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FERDIAD: Queen Maeve persuaded him to fight against Cuchulainn, his dearest friend. After a struggle lasting three days he was killed, to Cuchulainn's bitter grief.
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FERGUS: The Irish hero and king and one Queen Maeve's lovers. Fergus ("virility") is also referred to as "the great horse", and many (phallic) marvels are ascribed to him.
Also known as: FERGHUS.
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FERGUS mac ROICH: Tutor of Cuchulainn, who left Conchobar's court after the treacherous murder of the sons of Usnech.
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FIACHADH: High King of Ireland and founder of the Fianna in 300 BC.
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FINN mac CUMHAIL: Irish hero and leader of the Fianna. Tales of Finn and the Fianna were widely documented in the 3rd century AD during what is now referred to as the Fenian Cycle, although much earlier written accounts have also been found in ancient Irish manuscripts.
The legend of Finn mac Cumhail is varied. What follows is generally agreed on:
·Finn's father Cumhail, a Fianna chieftain, was mortally wounded and killed in battle by Goal mac Morna, the leader of a rival clan, before Finn's birth.
·Terrified for her new baby's survival, Finn's mother, Muirne, sent him away intrusting him to two of her closest colleagues - a druidess named Bodbal and a woman warrior named Fiachel.
·Together these women successfully raised Finn in secret hidden deep within the mountains of Ireland. During this time they taught him all the lessons and skills he would need to survive. He set out to avenge his father's murder.
·In time Finn ventured out and served under several kings who immediately sent him away, in fear of a retaliation from Goll mac Morna, after they discovered who Finn was.
·Discouraged, Finn wandered Ireland until he met an old poet living near the river Boyne whom he ended up studying under for seven years.
·At the end of these seven years Finn fulfilled a prophecy by eating the Salmon of Knowledge and gaining the wisdom he would need to challenge Goll mac Morna.
·Gathering 150 of the bravest and best of the Fianna, Finn sought revenge on Goll mac Morna. The battle was long, lasting a few days, but in the end Goll mac Morna's men were no match for the Fianna and Goll mac Morna died on Finn's sword.
Finn was the keeper of many weapons, each of them having some magical quality, in true Celtic style. His banner was called the Dealb Greine (sunshaped) for it had the likeness of the sun. His sword was known as Mac an Luin (Son of the Waves), and was given to him by the sea god Manannan. Finn’s shield, the Skiath Gailbhinn (Storm Shield) was capable of uttering a roar so loud it could be heard throughout Ireland. The Dord Fian was the famous hunting horn of Finn, the horn of plenty with which Finn could rally together the men of the Fianna.
Finn was entrusted with the magical crane skin bag of Manannan that contained: The shirt and knife of Manannan; the belt and smith’s hook of Gobhniu; the shears of the king of Alban; the helmet of the king of Lochlann; the belt of the skin of a great fish; and the bones of Assal’s pigs. At the full tide the crane bag would be full, whereas at the ebbing of the tide it would be empty.
Finn possessed two magical hounds, Bran and Sceolan, who were once two women of the Sidhe that had been changed into dog shape. They accompanied Finn wherever he went. It was these faithful hounds that came upon the deer woman Sadb, who had been changed into this shape by a jealous Druid. Sadb became Finn’s wife for a time and bore him a son, Oisin, which means “little fawn.”
It was said that in the fields of daring, courageousness, and skill the Fianna were unequaled and that none could hope to be better in magic, poetry, or wisdom then Finn mac Cumhail.
Also known as FIONN mac CUMHAILL, FINN mac COUL, FINN mac COOL, and FINGAL.
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