The Fenian Cycle ( / ˈ f iː n i ə n / ), also known as the Fianna Cycle or Finn Cycle ( Irish : an Fhiannaíocht ), is a group of old Irish stories that focus on the adventures of the legendary hero Finn or Fionn mac Cumhaill and his group of warriors called the Fianna. Sometimes called the Ossianic Cycle ( / ˌ ɒ ʃ i ˈ æ n ɪ k / ) because it is told by a character named Oisín, it is one of four main groups of Irish myths. These groups include the Mythological Cycle, the Ulster Cycle, and the Kings' Cycles. In order, the Fenian Cycle comes third, after the Ulster Cycle and before the Kings' Cycles. The stories also include tales about other famous members of the Fianna, such as Diarmuid, Caílte, Oscar (Oisín's son), and Goll mac Morna (Fionn's rival).

List of works

In the introduction to his Fianaigecht, Kuno Meyer listed poems and prose texts from the seventh to fourteenth centuries, and more examples exist from later times:

• A poem credited to Senchán Torpéist, along with Finn's family history, appears in a genealogical text called The Great Compilation (Rawlinson B 502 and the Book of Leinster).
• "The Quarrel between Finn and Oisin"
• "Finn and the Man in the Tree"
• Reicne Fothaid Canainne
• "How Finn obtained knowledge and the Death of the Fairy Culdub"
• Bruiden Átha Í
• "Finn and the jester Lomnae"
• Cormac's Glossary, entry for rincne: Finn as a member of Lugaid Mac Con's fian
• "Ailill Aulom, Mac Con and Find ua Báiscne"
• A poem credited to Maelmuru Othna in the dindsenchas of Áth Liac Find, where Finn is called mac Umaill
• A poem credited to Flannacán mac Cellaig, king of Bregia, in the Yellow Book of Lecan (125a), about Finn's death on a Wednesday
• A story claiming Mongán was Finn
• Triads of Ireland: an anecdote about Finn and the boar of Druimm Leithe
• A poem credited to Cináed úa Hartacáin on the cemetery of the Brug on the Boyne, about Finn's death
• Two poems on the dindsenchas of Almu
• A poem on the dindsenchas of Fornocht
• A poem on the dindsenchas of Ráith Chnámrossa
• A poem credited to Fergus Fínbél on the dindsenchas of Tipra Sengarmna
• "Finn and Gráinne"
• "Finn and the Phantoms" (prose)
• A poem on Leinstermen and their expeditions against the Leth Cuinn
• Poems on winter and summer
• A poem credited to Erard mac Coisse
• Tochmarc Ailbe
• Aithed Gráinne ingine Corbmaic la Díarmait húa mDuibni (lost)
• Úath Beinne Étair
• Úath Dercce Ferna or Echtra Fhind i nDerc Ferna (lost)
• "The Death of Finn" (fragment)

• A poem by Cúán úa Lothcháin on the dindsenchas of Carn Furbaidi and Slíab Uillenn
• A treatise on Irish metrics, mentioning Finn as one of twelve famous poets
• Fotha Catha Cnucha (Lebor na hUidre)
• Poem "Finn and the Phantoms"
• A poem on the birth of Oisín (two quatrains in LL)
• Notes on Félire Óengusso
• A text on Irish Ordeals
• A poem by Gilla Coemain, "Annálad anall uile" (first line)
• Annals of Tigernach, AD 283, on Finn's death

• Tesmolta Cormaic ui Chuinn ocus Aided Finn meic Chumail
• Boróma
• Prose Dindsenchas
• Poem "They Came a Band of Three" ("Dám Thrír Táncatair Ille") in LL on the hound Failinis from Irúaith
• A poem on the dindsenchas of Snám Dá Én
• A poem credited to Finn on the dindsenchas of Róiriu i nHúib Failge
• Macgnímartha Finn, "The Boyhood Deeds of Finn"
• A poem credited to Oisín
• A poem by Gilla in Chomdéd, "A Rí richid, réidig dam"
• A poem by Gilla Modutu
• Bannsenchas Érenn
• The story of Mac Lesc mac Ladáin and Finn
• A poem credited to Finn on the dindsenchas of Mag Dá Géise
• A poem credited to Oscur on the battle of Gabair Aichle
• A poem credited to Cáilte, written in the so-called bérla na filed "the poets' language"
• A poem credited to Oisín on the conversion of the fiana
• A poem credited to Cáilte on the dindsenchas of Tonn Clidna
• Áirem muintire Finn
• Fianṡruth
• A poem credited to Finn on the deeds of Goll mac Mornai Glinne Garad

