An Fiannaidhe Fáin

Publication Instance Details #2928

Publication Overview

Translation	Is Multilingual	Explicit Irish Context?	Ekphrasis	Has Paratext?	Reference to News, Media or Technology
No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No

Details

Human Rights Issues	War
War / Genocide Referenced	War: First World War
Irish Context	Colonization and Colonial Legacy (Ireland) Political Independence (Ireland) Irish Language/Culture Specific Irish place or place-name mentioned Great Famine (Ireland) WW I (Ireland)
Languages	Irish
Genre	Epic Poem
Medium	Print Collection
Paratext Text	do ''Mharbhán'': A Mharbhán mhaordha, mo bhuidheachas leat-sa, A scag mo scéal is a léigh go h-aireach; A leag do mhéar air is ghléas i n-eagar; go mbadh fada tréan tú ro' réalt im' aice.
Notes	Long, epic poem consisting of the story of the 'Fiannaidhe' - the wanderer. Written in an older form of Irish, and printed in the sean-chló here, the poem contains various characters, in order of appearance: An File (Poet); an Fiannaidhe (the Wanderer); an Taoiseach (the Chief); an Ceann-Urraidhe (Head of the Clan); an t-Óig Fear (the young man); An Saighdiúir Gearmánach (the German soldier); an Gearmánach (the German). It's quite likely that these character might refer to specific people: i.e. is 'An Taoiseach' John Redmond? There is an account of how the Irish were persuaded to enlist in the British Army during WW1, and how they were lied to by the Taoiseach and the Ceann-Urraidh to help England against the spectre of Germany. The Fiannaidhe, to his shame, joins up with the army and heads overseas, takes part in a battle, meets some Germans, and gets injured. During these events, his mind is filled with images of his home place and family. He receives words that his wife is ill, and on his return home he finds her already buried and turns his back on the war and on the English, and joins the Volunteers, in order to redeem himself. His new captain (an tÓig-Fear) is wounded and dies. The fiannaidhe reflects on all of this beside the fireside of 'An File', and passes away peacefully. Strong messages of anti-colonial Irish resistance here, with references to the famine, land clearances, poverty, and English oppression of Ireland. Interesting that the Germans are mentioned quite favourably in the poem as well.