Finn Mac Cummal

An Encyclopaedia of Occultism (1920)

In Irish romance, Captain of the Fianna and the centre of the Ossianic tales. His father Cumhal, chief of the clan Basena, was slain at Castle Knock by the rival clan Morna , but his mother succeeded in saving him from the enemy. He was brought up in hiding and given the name of Finn from the clearness of his skin. learned science and poetry from the druid Finegas who dwelt on the river Boyne. The druid had been unable to catch the salmon of knowledge until Finn became his pupil, and when he did succeed in catching it, he told Finn to watch it while it was cooking but not to partake of it. Finn, however, burned his fingers as he turned the spit and put one of them in his mouth. Seeing this, Finegas bade him eat the salmon and he became filled with the wisdom of all ages. Afterwards he took service with King Cormac to whom he revealed his name and lineage. Cormac promised him the leadership of the Fianna if he succeeded in killing the fire-blowing demon that came yearly to set Tara in flames. Finn slew the demon and bore his head back to Tara. The Fianna were therefore ordered to swear allegiance to Finn as their captain, which, led by Goll mac Morna, their former captain, they all did. Under Finn, the Fianna rose to great eminence, an eminence which at length became tyrannical and from which they were thrown at the battle of Bowra. Finn's end is shrouded in mystery. According to popular tradition he and his great companions lie sleeping in an enchanted cave whence they shall arise in the hour of their country's need, like Arthur, Barbarossa and Charlemagne.