THE SALMON OF KNOWLEDGE
The story of Fionn and the Salmon of Knowledge begins long before he was born. Fionn’s father,
great Cumhaill, head of Clan Bascna and leader of Fianna, had fallen in love with Muirne, daughter
of a Druid called Tadg who lived on Hill of Allen.
Despite Tadg’s refusal to let Cumhaill take Muirne’s hand in marriage, the young couple eloped.
When Tadg heard the news, he was so furious that he went to King, Conn, who gathered many
chiefs and soldiers from Clan Morna to fight Cumhaill for Muirne’s return.
The two clans met at Cnuca, near Castleknock and although Cumhaill fought bravely his small
army was overpowered and he was killed. The leader of Clan Morna was rewarded with the honor
of replacing Cumhaill as head of Fianna. When Muirne realized her husband had been killed, she
returned to her father’s castle on Hill of Allen, but Tadg was still angry with her and banished her
from his home.
Frightened and scared for her safety, Muirne fled to Conn and asked him to take her in, which he
did. Not long after, Muirne gave birth to a baby boy – son of Cumhaill – and she called him Demne.
Muirne knew Demne wouldn’t be safe from Clan Morna, so she sent the baby to be raised by two of
her closest servants, women who knew how to survive in the wilderness. It was with these two
women that Demne was raised, deep in the forest in a hidden house of mud and branches.
Over years, Demne’s carers taught him to be a great hunter and tracker. As he grew older, Demne’s
curiosity brought him out of woods into a clearing where other boys his own age were playing
hurling on the field. Demne joined the game and proved to be by far strongest and most skilled
player, beating all other boys single-handedly before retreating back into the forest.
When chieftain’s son told his father of the mysterious boy who had played with them, the leader
named him Fionn, which means ‘fair-haired’. The chieftain’s son was jealous of Fionn’s prowess,
and next day when he returned to play, he turned all other boys against him and chased him out of
the clearing. Fionn’s carers knew that his secret identity would be revealed and he would only be
safe if he left the forest and travelled south to hide once again from Clan Morna.
Fionn travelled until he reached Kerry and sought refuge with King of Bantry, but when King saw
handsome young traveller, he recognized him immediately as Cumhaill’s son. The King told him to
leave, as he could not protect him, and once more, Fionn travelled until he settled with his uncle.
Here, he was protected and told stories of his father great warrior, and of Fianna.
Fionn soon made the decision to take back his birthright as leader of Fianna by fighting Mac Morna,
but he knew first he must become the greatest hunter and wisest poet. Fionn went to study with
Finnegas, the wisest man in Ireland, who lived by a rock pool on River Boyne. Finnegas had been
there, patiently looking for Salmon of Knowledge for seven years. The red-speckled fish lived in
these waters and was said to hold all secrets of the world, and he who ate him would absorb all this
knowledge.
As Fionn sat with Finnegas, the old man finally caught salmon he had been waiting for. Finnegas
told Fionn to clean and cook fish, but warned young man not to taste it, as Finnegas knew that first
one to taste salmon would be one to get its Knowledge. As Fionn was cooking fish, he burnt his
thumb and immediately raised it to his mouth to ease the pain. When he brought salmon to
Finnegas, he immediately saw a difference in his pupil’s face. “Did you eat salmon?,” asked
Finnegas. Fionn told truth and said that he had not eaten salmon, but had burnt his thumb and put it
to his mouth. Finnegas knew that Fionn had absorbed eternal Knowledge and that he was to become
a great man.
Shauna O’Halloran @Irelandofthewel , available at: https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/legend-finnmac-cumhaill-salmon-knowledge