LCIS WOSAS : F977

WOSAS : F977	WOSAS/CD303/track1 & WOSAS/CD304/track1 R1028.wav R1029.wav
an Irish Mythology story; Fionn MacCumhaill story

Sound recording, story; birth tale and section of the epic cycle of Fionn MacCumhaill stories orginating from Irish mythology, from Ireland and Western Isles of Scotland, told by Ben Haggarty, in a public performance at the Ancient Technology Centre, 31st October in the early 1990s

Continued from R1026 and R1027, a series of stories of Fionn MacCumhaill told by Ben Haggarty. The first section tells of how Fionn and fourteen of the Fianna meet death, strength and youth, in the form of an old man, a goat and a beautiful women, and how each of the Fianna acquires a particular nature or power. The story goes on to tell of the consequences of this encounter. How Lugidh has a son, fathered by her own brother, and then of the marriage of Fionn and Grania. Grania, the King's daughter, agrees to marry Fionn, but during their wedding feast, she catches sight of Diarmud and abandons her husband. Diarmud rejects Grania's advances, but she tricks him and he is forced into running away with her. Diarmud refuses to consumate his relationship with Grania. She tires of him and tries to kill him, but fails. When Diarmud is eventually found, Fionn challenges him to hunt the largest boar in the forest. Diarmud succeeds, but a mole on his foot is pierced by one of the boar's bristles which poisons him. The only thing which will save Diarmud is water given to him in Fionn's hands, but undecided, Fionn delays and Diarmud dies. Fionn then finds Grania hiding in a cave and realises that Diarmud had not consumated their relationship. Grania is killed. With the death of Diarmud, Diarmud's young daughter attacks Fionn. Oscar, Fionn's grandchild defends Fionn and kills the girl.

The following section tells of how Oisin became King in Tir na nOg. Every seven years in Tir na nOg, the land of eternal youth, is a competition to select the King of the land. For seven years the same man wins, but he is warned by his head druid that he will soon loose to his son in law. The King has no son in law, but has a beautiful daughter. He tells the druid to solve the problem, who gives the girl a head of a pig. The druid tells her that if she marries one of Fionn MacCumhaill's sons she will be cured. The girl goes to the upper world and tracks down one of Fionn MacCumhaill's sons, Oisin. She follows him to a hunt and helps him carry half his kill. She tells Oisin of her plight and, on hearing that she is from the Tir na nOg, he agrees to help her. They are married and return to Tir na nOg, where Oisin promptly wins the competition to become the King.

The final section of story tells of the death of Fionn and his resurection; the death of Goll MacMorna, and how the Fianna came to be disbanded. The members of the Fianna die one by one, until Fionn himself becomes mortal and dies. Meanwhile in Tir na nOg, Oisin wishes to return home. His wife brings him a white horse to ride back to the upper world, but warns him not to step foot on the land. He arrives home to find the land deserted. When he asks a man what has happened to Fionn MacCumhaill and the Fainna, he is told that these are mere legends. Oisin goes to find the horn that can call the Fianna, but as he helps to move the rock under which the horn is hidden, Oisin falls from his horse. The minute he touches the ground Oisin ages 900 years. The priest, Patrick, is called. He nurses him and Oisin tells him all the stories of Fionn MacCumhaill and the Fianna before he dies.

audience:-	adult
recording quality
condition:-	good; fair
completeness:-	complete
duration:-	1 hour, 4 minutes, 44 seconds

storytelling:-	storyteller: Ben Haggarty male / British / born 30.11.1958

origin:-	Ireland Scotland, West

programming & administration:-	programmer; administrator: Jake Keen

storytelling:-	Cranbourne, Dorest, England: The Ancient Technology Centre about 1990s public performance

gift from:-	storyteller: Ben Haggarty

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