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La leyenda de Finn McCool y la Calzada de los Gigantes

Cuando se trata de las teorías referentes a la creación de la Calzada de los Gigantes, aquí en este blog sobre Mitos y Leyendas no podemos sino considerar absurdas las suposiciones de los científicos de que las fuerzas de la naturaleza crearon esta increíble estructura que se ha convertido en una de las mayores atracciones de Irlanda. Nosotros, por supuesto, tenemos una teoría mucho más verosímil sobre la creación de este maravilloso paisaje de la que estamos a punto de haceros partícipes, pero por deferencia a la comunidad científica y geológica, expondremos primero su teoría, la que indica que de hecho la geología y la ciencia sí que después de todo jugaron un papel importante en el surgimiento de este lugar.  Ellos dicen que la Calzada de los Gigantes se formó hace unos 50 ó 60 millones de años cuando lo que es hoy el condado de Antrim se encontraba bajo una intensa actividad volcánica. La lava surgió a través de la capa caliza y se enfrió formando las columnas hexagonales que podemos ver en nuestros días. La altura de cada columna se debe a la velocidad con que la lava surgió y el tiempo que tardó en enfriarse. La mayoría de las columnas de basalto son hexagonales, pero las hay también de cuatro, cinco, siete e incluso ocho lados. Las más altas miden unos 12 metros y la lava solidificada en los acantilados llega a tener un grosor de 28 metros en algunos lugares. Después de tanto tiempo expuestas a los elementos, las estructuras de este lugar han tomado diferentes formas, como por ejemplo el “órgano” o las “botas del gigante”.

La Calzada fue declarada Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la Unesco en 1986 y Reserva Natural en 1987 por el departamento de desarrollo de Irlanda del Norte.

Esto es lo que hizo la naturaleza, por lo visto, pero en nuestro mundo de fantasía existe una curiosa y bonita leyenda sobre el origen de la Calzada de los Gigantes. Se cuenta que Finn McCool, guerrero y cazador legendario, lideró el grupo de guerreros irlandeses conocidos como los Fianna, y fue quien erigió la Calzada de los Gigantes.  Finn McCool, hijo de Cumhail, luchó primero por convertirse en el líder de la Fianna. Cumhail fue asesinado y su esposa, que temía por la vida de su hijo, lo envió para que fuera criado por una druida y su hermana, dos mujeres muy fuertes y sabias. En una ocasión, el druida Fingeas pescó el Salmón del Conocimiento y se lo dio a Finn para que lo cocinara. Mientras lo estaba preparando, Finn se quemó el dedo gordo y se lo chupó para calmar el dolor, adquiriendo en ese proceso el don de la profecía.

Finn utilizó este don sabiamente y se hizo con el liderazgo de la Fianna  salvando la vida del Gran Rey Cormac quien, en reconocimiento, le prometió darle a su hija Grainne en matrimonio. Fue entonces cuando Finn organizó la Fianna, que de ser una multitud de guerreros sin orden ni disciplina se transformó en una élite altamente respetada,  verdaderos modelos de caballeros.

Finn era un guerrero muy admirado y respetado. Tuvo varias esposas a lo largo de su vida, aunque su gran pasión fue la diosa Sadhbh (Sive) con quien tuvo un hijo llamado Oisin.

Finn está ligado a muchas de las leyendas del ciclo Feniano. Una de las más importantes cuenta cómo Finn conoció a su primera esposa Sadbh mientras cazaba. Ésta había sido transformada en un ciervo por el hechizo de un malvado druida, Fer Dirich que la pretendía sin resultado. Cuando Finn le vio a quien sería su futura esposa en la figura de un ciervo cogió una flecha dispuesto a darle muerte, pero en ese momento el ciervo puso una pezuña en territorio de la Fianna, donde el hechizo del druida no tenía ningún efecto y en ese momento se convirtió en una bella mujer ante los ojos de Finn McCool. Se enamoraron inmediatamente el uno del otro y poco después de casaron. De esta unión nació  Oisin, el hijo de Finn. Pero un día, mientras Finn se hallaba en otro lugar el malvado druida Fer Doirich se disfrazó como Finn McCool y engañó a Sadhbh para que saliera de la casa y el druida volvió a transformarla de nuevo en ciervo. Ella se echó a Oisin a la grupa y huyó para que el druida no pudiera darle alcance y herir a su hijo. Finn entonces regresó a su hogar y se encontró con que su mujer y su hijo habían desaparecido; durante siete largos años los buscó sin saber que Sadhbh había vuelto a convertirse en ciervo.  Un día cuando se encontraba de caza con la Fianna se topó con un niño salvaje que vivía en el bosque y no tardó mucho en reconocer en la cara de aquel niño las mismas facciones que las de su mujer perdida y se lo llevó con él lleno de alegría de haber encontrado por fin a su hijo Oisin. ¡Este, por suerte para nosotros, llegó a ser el protagonista de tantas leyendas como lo fue su padre!

