JCowan wrote: > I had a query from someone that saw the Fianna website, I was > wondering if anyone may be able to help answer his question? From what I > remember, Fianna was a name that was once used by an ancient Irish army. > Does anyone else have any info. on the Fianna name or > Hi, I wondered about the name Fianna too. I have just been reading a book on the West of Ireland and found something that may be relevant. If not relevant, it's interesting. The author is Seán Jennett, the book is "The West of Ireland", published by Batsford, London in 1980. On p 3 of the introduction he says: "In places, at at Spiddal in Galway, in Sligo, and at Carrigaholt in Clare, there are colleges of Irish, where students may come to learn and practice the language in the company of native speakers... .Facility in the language may be indicated by a small, plain ring, the fáinne, worn by students in the lape or as a brooch - a gold ring for the expert, a silver one for those less so." *** I wonder if this is the explanantion. Cheers, Maria M.M. Brandl in Hobart Tasmania Researching GARVEY FLANNERY COLLINS CARMODY GLEESON BERMINGHAM DONNELLAN in County Clare