Ffin fab Coel: a Cymric and Irish Hero

Synonyms: Fionn mac Cumhaill, Fin mac Cool
Cym, Irish:

Ffin fab Coel is amongst the heores of the Irish Fenian and Ulster cylcles icorporated into the lists of heroes given in the Mabinogion of Culhwch ac Olwen. Others such as Derdri and Nyf are mentioned by the Gogynfeirdd, which strongly indicates that the Fenian and Ulster cycles were known to the early Cymric storytellers and that some of these legends lasted long into the mediaeval period. Knowledge of these tales probably came from the Old North, from the links between the peoples of Ystradclud (Strathclyde) and Ulster. This may explain why echoes of the northern character, Drystan is seen in the Ulster cycle and why CúChulain goes to the isle of Arran to learn the feats of weapons. Ideed, there would seem to have been a movement of people from southern Scotland to Northern Ireland and vice-veras for at least 5000 years.

The Cymric Ffin fab Coel is the Irish hero, Fionn mac Cumhaill the hero and central figure of the Fenian cycle in Cymric guise. Etymologically, however, his Cymric counterpart is Gwyn fab Nudd (though Gwyn is not Fionn's direct mythological counterpart) and it is interesting that both are named amongst Arthur's warriors in the Mabinogion of Culhwch ac Olwen. Fionn's name (meaning 'White' or 'Fair' for the colour of his hair) is echoed in the name of the Gaulish deity Vindonnus whose name is comemorated in several placenames along the route of the Danube. Fionn's character as a poet-warrior-seer seems to have arisen when the Leinstermen revering Fionn's archetype, Find in the Boyne valley were driven out of their homeland by the Ui Neíll of Ulster. Thus they created the figure of Fionn, who resided in the countryside and who is ready to defend the people without overtly ruling over them. As a result the figure of Fionn (or Ffin) may have come to Cymric consciousness by two sources: the legents of the Old North (most particularly Strathclyde) and also the Llŷn Peninsula which was settled by displaced Leinstermen.

Fionn's father, Cumhaill mac Baiscne was the chieftain of the Fianna, the legendary bodyguards of the High King of Ireland and Scotland, but he was killed by Goll mac Morna before Fionn's birth. On the distaff side Fionn was the son of Muirne who was the grand-daughter of Nuada one-time ruler of the insular gods, the Tuatha Dé Danann. Terrified for her son's survival after the murder of his father, Muirne sent her son away, entrusting him to the care of her sister, the druidess Bodhmal, and the amazon, Fiacclach mac Conchinn. The boy is named Demne and together the women raised him deep within the safety of the mountains of Eiru. He was trained in the rudiments of arms before being sent from place to place to keep him safe and further his education. At the end of his training period Fiacclach mac Conchinn gifts the boy with the magic spear which had originally been the posession of his father.

When he was ten, Demne ventured forth to seek service under serveral kings. But when they learnt his true identity each sent him away for fear of retribution from Goll mac Morna. Discouraged and disconsolate Fionn wandered aimlessly the length and breadth of Ireland until he was eventually taken-in by an old warrior-poet, Finnéces who took Fionn as his own apprentice for seven years and taught him the rhyming magic of the bards. At the end of the seven years Finegas happened to catch the Salmon of Knowledge at Linn Féic which he had been pursuing most of his life. He gave this fish to Fionn to prepare for him, warning the boy not to let the fish blister as it cooked. Though Fionn watched the cooking fish as carefully as he could a single blister did appear on its skin. Not wishing to disappoint his teacher Fionn used his thumb to press down the blister, but as he did so he burnt himself in the process. Instinctively he placed his thumb in his mouth and as he did so he gained magical insight into the future (compare here the tale of Gwion Bach and the Cauldron of Inspiration). From this time he only had to chew on his thumb to receive foreknowledge of future events. At this time Fionn also drank a mouthful of water from the well of the moon which gave him the power of prophecy.

Reaching his seventeenth birthday, Demne left Finegas and sought to reclaim his father's place amongst the host of the Fianna. Entering an athletic competition he wins easily, but another of the contestants challenges Demne's victory the hero kills him. From the crowd someone shouts: 'Cé hé an giolla fionn?' (Who is the fair boy?) and from this Fionn gained his name, 'Fair'. From here he travelled to Tara, place of the high king of the land of Eiru. Now, it happened that every Samhain night for nine years, a prince of the Tuath Dé Danann would emerge from his sídh mound to burn Tara. This prince, Aillen would then play such sweet enchanted music that everyone at the Samhain feast would fall into a magic sleep. The high king promised that if any man could save Tara he would grant that man whatever inheritance he claimed.

