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the salmon of
knowledge
a
traditional irish story
As a young boy Fionn (who was known as Demne) was
sent away to be raised by a great female warrior.
Through her teachings and guidance, he learnt how
to hunt and soon he became a great hunter and
champion warrior. But he knew he was in
danger of being killed by his father’s enemies,
so he decided he would become a poet. he
knew that under the law Poets gained automatic
protection because of their wisdom and truth, and honor
attached to their profession.
Fionn went to study with the great druid and poet
Finneigeas. Finneigeas had been living alone
by the river Boyne for seven years in hopes of
catching the "salmon of knowledge."
The salmon ate nuts from a hazel tree and,
according to the teachings, would give the gift of
knowledge and wisdom of all things to whoever ate
first of its flesh. The traching also stated that
the person to catch this fish would be called
"Finn" and Finneigeas, for his own
reasons, assumed this would be himself.
After years of chasing the giant salmon,
Finneigeas caught it one day when walking along
the banks of the river. He carried it back
to his house and asked Demne to cook it, and
warned him not to taste of it. While cooking
the salmon Demne burned his thumb and without
thinking he sucked his thumb to ease the stinging
and. without realizing what he was doing, he
tasted the salmon.
Demne brought the fish to Finneigeas and, in his honesty, revealed that he had tasted the fish
before him. Finneigeas realized that the
prophecy had come true, but it was Demne who was
supposed to eat the salmon. He then offered
the fish to Demne and changed his name to Fionn.
So Fionn MacCumaill ate the salmon and received
all that was promised; the gifts of wisdom and
knowledge. So, over time, In addition to
being a legendary warrior and hunter, Fionn was
now also a great poet and thinker.
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