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The title Banshenchas refers to two versions composed in the late Middle Irish period:

1. [[Metrical Banshenchas

|a metrical version composed by Gilla Mo Dutu Úa Caiside in 1147]] and

1. [[Prose Banshenchas

|a longer version in prose]].

Follow the links for further references.

Late Gaelic prose romance in the form of a so-called bruidhean tale about Fionn mac Cumhaill and his men, perhaps composed in the 15th or 16th century. In the story, Fionn and a number of companions are entrapped in a sinister enchanted hostel or bruidhean by Míodhach (Midac), son of Colgán (Colga), king of Lochlann. Míodhach was taken up and reared by the Fían after his father was killed in an unsuccesful attempt to seize Irish territory, but on coming of age, plotted revenge and so invited Fionn to a feast at ‘The hostel of rowan’ on the Shannon. Once inside, Fionn and his men find themselves magically glued to their seats, awaiting death by decapitation, while Míodhach is making foreign allies. They chant a dord fían (a low kind of humming), which reveals their whereabouts to the remaining members of the Fían, including Oisín, Caoilte, Innse, and Diarmuid. A series of fights ensues in which the latter resist foreign attackers and kill Míodhach. Diarmuid slays the kings of Inis Tuile (Thule) and uses their blood to release Fionn and the other captured men from the spell of enchantment (although Conán Maol does not come away without being partially skinned alive). Finally, a great battle is fought and won over the ‘King of the world’, who is defeated and beheaded.

A prose anecdote on matter of the Finn Cycle, which mentions Oisín son of Finn.

Dinnshenchas of Cenn Cuirrig.

Dinnshenchas of Cenn Finichair

Dinnshenchas of Descert, possibly Descert Laigen

Short anecdote

Dinnshenchas of Druim nDairbrech

Lists A and B represent two versions of an alphabetically arranged list of personal names associated with the Finn Cycle. A prose introduction precedes both of these lists.

An anecdote told in Sanas Cormaic, under the entry for ‘Orc tréith’.

Two short prose stories about Finn, cited in the commentary to the Senchas Már as a gloss on the term imbas forosnai. The first, about Finn's encounter with the supernatural thief Cúldub, tells how Finn acquired the gift of imbas, while the second story, about Finn and the gilla Derg Corra, tells how Finn put this gift to use.

The prose history of Ireland completed by Geoffrey Keating (Seathrún Céitinn) in c. 1634. Comprising an introduction, two books and appendices, it narrates the history of the island from the time of Creation to the Norman conquest in the 12th century. As set out by the vindicatory introduction (an díonbhrollach), the work was written in response to the cultural biases of Anglo-centric writers (e.g. William Camden and Edmund Spenser).

Dinnshenchas of Fornocht, formerly Druim Den.