"The Boyhood of Fionn." Irish Fairy Tales, Stephens, James, London: Macmillan, 1920, pp. 37-90.

Tale Summary

Fionn is the son of  Muirne and Uail, the captain of the Fianna of Ireland, While he is young, the sons of Morna kill his father, so his mother hides him with some trusted druids in a forest who take care of him. He meets his mother only a few times over his childhood, but learns all about the animals and forest around him until it is like his home. He stays with the druids, learning tales of his father and the sons of Morna on top of how to fish and swim until their location is no longer safe from the clan Morna. 

Fionn runs away from the druids with a group of poets until these friends are murdered. He discovers that Fiacuil, the murderer, is his uncle and goes to live in his den. He learns things about the marshes and how to fight from Fiacuil, but ultimately leaves to make a name for himself in Ireland. He travels around proving his wit, and his skills as a hunter across the country. Fionn’s one greatest desire is to obtain true knowledge. To do this he visits Finegas the poet. Finegas catches the Salmon of Knowledge then gives it to Fionn to eat. 

After obtaining this gift of knowledge, Fionn goes on his final journey to Tara of the Kings. Here, he is welcomed as a friend. During a feast, Fionn volunteers to protect the King from Aillen, whom no one has ever been able to escape from. As he awaits this villain in the forest, Fiacuil visits him to give him the knowledge and a spear which Fionn ultimately needs to kill Aillen. By killing Aillen, he finally has made a name for himself in Ireland and gained lasting respect. The story ends with Fionn becoming a powerful champion of Ireland.