https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNo-4k6knvo
Carolan's Farewell to Music | Ciara Taaffe Celtic Harp
Fintan travelled with the granddaughter of Noah, named Cesair (pronounced 'sesser'), who survived the great flood. In a distinctly unchristian gesture, Cesair had been refused passage on the Ark by her grandfather and so decided to create three Arks of her own to escape the impending deluge. A perhaps topical tale given the appalling post- Storm Harvey conditions in Texas under incessant inundation; may whoever your God be with you.
Cesair was a mere ten years old when her foster father, a priest in Egypt, instructed her to gather together a group and set out on a voyage that might facilitate their escape from the imminent flood that was to soon follow. Following her priestly father’s advice, she built a fleet of three ships which she crewed with as many capable women as she could identify, each possessing a different skills. Finally, when her own father Bith was also refused entry onto Noah’s Ark, along with Fintan MacBochra and Ladra, Cesair offered these three men a berth aboard her own fleet to safety under the strict proviso that they acknowledged her leadership as commander throughout their time together!
They set sail for the distant mist-locked land of destiny known as 'Inis Fail', otherwise known as present day Ireland. The sailed in the hope that since it was said that Ireland had yet to be populated by any humans that no sin could have ever been committed there, and so it would provide a safe place beyond the flood major which was believed to have been sent by the Gods to cleanse the world of all evil.
Their incredible journey was extremely perilous and it was said to have taken them seven years to navigate their way from the far end of the Mediterranean, possibly the Black Sea, until they finally they arrived in Ireland. This was in the year 2361 BC according to 'The Annals of the Four Masters', however only one ship had survived this epic odyssey, which containined fifty women and three men. Among the survivors was Fintan MacBochra.
They decided to divide the women into three groups, while each group was to take one of the surviving men to populate different parts of this new land. They also divided up the sheep they had the foresight to bring with them (the first sheep to arrive Ireland). Cesair allocated herself to Fintan's group. Banba, a great warrior woman, was the leader of Ladra's group.
A significant physical burden that had been placed onto these beleaguered men! And finally when both of his male companions on the journey died after the voyage, it was left to Fintan to populate the new island alone, with the fifty women for whom he was now responsible. Faced with such a huge task he did what might have been expected for the sake of his longevity and santity. He fled!
Fintan travelled deep into the Irish forests and hid out in a mountain cave in Tul Tuinne, near the River Shannon in Tipperary. Having inherited the ability to shape-shift a syndrome also prevalent in Norse mythology, when the flood eventually struck Ireland, probably in the form of a major tsunami, he adopted the form of a salmon fish, and then a hawk, thus surviving in Ireland for over five thousand years.
Cesair was broken-hearted at having been abandoned by her great love, for that is what Fintan had become to her in the intervening years and died shortly afterwards. As for the remaining women they were at the mercy of the great tidal wave that flooded the lower ground in Ireland and were all washed away in the flood, all apart from Banba. Legend recalls that Banba and Fintan, the only two to survive on wet and dry land, later gave existence to the mysterious and supernatural Formorians.
By this time Fintan had developed his original gift of 'shape-shifting' to such an extent that he was easily able to transform from one creature to the next. It is said that he gained much of his wisdom by being able to communicate with animals, and especially by taking their physical form.
Fintan means 'the wise' and Bochra means 'the sea', therefore the connection that Fintan had with the great oceans is of paramount importance, and he may have even been a son of the seas.
Such was his longevity that he observed much of the history and events of old Ireland unfold before him, becoming besides a super-stud very knowledgeable of the ways of mankind. He was a bard of the ages, a sage, a seer, and a person of magnificent knowledge and wisdom.
He advised the Kings of Ireland. He helped the Firbolg King Eochaid Mac Eirc when the Tuatha de Dannan attacked and also fought in the first battle of Moytura.
It was not until the advent of Saint Patrick and Christianity in Ireland that Fintan finally shuffled out of this mortal realm.
