Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

262 Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race[305]of the supernatural and mystical atmosphere in which nearly allthe Fian legends are steeped.After the death of Cormac mac Art his son Cairbry came tothe High-Kingship of Ireland. He had a fair daughter namedSgeimh Solais (Light of Beauty), who was asked in marriage bya son of the King of the Decies. The marriage was arranged,and the Fianna claimed a ransom or tribute of twenty ingots ofgold, which, it is said, was customarily paid to them on theseoccasions. It would seem that the Fianna had now grown tobe a distinct power within the State, and an oppressive one,exacting heavy tributes and burdensome privileges from kingsand sub-kings all over Ireland. Cairbry resolved to break them;and he thought he had now a good opportunity to do so. Hetherefore refused payment of the ransom, and summoned all theprovincial kings to help him against the Fianna, the main bodyof whom immediately went into rebellion for what they deemedtheir rights. The old feud between Clan Bascna and Clan Mornanow broke out afresh, the latter standing by the High King, whileClan Bascna, aided by the King of Munster and his forces, whoalone took their side, marched against Cairbry.The Battle of GowraAll this sounds very matter-of-fact and probable, but howmuch real history there may be in it it is very hard to say. Thedecisive battle of the war which ensued took place at Gowra(Gabhra), the name of which survives in Garristown, Co. Dublin.The rival forces, when drawn up in battle array, knelt and kissedthe sacred soil of Erin before they charged. The story of thebattle in the poetical versions, one of which is published in theOssianic Society's “Transactions,” and another and finer one inCampbell's “The Fians,” 191 is supposed to be related by Oisīn toSt. Patrick. He lays great stress on the feats of his son Oscar:191 “Waifs and Strays of Celtic Tradition,” Argyllshire Series. The tale wastaken down in verse, word for word, from the dictation of Roderick mac Fadyenin Tiree, 1868.