22
HEROES OF THE DAWN
they conquered Cairbre with his multitudes yet were the Fian-heroes nearly all slain. The story says that of all those who went into the battle only Fionn's son Oisin, and Caeilté mac Ronan, with a score or two of warriors, survived. These, so the legends tell us, lived among the Ever-Living Ones until they reappeared to St. Patrick two centuries later, and narrated to him the life and deeds of Fionn and his heroes.
So, at the battle of Gabhra, in the year 283, died the Fianna Eireann, a band of the bravest and most knightly warriors who ever lived.
