Fion or Fionn is a name given in the Ossianic poetry to a semi-mythical class of warriors of superhuman size, strength, speed, and prowess. Generally they are supposed to have been a sort of Irish militia, and to have had their name from Fion MacCumhal (the Finn MacCoul of Dunbar, and Fingal of Macpherson), their most distinguished leader; but Skene believes them to have been of the race that inhabited Germany before the Germans, and Scotland and Ireland before the Scots. Research Fion
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a novel written in 1876 by American author Mark Twain. It describes the childhood escapades of Tom Sawyer and his friends Huckleberry Finn and Joe Harper in a small Mississippi community before the Civil War. It, and its sequel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn published in 1885, are remarkable for their rejection of the high moral toneprevalent in 19th-century children's literature. Research The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Fenians, a name usually derived from Fionn or Finn, is the name given to a semi-mythical class of Irish warriors famous for their prowess.
The name was assumed during the 19th century by those Irish who formed a brotherhood in their own country and in America, with the intention of delivering Ireland from the sovereignty of England, and establishing an Irish republic. About the end of 1861 the Fenian Brotherhood was regularly organized in America; and its chief council, consisting of a 'head-centre,' John O'Mahony, and five other members, which had its seat at New York, soon had branches in every state of the Union; while at the same time large numbers joined the cause in Ireland, where James Stephens was 'head-centre'.
The close of the American Civil War, when large numbers of trained Irish soldiers who had taken part in the war were released from service, was thought to be a convenient time for taking some decisive steps. Two risings were planned in Ireland, but they were both frustrated by the energetic measures of the British government, the first, in September, 1865, by the seizure of the office of the Irish People, the Fenian journal published at Dublin, in which papers were found which revealed to the government the secrets of the conspiracy, and which led to the capture of the ringleaders, Luby, O'Leary, O'Donovan Rossa, and others; the second, in February, 1866, was as speedily suppressed by the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland. An invasion of Canada, attempted in the same year, failed as miserably as the attempt in Ireland, and convinced tlie Irish that they could not expect the aid from the United States on which they had hitherto counted.
At last, on the 5th of March, 1867, the long-prepared insurrection broke out almost simultaneously in the districts of Dublin, Drogheda, and Kerry. The number of insurgents in the field, however, did not exceed 3000, and though they burned some police stations, they nowhere faced the troops sent after them. About the same time some forty or fifty Irish-Americans landed in a steamer near Waterford, but soon after fell into the hands of the police. In 1870 and 1871 two raids were again made on Canada, but both were ridiculous failures, the first being repulsed by the Canadian Volunteers, and the second suppressed by the United States government. Research Fenian
Mark Twain (real name Samuel Langhorne Clemens) was an American writer. He was born in 1835 at Hannibal or possibly Florida, Missouri, and died in 1910. He started life as a compositor, in 1851 became a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi river, later taking his pseudonym from the call of the leadsman when reporting the soundings. After being a reporter on a newspaper in Virgina City, Nevada, he tried mining and journalism in San Francisco and in 1866 visited the Sandwich Islands.
He wrote several books based on the Mississippi river, including 'The Adventures of TomSawyer', in 1876 which explored the lawless side of vagrant boyhood and in 1883 'The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn'. His first story, however was 'The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County' which appeared in The Californian in 1867. His first book, 'Innocents Abroad' was published in 1869 and was based upon his first visit to Europe, and established his reputation as a humorist. Research Mark Twain
Paavo Johannes Nurmi was a Finnish long distance runner. He was born in 1897 and died in 1993. He was known as the 'Flying Finn', and won nine Olympic gold medals, including five at the 1924 Games. He broke 20 world records in 16 separate events ranging from the 1,500 metres to the 20,000 metres. Through his achievements and his scientific approach to training and racing he transformed competitive running in the 1920s. He set his first world record 1921 in the 10,000 metres, and his last in 1931 when he became the first man to beat nine minutes in the two miles. At the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp he won the 10,000 metres and individual and team cross country titles, but could only finish second in the 5,000 metres; a defeat which prompted him thereafter to run with a stop watch so that he could pace himself better. Whatever the benefits of this innovation, four years later at the Paris Olympics he was unbeatable, winning gold medals in the 1,500 metres, 5,000 metres, individual and team cross country, and the 3,000
metres team event; his victories in the first two races coming within an hour of each other. In 1925, on a celebrated tour of the USA, he won 53 of 55 indoor races. At the 1928 Olympics he won the 10,000 metres and won silver medals in the 5,000 metres and 3,000 metres steeplechase to bring his tally of medals to 12, including 9 golds. In 1932 he was controversially disqualified from competing in the Los Angeles Olympics for an alleged breach of the amateur code. Research Paavo Nurmi
Anthony Michael Hall is an actor. He began acting at the age of eight and had his first role in Steve Allen's semi-autobiographical play 'The Wake'. He then appeared in the Lincoln Center production of 'St. Joan of the Microphone' and the Griffin Theatre's 'Segments of a Contemporary Morning'. On television, Hall played a young EdgarAllenPoe in the Emmy Award winning version of 'The Gold Bug' and Huck Finn in 'Rascals and Robbers'. He was also seen in such television films as ' Jennifer's Journey', 'The Body Human' , 'Orphans', 'Waifs and Wards' and 'Running Out'. At the age of 17, Hall also had the distinction of becoming the youngest regular cast member of NBC's 'Saturday Night Live' during the 1985 - 1986 season. Research Anthony Michael Hall
In Celtic mythology, Finn MacCool was an Irish prophet, warrior and healer. He learned his skills either from touching the flesh of Fintan as he cooked him, or by sipping the gods' wine as he served them at table. Research Finn MacCool
In Celtic mythology, Fintan (the salmon of wisdom) was a shape-changer. He was the only Irish survivor of Noah' s flood, changing into a hawk to soar above the waters and into a salmon to live in them. He ate the gods' magic hazelnuts and received all knowledge, but was netted in a salmon- trap and cooked for the gods' banquet by Finn MacCool who in doing touched Fintan's flesh and absorbed the knowledge from Fintan turning him into a seer and healer on the spot. Research Fintan
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Abbreviations
Research Fion
