Fionn Mac Cumhaill - Modern Literature

Modern Literature

In 1761 James Macpherson announced the discovery of an epic written by Ossian (Oisín) in the Scottish Gaelic language on the subject of "Fingal" (Fionnghall meaning "white stranger": it is suggested that Macpherson rendered the name as Fingal through a misapprehension of the name which in old Gaelic would appear as Finn). In December 1761 he published Fingal, an Ancient Epic Poem in Six Books, together with Several Other Poems composed by Ossian, the Son of Fingal, translated from the Gaelic Language. His cycle of poems had widespread influence on such writers as Goethe and the young Walter Scott, but there was controversy from the outset about Macpherson's claims to have translated the works from ancient sources. The authenticity of the poems is now generally doubted, though they may have been based on fragments of Gaelic legend, and to some extent the controversy has overshadowed their considerable literary merit and influence on Romanticism.

A story of the battle between Fionn MacCumhail, who in this tale is claimed to have resided in the valley of Glencoe, in Scotland, and a Viking host led by Earragan makes an appearance in the book Glencoe: The Story of the Massacre, Secker & Warburg, 1966 by John Prebble. The story tells of the approach of forty Viking galleys up the narrows by Ballachulish into Loch Leven, and the ensuing battle between the Norsemen and the Feinn of the valley of Glencoe, in which Earragan is slain by Goll MacMorna.

Fionn mac Cumhaill features heavily in modern Irish literature. Most notably he makes several appearances in James Joyce's Finnegans Wake, and some have posited that the title, taken from the street ballad "Finnegan's Wake", may also be a blend of "Finn again is awake," referring to his eventual awakening to defend Ireland.

Fionn also appears as a character in Flann O'Brien's comic novel, At Swim-Two-Birds, in passages that parody the style of Irish myths. Morgan Llywelyn's book Finn Mac Cool tells of Fionn's rise to leader of the Fianna and the love stories that ensue in his life. That character is celebrated in "The Legend of Finn MacCumhail", a song by the Boston-based band Dropkick Murphys featured on their album Sing Loud Sing Proud!:

This mighty soldier on the eve of the war he waged

told his troops of lessons learned from battles fought:

"May your heart grow bolder like an iron-clad brigade"

said this leader to his outnumbered lot.

Known as a hero to all that he knew,

long live the legend of Finn MacCool!

The brave celtic leader of the chosen few,

long live the legend of Finn MacCool!

Contemporary Scottish poet Marie Marshall has written a semi-serious ballad in parody of 19c neo-medievalism "How Finn McCool became Lord of Tara". It deals with how Finn saved the noble house of Tara from the evil spell of Allan-of-the-Harp, an elf-king with a hatred of human prosperity. A sample passage runs thus:

For three and twenty years the hall

Of Tara’s King was razed and burned

On Harvest Eve. But none recall

Who from that eldritch sleep returned

The harping of the evil elf –

In mystery was Tara cloaked –

Until young Finn McCool himself

The right of rest and board invoked

One summer’s end, and joined their feast.

A modest boy of humble mien,

He sat the lowest, ate the least,

Observed the merrymaking scene.

At midnight sharp came Allan in

And shrouded all with slumber foul

Except the youthful paladin,

Who hid a spear beneath his cowl

And pressed the blade against his cheek.

Then Allan stalked around the room

And wrathfully began to speak.

“This is brave Goll McMorna’s doom,

That once a year shall Tara fall

And fire her rising towers destroy.

And thus I curse you, one and all!”

At which, up sprang the noble boy…