- Fintan mac Bóchra
In
Irish mythology Fintan mac Bóchra, known as "the Wise", was a seer who accompaniedNoah 's granddaughterCessair toIreland before the 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 wasIllann .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
Fintán's Grave . He then turned into an eagle and then a hawk then back to human form. He lived for 5500 years after the Deluge, becoming an advisor to the kings of Ireland. In this capacity he gave advice to theFir Bolg kingEochaid mac Eirc when theTuatha Dé Danann invaded, and fought in the first Battle ofMagh 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 toChristianity .
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