Gráinne

Gráinne, see Tóraigheacht Dhiarmada agus Ghráinne.

Daughter of Cormac mac Airt who elopes with Diarmait Ua Duibne while betrothed to Fionn mac Cumhaill, thus providing the central action of Tóraigheacht Dhiarmada agus Ghráinne [The Pursuit of Diarmait and Gráinne]. Although earlier versions of the story do not survive, medieval references indicate that Gráinne was initially married to Fionn, who put her aside for a sister, Ailbe, when she proved unfaithful. Clearly comparable to Deirdre of the Ulster Cycle, she has been less celebrated in literature, perhaps because of folk variants of the story that have her married to Fionn after Diarmait's death. Lady Gregory dramatized her most favourably in Grania (1912). See also ISEULT. For Ráth Gráinne, see TARA.