My personna’s life story
I was born in 1264 in the western Irish
province of Connacht. I was the first son of an Irish chieftain. My
families Tuath was located some distance east of Sligo city the strong hold
of Maurice Fitzgerald the Norman overlord of the area.
Growing
up I often heard the stories of Fionn
MacCumail and the Fenians. The Fenians were warriors whose purpose was to
uphold justice and banish injustice, In addition to
guarding the harbors From foreign invaders. According to legend, many
and hard were the tests for him who sought to be one of this noble body. One
of the first tests was literary for no candidate was possible who had not
mastered the twelve books of poetry. So skilful must he be in wood running,
and so agile, that in the flight no single braid of his hair is loosened by
a hanging
branch. His step must be so light that underfoot
he breaks no withered branch. In facing the greatest odds the weapon must
not shake in his hand
As with many of my people hunting was an enjoyed
past time. Particularly boar hunting with a spear. I quickly became enamored
of
the crossbow particularly for hunting and sport
The weapon was introduced by
the many merchants from the continent that traded with Ireland. Not to
mention the fact I was not about to use that Welch invention the longbow. Especially
with the crossbow I could kill English with out having to soil my hands with
their blood
I took on the mantle of Chieftain after my
father’s death in 1287. I began to train and recruit members to my own
Fenians to drive the English from our soil. My chance came in after the
Battle of Bannockburn in 1312,Robert the Bruce sent His brother, Edward who
landed
a formidable Scottish army, at least 5,000
strong, near Carrickfergus in the north-east of Ireland.
In effect, this opened a second front in the war
against the English. I joined Edward with my Fenians to battle the English
under the Gaelic Brotherhood banner that Edward offered us. Sadly, the
effort was for naught as drought conditions forced the Scottish army to
abandon the field and soured the relationship as Scottish soldiers were
taking food from the Irish to survive. I returned home tired of battle and
led my clan peacefully for the rest of my life