Pero la leyenda más famosa de Finn McCool es la que está relacionada con la Calzada de los Gigantes del condado de Antrim. Cuenta dicha leyenda que Finn McCool tenía un rival, un gigante escocés llamado Benandonner. Finn McCool decidió construir una calzada que llegara hasta Escocia y así poder retar a su adversario a un combate singular. Cuando terminó su construcción, la calzada unía el Norte de Antrim con Staffa en Escocia.

Benandonner aceptó el reto y cruzó hasta el norte de Irlanda para luchar contra su rival. Cuando Benandonner apareció en el horizonte, Finn McCool, se dio cuenta, aterrorizado, de que su rival era muchísimo más grande y fuerte que él. Finn volvió  corriendo a su casa, donde le esperaba su mujer, Oonagh. ¿Qué podía  hacer ahora? Oonagh, que era muy sagaz, le disfrazó como un bebé y le hizo acurrucarse en lo que parecía una cuna de enormes dimensiones. Cuando Benandonner llegó, Oonagh le dijo que Finn no estaba y que por favor no despertara a su bebé que dormía plácidamente en su cuna. Ante la visión de aquel enorme bebé Benandonner se asustó pensando en el tamaño que tendría el padre y salió huyendo hacia Escocia. Finn le siguió a una distancia prudencial, y al pasar por  Portadown, en el condado de Antrim, Finn excavó con sus manos una enorme porción de tierra para lanzársela al gigante escocés que huía. El agujero que dejó en el suelo se llenó inmediatamente de agua y se convirtió en el lago más grande de Irlanda, el lago Neagh. El trozo de tierra lanzado falló en su objetivo y fue a aterrizar en mitad del mar de Irlanda, convirtiéndose en la Isla de Man. El gigante escocés consiguió huir, destruyendo la calzada a su paso, para que su adversario no pudiera seguirle. De aquella enorme  calzada todavía se pueden hoy contemplar los dos extremos, uno en Irlanda del Norte y otro en Escocia que es lo que constituye  la Calzada de los Gigantes donde se pueden apreciar formaciones muy similares.

La leyenda hizo de este héroe fabuloso un ser inmortal. Finn McCool no está muerto sino que duerme plácidamente en una cueva, esperando poder defender a Irlanda algún día de gentes malvadas.

La leyenda de Diarmuid y Grainne  

Una de las leyendas más románticas de Irlanda del Norte es la de Diarmuid y Grainne, similar a la leyenda del Rey Arturo y el romance de su esposa Ginebra con el caballero Lancelot.

Se dice que Grainne era la mujer más hermosa de Irlanda. Era hija de Cormac MacAirt, el Rey de Irlanda. Los príncipes y jefes más importantes del país venían a cortejarla. Incluso se vio galanteada por el ya viejo Finn McCool, quien pretendía conseguir a la joven como su segunda esposa. Finalmente la pidió en matrimonio. Ella accedió y se organizó un gran festín para celebrar el compromiso de la nueva pareja. Pero esa misma noche Grainne conoció a Diarmuid, uno de los más poderosos  guerreros de Finn McCool. Y sintió por él un amor irreprimible. Grainne estaba dispuesta a  hacer cualquier cosa para seducirle. Sin pensarlo dos veces drogó a todos los invitados, menos a Diarmuid. Entonces Grainne, libre de impedimentos le declaró su amor. Pero Diarmuid se negó a seguirla porque era leal a Finn, su señor. Como Grainne no estaba dispuesta a ceder en su empeño  le hechizó para que se enamorara perdidamente de ella.

Logrado su propósito huyeron juntos pero fueron perseguidos por un encolerizado Finn McCool que, despierto de su letargo, les siguió por todas partes acompañado de sus hombres.  La pareja cruzó toda Irlanda, escondiéndose en cuevas, árboles, rincones y cualquier recoveco que les sirviera de escondite. Pasaron años huyendo. Grainne quedó embarazada, justo cuando sus perseguidores estaban a punto de alcanzarles. Un día, después de cruzar un páramo, con Finn y sus hombres pisándoles los talones, Diarmuid y Grainne llegaron por fin al monte de Benbulben, en el condado de Sligo, donde les salió al paso un jabalí gigante. Era un mal encuentro, significaba un grave peligro para Diarmuid, porque había una leyenda que decía que la única criatura viviente que podía herirle era un jabalí salvaje.    Cuando el jabalí atacó, Diarmuid, para proteger a su amante embarazada, luchó con él rodando los dos por el suelo en un combate a muerte. El guerrero logró matar al jabalí con su espada, pero ya el jabalí había traspasado a Diarmuid  con sus colmillos hiriéndole de muerte.

