Analysis: You'll find some suprising names on the list of people who've had a relationship with the tales of Fionn mac Cumhaill and the Fianna
By Dubhán Ó Longáin, Ulster University
Many readers will have heard some story involving the great hero Fionn mac Cumhaill, but may not be aware of just how many others have also heard or recited a similar tale. To contextualise how popular Fiannaíocht tales are, the Fionn Folklore Database contains around 3,500 orally-collected stories regarding Fionn and the Fianna.
A glance at this database shows us that folktales about the Fianna were collected not only in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man, but also in Canada and the United States. This may not be surprising if we consider the number of people to head across the Atlantic in search of a better life, but it serves as evidence that these emigrants did not forget their Gaelic roots.
One person to have been recorded reciting a tale in the USA (as far west as Seattle, actually) is the well-know seán-nós singer Seosamh Ó hEanaí or Joe Heaney, as he was known in English. The Conamara man recited quite an amount of material relating to Fionn. These, and non-Fiannaíocht tales, can be heard online on his archive.
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From the Center for Irish Studies at Villanova, Lillis Ó Laoire on Joe Heaney
That a traditional singer from Galway recited tales about the Fianna might not be surprising, but fewer will be aware that Napoleon Bonaparte was greatly interested in this material. This interest was awoken by Napoleon's fondness for James Macpherson’s controversial work, Ossian.
Ossian (a Gàidhlig spelling of 'Oisín’) was published in 1761 by Macpherson. The full title of the work was "Fingal, an Ancient Epic Poem in Six Books, together with Several Other Poems composed by Ossian, the Son of Fingal, translated from the Gaelic Language." Macpherson claimed that there would be little demand for the work in its original form and that translation to English was therefore a prerequisite to publication.
Several scholars immediately questioned the authenticity of the work and Macpherson declined to produce the original, manuscript, material from which he worked in order to prove the veracity of his work. What in fact happened is that Macpherson creatively embellished material from traditional Fenian lays by filling in gaps in order to create his epic poem.
Little might we think that these heroes of the Fianna played such a role in the political landscape of Europe
In spite of the work being rejected academically, the poetry and romantic power of the work caught the popular imagination with Thomas Jefferson claiming it to be amongst some of the greatest poetry to ever exist. Philosophers such as Voltaire and Diderot were also admirers. American philosopher and naturalist Henry David Thoreau, likened Macpherson's forgery to Homer and the Iliad.
Such was Napoleon’s fondness for the work that he commissioned a painting entitled ‘Ossian Receiving the Ghosts of French Heroes’ and Oscar, son of Oisín, became a regal name. Oscar I of Sweden was born to Charles XIV John and Désirée Clary, who once held the romantic affections of Napoleon. Désirée’s elder sister, Julie, was however married to Napoleon’s elder brother Joseph.
The future king was named after his godfather and uncle-by-marriage, but Napoleon is said to have been permitted to contribute an element. Napoleon chose a name from the work of Macpherson and the child was born Joseph François Oscar Bernadotte with ‘Oscar’ been the name that came to be used in the family, in particular by mother and aunt. Searching the Fionn Folklore Database, typing ‘Oscar’ results in 34 hits and typing ‘Oisín’ results in 218 hits, meaning that they appear in that many titles (but will appear much more frequently than 34 and 218 times, respectively).
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From RTÉ Brainstorm, 5 things you didn't know about Fionn mac Cumhaill
Most commonly, we probably think of Tír na nÓg when we think of Oisín. Little might we think that these heroes of the Fianna, discussed by our descendants by the fireside, played such a role in the political landscape of Europe and that stories based on these heroes were admired by a president of the United States.
Closer to home, Patrick Pearse was an admirer of the Fianna and frequently made reference to them in his writings. In an 1902 edition of the newspaper An Claidheamh Soluis, he recalls listening to an old man perform an Ossianic lay, Laoi na Mná Móire. He describes being awestruck as he listens stating that he "felt the mighty presence of Fionn and Oisín and Patrick, and knew that the past was not dead." Pearse stated that "either poet or painter might find the scene material for epic treatment." This will, of course, remind us that Napoleon did in fact commission a painting and that Thoreau likened Macpherson’s work to that of Homer.
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From Doc On One Archive, a bilingual documentary from 1979 on Scoil Eanna, the boy's school founded by 1916 leader Padraig Pearse
Pearse engaged with Fiannaíocht material creatively and academically. Academically, he published editions of two Fiannaíocht tales; Bruidhean Caorthainn (1912) and Bodach an Chóta Lachtna (1906). Bruidhean Caorthainn and Bodach an Chóta Lachtna are also discussed in great detail on the Fionn Folklore Database. Creatively, his modernisation of the Jacobite song ‘Óró Sé Do Bheatha Bhaile’ is known as ‘An Dord Féinne’.
The Dord Féinne is also known as An Barr Bua, which was the title of a newspaper founded by Pearse. In the editorial of the first issue, Pearse tells how Fionn would use this ‘Barr Bua’ or ‘Dord Féinne’ (a kind of trumpet or horn) to call the Fianna to him. He chastises the modern-day Irish for not being as brave as their Fenian ancestors but states that he will sound be ‘Barr Bua’ even if not but a single person should answer. Pearse founded this newspaper in 1912; it might not take much thought to realise why he might be thinking of trying to summon a kind of modern-day Fianna!
The next time we hear one of these tales mentioned, remember that this isn’t just a remnant of a now irrelevant Gaelic past, but a valuable tradition appreciated by great thinkers, writers, and politicians.
Dubhán Ó Longáin is a PhD candidate and Research Associate on the CARTLANN project in the School of Arts & Humanities at Ulster University. He is also a part-time research assistant with the Fionn Folklore Database
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
