Draft:Finbhennach
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The Finbhennach (or Findbennach in Modern English) is a legendary white stud bull that existed during the reign of Queen Medb and King Ailill of Ulster. Mentioned in the Ulster Cycle, The bull is know for his attack against the Donn Cuailgne, known as the Cattle Raid of Cooley.[citation needed]
Like the Donn Cúailnge, the Findbennach was an extremely fertile stud bull over whom the Táin Bó Cúailnge (Cattle Raid of Cooley) was fought.[citation needed]
Legend[edit]
He was originally a man named Rucht (meaning grunt), a pig-keeper and druid, who worked for Ochall Ochne, king of the Connaught sidh. Formerly being great friends, he fell out with Friuch (meaning bristle), who was a pig-keeper and druid for Bodb Dearg, king of the Munster sidh after a quarrel arose to figure out who was the best of them as a pig-keeper. Being highly adept at magic, they tricked each other into emaciating their herd of pigs, which proved their talent was equal. Nevertheless this infuriated both kings, which caused their dismissal. [1]
After this the two fought, transforming into various animals and other forms, ultimately becoming two eels which were swallowed by two cows and reborn as two bulls, the Finnbhennach ("White-horned") and the Donn Cuailnge ("Brown bull"). Originally the Finnbhennach was born into the herds of queen Medb of Connacht, but considered belonging to a woman beneath him and joined the herds of her husband, Ailill.[2]
When Medb discovered that owning Finnbhennach made Ailill richer than her, she resolved to even the account by possessing Donn Cuailnge in Connacht. She sent messengers to Dáire with an extremely generous offer of land and treasure, and if necessary sexual favours, if he would loan the bull to her for a year. Dáire agreed. However the messengers got drunk, and one boasted that if he hadn't agreed Medb would have taken the bull by force. When Dáire was told that he furiously backed out of the deal.[3]
Eventually Medb arranges the attack on Daire but unbeknownst to her Cú Chulainn the Hound was defending the fort. He managed to kill all of Medb's soldiers. Medb later asked a druidess named Fedelm to prophesize the outcome. She only replied she saw crimson and red and later foretold of Cu Chulainn's victory.[citation needed]
When Lugh helps Cu Chulainn in healing him, Cu Chulainn manages to put Medb under his mercy. She requested that he let her take her army back to her kingdom, which he grants. However, she secretly captured the Donn Cuailgne and took it back.[citation needed]
After the Donn Cuailgne bellows loudly the Findbennach senses a challenge to its dominion in Ulster. He readily attacks and the Findbennach gains an advantage being in familiar territory; however Cormac son of Conchobar insults the Donn which gives him greater strength. At last after, fighting all night, the Donn returned victorious from killing the Finnbennach.[citation needed]
However after scattering the Findbennach's corpse all around Ireland and after returning to Connacht, the Donn Cuailgne's heart gives in, killing him also.[4]
References[edit]
External links[edit]
Media related to Finbhennach at Wikimedia Commons
- ^ Ross, Anne (1986). Druids, gods & heroes from Celtic mythology. Knopf Doubleday Publishing. ISBN 978-0-8052-4014-6.
- ^ Murphy, Maureen O'Rourke; MacKillop, James (10 July 2006). An Irish Literature Reader: Poetry, Prose, Drama, Second Edition. Syracuse University Press. ISBN 978-0-8156-3046-3.
- ^ "The Tain Bó Cualigne -The Brown Bull of Cooley | Carlingford and Mourne". Archived from the original on 2017-03-12.
- ^ Ross, Anne (1986). Druids, gods & heroes from Celtic mythology. Knopf Doubleday Publishing. ISBN 978-0-8052-4014-6.