Celtic Myth 5: Finn and the Salmon of Knowledge

Celtic Myth 5: Finn and the Salmon of Knowledge

The turning point in the life of the great warrior Finn Mac Cumhaill came at the age of seven when he apprenticed himself to a bard called Finnegas to learn poetry. Finnegas lived on the banks of the river Boyne, where he tried to catch a salmon imbued with universal wisdom.

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Around a well at the source of the Boyne there were nine hazel trees, on which grew nuts that held great wisdom. The nuts had fallen into the river and been eaten by a salmon. Thereafter, the first person to eat the flesh of the salmon would know all that there was to know. It had been prophesied that Finnegas would catch the fish.

For some seven years Finnegas had fished for the salmon, but caught nothing. Shortly after Finn’s arrival, however, Finnegas landed the salmon and asked Finn to clean and cook it. At the same time, he told Finn that on no account was he to eat even the tiniest bit of the fish, because the first to taste the fish would receive its magic. The boy was careful to obey his master in every respect. While the salmon was cooking, a blister arose on its skin. To burst it, Finn poked it with his thumb, but in doing so scalded himself. He sucked his thumb to ease the pain, and tasted the flesh of the magic salmon.

“What is your name?” asked Finnegas when he learned of this. “ Deimne,” replied Finn, using the name he had taken to evade his enemies, the sons of Morna. “No, it is not,” said the bard. “It was foretold that I would catch the fish, but that Finn Mac Cumhaill would be the first to eat it. You are he.”

Finn ate the rest of the salmon and received the full power of prophecy. Whenever he wanted to use his gift, all he had to do was suck his thumb. With this talent, allied to his battlecraft, Finn became a formidable hero.

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