• Acallam na Senórach
• "The Chase of Slieve na mBan"

• Cath Finntrágha ("The Battle of Ventry")
• "Book of the Dean of Lismore" (Scottish)

• Duanaire Finn, a book of miscellaneous poems written by Aodh Ó Dochartaigh
• Tóraigheacht Dhiarmada agus Ghráinne, "The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Grainne"

• Collections made in the Scottish Highlands by Alexander Pope, Donald MacNicol, Jerome Stone, James McLagan, and others
• Further collections in Scotland and Ireland
• Tape recordings collected in the Scottish Highlands by Hamish Henderson, John Lorne Campbell, and others, of sung performances as well as prose tales.

Description

In the story called "Cause of the Battle of Cnucha," Cumhal is described as the leader of the Fianna. His elopement and the birth of his son, Finn mac Cumhal, caused a battle in which Cumhal was killed by Goll mac Morna. This story introduces the theme of rivalry between Cumhal's clan, Clann Baíscne, and Goll's clan, Clann Morna, a conflict that continues under Finn's leadership of the Fianna.

The name of Almu, the stronghold of the Fianna, is also discussed here. The Metrical Dindsenchas, a collection of poems about landmarks, explains the meaning of the name. When Finn grew old enough, he received the estate of Almu as compensation from his grandfather, who was partly responsible for Cumhal's death.

Finn's birth and family background are also covered in the story "Boyhood Deeds of Finn." Cumhal's son was named Demne at birth but later renamed "Finn" after eating a magical salmon. This gave Finn the ability to gain knowledge, which appears in other stories, such as the Acallamh, an Ossianic poem, and other poems about Finn's adventures.

In "Boyhood Deeds of Finn," Finn kills a supernatural creature named Aodh son of Fidga from the síd during Halloween, or Samhain. This story is also told in the Acallamh, where Aodh is called "Aillen." Aillen would terrorize Tara every Samhain by playing music on his harp that made warriors helpless. Finn killed Aillen with a magic spear and became the leader of the Fianna, replacing Goll.

Finn was hunting a fawn when his hounds refused to let him kill it. That night, the fawn turned into a woman named Sadhbh, who had been transformed by a druid named Fer Doirich. Sadhbh was protected by the spell at the Dun of Allen, Fionn's home. They married, but Fer Doirich tricked Sadhbh into leaving the Dun, turning her back into a fawn. Fionn found their son, Oisín, who was raised by a fawn. Oisín became a famous bard, but Sadhbh was never seen again.

One of the most famous stories in the cycle involves the High King Cormac mac Airt offering his daughter, Gráinne, to the aging Finn. Gráinne instead fell in love with a young hero, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, and they ran away together. Finn chased them, but eventually made peace with the couple. Later, Finn invited Diarmuid on a boar hunt, where Diarmuid was seriously injured. Finn could have healed him with water from his hands but let it run through his fingers instead. His grandson, Oscar, scolded him, but it was too late—Diarmuid died.

Between Oisín's birth and the Battle of Gabhra, the cycle includes many stories that are too complex for a short summary. Eventually, the High King Cormac died, and his son, Cairbre Lifechair, wanted to destroy the Fianna because he refused to pay their protection taxes. He raised an army and started a war by killing one of Finn's servants. Goll supported the king against Clan Bascna in the battle. Some stories say five warriors killed Finn, while others say he died in the Battle of the Ford of Brea, killed by Aichlech Mac Dubdrenn or Goll, whom Finn killed in return. Only twenty warriors survived the battle, including Oisín and Caílte.