MYC619 Diarmuid and Gráinn

The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne (Tóraigheacht Dhiarmada agus Ghráinne) is a famous tragic love story from the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology, mirroring classic tales of forbidden love like Tristan and Iseult or Lancelot and Guinevere.Gráinne was the brilliant and beautiful daughter of High King Cormac mac AirGráinne, was promised in marriage to Fionn mac Cumhaill, the aging leader of the elite warrior band known as the Fianna, but during the grand engagement feast, Gráinne looked upon Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, a young, handsome warrior famed for a magical "love-spot" on his forehead that made any woman fall instantly in love with him. So smitten, that Gráinne spiked the wine with a sleeping potion, knocking out the entire assembly—including Fionn—except for Diarmuid.Gráinne placed a geis (a sacred, binding magical injunction) upon Diarmuid to run away with her, forcing him to choose between his honor to Fionn and breaking the spell, and reluctantly, Diarmuid fled with her, sparking a massive multi-year chase across Ireland pursued by Fionn and the Fianna. Diarmuid's foster father, the love god Oengus Mac Óg, frequently intervened to help the couple escape. Across the Irish landscape, ancient megalithic wedge tombs and dolmens are still locally called Leaba Dhiarmada agus Ghráinne (the beds of Diarmuid and Gráinne), as legend says Diarmuid built a stone shelter for her every single night. Eventually, Fionn made peace with the union after Oengus intervened, and the couple settled down in County Sligo.