Finn Mac Cumhaill (or Fionn or Finn McCool)

Legendary Irish hero, the best‐known character in the hero‐tales of Ireland, identified with a general who organized an Irish regular army in the 3rd century. The word ‘Fionn’ (from Celtic Vindos) also has connotations of illumination and wisdom, and his most typical act was the gaining of knowledge through chewing his thumb. The Scottish writer James Macpherson featured him (as Fingal) and his followers in the verse of his popular epics 1762–63, which were supposedly written by a 3rd‐century bard called Ossian.