Cuando Finn y sus hombres llegaron al lugar, encontraron a Diarmuid casi agonizando en los brazos de Grainne. Ésta, desesperada, sabía que sólo la magia de Finn McCool podría salvar a su amante. Imploró a Finn, rogándole que salvara a su antiguo amigo y le  curara con un sorbo de agua recogido con sus manos mágicas. Pero Finn, resentido, se negó porque su mejor amigo había huido con su prometida. Ante Diarmuid agonizando, sus hombres  también le suplicaron que ayudara al que había sido tan gran guerrero. Pero Finn se negó de nuevo. Entonces Oisin, su hijo, desafió a su padre y le amenazó con matarle. Finn McCool accedió entonces a ayudar a Diarmuid. Pero era demasiado tarde.  Antes de que Finn consiguiera el agua, Diarmuid había muerto.

Oisín, el hijo de Finn McCool  

Oisin u Osián fue el hijo del legendario guerrero Finn McCool. Oisin llegó a ser un gran poeta y formó también parte de los guerreros de la Fianna.

Su nombre se halla también rodeado de leyendas.  La más conocida es la de su viaje a Tir na N’og – la mítica tierra de la Eterna Juventud, el hogar de los Tuatha de Dannan, el último grupo de dioses y diosas que gobernaron Irlanda.

Cuenta la leyenda cómo los antiguos guerreros irlandeses de la Fianna estaban cazando en las orillas del lago Leane, cuando Oisin se enamoró perdidamente de una mujer rubia que montaba un caballo blanco: Niamh Cinn iir (Niam la del Pelo de Oro). Ella le invitó a visitar su tierra de Tir na N’og bajo las aguas del lago Leane en Killarney, donde nadie se hacía viejo y la primavera era eterna.

Aunque Oisin era muy feliz viviendo con Niamh en Tir na N’og, tras haber transcurrido lo que él pensó eran tres años, quiso visitar a su familia. Pero Niamh le advirtió que en la tierra de los mortales habían pasado 300 años y que si volvía a poner un pie en su tierra natal, envejecería todos esos años de golpe. Aun así Oisin se acomodó en la grupa de un caballo, cuidando que sus pies no tocaran tierra firme. Descubrió en efecto que la tierra había cambiado mucho, no había ningún rastro de la Fianna por ninguna parte y encontró que por toda la isla, San Patricio estaba convirtiendo a la gente al cristianismo y se estaban construyendo iglesias. A su retorno al Lago Leane, Oisin se cruzó con un grupo de hombres que trataban de apartar una enorme roca del camino, en lo que se conoce como Bealach Oisin Pass, “El Camino de Oisin”, en las montañas cercanas a Killarny. Como había sido uno de los guerreros más poderosos y esforzados de la Fianna, dijo que él podía mover la piedra con una mano.    Oisin permaneció en su caballo y ante el asombro de los mortales empezó a mover la enorme roca con una sola mano. Pero mientras lo hacía, el estribo del caballo de Oisin se rompió, cayendo al suelo, y el poderoso guerrero se transformó inmediatamente en un anciano ciego. Durante años deambuló por toda Irlanda para encontrarse finalmente con San Patricio al que le contó su historia. Nunca más regresaría a Tir na N’og.

Se cuenta también que un día Oisin estaba siendo perseguido en la cañada Arriffe por una banda de vikingos que habían atracado en la Bahía Roja. Sus perseguidores  estaban a punto de darle alcance cuando, desesperado, comenzó a escalar la ladera de la montaña. A medio camino la pendiente se volvía casi vertical y estuvo a punto de caer al vacío cuando, de repente, apareció una cuerda gris y fibrosa a la que se pudo agarrar para trepar y ponerse a salvo.

Cuando estaba alcanzando la cima, vio una yegua blanca pastando en una hondonada y se dio cuenta de que la cuerda por la que había escalado era, en realidad, la cola de esa yegua. Le dio las gracias y pregunto a la yegua qué podía hacer para librarse de sus enemigos que ahora estaban también subiendo agarrados a su cola. Entonces la yegua se convirtió en niebla de montaña diluyéndose en agua fina que cayó al suelo y se transformó en un riachuelo que empezó a correr sobre el borde del acantilado. Su cola se convirtió en una cascada, que ahora se conoce como la Cola de la Yegua Gris. Mientras tanto los vikingos cayeron al vacío encontrando allí la muerte.

Se cuenta que el cuerpo de Oisin descansa en los Nine Glens de Antrim, en un lugar que se ha conocido durante generaciones como “La Tumba de Oisin”. El monumento megalítico está en la colina de Lubitavish, cerca del río Glenann, a las afueras del pueblo de Cushendall en la costa norte de Antrim.  

