Cumhall

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Cumhall ({{#invoke:IPA|main}}; Template:Langx) or Cumhall mac Trénmhoir ("son of Trénmór/Tréanmór" meaning "strong-great") is a figure in the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology, a leader of the fianna and the father of Fionn mac Cumhaill.

Genealogy

The most important text regarding the family of Finn (son of Cumaill) is Fotha Catha Chnucha ("The Cause of the Battle of Cnucha"), as it is contained in the ancient parchment Lebor na hUidre (LU), dated to the 12th century.Template:Sfnp Otherwise, the next most important tract is the Macgnímartha Finn ("The Boyhood Deeds of Fionn") copied in a 15th-century manuscript.Template:Sfnp

According to the Fotha Catha Chnucha, Cumhall mac TrénmhoirTemplate:Efn was son of a petty king, and served the High King Conn Cet-Chathach "of the Hundred Battles". Cumhall was also Conn's half-uncle, his mother being the mother of Conn's father,.Template:Efn<ref name=hennessy-fotha-p88-89/>

Cumhall became suitor for the hand of Muirne Muncaim "of the fair neck",Template:Refn daughter of the druid Tadg mac Nuadat, but Tadg refused him, so Cumhall forcibly carried away Muirne in elopement.<ref name=hennessy-fotha-p88-89/><ref name=acallm-cumall-marriage/>

In-laws<ref>Template:Harvp</ref>

In Fotha Catha Chnucha Cumhall's wife was the granddaughter to Nuadat who was a druid to king Cathair Mór, but she was granddaughter to Núadu of the Tuatha Dé Danann according to a passage in the Acallamh na Senorach.<ref name=acallam-cumall-genealogy>Template:Harvp tr. p. 245:{{#invoke:URL|url}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:URL with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | 1 | 2 }}</ref> Also where the former work gives Almu daughter of Becan as Nuadat's wife,<ref name=hennessy-fotha-p88-89/> the latter treats Almha the daughter of Brecan as a virgin daughter who bore Cumall a son then died in childbirth.<ref name=acallam-almha-genealogy>Template:Harvp tr. p. 131:{{#invoke:URL|url}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:URL with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | 1 | 2 }}, Almha daughter of Bracan.</ref>Template:Refn

Siblings

Cumhall had a brother, Crimmal mac Trénmhoir, who was an ally of Fionn.Template:Sfnp

Battle and death

Tadg, slighted by Cumall's sweeping away his daughter, appealed to Cumall's lord, Conn of the Hundred Battles, and Conn gave choice of either relinquishing the daughter or suffer banishment. Cumall refused to give up his wife, and Conn made war against Cumhall, and Cumhall was killed by Goll mac Morna in this Battle of Cnucha,<ref name=hennessy-fotha-p88-91>Template:Harvp</ref> located at what is today Castleknock.<ref>Template:Harvp, p. 180, note 3.</ref> Goll then took over leadership of the Fianna, as explained in the Magnímartha Finn.<ref>Template:Harvp, pp. 180–181 and verse: "'Tis for the chieftancy of Erin's fian / That they waged the stout battle".</ref>

Cumhall's wife Muirne was already pregnant with his son, Fionn, and Muirne's furious father Tadg not only refused to accept her back, but ordered her burnt to death.<ref>Template:Harvp and commentary, p. 87.</ref> Cumhall's wife however seeks Conn's protection, and in exile she delivers a child which she names Demni.<ref>Template:Harvp</ref>Template:Sfnp Demni (Demne) later became Finn.<ref>Template:Harvp, p. 183: "Demne shall be named Finn (the Fair)".</ref>

Cumhall is reputed to be buried within the grounds of Castleknock College, supposedly under a hill upon which an old water tower now stands.

References

Citations

Bibliography

• Acallam na Senórach
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  • Template:Citation. e-text via CELT corpus.
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• Template:Citation (ed. "Fotha Catha Cnucha inso" , tr. "The Cause of the Battle of Cnucha here"). archived via Internet Archive
• Template:Cite book, with glossary.