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In early 2022, there was a battle.
Some might say the greatest of all battles.
A battle that took place exclusively in my mind…until I wrote it all down.
The result has been one of my most-read posts ever on IrishMyths.com: “Who Is the Greatest Hero in Irish Mythology? Cú Chulainn vs. Fionn mac Cumhaill.”
Now, you can watch this epic battle in video form on the IrishMyths YouTube channel:
This is easily the looongest video I’ve ever attempted.
So it is totally understandable if you don’t have the time to watch it in all of its long-form glory. However, I *do* recommend that you subscribe to the IrishMyths YouTube channel (and/or my @kneverday TikTok/Instagram accounts) because I will inevitably dice it all up and post it as a series shorts.
Also, if you dig the background music: That was me.
I will eventually publish it on Spotify, etc., under my Bard of Boston stage name, where you can already find my tune “Duel of the Druids” that I composed, on a whim, for an earlier video about Ireland’s most powerful druids.
Alright. That’s it. That’s all.
Thanks for dropping by.
And stay tuned for, perhaps, some St. Patrick’s and/or leprechaun-themed content coming down the pipe.
☘ Further Reading ☘
Books About Cú Chulainn
Cú Chulainn of Eirú – Book I: The Isle of Shadows by Richard Roche and Derek Fennell
Celtic Warrior: The Legend of Cú Chulainn by Will Sliney
The Tain: Translated from the Irish Epic Tain Bo Cuailnge by Thomas Kinsella
Books About Fionn mac Cumhaill
Fionn mac Cumhail: Celtic Myth in English Literature by James MacKillop
Fionn: Defence of Rath Bladhma: The Fionn mac Cumhal Series – Book 1 by Brian O’Sullivan
Finn McCool and the Great Fish (Myths, Legends, Fairy and Folktales) by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Zachary Pullen
Books About Both
Introduction to Early Irish Literature by Muireann Ni Bhrolchain
Ireland’s Immortals: A History of the Gods of Irish Myth by Mark Williams
Want to learn about the darker side of Irish mythology? Check out…
Samhain in Your Pocket (Celtic Pocket Guides 2)
Perhaps the most important holiday on the ancient Celtic calendar, Samhain marks the end of summer and the beginning of a new pastoral year. It is a liminal time—a time when the forces of light and darkness, warmth and cold, growth and blight, are in conflict. A time when the barrier between the land of the living and the land of the dead is at its thinnest. A time when all manner of spirits and demons are wont to cross over from the Celtic Otherworld. Learn more…
Neon Druid: An Anthology of Urban Celtic Fantasy
“A thrilling romp through pubs, mythology, and alleyways. NEON DRUID is such a fun, pulpy anthology of stories that embody Celtic fantasy and myth,” (Pyles of Books). Cross over into a world where the mischievous gods, goddesses, monsters, and heroes of Celtic mythology live among us, intermingling with unsuspecting mortals and stirring up mayhem in cities and towns on both sides of the Atlantic, from Limerick and Edinburgh to Montreal and Boston. Learn more…
More the listenin’ type?
I recommend the audiobook Celtic Mythology: Tales of Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes by Philip Freeman (narrated by Gerard Doyle). Use my link to get 3 free months of Audible Premium Plus and you can listen to the full 7.5-hour audiobook for free.