Salmon of Knowledge

What more fitting topic to start off this blog then with a bit on the Salmon of Knowledge from none other than Fionn MacCumhail (Finn MacCool).  Both have a prudent connection to the content that will follow here: Ancestors and Wisdom.

UI's Celtic Mythology - Finn MacCool

"Finn MacCool, sometimes called Finn Mac Cumaill or Fionn MacCumal, was the leader of the Fianna, or Fenians, the select band of warriors which guarded the High King of Ireland. His father, Cumal, a previous leader of the Fenians, was killed by Goll, a Fenian warrior. Cumal had eloped with a girl named Hurna and her father urged Goll to avenge this dishonour. Goll slew Cumal, but later Cumal's son Finn was born and brought up secretly. One of his tutors was the druid Finegas, who lived beside the River Boyne and caught the Salmon of Knowledge. He gave the fish to his pupil to cook, but Finn burnt his thumb on the flesh and in sucking it obtained wisdom."
Graphic and text provided by United Irelander



Most if not all the "Tales or Legends" about Finn are considered just that.  Legends and myth.
Why is he considered so "Legendary" while Cuchulainn is not?  A good question for another day.  Stay tuned I may just try to answer that without rambling to much.

So classic is the tale of the salmon of knowledge.  Due to the burnt finger all he has to do is suck or gnaw on his thumb to gain wisdom.  With this insight he is able to get  out of just about all his sticky spots.

However, I have to say for someone to be able to chew their thumb down to the bone and gain wisdom is far fetched.  But is not wisdom what everyone is seeking?  This is what causes so much trouble with the tales of Finn.  You have heroic deeds by someone that live in say 100 A.D. to 400 A.D.  mixed together with far fetched stories alike

Want more on Finn MacCool?  I found a good read in Morgan Llywelyn's book by the same name.

Morgan Llywelyn's Finn MacCool 5 Stars

It's historical fiction just like the rest of the stuff she writes.  Highly recommend this author.  Sometimes I'll get lucky and find a paragraph or page in some book on Irish history, or mythology.  Never nearly as much as Cuchulainn.  At this time I will not recommend any other books.  Look for something in the future when I review some of the stories of Finn.

So long for Now.

Buaidh - NO - Bas