#Celtic#FolkloreThursday: How did the storytellers of the #IronAge learn about the prehistory of #Ireland? #Fintan mac Bochra could tell them all about it, because he lived for at least 5000 years after the Deluge well into the time of #Fionn Mac Cumhaill, becoming the repository of all knowledge of #Ireland and all history.
During a foot race, only Daolghus could keep pace with the giant Loinn Mhic Liomhtha and when they came to the Cave of Corann, Co. Sligo, they entered together, with the other Fianna warriors following close behind. Inside the cave there was a forge where a number of gigantic and hideous smiths were busy making weapons. Daolghus assisted Lon at the forge, hammering steel bars into swords and soon grew red-faced from the heat and his exertions. One of the other smiths enquired as to who was the “slender warm” man. He used the word “caoilte” which conveys the meaning of “slender”, and this caused an
amused #Fionn to declare that henceforth Daolghus would be known as Caoilte, and so he was.`
Source: Antiquarian Research in Co. Sligo as a Background to the Mythology and Archaeology of Moytura by Eamonn P. Kelly
#Celtic#FairyTaleTuesday: #Tara was once reigned by a Wolf King. According to legend, #Cormac mac Art was the High King of Ireland at the same time as #Fionn mac Cumhaill was the leader of the #Fianna, c. the third century AD. He ruled from Tara for forty years, and during his reign, all of #Ireland flourished.
Source: Ali Isaac https://twitter.com/lethemain/status/593090313603915776
“A wine made from honey, #mead figures in a number of #Celtic myths and legends as a drink favored by warriors. Its most consistent mythological association is with the goddess/queen whose name is the same as the drink, #Medb, and who represented the intoxication and danger of kingship.”
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore
The sister of the better-known heroine Sadb, Daireann took a fancy to the great warrior #Fionn mac Cumhaill, who did not return the interest. In revenge, she poisoned him—not with a death potion but with an enchanted elixir that drove the great man insane. Most of Fionn’s followers, the Fianna, abandoned him during his insanity, but they returned when his wits did. Daireann’s pride took another blow when Fionn had a child with Sadb, who became his favorite follower, the poet Oisín.
Source: Patricia Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and Folklore
In #Irish, the Bluebell is known as Coinnle Corra. These delicate #spring-blossoming wild flowers have their place in Irish #mythology: On her wedding night to #Fionn mac Cumhaill, #Grainne was said to have mixed bluebell with tormentil and secreted it into the wedding guests’ wine, thus sending them all to sleep so she could elope with her beloved Diarmuid.#Celtic
Source: Ali Isaac | Substack
One day, Cormac, the High King of Ireland, was captivated by a youth dressed in splendid robes and finely costumed. Over his shoulder he carried a nine-belled stick, each bell shaped like a golden apple. The music it produced was so enchanting that Cormac bartered his wife, son, and daughter for it. This caused great sorrow among his people, which he alleviated with the stick’s music.#Celtic
Source: The Vanishing of Cormac | Emerald Isle Irish and Celtic myths, fairy tales and legends
#Celtic#FairyTaleTuesday: The ugliest woman the world had ever seen had lured #Fionn an the Fianna to her place. „One side of her face was white, and one black, and her hair was
like red fire-flames waving round her head.
She took a small harp and played, and the music was like the rippling of a rock-strewn
mountain stream, or the murmur of the nightwind when it plays through tall pines in summer. Then she chanted a little song to them in an unknown tongue, and a strange helplessness relaxed their limbs ; although they felt that some great disaster was about to overtake them they had no strength to avert it.
When the woman saw that her spells had conquered the Fians, she fetched a two-edged sword and began to slay the warriors as quickly as she could, taunting them with their lethargy.“
Source: Heroes of The Dawn by Violet Russel
#Celtic#FairyTaleTuesday: While Fionn Mac Cumhaill was away, his wife had an affair. In the process, #Lomna, #Fionns fool, caught her and was therefore killed by #Cairbre, the lover. On his return, #Finn only had to touch his wisdom tooth with his thumb to find out the name of the murderer. Source: Sylvia Botheroyd #Ireland`
#FairyTaleTuesday: Deceived by the splendid sight of Midacs palace that was surrounded by magical rowan trees, #Fionn Mac Cumhaill entered and made himself comfortable in the grand banquet hall. Midac came in, stared at them, and departed without a word. It was then that Fionn and his warriors realized that a trap had been set. They had been deceived by a glamour and were really being held hostage in a crude shack. One after another of the #Fianna warriors came to their rescue, with Diarmait finally lopping off Midac’s head. Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic#Mythology and #Folklore`
#Celtic#MythologyMonday: The blade of the spear forged by Culain, the smith of the Tuatha de Danann, concealed a deadly power. By the desire for battle the spear moved and struggled in the hand of #Fionn Mac Cumhaill, as though some spirit was imprisoned in it.