Finn McCool y la piedra Cloughmore. El gigante Rostrevor y el lago Calingford  

Finn McCool se hallaba persiguiendo a un jabalí salvaje a través de la montaña de Slieve Foy en Carlingford hasta que, por fin, consiguió darle muerte. Se puso a cocinarlo en la boca de un volcán que hacía mucho tiempo parecía apagado, pero aún despedía calor suficiente para preparar el delicioso animal. Satisfecha el hambre se echó a dormir y no se despertó hasta el alba, cuando el sol ya se asomaba tras las montañas de Mourne. Mientras contemplaba la belleza del lago Carlingford que se extendía al pie de las montañas, una gran sombra se deslizó sobre el lago y momentáneamente bloqueó al sol. Para su sorpresa vio que la sombra la producía otro gigante tan grande como él, que llevaba un escudo blanco colgando de uno de sus hombros e iba armado con una poderosa espada en una mano y un garrote en la otra.

“¿Quién eres?” le gritó Finn, retumbando su voz en las montañas. “Soy el gallo del Norte”,_ gritó el otro gigante y comenzó a cacarear y a mover los  brazos y los codos como si fueran alas. “Si cruzo al otro lado del lago, dijo Finn, te quitaré la corona rápidamente”.

“Cálmate Finn McCool,” respondió el otro gigante. “Mi nombre es Ruscaire, el Gigante de la Nieve y el Hielo, el enemigo de toda la raza humana y si lo que quieres es luchar, yo soy tu hombre.”

“¿Te atreves a retarme a mí - dijo Finn -, el Gigante del Verano? Quizás pienses que me has derrotado, incluso que me has hecho prisionero, pero al final me escaparé y toda la naturaleza volverá a aparecer exultante.”

No había escapatoria, el combate era inevitable, así que los dos gigantes sacaron sus espadas, cada uno con un pie en el Lago Carlinford y la otra pierna a horcajadas en las montañas. Lucharon  primero todo el día y toda la noche con espadas y al segundo día con garrotes. En la mañana del tercer día Ruscaire se despertó temprano de su sueño, y mientras Finn todavía dormía, cruzó el lago y le robó la espada. Podía haberle matado pero hasta entre los gigantes existía  el honor y éste no se lo permitía.

Al despertarse Finn y ver que su espada no estaba y que Ruscaire se la había llevado, una gran rabia se apoderó de él, cogió algunas piedras y se las lanzó a través del agua. Comenzó ahora un gran combate de piedras y rocas con tal furia que los golpes hacían temblar los mismos cimientos de la montaña. Cerca de donde estaba Finn se hallaba la piedra de Cloughmore, que pesaba casi 50 toneladas. Finn, reuniendo todas sus fuerzas, la rodeó con sus enormes brazos y se la lanzó a Ruscaire. La piedra aterrizó en su cabeza. Ruscaire cayó de espaldas y su enorme cuerpo se derrumbó sobre la montaña, donde se derritió como el hielo bajo el calor.

Pero Finn se había agotado con aquel enorme esfuerzo, estaba exhausto y se echó a  dormir sobre la boca del volcan. Su cabeza descansaba en lo alto de la montaña y sus pies en el lago. Tan cansado estaba que ya nunca se despertó.  Pasaron los años y su cuerpo se convirtió en una roca; aún puede verse hoy la silueta de su cuerpo.

Al comienzo de esta entrada hemos hecho insistido en la importancia que tienen para nosotros el misterio de los mitos y las leyendas y cómo supera cualquier necesidad de probar un hecho científico para explicar una historia fantástica. Sin embargo, en este caso el dato científico es incluso más extraño que la leyenda y es la prueba irrefutable de que la batalla entre Finn McCool y Ruscaire tuvo lugar en este mismo lugar tal y como la hemos descrito; ¡las enormes rocas de Slieve Ban, donde Finn estuvo luchando pueden encontrarse en Slieve Foy, donde se encontraba el gigante de la nieve, Ruscaire y del mismo modo formaciones rocosas que solo se dan en el lado de Slieve Foy pueden encontrarse hoy en día en Slieve Ban! De modo que esta es una de esas ocasiones en la que la ciencia y el folclore se mezclan de manera misteriosa y no nos queda más remedio que decir, “¡Tuvo que ocurrir!!”

Bea H.


IN ENGLISH!!!

