Following a series of battles, the Fían, i.e. the fían of Finn mac Cumaill, has been destroyed and its few remaining survivors are dispersed across Ireland. A small remnant from this bygone age survives into the time of St Patrick’s advent in Ireland: aged, weakened and sorrowful, Finn’s son Oisín and Finn’s nephew Caílte still wander about, each with a band of followers. One day, having travelled to the area of Louth, they seek hospitality for the night and find a welcome and lavish reception in the home of Lady Cáma, who used to be Finn’s guardian. Oisín and Caílte part ways. While Oisín goes to visit his mother Blaí at Síd Ochta Cleitig (a síd-mound), Caílte journeys southwards to Ráith Droma Deirc (Ford of the Red Ridge), the site of Finn’s residence.
Following Dooley and Roe (1999), this section of the Acallam may be treated as a prologue in that it occurs before Caílte’s (first) meeting with St Patrick.
