Description
2021 Banner by Carol Cassidy
Media: acrylic paint on canvas
Artist Statement: “I thought the Irish tale below brought out the best of Yachats. Not only has salmon played an important role in the history of the region, but Yachats has embraced the Celtic culture with its Celtic Festival, which has been celebrated for years. According to Irish legend, when Fionn mac Cumhall was a boy, he was sent to live with the poet Finnegas, who had wisdom in the ways of the world. In exchange for studying with Finnegas, Fionn cooked and cleaned for him. Finnegas lived by the river Boyne because he knew there lived in its waters the Salmon of Knowledge. If he could catch and eat the salmon, all the knowledge of the world would be his. One day, he caught the magical salmon and had Fionn cook it up for him right away. In his haste, Fionn flipped the cooked salmon onto a plate too quickly, and the oily fish began to slip from the plate. Fionn grabbed it with his thumb and was scalded with the oil from the fish. He stuck his thumb in his mouth to soothe it, and all of the knowledge of the world was transferred to him. From that day on, he would suck on his thumb to know the answer to any question he had. Fionn grew up to become the wise leader of the Fianna, the greatest band of warriors Ireland had ever seen.”
