Cumhall

Cumhall, also known as Cumhall mac Trícha, is a legendary figure in the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology. He is described as a chieftain of the Fianna Éireann and is best known as the father of Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn McCool). In medieval Irish sources, his name appears as Cumhall mac Trícha, indicating “Cumhall, son of Trícha.” He is typically presented as an early leader whose deeds helped shape the Fianna in its formative years.

In the legends, Cumhall is killed in battle by Goll mac Morna, the chief of a rival faction within the Fianna. This feud between the Fianna Morna and the Fianna Goll is a central element of the narratives and helps set the stage for subsequent events in the Fenian Cycle, including the training and rise of Fionn as a leader.

Legacy and name: The lineage is remembered in the epithet mac Cumhaill, meaning “son of Cumhall,” which links Fionn to his father in myth and title. Cumhall’s life and death are used to illustrate themes of leadership, loyalty, and factional conflict that recur in Fenian tales.

Sources and variants: Cumhall’s story appears in various medieval Irish manuscripts and later retellings of the Fenian cycle. As with many mythological figures, details vary by source, and Cumhall is understood as a legendary rather than historical figure. His significance rests largely in his role as the father of Fionn mac Cumhaill and as a key figure in the early history of the Fianna.