Source: Heroes of the Dawn by Violet Russel
It was because of the early demise of #Fionn mac Cumhaill's father that the feminine energy in his early life became so important. The most significant influence on Fionn’s childhood was his aunt and foster mother, the #druid Bodhmall. Her education was furthered by Liath Luachra/Luchra, who trained Fionn in the martial arts and whom he accidentally killed.
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore
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RT @leeoconnor @NeuKelte Tá fáilte romhat, thanks for being into it. Also, here’s a drawing of Liath Luchra…
#Celtic#LegendaryWednesday: In the #CavesOfKesh powerful hags or goddesses, Camóg, Cuilleann and Iornach, described as members of the #TuathaDeDannan, held the great hero #Fionn Mac Cumhaill and the rest of the #Fianna captive. They were set to take revenge on Fionn on behalf of their father, who hated to see the wild things of his woods disturbed by the hunting of the Fianna.
Fionn’s archenemy Goll mac Morna rescued them. He was cleverer and experienced enough to not put one toe beyond the holly bush at the entrance to the enchanted place. He challenged the hags to battle and slaughtered them finally. Goll mac Morna was rewarded with the marriage to Fionns daughter Sgannlach. credit @EithneMassey Legendary #Ireland`
#Celtic#FolkyFriday: Before #Fionn mac Cumhaill, stood three figures: one a tall man, with tangled grey hair and beard, the ugliest man he had ever seen; and by his side stood a grim old woman with three heads, and each of the heads was yelling most horribly. Hut the third figure was more appalling than the other two, for it was the body of a man without a head, and in the middle of his breast a single eye rolled and turned about, and shone with a dull green glare. Fionn, however, was in no way frightened by these dreadful looking beings. The old grey man laughed, and said, as he locked and barred the door: "We shall certainly kill you and your companions before the morning breaks." In the darkness of that enchanted house a fierce fight began. The grey old man wove spells to weaken the heroes' limbs, while phantoms attacked them on every side with weapons cast in that dark underworld from whence they came. In the morning the pale light of dawn shone through the broken door, dispersed the darkness of the hut, and both house and phantoms disappeared from sight.
Source: Heroes of the Dawn by Violet Russel
#FolkloreThursday: #Fionn Mac Cumhail was tracking Gráinne. So she hid from her former suitor on a magical rowan tree. But the leader of the Fianna suspected where she and her lover Diarmait were. He sat beneath the tree of the giant named Searbhan and began to play fidchell that had been Diarmait’s passion, against his friend Oisín the bard. Unable to resist indicating the best move to his chum, Diarmait dropped berries onto the board from above, thus revealing his location to Fionn. And so the pursuit began again.
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore
#Celtic#FairyTaleTuesday: High King Art mac Cuinn had a one night stand with Achtan, daughter of a druid/smith named Olc Acha. One night, however, as Achtan slept, exhausted from her day’s travelling, her infant, #Cormac mac Airt, was stolen by a she-wolf and raised alongside her cubs.
Source: Ali Isaac | Substack https://twitter.com/DaraSands/status/1325749794388709376
„On a bitterly cold winter day, #Fionn and his men, weary from travel, sought shelter from the harsh weather. Amidst heavy hailstorms and falling snow, they pursued a fawn until it vanished near Slieve-na-man. In the growing darkness and biting cold, they discovered the great house of Donn mac Midir. The Fians feasted on Angus Óg’s magical swine, the golden apples from Manannan’s hidden Isle of Youth, and nuts from wisdom-bearing hazel-trees. This enchanted meal bestowed enduring strength, valor, and wisdom.“ #Celtic
Source: Heroes of the Dawn by Violet Russel
The interior of Croghan Hill in Co. #Offaly belongs to the #Otherworld of Bri Éile. This is named after Éle, a Sidhe. The men of #Ireland were at feud about that maiden. One man after another went to woo her on #Samhain and to each one this used to happen: one of his people was slain. This went on year after year until #Fionn Mac Cumhail put an end to it. He killed #Aed from the Otherworld, who had always killed someone from the followers of the courtship out of jealousy.
#Celtic#FolkloreSunday: #Fionn was set upon by several fierce warriors at Ballyleague. Almost overcome by the number of opponents, Fionn was rescued by Sínann, who arrived with a magical stone that, when Fionn threw it, killed all his enemies at once. Fearful of the power of Sínann’s stone, Fionn threw it into the river, where it remains hidden in a low ford. Should a woman named Be Thuinne ever find it, it would indicate the world’s end is near.
