Chapter XV: Shee an Gannon and Gruagach Gaire

_Source._--Curtin, _Myths and Folk-Lore of Ireland_, p. 114 _seq._ I have shortened the earlier part of the tale, and introduced into the latter a few touches from Campbell's story of "Fionn's Enchantment," in _Revue Celtique_, t. i., 193 _seq._

_Parallels_.--The early part is similar to the beginning of "The Sea-Maiden" (No. xvii., which see). The latter part is practically the same as the story of "Fionn's Enchantment," just referred to. It also occurs in MacInnes' _Tales_, No. iii., "The King of Albainn" (see Mr. Nutt's notes, 454). The head-crowned spikes are Celtic, _cf._ Mr. Nutt's notes (MacInnes' _Tales_, 453).

_Remarks_.--Here again we meet the question whether the folk-tale precedes the hero-tale about Finn or was derived from it, and again the probability seems that our story has the priority as a folk-tale, and was afterwards applied to the national hero, Finn. This is confirmed by the fact that a thirteenth century French romance, _Conte du Graal_, has much the same incidents, and was probably derived from a similar folk-tale of the Celts. Indeed, Mr. Nutt is inclined to think that the original form of our story (which contains a mysterious healing vessel) is the germ out of which the legend of the Holy Grail was evolved (see his _Studies in the Holy Grail_, p. 202 _seq._).