Finneces (Finegas)

A druid or seer. For twenty years (others say 7 years), Finneces (Finegas) tried to catch Fintan, the "Salmon of Knowledge," from the River Boynne.

Finneces only caught the salmon when Finn Mac Cumhaill came to him, seeking the druid to teach him poetry. Finneces agreed to teach Finn, if the youth cooked the salmon for him, but under no circumstance was Finn to eat any of it.

After Finn cooked and served the salmon to the druid, Finneces asked him if he had eaten any part of the salmon. The youth denied doing so, but he did put his right thumb in his mouth after he burned it, turning the fish around the spit.

Finneces realised he was not destined to eat the Salmon of Knowledge, and ordered Finn to eat all of it. When Finn ate the fish, the young hero gained wisdom and bardic skills in poetry. Finn could also gain specific knowledge whenever he put his right thumb in his mouth.