Fenian Cycle

Finn seated in a banquet hall as the Fianna fight with Goll mac Morna's men. Illustration by Arthur Rackham in Irish Fairy Tales (1920).

The Fenian Cycle (/ˈfniən/), Fianna Cycle or Finn Cycle (Irish: an Fhiannaíocht[1]) is a body of early Irish literature focusing on the exploits of the mythical hero Finn or Fionn mac Cumhaill and his warrior band the Fianna. Sometimes called the Ossianic Cycle[2] /ˌɒʃiˈænɪk/ after its narrator Oisín, it is one of the four groupings of Irish mythology along with the Mythological Cycle, the Ulster Cycle, and the Kings' Cycles. Timewise, the Fenian cycle is the third, between the Ulster and Kings' cycles. The cycle also contains stories about other famous Fianna members, including Diarmuid, Caílte, Oisín's son Oscar, and Fionn's rival Goll mac Morna.

  1. ^ Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977). "Fiannaíocht". Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  2. ^ M. Whittock, A brief guide to Celtic myths and legends, Constable & Robinson Ltd, London, UK, 2013.

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