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Fian is cognate with the Latin venare, meaning to hunt (Meek 1998). Since hunting exercised both mind and body, it was an ideal training for young warriors. In Fenian ballads, prowess in the field flourished alongside praise poetry for hunting and eulogies for the natural arena in which their heroic pursuit was prosecuted. It was self evident that any eulogy for a chief had to celebrate his expertise as a hunter - a leader who held dominion over both nature and nurture (Wiseman 2009). During the Middle Ages the aristocracy of the highlands were preoccupied with the chase and its celebration (Menzies 2012). Hunting expressed noble status. It legitimised social bonding, authority and governance and was a test for the chief and his retainers. It signified a unity of land, culture and people – its heritage or dùthchas in Gaelic. Hunting was as much a a rite of passage for the aristocracy as it was for the Fianna (Wiseman 2009).

The enjoyment of hunting is reflected in an anonymous composition praising the Isle of Arran. Amongst many other stories, it was attributed to Oisean the son of Fionn Mac Cumhail, who was one of the few survivors of this age of heroes. It was probably composed during the 12th century as part of a much longer ballad recording a conversation, Acallam na Seanórach – the Conversation of Old Men, between Oisean and St Patrick. Càilte or Caoilte, another survivor of the golden age, is the narrator. He was the swiftest runner amongst the Fianna, and his talent is mentioned in Moladh Beinn Dòbhrain. This is Caoilte’s reply to a question from Patrick, ‘What was the best hunt, whether in Ireland or Scotland, that the Fèinn (Fian or Fianna) ever took part in?’ (Bateman & McLeod 2007, 305).