Osgar

Family: Fianna · Role: Oisin's son · First appears: The Fianna · Finn, Son of Cumhal · The Coming of Finn · Part 3

Osgar, son of Oisin and grandson of Finn, followed Finn with the Fianna. When Caoilte found him fighting alone at the Battle of the White Strand, he came to his aid; later, Osgar attacked an enemy troop with a log and drove them off. He was comrades and dear friends with Diarmuid, grandson of Duibhne, who taught him feats of arms, skill, and chess-playing. At Beinn Edair, Osgar married Etain of the Fair Hair after agreeing to her condition and providing sureties. Finn directed him to bring her to wide Almhuin for the first seven years, but after a while Osgar was badly wounded in battle at Beinn Edair, and Etain of the Fair Hair died of grief, believing his great shape was gone.

When Diarmuid, grandson of Duibhne fled with Grania, Osgar vowed to protect him from harm. As Diarmuid, grandson of Duibhne escaped the tree, he and Osgar fought through the Fianna and went away from Finn; they later reached Brugh na Boinne unhurt. At Beinn Gulbain, Osgar, Oisin, Caoilte, and Lugaidh's Son covered Diarmuid, grandson of Duibhne’s body with their cloaks. Osgar fought and killed Tailc, son of Treon after five days and nights, defeated Meargach of the Green Spears, and defended Conan by killing the Grey Man. He and Goll had been comrades in many battles, though Goll later threw a spear that crushed Osgar’s shield.

At Gabhra, Osgar refused the High King’s demand for his spear and left the feast with his men to go to Finn. In the battle, he killed many fighters and gave the High King his death with his spear, but the king’s spear pierced Osgar and brought him down. Osgar broke the king’s helmet with a stone, then fell; he died of his wound, and was buried in a grave the whole length of the rath at Gabhra. In Oisin’s telling, it was Osgar who defeated Tailc, son of Treon.