Once a high King, both noble and rich, assumed
power and authority over the four tribes of Norway and was called Colgan-of-the-hard-weapons,
the son of Dathchaoin Trean. By this king a great gathering and a complete
assembly was one day convoked in the open space outside his castle and noble
town, that is the city of Bergen in Norway. There the chieftains and nobles
of Norway came together in his presence.
When all were gathered, the king
spoke in a loud exceedingly clear voice, and these words he said: "Chieftains
of Norway, since you are gathered here, tell me if there be any reproach or
blemish resting on me as king and ruler of this realm". "There is one blame"
he was told "And that is that the emerald isle of Ireland is no longer under
the control of the King of Norway.
"I will go at once and conquer
it" he swore. The ships were made ready at once and they sailed, a mighty
army. The ships landed in Ulster and a message was sent at once to the High
King of Ireland, Cormac, warning him of the invasion. Cormac sent his army,
the Fianna, led by the great warrior Fionn Mac Cumhail, to fight the invaders.
There was a great battle, the King of Norway was slain by Oscar, son of Fionn,
but his youngest son, Miodach, was spared. Miodach stayed in Ireland, was
given a town of his own and was accepted by most of the Fianna. Some of the
Fianna however did not trust him and they were right for he was plotting revenge
for the death of his father.
One day as Fionn was out hunting
a stranger came up to him with an invitation to join him at a great feast
in a hostel beside some rowan trees. The stranger was Miodach in disguise
and Fionn and some of his followers went with him while Oisin and the rest
stayed behind. As they entered the hostel they were caught in a trap. The
doors vanished by magic leaving only a narrow, well-guarded entrance. The
Fianna were stuck to their seats and were unable to rise. A force of warriors
from Norway had landed to help Miodach and were now surrounding the hostel.
Fionn put his thumb into his
mouth and was thus able to see the past, the present and the future. He sounded
his famous hunting horn, the Dord Fiann and then waited for rescue. The other
Fianna heard the horn and came to his rescue. They fought with the Norse warriors
and defeated them, killing Miodach. Fionn and his men were then released from
the magic. All were unharmed except the greedy Conan who had been so hungry
and anxious to get at the food on the table that he had torn himself free,
losing the skin off his back.
Source : From "The Vikings
and the Viking Wars in Irish and Gaelic Tradition" by Reidar Th.
Christiansen. Oslo. 1931. (Slightly adapted by Shaun D. L. Brassfield-Thorpe)