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Wednesday, July 23, 2014

The Celtic Fenian Cycle

Fionn mac Cumhaill, illustration by Stephen Reid.


The Fenian cycle describes the exploits of the hero giant named Fionn Mac Cumhaill and his warriors from Fianna.  It is the 3rd Cycle of the four major Irish Cycles.  Fionn is famous for his outwitting of another giant by pretending to be his own baby.

The Fianna were a coalition of clans, for the protection of the kingdom, brought together by Cormac mac Art.   A man named Cumhal leads the clan.  He is killed and the treasure of the clan is stolen after the Battle of Knock.  Cumhal's wife, Muirne escapes and has a son named Demna who is later renamed Fionn because of his fair hair.  When he is grown he takes revenge on those who killed his father and recovers the clan's treasure bag and becomes a clan leader.


by Rita Jean Moran (www.thelibrarykids.com and www.hiddenhumanstory.com)


Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenian_Cycle

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fionn_mac_Cumhaill

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