Scotland's Storybook: stories in English (1.1 - Education Scotland

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The Salmon of Knowledge Fionn MacCumhail was just a lad when he was sent from 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 the company. Fineagas kept a very close eye on the Boyne, day and night, should he spot a unique fish ‘Bradan an Eòlais – The Salmon of Wisdom’. 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 his 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 took a recuperative snooze. Fionn promised not to taste the salmon. The monster fish was placed on a spit above a good-going 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 finger – his thumb actually. Fionn simply stuck his finger in his mouth to quell the pain. When Fineagas arrived he immediately noticed that Fionn MacCumhail looked really quite 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?’ he demanded. Fionn had to tell the truth. ‘No’ he said’. ‘Did you try any of it at all’ he asked. And with that Fionn remembered that he had 84
actually 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 clebrated leader the Fèinn ever served. Martin MacIntyre, April 2009 A story, I tell, sourced from Reg Keatings version for the series ‘Irish Legends’ published by Tarantula Books 85
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Scotland’s Storybook A magical co
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FIONN MAC CUMHAIL AND THE SALMON OF
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said to contain all the knowledge o
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‘Then what is it; the answer to t
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The mist parted and there before hi
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with a huge emerald in the centre o
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what had happened to Fionn and the
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As the party rode through the fores
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eautiful woman walking over the sur
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ANGUS AND BRIDE Beira was old, as o
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The old man handed the fleece to Br
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ode west, back to the Green Isle wh
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people to the new religion as had d
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Scotland and imprisoned in a castle
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that this must be the Blessed Virgi
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Thomas used his gift of prophesy to
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Page 36 and 37: prophesy that foretold death and ru
Page 38 and 39: e careful of how he acted until his
Page 40 and 41: Without looking up she replied: ‘
Page 42 and 43: ‘Why Willie, my dear,’ said his
Page 44 and 45: ‘What was that?’ he asked his w
Page 46 and 47: So, Rashie Coat went back to the ki
Page 48 and 49: again. When she got home the fairy
Page 50 and 51: problems about saying yes. They wer
Page 52 and 53: her knee and she wept bitter tears
Page 54 and 55: mouth up under her right ear and sh
Page 56 and 57: the branches of the trees as they t
Page 58 and 59: him; it was the greedy laird. He ga
Page 60 and 61: THE SELKIE HUNTER The Pentland Firt
Page 62 and 63: speed. The hunter held on tight to
Page 64 and 65: disappeared, and he was once more t
Page 66 and 67: who eventually arrived to offer the
Page 68 and 69: that the king was to fight the Stoo
Page 70 and 71: As soon as the guard heard this he
Page 72 and 73: MALLIE AND THE TROW Mallie and her
Page 74 and 75: The next morning the trow said his
Page 76 and 77: The Little Brown Calf There was onc
Page 78 and 79: sound outside. She went to the wind
Page 80 and 81: upset at having lost sight of her,
Page 82 and 83: in the black kitchen.” The prince
Page 86 and 87: MacCodram and his Seal-Wife Many ye
Page 88 and 89: Although the fisherman was sorry fo
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Scotland's Storybook: stories in English (1.1 - Education Scotland

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