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Fionn and his Men |
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Many fine stories are about
the legendary hero, Fionn Mac Cumhail. Fionn is said to have lived about three hundred years after the birth of Christ. He was leader of a great band of fighting men who guarded the coast of Ireland, and kept peace within the land. |
| Fionn’s men were called the Fianna. They
were all tall, and strong, and brave. No man could join them without passing severe tests. Standing in a hole in the ground, up to his chin, he had to defend himself against nine men throwing spears at him. He had to run through a wood without breaking a twig under his feet and without ruffling his hair in the trees. |
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| He had to be able to jump over a tree as high as his forehead and to stoop under a branch as low as his knee. |
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He had to know twelve books of verse and to be
able to make a poem himself. Each man was pledged to obey Fionn and to be faithful to the High King. He was also bound by a vow to be kind to the poor and to be gentle with women. |
| The motto of the Fianna was "Purity in our hearts; strength in our arms, truth on our lips." |
| In winter Fionn and his men were the guests of kings and chiefs. In summer, when not on duty, they spent the time hunting. They had hunting dogs of such great size and strength that one dog alone could pull down a great horned deer or a fierce wild boar. Fionn’s dogs were larger or finer than any in Ireland. |  |
| Bran was the name of his favourite, and she was as gentle as she was strong. Sometimes Fionn led her by a silver chain, which was linked to a golden collar. |
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When the day was done, the men used to camp
out on the hills. At certain spots deep pits had been dug. These were used as ovens, or cooking places. First, a great fire was lighted in the pit. When the fire had died down, a large piece of meat was wrapped in grass and laid on the hot stones at the bottom of the pit. A layer of hot stones was placed on top, More parcels of meat were laid in, until the oven was full. |
| No man sat down to eat without first bathing
in a nearby stream or pool. In some parts of Ireland "Fenian Ovens" are to be found today. They remind us of the great days of Fionn and his men. |
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