Source: Heroes of the Dawn by Violet Russel
#Celtic#MythologyMonday: Milucra hoped to win over the legendary hero #Fionn mac Cumhaill, #Áine's lover. Knowing that her sister had sworn never to marry a man with gray hair, #Milucra secretly cast a spell on the lake near the summit of #SlieveGullion so that anyone who swam in it would grow old. She tricked Fionn by asking him to fetch her golden ring from the lake, and he emerged as an old man with gray-white hair. His men, the Fianna, forced her to give him a healing potion from her cornucopia. Fionn became young again, but his hair did not regain its true color. This is said to be the origin of his name Fionn, which means "white". In some versions of the tale, Milucra turned out to be the Cailleach Bhéara (Calliagh Birra), an ancient goddess. https://twitter.com/irishspiritmag/status/1590023742540783618?t=FCBA1DBT8zjGz6YnvhKT2g&s=09
Source: Slieve Gullion - Wikipedia
#MythologyMonday: „When the shinbones of #Fionn Mac Cumhaill’s mother were thrown into Lough Derg, they immediately came alive as #Caoranach. The serpent swam instantly to shore and swallowed Conan, but Fionns son fought his way out from her belly, killing the serpent in the process. When the hero emerged, he was both skinless and hairless, thus earning the name Conan Muil, “bald Conan.” The blood of the dying serpent stained the lake red, hence its name (“Dark Lake”).“ Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic#Mythology and #Folklore`
A nephew of #Fionn Mac Cumhaill and hunter for the fair #Gráinne, the Fianna hero #Caílte, was a poet who entertained after the evening meal with recitations and song. He was also an athlete renowned for his fleetness of foot.
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore
RT @whatters1
Cailte mac Rónáin, the fastest warrior of the Fianna - nephew of Fionn mac Cumhaill, a warrior and a member of the fianna in the Fenian Cycle of Irish m… https://twitter.com/whatters1/status/1488469648626573319
#Finnéces was eager to gain all the knowledge that the Salmon of Wisdom had from eating hazelnuts. For seven years the #druid had been waiting for just the right moment to gain the wisdom that the salmon held within itself. When the time was right, Finnéces/Finegas caught the fish, who came to his line as though by prearrangement.
The old druid set the fish to cook, leaving the boy #Fionn mac Cumhaill to watch it and warning him not to touch it or taste it. But the salmon sizzled and spattered onto Fionn’s thumb, which he stuck into his mouth to ease the pain. Immediately wisdom flooded him—the very wisdom that Finnéces had been hoping to attain.
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore
#MythologyMonday: #Finnéces was eager to gain all the knowledge that the Salmon of Wisdom had from eating hazelnuts. For seven years the #druid had been waiting for just the right moment to gain the wisdom that the salmon held within itself. When the time was right, Finnéces/Finegas caught the fish, who came to his line as though by prearrangement.
The old druid set the fish to cook, leaving the boy #Fionn mac Cumhaill to watch it and warning him not to touch it or taste it. But the salmon sizzled and spattered onto Fionn’s thumb, which he stuck into his mouth to ease the pain. Immediately wisdom flooded him—the very wisdom that Finnéces had been hoping to attain.
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore https://twitter.com/ChristineV8/status/1332425609260232707
#Celtic#MythologyMonday: „#Fionn was looking through the forest on a hunt, when he saw a man in the top of a tree. And this was the gesture of the man, to be cracking nuts – he would give half the kernel of a nut to the blackbird that was on his right shoulder while he would himself eat the other half; and he would take an apple out of the bronze vessel that was in his left hand, twist it in two, throw one half to the stag that was at the foot of the tree, and then eat the other half himself.
And on it he would drink a sip of the water in the bronze vessel that was in his hand, so that he and the trout and the stag and the blackbird drank together.
Then his followers asked of Fionn who he in the tree was, for they did not recognise him on account of the hood of disguise which he wore. So Fionn put his thumb into his mouth. When he took it out again, his imbas illuminated him and he chanted an incantation:
"Along with drinking in common with a salmon, Dercc Corra of the desert eats jointly with a blackbird half of a nut that he has cracked. It was not with a bending movement of it that the son of Ó Daigre split his wine-sweet apple against a sharp set of teeth".
Then saying “'Tis Derg Corra son of Ua Daigre and none other that is in the tree!”
emeraldisle.ie: "Fionn and the Man in the Tree"
#Celtic#FairyTaleTuesday: When the word given by #Fionn mac Cumhaill had been set aside by Donn and Dubhan, the hound of the three wonder-working princes of Norway rose, and suddenly assuming its gigantic size breathed hard in the direction of the brothers. Each breath was like a strong rushing wind; with one breath their shields were blown from their shoulders into the rampart of fire, with another their weapons were wrenched from their hands and destroyed also. Then the three princes attacked Donn and Dubhan, who having no arms to defend themselves with, were killed. "Breathe on them, hound, and make them as though they had never lived," said the men.The hound blew a fiery breath on the bodies of Donn and Dubhan, and immediately they were burned into little heaps of ashes, which were blown hither and thither by the wind.
Source: Heroes of the Dawn by Violet Russel