LCIS WOSAS : F978

WOSAS : F978	WOSAS/CD305/track1 & WOSAS/CD306/track1 & WOSAS/CD307/track1 R1030.wav R1031.wav R1032.wav
an Irish Mythology story; Fionn MacCumhaill story

Sound recording, story; sections of the epic cycle of Fionn MacCumhaill stories orginating from Irish mythology, and including birth tales and transformation tales, from Ireland and Western Isles of Scotland, told by Ben Haggarty, in a private performance in the appartment of storyteller Abbi Patrix, Paris, France in the 1990s.

Introduction by Ben Haggarty, followed by a number of stories about Fionn MacCumhaill and the Fianna told by Ben Haggarty. The first section tells of the creation of the Fianna, the death of Fionn's father Cumhaill and the birth of Fionn. Fionn's father, Cumhaill, had been immortal until he lost his virginity with a young women. Cumhaill is betrayed and killed by Arca Dubh who then steals his weapons. One-eyed Goll MacMorna takes leadership of the Fianna. The young women gives birth to a boy, after carrying it for 9 years in her womb. She dies in childbirth and the boy is rasied by two eldery women who name him Demne. Demne grows up, learns to fight and then is apprenticed to an elderly poet, who is obsessed with fishing for the salmon of knowledge on the banks of the River Boyne. When he does at last catch the salmon of knowledge, Demne accidentally is the first to taste the fish. Demne is given second sight, and takes the name Fionn. Fionn finds his father's weapons and crane-skin bag at the grave of Arca Dubh, and vows to avenge his father's death. Fionn travels to Tarra and, ridding the fort of a curse, is rewarded by becoming head of the Fianna.

The second section of story tells of Fionn's encounters with women and how he once bannished one of the Fianna to the woods to live as half-deer and half-man, on account of a false accusation of rape by a women Fionn had fallen for. This is followed by a story of Fionn's marriage to Sabha (Sava). Fionn is out hunting one day and his dogs find and protect a deer, which then follows Fionn back to his fort. That night the deer transforms itself into a beautiful women, Sabha, who has fallen in love with Fionn, but whose father has promised her to another man. Fionn and Sabha marry, but when Fionn is called to battle, Sabha is lured from the fort and returns to the wild living as a deer. Fionn returns to find Sabha gone, and bans hunting for three years. When at last the hunt for deer resumes, Fionn's dogs find a boy in the forest, Fionn's son by Sabha. Fionn names his son Oisin. This is followed by a story 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. With questions and comment from the audience.

The third section of story tells of some of the consequences of this encounter, how Lugidh has a son, fathered by her own brother; of Grania and Diarmud and of how Oisin becomes King of the other world. 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 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.

Every seven years in Tir na nOg, the land of eternal youth, is a competition to find 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 son, 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 he 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
completeness:-	complete
duration:-	1 hour, 55 minutes, 46 seconds

The performance was for Abbi Patrix, who was spreparing to direct his wife and two other actresses in a piece based on Diarmud and Grania

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

origin:-	Ireland Scotland, West

storytelling:-	Paris, France about 1990s private performance

gift from:-	storyteller: Ben Haggarty

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