One of Ireland’s most beloved folklore tales takes us to the banks of the River Boyne, near the Hill of Tara. This legend involves the hero Fionn Mac Cumhaill and a magical fish known as the Salmon of Knowledge. According to the legend, there lived a wise old poet named Finnegas, who spent seven years trying to catch the elusive Salmon of Knowledge, a creature said to possess all the world’s knowledge and wisdom. It was prophesied that whoever first ate this salmon would gain this enormous wealth of wisdom. Finally, Finnegas caught the salmon and instructed his apprentice, Fionn Mac Cumhaill, to cook it but not to eat any of it. As Fionn was cooking the fish, a blister rose on the skin of the salmon, and Fionn burst it with his thumb. He instinctively put his thumb in his mouth to soothe the burn and, in doing so, ingested a bit of the salmon’s skin. When Finnegas saw that Fionn’s wisdom had increased, he realized what had happened and accepted that it was Fionn’s destiny to gain the wisdom of the salmon. And so, it happened that Fionn Mac Cumhaill became one of the most enlightened leaders in Irish folklore. He is still celebrated in stories and artwork throughout Ireland, and his legend is a proud part of the populace’s unique heritage, having woven himself into the rich tapestry of Irish lore and culture.