Finn McCool (Fionn Mac Cumhaill) - The Giant´s Causeway

When it comes to theories regarding the formation of the Giant's Causeway we here at the Myts and Legends blog can't ignore the quite ridiculous assumption by scientists that natural forces of the earth were at work combining to create the incredible structure which has become one of the most famous attractions in all of Ireland. We of course have our own much more plausible theory, which is, to us, more of a definite origin and we will share our legendary stories of its creation, but first it would be impolite not to at least give the other side of these stories, one that would have you believe that science and geology actually had a part to play in the history of this magical landmark. Scientific experts insist that the Giant´s Causeway originally formed around 50 or 60 million years ago, when the Northern Ireland area which today is County Antrim was the subject of intense volcanic activity. The lava, which was fluid molten basalt, erupted up through the coastal areas limestone beds and initially formed a vast flat topped plateau mountain of lava. As this structure cooled down it contracted and split and fractured forming the hexagonal columns that we can see today. The height of each column is based on the speed at which the lava burst forth through the earth’s surface and then the time it took for it to cool down. Most of the basalt columns are hexagonal, many people think that they all are, but in reality, there are also those formed with four sides, five sides, seven and even eight sides. The tallest are about 12 metres (39 ft) high, and the solidified lava in the cliffs is 28 metres (92 ft) thick in places. Some of the structures in the area, having been subject to several million years of weathering, resemble objects, such as the ‘Organ’ and ‘Giant's Boot’ structures. Other features include many reddish, weathered low columns known as ‘Giants Eyes’, created by the displacement of basalt boulders; the ‘Shepherd's Steps’; the ‘Honeycomb’; the ‘Giant's Harp’; the ‘Chimney Stacks’; the ‘Giant's Gate’ and the ‘Camel's Hump’.

The Giant’s Causeway was declared World Heritage site by the Unesco in 1986 and a natural reserve by the department of development of Northern Ireland the following year.

If you are so inclined to believe what scientific experts claim then, apparently, this is what nature did! But in our world of Myths and Legends there exists a more beautiful and curious origin for the basalt wonder and a more credible reason for it being called the ‘Giant’s Causeway’. It is said that a powerful character known as Finn McCool (Fionn Mac Cumhaill), a legendary warrior, hunter and leader of the group of Irish fighting men known as the Fianna, himself “built” the Giant´s Causeway. Finn McCool, son of Cumhail, fought first to become the leader of the Fianna. Finn’s father Cumhail was murdered and Cumhail’s wife, who was afraid son´s life convinced that the assassins would not want Finn replacing him, sent the young warrior to be brought up by a druid and her sister, both of whom were very powerful and wise women. On one occasion the druid Fingeas caught the Salmon of Knowledge and gave it to Finn to cook. While he was cooking it, Finn burned his thumb and sucked it to ease the pain. The flames which had burned his finger were carrying the essence of the Salmon of Knowledge and Finn absorbed from them the gift of prophecy.

Finn used this gift wisely went about seizing the leadership of the Fianna by observing through his ability to prophesise that the Irish King Cormac’s life was in danger. He was then able to set in motion a plan to save the Great King’s life who, in recognition for this, gave him control of the Fianna along with his daughter Grainne´s hand in marriage. It was only when Finn organized the Fianna, that the tribe progressed from being a bunch of warriors with no order or discipline to becoming an elite and highly respected race of brave fighting men. ,

After this Finn became a very admired and respected warrior. He had several wives during his life time although the greatest object of his great passion was the Goddess Sadhbh (Sive) with whom he had a son called Oisin.

Finn is linked to many legends from what was known as the ‘Fenian Cycle’. One of the most important accounts tells how Finn met his first wife Sadhbh. He first encountered her while he was on a hunting expedition. She had been transformed into a deer due to a spell put on her by an evil druid, Fer Doirich whose advances Sadhbh had resisted. When Finn saw Sadbh in deer form he took aim with an arrow to slay her, but Sadhbh set foot into Finn’s Fianna territory and in this region Fer Doirich’s spell had no hold over her and she transformed into a beautiful woman. Finn could not believe what he had just witnessed and could not move for a little while. Sadhbh ran off in human form to Finn’s house where the returning hunter discovered her. He immediately fell in love with her and she with him, they were married shortly afterwards, Finn gave up his hunting for pleasure and spent all his time with Sadhbh and this led to her giving Finn a son, Oisin.  Finn left some years later to go with the Fianna to fight the vikings. While Finn was away the evil druid Fer Doirich discovered that Sadhbh had been left alone with Oisin. He tricked her into thinking that Finn had returned home and outside in trouble disguising himself as her husband. When Sadhbh approached Fer Doirich he revealed himself as his evil self and with a wave of his hazel wand he once again transformed her into a deer. She flicked Oisin up on to her back and ran away at full speed so that Fer could not also harm the child. Finn returned home to find both his loved ones has gone and spent the next 7 years searching for his wife and son unaware that Sadhbh had become a deer once again. While out hunting with the Fianna he discovered a wild boy and had no hesitation in recognizing the boy’s features as identical to his missing wife’s and gripped with joy he realized that he had been reunited with his son Oisin in the strangest of circumstances! It was a very fortunate circumstance, especially for Northern Ireland mythology as Oisin went on to become as famous in legend as his father!

