The head of Lough Finn

In the far off days of Fionn MacCumhaill and the Fianna, there lived half-way between Fintown and Doochary, a man whose name was Leithín. He owned the surrounding countryside, hence the name 'Gleann Leithín' (Leithín's Glen). Leithín had a son named Feardhomhain and a daughter named Finngheal.

The Fianna often visited Leithín, spending their time hunting through the hills and fishing the lakes. On one occasion when the Fianna visited, Leithín had no food to give, but decided they should go east to Lough Bearra to kill a wild boar.

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Everything was going fine...the Fianna headed east, killed the wild boar and divided it into quarters. As it took two of the Fianna to carry just one quarter, they took two quarters back with them. Feardhomhain went to the site of the kill and carried the two remaining quarters back - one in each hand and the boar's head in his mouth by the ear. He was back long before the Fianna, cooked the meat and had supper ready for everyone.

When the Fianna were leaving to go home, Fionn asked Leithín's permission to bring Feardhomhain with them for a year and a day so he could learn all their skills. Permission was granted and off they went - Feardhomhain and the Fianna.

When they got as far as Inver, they came across a nest of wild boar. The boar wasn't there, but there was a litter. The Fianna killed off each and every one of them, then continued their journey and did not stop until they reached Cnoc Almhaine. Feardhomhain remained with the Fianna for a year and a day, and learned some wonderful skills. Fionn noticed that he was indeed a great man, and became quite afraid that when the time would come, Feardhomhain could beat them in battle. 'He must be stopped', said Fionn to himself.

When the time came for Feardhomhain to return home, the Fianna presented him with three hounds - An Grafadh, An Griobach and An Dearachán. As he was saying goodbye, Fionn advised him not to go the way of the wild boar. Little did poor Feardhomhain realise that he was in fact under a spell - and would do anything he was advised not to do.

Everything was fine as Feardhomhain and his hounds walked towards Gleann Leithín - until he walked straight into the wild boar's nest. Again the boar was missing, but there was another litter there. Feardhomhain killed them all, and off he went towards Gleann Leithín and home.

When the boar returned and saw the slaughter, she was furious. She picked up Feardhomhain's scent and took off like the hammers of hell to find him. When Feardhomhain saw her coming, he released the hound called An Grafadh. They fought, but the wild boar won, and the place where the slain hound fell is since known as An Grafadh (Graffy).

But the boar was still not content, and continued in search of Feardhomhain. Feardhomhain released the second hound, An Griobach, on the boar. Once again, the boar won - and that townland is called Min-A-Ghriobaigh ever since (Meenagreeve).

The wild boar had not yet finished her mission to find Feardhomhain, and this time the final hound - An Dearachán - faced the boar. By this time the boar was filled with rage, and poor Dearachán only lasted minutes. The townland where the fight took place is now known as Dearachán (Darraghan).

By this time the wild boar was really furious...she had the taste for blood and eventually, she caught up with Feardhomhain. Thosaigh an bheirt ag triod. Throid siad anuas agus suas, aniar agus siar, anonn agus anall. (Truly, there was a fight. They fought up and down, this way and that, in and out)

Packie McGill, Brendan Farren and Michael Henderson at 'Finngheal's Hand'

Feardhomhain was finding the going tough and roared, pleading for help.

His loving sister, Finngheal, was at home in Gleann Leithín, heard his shouts and said to her father: "Isn't today the day that Feardhomhain is due home? I think I heard him crying for help - he's captured and we must assist him!"

She ran up the hill until she came to a lake. She tied up her long, sweeping hair, lifted a sword, then swam across the lake. She heard a second call for help, but because of the echo, Finngheal thought that the screams were coming from the other side. She swam back across the lake again. No sooner was she back on the other side, but she heard a third cry for help. Without hesitation, she jumped into the water, but this time her hair fell down, became entangled in her feet, and between the entanglement and the weight of the sword, Finngheal was drowned. The lake is called Lough Finn ever since, and her grave is to be seen on the far side of the Lough. (Finngheal's Apron Stone)

Feardhomhain and the boar were still fighting at this stage. As a result of this fearsome struggle, they carved out a deep, dark hole in the ground. Eventually they killed each other. The deep, dark hole filled with water, and is known as Lough Muc (Lough of the Pig) ever since. Locals will tell you Feardhomhain's grave can be found on its bank.

On the roadside, just outside Fintown, an unusual carving can be seen (pictured above). Fintown's 'hand' is really Finngheal carrying the sword across the lake to her brother. And you doubted the story was true?