6. The Salmon of Knowledge

Young Fionn mac Cumhaill gathered up his weapons and bade farewell to the two wise women of Sliabh Bloom. He was sad to part from them for they had gently cared for him since he was a child. Yet deep in his heart was a wild delight at the thought of the long journey he would travel and the many wonders he would see. The two wise women had taught him to hunt and fight with a sling and sword and spear. Now he set out for the river Boyne to finish his training at the house of the old poet Finneagas. From him he would learn wisdom and the art of making poetry. Then he could take his rightful place as chief of the Fianna --that great band of warriors who guarded the High King and fought for him in time of war.

When Fionn reached the river Boyne he told Finneagas who he was and why he had come. The old poet greeted him kindly and agreed to have him as his pupil. As the weeks went by he taught Fionn many strange and wonderful things. But he never told him why he kept secret. Seven long years he had spent by the river in the hope of catching the Salmon of Knowledge. It had been told in the old stories that whoever should first eat of this salmon would become the wisest of men. He would have the gift of all knowledge and the power to look into the future. Year after year Finneagas had fished in the river. He tried every skill he had ever learned, but still he failed to catch the magic salmon.

Fionn thought it very strange that the wise old poet should spend his days fishing in the river. But when he asked the reason, Finneasgas smiled and gave no answer.

Early one morning Fionn lay on the grassy bank making a poem in praise of the month of May. Suddenly he heard a joyful shout and a mighty splash : Finneagas had caught a salmon. Fionn rushed to his side and helped him to pull the heavy fish to the bank. It was a wonderful size and its beautiful body shone like silver. The old poet was wild with joy.

Between them. Finneagas and the boy carried the great salmon back to the house. The weight of the fish and the excitement of the catch made the old poet very tired. Leaving Fionn in charge of the cooking he lay down on his bed of dry rushes to rest. He warned the boy. however, not to eat or taste the salmon, but to call him when it was ready.

Fionn set to work. Soon a fire glowed brightly and the smell of cooking filled the air. The fierce heat of the fire raised a great blister on the side of the salmon. As the swelling grew larger, Fionn pressed his thumb against the hot flesh to break the blister. A sharp cry broke from his lips. He had badly burnt his thumb and quickly thrust it into his mouth to ease the pain.

Soon the salmon was cooked and laid before Finneasgas. But the old poet stared at Fionn, for his eyes were bright with wisedom. He asked the boy if he had eaten or tasted any of the salmon. Fionn asnwered that he had not, but had burnt his thumb while cooking and put it in his mouth. The old poet sighed and was silent for a while. Then he looked at the boy and said: "Take the salmon, Fionn, and eat it, for the gift of all knowledge is yours. You are the wisest of men; I can teach you no more."

From that day on Fionn held this strange power : by putting his thumb in his mouth he could look into the past and the future.

Some time after this Fionn became chief of the Fianna. Under his wise leadership these brave warrios reached their greatest glory. No man was allowed to join them without passing certain test. One of these test was that he must be able to defend himself with a stick and a shield against nine warriors hurling spears. He had to leap over a branch as high as his forehead and run through a wood so lightly that not even a dry branch would break beneath his feet. Each warrior had to make these noble promises:

To guard the right and prevent wrong-doing.
To fight those who attack the land.
Always to help the poor and needy.
Purity in our heart ; strength in our limbs ;
truth on our lips.

© 1999 All Rights held by Michael G Keohane BA. ACSA.