Finn McCool : Irish mythical hero • Go-to-Ireland.com

Finn McCool (or Finn Mac Cumaill in Gaelic) is one of the great figures of Irish Celtic mythology. A true hero, he would be Ireland’s protector. He is credited with countless feats, including the formation of the Giant’s Causeway!

Finn McCool stories

A figure of courage and bravery

The Giant’s Causeway – © Yggdrasill

According to legend, Finn McCool is the son of Cumhal, founding chief of the Fianna, and Muirne, daughter of the druid Tadg mac Nuadat. With his spectacular strength, he quickly became a great warrior, feared as much as respected.

He possessed great magical power: he could heal anyone who drank the water flowing from his hands.

Among his great adventures, he was glorified for having :

struck down a demon with a spear on the hill of Tara,
obtained eternal knowledge after catching the salmon of wisdom,
formed the Giant’s Causeway by battling the terrible Scottish giant “Benandonner”. (He would have built a sort of paved bridge to reach his rival on the other side of the sea).

He is thus seen as a protector of Ireland and a vigilante, fighting crime and crises of power.

According to legend, Finn is still asleep today. He would slumber quietly in a cave beneath the city of Dublin, ready to awaken to defend Ireland if need be.