 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Gráinne" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(March 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Gráinne (Irish pronunciation:[ˈɡɾˠaːn̠ʲə]), sometimes anglicisedGrania, is the daughter of kingCormac mac Airt in theFianna Cycle ofIrish mythology. She is one of the central figures in the Middle Irish textFinn and Gráinne, as well as the 17th-century taleThe Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne, which tells of her betrothal toFionn mac Cumhaill, leader of theFianna, and her subsequentelopement with Fionn's warriorDiarmuid Ua Duibhne.
InThe Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne, Gráinne was promised in marriage to Fionn but, repulsed by his age, she forms a relationship with Diarmuid at their betrothal party. At first he refuses out of loyalty to Fionn but she places ageis upon him to run away with her. Their long flight from Fionn is aided by Diarmuid's foster-fatherAengus Óg. Eventually, Fionn pardons Diarmuid after Aengus intercedes on their behalf; the pair settle inKerry and produce five children. Years later Diarmuid is wounded by a boar while hunting with Fionn, who stalls in healing him until it is too late; texts vary on Gráinne's subsequent actions. In some versions, she mourns her husband until she dies herself; in others, she swears her sons to avenge their father's death on Fionn. In still others, she forgives Fionn or even marries him.
According to the historianPeter Berresford Ellis, "[Fionn Mac Cumhail] had many loves during his career but none is better known than hisunrequited love for Gráinne. He was elderly when [the High King] Cormac Mac Art gave his daughter Gráinne to him in marriage. But before the ceremony, Gráinne eloped with one of Fionn’s warriors, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne. ‘The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne’ is one of the classic love tales and a major epic of the Fenian Cycle."[1] Ellis goes on to say: "Gráinne’s character is always drawn with consistency in the myths. She is a shallow person, wilful, ruthless and passionate, and what in modern terms would be described as aneurotic."[2]
The story of Gráinne and Diarmuid is one of a number of instances in Irish mythology of a love triangle between a young man, a young woman and an aging suitor, the other most famous instance being betweenNaoise,Deirdre andConchobar mac Nessa in theUlster Cycle. The same theme also shows up in other cultures, notably in theArthurian legend.The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne shares a number of similarities with the story ofTristan and Iseult, and to a certain extent the love affair ofLancelot andGuinevere.
TheLÉGráinne (CM10), a decommissioned ship in theIrish Naval Service, was named after Gráinne.
In the 1999 Irish dance showDancing on Dangerous Ground Gráinne is played by former Riverdance starJean Butler.
Rath Gráinne at the Hill of Tara in Ireland is named after her.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
