Irish Folklore, Myth & Legend: Diarmuid & Grainne

However, it was at their engagement party that Grainne met Diarmuid – the boy from her childhood.

It was love at first sight.

Diarmuid and Grainne escaped together – some versions say she actually drugged the whole banquet except for Diarmuid in order to get him on his own! In any case, the couple eloped together. Upon waking up in the morning and finding his beloved and best warrior gone, one can imagine that Finn McCool wasn’t very happy about that. No – the angry, jilted giant pursued them all over Ireland.

Legend has it that Diarmuid and Grainne never slept in the same place. Across Ireland, there are dozens – perhaps hundreds! – of so-called “Diarmuid and Grainne beds” – local places where the couple are reputed to have spent a night while on the run. Caves, alcoves, neolithic tombs, bed-like stones – there are many places associated with the couple.

In the name of chivalry, the great hero Diarmuid bravely threw himself in the path of the charging beast despite the prophecy in order to protect the damsel (in distress), his pregnant wife, Grainne. They fought, Diarmuid is mortally wounded, Grainne is saved, and the boar dies.

After years of searching, Fionn finally comes upon his prey – Diarmuid dying in the arms of pregnant Grainne.

She begs Fionn MacCool to save her lover with water from his magical hands, but this is a tragic tale, and giants, like men, have an ego to bend to. The giant Fionn MacCool is still spiteful about Diamuid’s betrayal, refuses to take the high road to save him.

And tragically, in the shadow of the beautiful Ben Bulben mountain, Diarmuid dies in Grainne’s arms.

Mix nature and mythology in County Sligo, where the iconic Ben Bulben Mountain serves as the dramatic backdrop for the legend of the tragic lovers. Hike through this beautiful and eerie region or perhaps summit Ben Bulben as your guide paints the picture of Diarmuid and Grainne’s story. It’s not hard to see why Sligo and Ben Bulben have inspired the final scene of this tragic love story.

Or, visit the Giant’s Causeway and the Causeway Coast to see where all of this started. And who knows – perhaps you’ll even come to face to face with the giant Fionn MacCool and his fierce band of warriors the Fianna as they search for Diarmuid and Grainne.