts of the nine hazels that grew
beneath the sea. Otherworld knowledge.
This is how the boy then fulfilled his destiny and became the man who
would be leader of the Fianna of Eire. In one of the most colourful
Celtic epics imaginable. Where the Gods themselves made their presence
felt and the veil between the worlds was thin. The tales within these
legends go deeper into the functions of the Fianna with its many
characters and adventures.
[Copyright - S. Soyka DALRIADA MAGAZINE 1993]
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