Fand. [I] The Pearl of Beauty, wife of the sea god Manannin Mac lir . When Manannin left her, she was attacked by three Fomorii warriors. Her brother-in-law sent her sister- in- law to bring Cuchulainn to the land of Promise to protect her on condition that Fand would reward him by becoming his lover. Cuchulainn arrives, defends Fand from her enemies, and becomes her lover. He then returns to Ulster, where Emer, his wife, finding out about the affair, attempts to kill Fand when she makes an assignation to see Cuchulainn again. Manannin arrives and demands that Fand choose beteen him and Cuchulainn. She chooses her husband and Manannin shakes his cloak betWeen Fand and Cuchulainn, thus ensuring they will not see each other again.

Fasting. The ritual fast, in Irish troscad, or hunger strike, frequently occurs in the sagas and myths. It is an ancient custom laid down by law as a means of compelling justice and establishing one's rights. It has a parallel in the Hindu practice of dharnia. In Welsh the ymprydio (fast) held the same intent. The person wishing to compel justice would notify the person complained against and would then sit before the door and remain without food until the wrongdoer accepted the administration of justice. The hunger strike or fast as a means of political protest has remained part of the Irish tradition into modern times.

Faylinn, The Kingdom of. [I] A country of diminutive people to whom even dwarfs appear as giants. It was ruled over by Iubdan and Bebo.

Feis. [I] A festival. The word also occurs in Manx and Scottish Gaelic. In the Irish sagas there were three great festivals: Feis Temrach (Tara), Feis Cruachan (Croghan), and Feis Emna (Emain Macha). The gatherings at Tailltenn, Tlachtga, and Uisneach were fairs rather than festivals. The Irish also differentiated between the religious festivals, those of Imbolg or Brigid (February I), Beltaine (May I), Lughnasadh (August I), and Samhain (November I).

Female Champions. In early Celtic society women had an equality of rights with men, being able to be elected to any office, inherit wealth, and hold full rights of ownership under law. Many prominent female warriors or champions are to be found in the myths and sagas, from the grotesque Coinchend to the more attractive Scathach and her sister Aoife. Credne was the female champion of the Fianna, while in another tale there emerge two female warriors named Bec and Lithben. Famous was Medb of Connacht, who led her armies in the Tain war. She was no mere symbolic leader, for she slew the hero Cethren with her spear. Scathach ran a martial arts academy and taught many of the champions of Ireland, including the most famous of them all, Cuchulainn. The deities of death and battles-such as M6rrfg3.n, the triune goddess-are invariably female. In ancient history warrior queens appear among the Celts, in- cluding Cartimandua, the "sleek pony," queen of the Brigantes in Britain. Most famous of all was Boudicca (Boadicea to the Romans) of the Iceni, who rose against Roman rule in A.D. 60 and came close to driving them back into the sea. Her name means Victorious (in Irish buadach, in Welsh buddogal). Irish history abounds in such leaders as Ebha Ruadh Ni Murchu, Maire Ni Ciaragain, and the famous Grainne Ni Maillie.

Fenian Cycle. [I] Also known as the Ossianic Cycle. The tales are thought to date stylistically to the third century A.D. and concern the deeds of Fionn Mac Cumhail and his Fianna. The first bold synthesis of the eight major parts of the cycle into a cohesive whole appeared in the twelfth century tract Acallamh na Senorach (Colloquy of the Ancients). The Fenian Cycle, next to the Red Branch Cycle, is one of the longest compositions and became very popular with the ordinary people in Ireland during the medieval period. It is argued that the Arthurian sagas derived their themes and embellishments from these tales.

Ferdia. [I] The friend of Cuchulainn who grew up with him and was taught the martial arts under Scathach with him. During the Tain war he took the side of Ailill and Medb but tried to avoid open conflict with Cuchulainn. Medb goaded him into single combat. After this, the greatest combat of all, Ferdia is slain by his friend. Disheartened by his act, Cuchulainn falls exhausted while the victorious Connacht army pours across the ford he has guarded so well, rejoicing with war songs.

Fergus. [I] There are at least ten personages named Fergus (sometimes given as Feargus) in Irish myth, but the most famous of them all was Fergus Mac Roth, who was king of Ulster, succeeding his brother Fachtna Fathach. He was in love with his brother's widow, Nessa, who promised to marry him if he gave up the throne for one year to her son Conchobhar. Fergus did so and then found himself betrayed, with Conchobhar clinging on to the throne after the time had come to return it. At first, Fergus serves Conchobhar, then after Conchobhar's betrayal of Naoise, he goes off into exile in Connacht.
When Ailill and Medb led the men of Connacht against Ulster in the T3.in war, Fergus accompanies them with other dissident Ulstermen. It is Fergus' strategy that almost wins the day, until Cuchulainn reminds him of-a personal oath, which forces Fergus to leave the battlefield, ensuring the defeat of the Connacht army. Tradition has it that it was Fergus who first set down the story of the Tain.

Fianna, The. [I] Populatly called the Fenians. A band of warriors guarding the High King of Ireland, said to have been founded in 300 B.C. by Fiachadh the High King. They consisted of twenty-five battalions. They were a military elite, and scholars suggest that it was from the Fianna that the later concept of the Arthurian Knights of the Round Table was derived. See Knights.

Fidchell. [I] "Wooden wisdom." An ancient Irish board game said to have been akin to chess in which a piece, known as a king, attempts to escape to the side of the board while the opposing player attempts to prevent this. It was played extensively by the gods as well as the heroes. It was a game said to have been devised by Lugh, the god of arts and crafts. In Welsh myth the game gwyddbwyll has the same meaning and is obviously the same game.