. Teanntachd Mhòr na Fèinne - Deacaireacht Mhór na Féinne – The Greatest Hardship of the Fianna

From Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhride and Griogair Labhruidh - Guaillibh a Chéile

The Fenian folktales are a fundamental part of Gaelic culture in both Scotland and in Ireland. Although Fenian lays are now rarely performed, they were once very common, one of them having been recorded from one of Griogair’s own family in Argyll in the 19th century. In the old stories it is said that Oisín met with St Patrick on his return from Tìr nan Òg (the land of the young). In these stories he argues with St Patrick about the virtues of the Fenians as compared to the virtues of Christianity. These traditions were basically our way as Gaels of reconciling pagan traditions with Christianity. There is a longer version in The Book of the Dean of Lismore which is in medieval Gaelic, this version however, was originally recorded from Angus MacIsaac in Cape Breton by John Lorne Campbell. We have translated Saint Patrick’s verses into modern Irish Gaelic for a bit of fun here! Sgorr nam Fiannadh (The Peak of the Fiann) in Glencoe is named after the events related by Oisín in this song. We play An Buachaill Deas Óg, a song from Tory Island off the coast of Donegal, as an instrumental.

Oisín: ‘A’ chlèirich a sheinneas na sailm,

Ar leam fhèin gur bath do chiall,

Nach èisteadh tu tamall rim sgeul

Air an Fhèinn nach cual’ thu riamh?’



Pàdraig: ‘Ní éistead tamall le’d scéal,

Ar an bhFéinn nár chuala mé ariamh,

Is blas na salm ar mo bhéal,

Gur bhfearr sin de cheol dom féin.’



Oisín: ‘Ma ’s ann a’ sanntachadh do shailm

Ri Fèìnn Èireann nan arm nochd

A’ chèlirich ‘s ro-thanadh leam

Nach sgarainn do cheann bhod chorp.’



Pàdraig: ‘Sé do bheatha mo thrua,

Chugat ar cuairt tháinig sinn,

Cén cath ba chrua ina raibh an Fhéinn

Ó nár dhein tú ariamh ’na lorg.’



Oisín: Bha sinn latha sa bheinn t-seilg,

’S cha tàinig an t-sealg nar car,

’S gum faca sinn mìle bàt’,

Air an traigh air teachdaireachd.’



‘Mac Rìgh Lochlainn bha an siud air cràdh,

Gu dè fàth a bhith dha chèith?

’S cha ghabh e cumail bho Fhionn

Gun òg-bhean ‘s a chù thoirt leis.’



‘’S a Rìgh! cha tugainn-sa mo bhean

Do dhuine a tha fon ghrèin,

’S cha toir mi Bràn* gu lath’ bhràtha,

Gus an tig am bàs orm fhèin!’



*’S e Bràn an t-ainm a bh' air a' chù aig Fionn Mac Cumhaill.