[1] He gained the name Goll ("one-eyed") when he lost an eye in his battle with Cumhal or, in other versions, Luchet, as described below:[2] "Aed was the name of Dáire's son,
[3] As well as that, another variant of the story tells how Goll was chased by Fionn MacCumhaill, leader of the Fianna, to the north coast of Donegal where he was slain on a rock off the coast which known as 'carraig ghoill' (Goll's Rock).
Goll took his place and slew Irnan, and was allowed to marry Fionn's daughter as a reward.
In the tale Cath Gabhra, which describes the battle in which the Fianna fight and are destroyed by the forces of the High King Cairbre Lifechair, Goll and those loyal to him defect to Cairbre's side and fight against Fionn.
"Tapadh le Goll, mharbh e mhàthair" ("Thanks to Goll, he has killed his mother") is a Scottish Gaelic proverb used whenever a nuisance is gotten rid of by the individual responsible for it.