MYTHOLOGICAL TALES | FAIRY TALES | FOLKTALES

MYTHOLOGICAL CYCLE | ULSTER CYCLE | FENIAN CYCLE | CYCLE OF KINGS

The Fenian, or “Ossianic” Cycle is much like the Ulster Cycle in form, as it too is essentially a collection of heroic tales, except the Fenian Cycle revolves around the adventures of the legendary Finn McCool and his band of warrior-hunters, the Fianna (op. cit.). The Fenian Cycle is set around the third century AD, and most of the action takes place in the provinces of Leinster and Munster. The primary protagonist of the stories is Finn McCool, who is the leader of the Leinster Fianna, and the antagonist was one Goll Mac Morna, who was the leader of a rebel faction of the Fianna that was based in Connaught province. And though their battles primarily took place in Leinster, their influence was felt all over the island, as the Fianna were the guardians and knight protectors of Ireland. Though there are countless tales of Finn and the Fianna not only from Ireland, but also from the British Isles, three stand out as being the best known and most influential: “Sadb and the Birth of Oisín”, “The Lay of Oisín in the Land of Eternal Youth” and “The Pursuit of Díarmait and Gráinne”.

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