Cumhal

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In Irish mythology, Cumhal (earlier Cumal, pronounced roughly "Coo-al" or "Cool") son of Trénmór ("strong-great") was a leader of the fianna and the father of Fionn mac Cumhail.

He was a suitor for the hand of Muirne, daughter of the druid Tadg mac Nuadat, future mother of Fionn mac Cumhail, but Tadg refused him, so he and Muirne eloped. Tadg appealed to the High King, Conn of the Hundred Battles, who made war against Cumhal. Cumhal was killed in the Battle of Cnucha by Goll mac Morna, who took over leadership of the fian, but Muirne was already pregnant with his son, Fionn.

Attempts to connect Cumhal with Camulos, a Celtic god of war, are now largely rejected. Old Irish cumal means "female slave", and it is possible that a noble father was invented for Fionn to obscure an ignoble origin. Alternatively, some early texts call the hero "Fionn mac Umaill", which may indicate his father's name was originally Umall.

Alternatives: Coul, Cool