But of course the most famous legend about Finn McCool is the one related to him being the massive warrior responsible for building the Giant's causeway. This legend is based on a second mythological theory that Finn was not so much the powerful hero with supernatural abilities as he was a magnificent giant of a man with no other gifts other than his size and strength! This Finn was said to have had a rival across the Irish sea in Scotland, a character called Benandonner who lived in Fingal's cave on the Scottish Isle of Staffa. From Staffa to the Antrim coast where Finn lived Benandonner would constantly shout abuse and was forever challenging Finn in combat to see who truly was the best giant warrior of all. Finn was obviously incensed by this behavior and vowed to make his way to the lair of Benandonner to stand face to face with him and make the Scottish giant eat his words. In a fit of rage during one of Benandonner's tirades of abuse the Irish giant began to rip massive rocks from the earth along the coastline where he dwelled and threw them into the sea further and further from shore until his anger and strength had created a bridge of basalt from Northern Ireland to Scotland. Benandonner had taken a break from his daily tormenting of Finn so he wasn't paying attention when the Irish giant made his way across his new highway over the sea to take on his counterpart in combat. However, when Finn reached the Scottish shore and was within fighting distance he realized very quickly that he could not have been face to face with the abusive Benandonner because his enemy was much much bigger than him, far too large to contemplate his original idea of defeating in hand to hand combat and Finn decided very hurriedly to turn tail and live to fight another day, or at least to work out how to beat Benandonner without having to risk being ripped apart by the bigger giant. However Finn had not made his way fully across his causeway back to the safety of Northern Ireland when Benandonner spotted him and realizing there was a way to now abuse Finn at closer quarters he began making his own way across the 'Giant's Causeway'. Finn reached his home with just enough time to tell his wife Oonagh what had happened and to inform her that Benandonner was now on his way, described the Scottish giant's height and size advantage and told Oonagh that her lesser giant's days were truly numbered. Oonagh was obviously the intelligent one in this relationship and spotting that Benandonner was getting closer told Finn to take off his clothes, put a blanket around his waist like a nappy (diaper) and get into their baby's cot with his face in the shadows. Finn quickly did this and of course looked ridiculous with everything much too big to be in the position he was in! Benandonner arrived at their door and Oonagh opened it to see the enraged Scottish giant baying for his adversary's blood. 'WHERE IS FINN MCCOOL?' he bellowed, at which point Oonagh calmly told the massive club carrying character that Finn was out tending to their cattle and he would be home shortly, but their visitor was welcome to come in and have a cup of tea while waiting for his return. Oonagh asked what had angered Benandonner and why he was directing this anger at Finn. Benandonner roared that Finn had had the audacity to make his way to Scotland and then turned tail when their long overdue fight was about to take place. Oonagh explained that this could not have been Finn as he was not a giant who would back down from an argument, and hinted that Finn was even bigger than Benandonner and the giant he saw running across the causeway must have been another person. Benandonner of course rebuked this saying that no one was bigger than him and the character he saw fleeing would be no match for him. At that point Oonagh said that she had to feed her baby and would Benandonner like to see him before she woke him for his milk. Still in a very bad mood Benandonner reluctantly agreed and his anger turned instantly to shock and horror when he saw Finn McCool's massive frame in the cot with the shadows obscuring his face. 'In the name of God' he bellowed at Oonagh, 'Indeed I have made a mistake and I must leave, for if that is the size of the baby, I would be no match for the size of the father', and he apologized for the intrusion and backed out the door before bolting to the causeway where he made his way across to Scotland backwards whilst smashing the basalt bridge as he went along to ensure that the giant baby's father could not follow him! Filled with joy Finn jumped out of the cot and quickly dressed, thanked his wife for her sharp wit and ran out to taunt Benandonner knowing that the Scottish giant could not return. Seeing Benandonner almost reaching the other side of the sea he bounded towards the Portadown area of Northern Ireland where he lifted a massive piece of land from the centre of the province and launched it in Benandonner's direction hoping to hit the giant before he reached the Isle of Staffa. Finn missed, by quite a long way, the lump of Northern Ireland earth landed in the middle of the Irish sea and remains today as the Isle of Man while the hole he left behind immediately filled with water and became Lough Neagh! All these centuries later and the only evidence of Finn's construction is at its starting point and where it finished, the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland and identical features still found to this day at Fingal's cave in Staffa! 

Legends has it that Finn McCool the hero is immortal and that he is still very much alive, just sleeping peacefully in a massive cave on the Antrim coast waiting to awake when or if necessary and always prepared to defend Northern Ireland from evil people someday.

The legend of Diarmuid and Grainne.

One of the most romantic and tragic legends involving Ireland folklore is the myth surrounding Diarmuid and Grainne, very similar to the English King Arthur legend involving the affair of his wife Guinevere with the knight of the round table Lancelot.

