‘Bhí,’ Arsa Mise, ‘Agus Tá Go Fóill’: Fiannaíocht in the Writings of the Mac Grianna Family

Abstract

Abstract Clann Mhic Grianna (the Greene family) are a famous family of writers, poets, storytellers, composers, and performers of traditional songs from Rann na Feirste in northwest Donegal. Coming from a long and accomplished line of storytellers on both sides of their family, Clann Mhic Grianna is taken, in this paper, and in general, as the children of Feidhlimidh Mac Grianna and Máire Eibhlín Néilín Ní Dhomhnaill (who had their family in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries). The most famous of this set of siblings are arguably Séamus and Seosamh. Their works are widely studied and discussed to this day. Saturated in Gaelic culture, their works draw from a well of language and heritage and they frequently refer to history, pseudohistory, myth, and legends. Among that discussed are traditions around saints and references to the mythological cycles of Ireland. This paper looks at how various members of the family used the tales and poetry of one such cycle, Fiannaíocht (translated as Fenian, Ossianic, or Finn-Cycle tales), in their novels, short stories, and autobiographies. They also spoke about the folklore of their area on various occasions and some tales have been recorded by Roinn Bhéaloidis Éireann. Some of this material was later published, Amhráin Hiúdaí Fheilímí agus Laoithe Fianaíochta as Rann na Feirste (Ó Baoighill 2001) for one example. The multi-faceted nature of their legacy results in several Ossianic tales being discussed in different genres by various combinations of the siblings and these varied viewpoints allow us to raise and discuss a number of questions regarding Fiannaíocht. This paper compares sources from a number of these siblings and question what their works tell us about when and why people told Fiannaíocht tales.