Legendary fictions of the Irish Celts

Ossiaiiic and other Early Legends. 203
Jemmy Redely, the authority for the adventures of
Giila na Chreck an Gour, is our warrant for these also.
FANN MAC CUIL AND THE SCOTCH GIANT.
The great Irish joiant, Fann Mac Cuil, lived to be a
middle-aged man, without ever meeting his match, and
so he was as proud as a paycock. He had a great fort
in the Bog of Allen, and there himself and his warriors
would be playing soord and pot-lid, or shootin' bow-
arras, or pitchin' big stones twenty or thirty miles off, to
make a quay for the harbour of Dublin. One day he
was quite down in the mouth, for his men were scattered
here and there, and he had no one to wrestle or hurl, or
go hunt along with him. So he was walking about very
lonesome, when he sees a foot-messenger he had, coming
hot-foot across the bog. " What's in the 7inn'
"
(wind) %
says he. " It's the great Scotch giant. Far Riia, that's in
it," says the other. " He's coming over the big stepping
stones that lead from Ireland to Scotland,* and you will
have him here in less than no time. He heard of the
great Fann Mac Cuil, and he wants to see which is the
best man." " Oh, ho !
" says Fann, " I hear that the Far
Rua is three foot taller nor me, and I'm three foot taller
nor the tallest man in Ireland. I must speak to
Grainne about it."
Well, it wasn't long till the terrible Scotch fellowwas
getting along the stony road that led across the bog,
with a sword as big as three scythe blades, and a spear
the lenth of the house. " Is the great Irish giant at
home 1 " says he. " He is not," says Fann's messenger :
" he is huntin' stags at Killarney ; but the vanithee is
within, and will be glad to see you. Follow me, if you
* The Giants' Causeway, of which there are now visible only some
slices at the two extremities. Those trustworthy chroniclers, the
ancient bards, affirm that it is the work of the ancient Irish and
Scotch men of might, laid down to facilitate their mutual visits.