Legend of Grainne
Pronunciation: Grawn-ya
Meaning: grain, love, sun
Legend:
Grainne (Gráinne) was the ancient grain goddess.
Another Grainne was one of the fiancées of mythological hero Finn McCool and lover of Diarmuid.
This Grainne is one of the central figures in the Middle Irish text Finn and Gráinne, and, most famously, in the 17th-century tale The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne, which tells of her betrothal to Fionn mac Cumhaill, leader of the Fianna, and her subsequent elopement with Fionn's warrior Diarmuid Ua Duibhne.
Gráinne was promised in marriage to Fionn but, repulsed by his age, formed a relationship with Diarmuid at their betrothal party. At first he refused out of loyalty to Fionn but she placed a geis upon him to run away with her. Their long flight from Fionn was aided by Diarmuid's foster-father Aengus Óg. Eventually, Fionn pardoned Diarmuid after Aengus interceded on their behalf; the pair settled in Kerry and had five children.
Years later Diarmuid was wounded by a boar while hunting with Fionn, who stalled in healing him until it was too late; texts vary on Gráinne's subsequent actions. In some versions, she mourned her husband until she died herself; in others, she swore her sons to avenge their father's death on Fionn. In still others, she forgave Fionn or even married him.
Sources: Nameberry | Wikipedia
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