With the aid of his magic spear, the gift of Fiacclach mac Conchinn, which he constantly kept pressed to his foreahead, Fionn was able to withstand Aillen's enchantment. When he realized that one person amongst the host was still awake, Aillen's grew angry and shot a flame from his mouth. But Fionn easily caught it in his cloak. Realizing that Fionn could well overwhelm him Aillen's retreated to ihs sídh mound. As he entered through the doorway Fionn cast his spear which pierced the prince through the heart, instantly killing him.

The High King recognized Fionn's right to his inheritance and as the son of Cunhaill, a man he had trusted, Fionn was admitted to the Fianna. Eventually Fionn challenged Goll mac Morna and he gathered to him 150 of the best and bravest of the Fianna to do battle with Goll mac Morna's clan. Though the struggle was long, lasting several days, Goll mac Morna's men ultimately proved to be no match for the Fianna and Goll mac Morna himself died on Fionn's sword.

In one of his many adventures, Fionn was summoned to the Otherworld by Fiacclach mac Conchinn (she who had trained him as a boy). She wanted him to do battle with the great serpent which had been poisoning the Tree of Life with its breath. She gifted him with an oaken shield and blessed his sword, Birga before sending him down into the earth to slay the serpent. The battle was long and hard and it was a full three days and three nights before he was finally able to defeat the beast. Somehow he made his way back to Fiachel, who bathed him and tended his wounds. She fed him with apples, hazelnuts and honey, the fruits of the Tree of Life; all foods sacred to the sídh. Fionn was in her care for a week, but when he returned home to the realms of men three years had passed.

Throughout the tales about him, Fionn's favourite animal is the dog and his companios were often his two hounds, Bran and Sceolan who were really his nephews in canine form. They had been born in the otherworld to Fionn's sister but she had been transformed into a dog by a curse and gives birth to two canine sons. During one particular hunt they chased a fawn into Fionn's house. However, sensing something in the creature Fionn refuses to kill her and, indeed, the fawn later turns out to be a young woman named Sadb whom a druid had cursed into the form of a deer. It is she who gives birth to Fionn's most noteworthy son, Oisín. Sadb eventually reverts to her deer form and is taken from Fionn by the druid.

Later writings record Fionn's standard as a golden sun half-risen from a sea-blue ground. Fionn is always portrayed as a fair man, tall with broad shoulders and a broad brow (marking his intelligence) he is the consummate athlete, the best of runners, swimmers and jumpers he can out-pace any warrior. Apart from his magic spear, which never misses its mark, he also bears a famous sword, Mac an Lúin. So great was the power of his sowrd that many mountain passes are thought to have been hewn by this blade. Fionn was also a consumate hunter, his favourite quarry being boar and deer. He was also the slayer of serpents and in additon to the tale given above he is reputed to have slain one of these beasts in almost every lake in Ireland (as wel as many in Scotland and the Isle of Man). However, Fionn's greatest gift is the art of divination and his special knowledge, the imbas forosnai. During his travails, Fionn encounters a succession of women by whom he fathers an innumerable succession of sons. In this respect Fionn is unusual in that he does not have a constant mate. The tales name at least eight wives or lovers, amongst the last of which was Gráinne to whom he was betrothed. But she fell in love with the Fianna, Diarmait O'Duibne and the couple eloped. This inviked the wrath of Fionn who tirelessly pursued them across the entire realm. Years later, when Diarmuid was lying mortally wounded by the boar of Beinn Gulben, Fionn refused to offer him a drink of water from his hands, which had restorative powers.

By the reign of Cairbre Lifechair Fionn's Fianna had out-stayed their welcome and as the various factions start fighting amongst themselves Caibre porvokes the final, climactic, battle of Cath Gabhra where the Fianna are slaughtered by killing Fionn's servant, Ferdia.

There are many tales of Fionn's passing and it seems to be an issue as to whether he was, indeed, mortal. In the text of the Cath Gabhra he is murdered by five men at Garristown, County Dublin. Scottish oral tradition has Fionn die at Cill Fhinn, Perthshire. Other tales have him buried at Ard Caille, County Cork or at Luachair Dedad, County Kerry. In another tale Fionn is re-incarnated as Mongán. Amongst the most persistent tales of Fionn's passing say that he never died at all but rather wasted away into the Otherworld where, like Arthur, he is said to sleep. Another variant of this ending has him as a member of the 'sleeping army' where he and his men remain, suspended, until his people need him again.

If you would like to try the foods of the time of the ancient Celts, then why not have a look at the ancient recipes section of this site. For the foods of the time when some of these tales were written down, take a look at the Medieval recipes section of the site and, in particular, the recipes from The Forme of Cury.

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