It is said that Grainne was the most beautiful woman of all Ireland. She was the daughter of Cormac MacAirt, at that time the most powerful King of Ireland's provinces. The princes and most important chiefs of the other parts of the country came all the way to Cormac's castle to court her. But it was the mature and experienced old hand warrior Finn McCool who was rewarded with the affirmative answer and was promised Grainne as his second wife. A banquet was organized to celebrate their engagement but fatefully that same night Grainne was to meet Diarmuid, one of the most powerful warriors of Finn McCool's army of brave fighting men and she immediately felt towards him an irrepressible love. Grainne was prepared to do anything to seduce Diarmuid. Without giving it a second thought, she drugged all the guests' drinks except for Diarmuid's and she then openly declared her astonishing love for him. Diarmuid rejected her proposal because he was faithful to his leader Finn but Grainne then put a spell on him to make him fall in love with her.

Now feeling love for Grainne, Diarmuid realized that for them to be together they would have to run away and while all the guests at the engagement reception were still under the influence of Grainne's drug they made good an escape. But they had not counted on the level of anger that would be instilled within Finn when he woke from his lethargy and learned the truth of what had happened! He made a vow to chase them anywhere and everywhere accompanied by his warriors. The fleeing couple made their way across every part of Ireland, hiding in caves, trees and any hole they could find. They spent years running away, but they were constantly being hunted by the relentless Finn. No amount of time was going to ease his anguish and hurt! Grainne eventually fell pregnant just when Finn and his men were close to reaching them. One day, after crossing a moorland with their pursuers breathing down their necks, Diarmuid and Grainne reached the base of Mount Benbulben in County Sligo where they faced a giant boar blocking their attempts to keep ahead of Finn. It was an awful encounter, it spelled a grave danger for Diarmuid as a legend dictated that the only living creature that could hurt him would be a wild boar. When the boar attacked, Diarmuid fought fiercely with it to protect his pregnant lover and both man and beast rolled on the ground in mortal combat. The warrior managed to eventually kill the boar with his sword but the animal had already pierced Diarmuid's vital organs with its fangs mortally wounding him.

When Finn and his men arrived at the scene of the combat they found Diarmuid almost dead and in agony lying in Grainne´s arms. She was desperate and realized that only Finn Mccool´s magic could save Diarmuid. She begged Finn to save his old friend and to cure him with a drink of water gathered with his magical cupped hands. But Finn, still resentful, denied this help because his supposed best friend had run away with his bride to be. His men, seeing Diarmuid's situation and feeling Grainne's pain begged their leader to help a good man who had been such a great warrior. But Finn refused once again. Then Oisin, Finn's son, dared to stand up to his father and threatened him that he would never forgive him if he did not help Diarmuid. But by then it was too late. Even though Finn heeded Oisin's plea for mercy and eventually got the water in his hands, Diarmuid died before he could reach him.

Versions differ as to Gráinne's subsequent actions. In some Finn's next in command Aengus takes Diarmuid's body to his home at Brú na Bóinne. In some Gráinne has Diarmuid's son and when he is old enough she makes him swear to avenge his father's death upon Finn, while in others she grieves until she dies herself. There are even versions where she is reconciled with Finn, and negotiates peace between him and Diarmuid's son; or goes so far as to marry Finn at last.

Oisin, Finn McCool´s Son

Oisin was the son of the legendary warrior Finn McCool. He went on to become a great poet and was also part of the warrior race of the Fianna. His name is also surrounded by legends. The better known one is that one that talks about his journey to Tir na N´og – the mythical land of Eternal Youth, the home of the Tuatha de Dannan, the last group of gods and goddesses that ruled Ireland.

The legend tells how the Irish warriors of the Fianna were on the banks of lough Leane, when Oisin falls in love with a young blonde woman who was riding a white horse: Niamh Chinn Óir (Niamh of the Golden Hair) whose father happened to be Manannán mac Lir, a very powerful God of the sea. She invited him to visit her land Tir na N´og under the waters of the lough Leane in Killarney, where no one grows old and spring was eternal.

Although Oisin was very happy living with Niamh in Tir na N´og, after the passing of what Oisin thought was only three years, he decided that he wanted to visit his family. But Niamh advised him that in the land of the mortals 300 years had passed and if he put a foot down again on the earth of his home land he would then grow suddenly old as all the years which had really passed would reduce his body to a 300-year-old husk. Even bearing this in mind Oisin rode his horse and making sure on every occasion that his feet did not touch any ground he eventually came back to his birthplace. He discovered though that things had really changed, there was no evidence of his beloved warrior Fianna race anywhere to be found and he then discovered that across the whole of Ireland a man known as Saint Patrick was on a pilgramage converting people to Christianity and churches were being built! On his way back to the lough Leane, Oisin met a group of men who were trying to move a huge rock which was blocking their way, an area now known as Bealach Oisin Pass “Oisin´s Path” found in the mountains close to Killarny. As he had been one of the most powerful warriors of the Fianna he told them he could easily move the rock with just one hand. Oisin stayed on his horse to undertake this task still aware of the danger to him if he were to dismount, and to the astonishment of the group of men he did actually begin to lift the rock with one hand. But while he was doing this Oisin's horse´s saddle broke and he fell on the ground, horrifying the onlookers by, as predicted, becoming immediately a blind old withered man. He did not, however, yet die, and for many years he would wander across Ireland to finally meet Saint Patrick to whom he told his whole story. He would never return to Tir na N´og.

