TWhen Fion mac Cumhall was a young boy he was sent to live with a very wise man name Finnegas. Finnegas lived along the River Boyne. Legend has it that in the river lived the salmon of knowledge and if you ate this salmon you would have all the knowledge of the world. Young Fion cleaned and cook for his teacher in exchange for the education he was receiving. Having caught a salmon, Finnegas gave him specific directions not to taste the salmon (if this was the magical salmon of knowledge, he wanted it for himself). As Fion cooked the fish over the open fire, some oil from the fish burnt his thumb. He stuck his thumb in his mouth to relieve the pain…and the knowledge became his!