Grania

Also known as: Crania · Role: daughter of the High King of Ireland · First appears: The Fianna · Diarmuid and Grania · The Flight from Teamhair · Part 1

At Teamhair, Grania, daughter of the High King of Ireland, accepted Finn as a suitable husband after Oisin and Diorraing came to ask for her hand. But when Diarmuid’s cap fell and revealed the love-spot on his forehead, she fell in love with him. She gave the company enchanted wine that sent them into a deep sleep, and put Diarmuid under Druid bonds to make him take her away before Finn and the King of Ireland awoke. Though he first refused because she was promised to Finn, he joined her outside the dun, and they fled together. At Doire-da-Bhoth he made a fenced shelter and a bed for her; later Angus Og secretly brought her away from Finn and the Fianna, and reunited her with Diarmuid at Ros-da-Shoileach.

During their flight, Grania and Diarmuid travelled together through caves and woods, and at Dubhros shared berries and went up into the quicken-tree. When Finn found them there, Diarmuid kissed her in his sight, provoking his threat. Angus Og carried Grania safely to Brugh na Boinne under his Druid cloak, and later helped the pair escape Finn again. After they set out once more, Grania stabbed Diarmuid in the thigh when he moved to kill Ciach, who had won her as his wife in a chess game and tried to take her away. At daybreak she caught up with Diarmuid and asked him to forgive her and promise not to leave her; he refused, and the next day she drew the knife from his thigh. At Beinn Edair she discovered that an old woman had betrayed their hiding place and warned him to prepare to fight. Eventually they settled together at Rath Grania, where she bore him four sons—Donnchadh, Eochaidh, Ollann and Connla (son of Diarmuid)—and one daughter.

When Diarmuid was killed by the Boar of Beinn Gulbain during Finn’s hunt, Grania was heavy with child and collapsed when she understood he was dead. She asked Finn to leave Mac an Chuill with her, but he refused; Oisin took the hound from Finn and gave it to her. Grania sent for Diarmuid’s body and mourned, saying, “I am your wife, beautiful Diarmuid, the man I would do no hurt to; it is sorrowful I am after you to-night.” She gave her sons their father’s arms and armour, urged them to learn fighting skills and avenge his death, and, after they returned at the end of seven years, made peace between them and Finn. After first rejecting Finn, she eventually went with him and appeared beside him as a new wife; she and Finn remained together to the end.