Fintan mac Bóchra
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In
deluge
. Bóchra may be his mother, or may be a poetic reference to the sea.
He was one of only three men in the expedition, along with fifty women, so he, Cessair's father
Bith
, and the pilot, Ladra, had sixteen wives each. Fintan's wives are named: Cessair, Lot, Luam, Mall, Mar, Froechar, Femar, Faible, Foroll, Cipir, Torrian, Tamall, Tam, Abba, Alla, Baichne, and Sille. He married Ebliu later. His only son was Illann.
His wives and children were drowned when the flood arrived but he survived in the form of a salmon, remaining a year under the waters in a cave called
Magh Tuiredh
.
He survived into the time of
Fionn mac Cumhail, becoming the repository of all knowledge of Ireland and all history along with a magical hawk who was born at the same time as him. They meet at the end of their lives and recount their stories to each other. They decide to leave the mortal realm together sometime in the 5th century, after Ireland was converted to Christianity
.
Due to his ability to
Fionn mac Cumhail
with the Salmon was a much later alternative to link him with the original knowledge of Ireland's first populations.
See also
Tuan mac Cairill, another Lebor Gabála Érenn character with the ability to shape-shift, and as a result, he lives for several thousand years.
References
- ^ "Lebor Gabala Erenn pt. 2". Retrieved 22 May 2010.