Baoisgne (pronounced Baskin)

The territory of this Irish clan, from the tales of the Fianna, is largely unknown. In the tales they seem to be centered in Leinster.

Clan Baoisgne is mentioned as the clan of Fionn (and the Fenians) and the Fenian leader, Fionn MacCurnhaill, is also referred to as Fionn B'Baoisgne.

The epic story of the Fianna begins with the struggle of two rival clans. They were Clan Morna with Goll mac Morna as leader, and Clan Baoisgne commanded by Finn’s father, Cumhal. Cumhal banishes Goll and he goes into exile but returns.

A battle was fought at Cnucha, where Goll kills Cumhal and Clan Baoisgne was scattered. However, Cumhal’s wife bore him a son, who was named Deimne. Later on, just as Cuchulainn, he took on another name: Deimne Finn (“Deimne the Fair”). Deimne is brought up in secret, for fear his father's enemies should find and kill him. He is trained and is called upon by the High King to claim a reward for a deed of prowess.

‘I ask only for my lawful inheritance,’ he says and tells the High King his name. The king insists upon Goll admitting Finn’s rights and so he becomes leader of the Fenians. But, in the end, the smouldering enmity breaks out, and, after the death of Goll, the rest of Clan Morna go over to the High King of Ireland who had restored Finn to his heritage. The disastrous battle of Gavra is fought in which The Irish High King himself falls, while the Fenians are practically annihilated.


Another reference to Clan Baoisgne is by Canon Bourke, examiner in Celtic History at the Royal University of Ireland. He identified the existing knighthood as five separate military orders in his history of pre-christian Ireland. He writes that the orders accompanied the five great kingdoms of ancient Ireland. They were:

An Niagh Nasc - knights of the golden chain , in modern Gaelic "niachas" is used as an alternative for the word chivalry;
An Curraidh na Craoibhe Ruaidhe - knights of the Red Branch, lit. Champions of the red branch or bough;
An Clanna Deagha - knights of Munster, lit. Family of Deagha;
An Clanna Baoisgne - knights of Leinster, lit. Family of Baoisgne;
An Clanna Morna - knights of Connaught, lit. Family of Morna.

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