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The Salmon of Knowledge
Here is why we named our newsletter after the Salmon of Knowledge
 
The Story of the Salmon of Knowledge


Fionn MacCumhail was just a lad when he was sent from his home to the poet and great master, Fineagas, for education in many subjects - above all, on how to become a true heroic warrior. The old fellow had been living alone for many years in a little house he built himself beside the River Boyne and he enjoyed Fionn's company.
Fineagas kept a very close eye on the Boyne, day and night, hoping to spot the unique fish 'Bradan an Eòlais - The Salmon of Knowledge'. Apparently, the first person ever to taste this fish would become the wisest in all Ireland. Everyone who had so far tried to catch it had been disappointed, and Fineagas dearly hoped that where others had failed he would be successful.
One day Fineagas and Fionn were sitting on the river bank enjoying a stimulating lesson when the tutor noticed a glorious big salmon swimming towards them. 'This surely is the Salmon of Knowledge!' he cried and rushed to get a net - a fine strong one, to haul it in. He knew also that he mustn’t look into the fish’s eyes or he would fall fast asleep, and he was careful not to do this as he struggled to net the beast of a fish. And then, without warning, the salmon leapt out of the water in his direction. The old man panicked and looked straight into the eyes of the fish, and immediately fell into a deep sleep.
Fortunately, young Fionn saw this and shook Fineagas awake. The old teacher commanded Fionn to tear his dark-coloured shirt and tie it round Fineagas' eyes so that he could no longer see the fish. Fionn obeyed, and a blind-folded Fineagas and a tenacious salmon quarrelled and fought for the rest of that afternoon until the fish eventually gave up the struggle. Fineagas had caught Bradan an Eòlais. He would be the wisest person in all of Ireland.
As you’ll understand, this great effort had exhausted poor Fineagas and he asked Fionn to cook the fish while he had a recuperative snooze. Fionn promised not to taste the salmon.
The monster fish was placed on a spit above a peat fire and it wasn’t long until it was ready for eating. Fionn called Fineagas to come and taste it, but as he did so a small drop of burning fish-oil splashed up onto his thumb. Fionn simply stuck his thumb in his mouth to quell the pain.
When Fineagas arrived he immediately noticed that Fionn MacCumhail looked different. He could see from the gleam in his eyes and the glow from his cheeks that something had happened to him.
'Did you have any of the fish flesh?' Fineagas demanded. Fionn had to tell the truth.
'No,' he said.
'Did you try any of it at all?' Fineagas asked. Fionn then remembered that he had put his thumb in his mouth when the oil burned it, and he told Fineagas this.
Fineagas understood there and then that the special knowledge which came only from that cooked salmon on the spit had been granted to Fionn and not him. Despite his loss, Fineagas was happy for the lad, since he knew that he would grow up to be a most wise man and a great hero and that, from that day forth, Fionn MacCumhail would be the ablest and most celebrated leader of the Fianna warriors.

from Wikipedia
Finn and the Fianna
The stories of Finn (Irish: Fionn) mac Cumhaill and his band of soldiers the Fianna, appear to be set around the 3rd century in Gaelic Ireland and Scotland. They differ from other Gaelic mythological cycles in the strength of their links with the Gaelic-speaking community in Scotland and there are many extant texts from that country. They also differ from the Ulster Cycle in that the stories are told mainly in verse and that in tone they are nearer to the tradition of romance than the tradition of epic. The single most important source for the Fenian Cycle is the Acallam na Senórach (Colloquy of the Old Men), which is found in two 15th century manuscripts, the Book of Lismore and Laud 610, as well as a 17th century manuscript from Killiney, County Dublin. The text is dated from linguistic evidence to the 12th century. The text records conversations between the last surviving members of the Fianna and Saint Patrick and runs to some 8,000 lines. The late dates of the manuscripts may reflect a longer oral tradition for the Fenian stories, the same oral tradition which was interpreted from Gaelic to English by James MacPherson in the Ossian stories. The Fianna of the story are divided into the Clann Baiscne, led by Fionnghall, and the Clann Morna, led by his enemy, Goll mac Morna. Goll killed Fionnghall's father, Cumhal, in battle and the boy Fionn was brought up in secrecy. As a youth, while being trained in the art of poetry, he accidentally burned his thumb while cooking the Salmon of Knowledge, which allowed him to suck or bite his thumb in order to receive bursts of stupendous wisdom. He took his place as the leader of his band and numerous tales are told of their adventures.

The Salmon of Knowledge story is reproduced from Education Scotland under Open Government License.
Visit the originating page on the Education Scotland site.

IBIS newsletter November 2012