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Cumhall (; ) or Cumhall mac Trénmhoir ("son of Trénmór/Tréanmór" meaning "strong-great") is a figure in the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology, a leader of the fianna and the father of Fionn mac Cumhaill.
According to the Fotha Catha Chnucha, Cumhall mac Trénmhoir was son of a petty king, and served the High King Conn Cet-Chathach "of the Hundred Battles". Cumhall was also Conn's half-uncle, his mother being the mother of Conn's father,.
Cumhall became suitor for the hand of Muirne Muncaim "of the fair neck", daughter of the druid Tadg mac Nuadat, but Tadg refused him, so Cumhall forcibly carried away Muirne in elopement.
Cumhall's wife Muirne was already pregnant with his son, Fionn, and Muirne's furious father Tadg not only refused to accept her back, but ordered her burnt to death. and commentary, p. 87. Cumhall's wife however seeks Conn's protection, and in exile she delivers a child which she names Demni. Demni (Demne) later became Finn., p. 183: "Demne shall be named Finn (the Fair)".
Cumhall is reputed to be buried within the grounds of Castleknock College, supposedly under a hill upon which an old water tower now stands.
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/a> Also where the former work gives Almu daughter of Becan as Nuadat's wife, the latter treats Almha the daughter of Brecan as a virgin daughter who bore Cumall a son then died in childbirth. tr. p. 131:
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/a>, Almha daughter of Bracan.
Cumhall had a brother, Crimmal mac Trénmhoir, who was an ally of Fionn.
Battle and death
Tadg, slighted by Cumall's sweeping away his daughter, appealed to Cumall's lord, Conn of the Hundred Battles, and Conn gave choice of either relinquishing the daughter or suffer banishment. Cumall refused to give up his wife, and Conn made war against Cumhall, and Cumhall was killed by Goll mac Morna in this Battle of Cnucha, located at what is today Castleknock., p. 180, note 3. Goll then took over leadership of the Fianna, as explained in the Magnímartha Finn., pp. 180–181 and verse: "'Tis for the chieftancy of Erin's fian / That they waged the stout battle".
Explanatory notes
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