It is also said that one day Oisin was being chased in the Arriffe glens by a group of Vikings who had moored in Red Bay. His pursuers had almost reached him when feeling desperate he started climbing the closest mountain to him. Halfway up its slope the side of the mountain became almost vertical and he was almost falling over the edge when suddenly a grey and fibered rope appeared in front of him which he could grab and climb, saving his life.

When he reached the top, he saw a white mare grazing in a hollow and he realized the rope that he had climbed was this horse's tail. He expressed his gratitude to the beautiful creature and asked her what she thought he could he do to get rid of his Viking enemies, who were now also climbing the hill and grabbing the same mare´s tail. Then the mare became a magical mist of the mountain, evaporating into thin water that fell on the ground and transformed into a stream which started flowing towards the edge of the cliff. Her tail then became a waterfall which is now known as the tail of the Grey Mare. In the meantime, the Vikings now having nothing to hold on to fell from the edge of the mountain finding their deaths.

Oisin's final resting place is said to be in the Nine Glens of Antrim at a site that has been known for generations as "Oisín's Grave". The megalithic court cairn is located on a hillside in Lubitavish, near the Glenann River, outside the village of Cushendall on the North Antrim Coast, and this is believed to be the ancient burial place of Oísín.

Finn McCool and the Cloughmore stone. The Rostrevor giant and lough Carlinford

Finn McCool was chasing a wild boar through the mountain of Slieve Foy in Carlingford until at last he managed to kill it. He started cooking it in the mouth of a volcano that had been dormant for a long time but still gave enough heat to cook the tasty animal. Having satisfied his hunger, he fell asleep and he did not wake again until the dawn of next day when the sun was already appearing behind the Mourne Mountains. While he was watching the beauty of Carlingford lough which lay at the bottom of the mountains, a huge shadow appeared on top of the lake and for a moment blocked all the sunlight. To his surprise, Finn saw that the shadow belonged to another giant as big as him and this monolith was supporting a white shield over one of his shoulders and was armed with a powerful sword in one hand and a massive club in the other.

“Who are you?” shouted Finn, his voice reverberating around the mountains. “I´m the cock of the North”, responded the other giant and started chuckling and moving his arms and his elbows as if they were wings. “If I cross to that other side', remarked Finn, 'I´ll remove your crown very quickly”.

“Calm down Finn McCool”, answered the other giant. “My name is Ruscaire, the Giant of the Snow and the Ice, the enemy of all humankind and if what you want is to fight me, then I´m your man”.

“Do you dare to challenge me"- said Finn, "The Giant of the Summer? You might think that you have defeated me, even that you have taken me prisoner, but in the end I will escape and all nature will appear exultant again. “

There was no other option, the combat was inevitable, so both giants got their swords out, each one with one foot in lough Carlinford and the other leg astride on the mountains. They fought first all day and all night with their swords and the second day they fought with their sticks. In the morning of the third day Ruscaire woke up early and while Finn was still asleep, he crossed the lake and stole his sword. He could have killed him but amongst giants there was honor and this honor did not allow him to kill his enemy in his sleep.

When Finn woke up and saw that his sword was gone and Ruscaire had taken it, a great anger took hold of him, he grabbed some massive stones and threw them across the water. That then began a powerful combat, both giants using huge stones and rocks with such fury that the blows made the mountain's foundations themselves shake. Close to where Finn was standing he found the now famous Cloughmore stone that weighed almost 50 tons. Finn, summoning all his strength surrounded it with his enormous arms and threw it to Ruscaire. The stone landed on his head. Ruscaire fell on his back and his gigantic body fell on top of the mountain, where he melted like ice under the heat generated by Finn's efforts. But Finn had unfortunately become too exhausted to celebrate his victory and he fell asleep on top of the mouth of the volcano. His head was resting on top of the mountain and his feet in the lake. He was so tired that he never woke up again. The years passed and his body became rock; still today we can see the shape of his body.

At the beginning of this post we emphasized that to us the magic and mystery of myths and legends far outweighs any necessity to rely on what is purported to be scientific fact. However, to end this on a note whereby scientific fact is indeed stranger than fiction, the irrefutable proof that the battle between Finn McCool and Ruscaire took place and as we described here is that gigantic unique rocks from Slieve Ban where Finn was based can be found on Ruscaire's vantage point of Slieve Foy and likewise boulders normally only found on Slieve Foy seem to have made their way across to Slieve Ban! This is one of those very few times when science and folklore combine to make you say to yourself 'well, it couldn't really have happened any other way'!!

Bea H.