Reading time: Irish legends

" The Salmon of Knowledge"

In the river Boyne there was a magic fish called the Salmon of Knowledge. It was said that the first person to taste its flesh would be wiser than all other men. Finegas was a poet who lived near the River Boyne, where he read books and wrote poems. He was one of the wisest men in Ireland. Finegas had tried for seven years to catch the fish but he had no luck.
A young warrior named Fionn had come to live with Finegas. Fionn was unaware of the legend about the salmon of knowledge. When Fionn asked Finegas why he spend his days fishing, Finegas just smiled and gave no answer. Then one morning in springtime, Fionn heard a shout and a mighty splash. Finegas had caught a salmon. It was a beautiful fish and its body shone like silver. Finegas immediately knew he had caught the salmon of knowledge.
Finegas was tired after his struggle to catch the fish so he told Fionn to cook it. Finegas warned Fionn not to eat the fish, not even a mouthful. Fionn built a fire and cooked that salmon very carefully, but when he was turning it, the hot skin burned his thumb. He quickly put his thumb into his mouth to take away the pain.
When Fionn brought the fish to Finegas. The wise poet noticed there was something different about Fionn. There was a new wisdom in Fionn’s eyes. “Have you eaten any of the salmon?” Finegas asked. Fionn told Finegas he hadn’t, but then he remembered he had burnt his thumb and put it in his mouth. Finegas knew at once that Fionn now had the wisdom of the salmon of knowledge. Finegas was very sad, he knew he would never be the wisest man in Ireland, but he was happy for Fionn. Soon afterwards Fionn left Finegas. Fionn went on to become leader of the Fianna and the greatest warrior they had ever known.


 "Fionn and the Fianna"


The Fianna was a mighty group of warriors that guarded Ireland for the high king Ireland who lived at Tara. A man named Cumhall was leader of the Fianna. He was killed in battle by Goll mac Morna, who then became the new leader. Cumhall had a son named Fionn. Fionn’s mother feared that Goll might kill him also, so she sent him to live with a wise woman who lived in the woods at the foot of the Sliabh Bloom Mountains. As Fionn grew older the woman taught him how to use a sword and spear and how to track wild animals in the forest. Goll found out where Fionn was living and he sent a group of warriors to kill him. Fionn left before the warriors arrived and went to live with the poet Finegas on the bank of the river Boyne. It was here that Fionn tasted the Salmon of Knowledge.
After Fionn had tasted the Salmon of Knowledge he was no longer afraid of Goll. He left Finegas and made his way to Tara, where the high king of Ireland Cormac mac Airt lived. Fionn arrived at Tara on Halloween night. The king and his nobles were holding the great feast of Samhain. When Fionn entered the great hall everyone stared at him. “I am Fionn, the son of Cumhall and I have come to join the Fianna”. King Cormac then stood up “As a son of Cumhall who was a true friend of mine you are welcome indeed.” Goll Mac Morna who was at the feast would of killed Fionn there and then but he did not dare. Fighting and quarrelling was forbidden in the King’s fort.
Now every Halloween night a Goblin came to Tara and set fire to buildings and did a lot of evil things. No one could stop him because he played music on a magic harp as he neared the palace and anyone who heard it fell into a deep sleep. “Who will save us from this evil goblin?” ask Cormac. All the heroes in the great hall stayed silent and hung their head. Fionn stood up, “I will kill the Goblin if you make me leader of the Fianna”. The King agreed.  A friend of Fionn’s father handed Fionn a magic spear. “Press this against your forehead as you hear the magic fairy music, it will help you to stay awake”.
Fionn took the spear and went outside to face the Goblin. As night fell Fionn started the hear fairy music coming from the distance. He held the spear to his forehead. As the Goblin got near, Fionn hurled the spear. The spear hit the Goblin in the heart and the Goblin vanished into a cloud of mist. The Goblin had been killed. Fionn when back into the King’s fort. The King called the Fianna together. Turning to Goll Mac Morna the king said “Will you shake hands with Fionn and accept him as your leader or will you leave Ireland?” Goll turned to Fionn and shook his hand.
Fionn was now the leader of the Fianna just like his father. From his fort on the Hill of Allen in County Kildare, Fionn had many adventures with the Fianna. He became its greatest leader and famous throughout Ireland.