Tag Archives: Fionn Mac Cumhaill

BACK in the 1980s when Eddie Lenihan’s eldest son Keith was four years old, Eddie started telling him stories about Fionn Mac Cumhail. From those beginnings Eddie’s stories about a legendary Irish hero have enthralled and delighted both children and adults, with another book having just been published, Fionn Mac Cumhail and the Baking Hags. It’s certainly a title that catches the attention and the plot has echoes of Eddie’s own battle to preserve a thorn bush when the M18 was being constructued, over 20 years ago. While it is suitable for young readers, there are also political undertones that more mature readers will appreciate. “There’s a big road being built from Tara, a new highway, sound familiar? Of course on their journey, of all the building and digging, they come across something in the landscape, as these things usually do. Even though it’s a story back from the time of Fionn Mac Cumhail, I hope people see that it …

THREE books by Crusheen author Eddie Lenihan have simultaneously hit the shelves, telling new stories of Fionn Mac Cumhaill. Speaking about the creative process behind his books, Eddie says it takes him quite a bit of time but that it is important to get some other perspectives on the work. “You can only do it gradually. The one I’m doing now, Foreign Irish Tales for Children, you’d be interrupted and interrupted and then when you have it finished, you’d have to go over it all again or give it to someone else and ask them what they think of this, give them a chance. “The problem is what I think is funny, someone else might be scratching their head at. It’s like Mrs Brown’s Boys, I think it’s a disgusting, repulsive programme, whereas Mary [his wife] loves it. Humour is a very strange thing.” He doesn’t see any problem with giving new adventures to ancient Irish heroes. “You might be …