The River Boyne is famed in mythology and legend as being the place where the mystical Salmon of Knowledge was caught, in sight of the ancient Neolithic monuments of Newgrange and Knowth.

The Atlantic Salmon (salmo salar) has been breeding in the Boyne and its tributaries for thousands of years, inspiring myth and folklore alike, and providing an important source of food throughout the ages, since the first people arrived in Ireland after the Ice Age.

However, the numbers of salmon returning to the Boyne to breed have plummeted, reaching a critical all-time low. The very future of this important species – which inspired one of Ireland's best-known myths – is under threat.

Recent news reports indicate that the salmon stocks in the Boyne have reached all-time new lows. The collapse in numbers serves as an urgent alarm call to all of us who care for the salmon and its habitat to do something immediately to help halt its decline.

In a brand new podcast (episode #21), I discuss recent newspaper reports about the disastrous decline in salmon numbers and the possible causes of that. One prominent local angler blames the huge fishing trawlers out in the Atlantic, while the Boyne Rivers Trust thinks the problem is more widespread, and that the Boyne river catchment is experiencing severe stress.

The Salmon of Knowledge was caught, according to mythology, at Linn Féic (Fiacc's Pool) in the Bend of the Boyne close to Newgrange and Knowth. The young boy Demne agrees to cook the fish for the wise old druid Finégas. While doing so, a blister arises on the skin of the fish, and Demne presses down upon it with his thumb, burning himself. He puts his thumb in his mouth to relieve the pain, and gains all the wisdom of the fish.

Could we yet see a situation where the Atlantic Salmon no longer return to the Boyne from their feeding grounds in the North Atlantic? I hope not. The salmon has been hugely inspirational to my work, in particular Finn and the Salmon of Knowledge, Mythical Ireland: New Light on the Ancient Past and Return to Segais (the latter has an image of the salmon on the cover). I just cannot imagine a situation where the salmon were absent from the river they have been coming back to for thousands of years.

This is the first of at least two podcasts on this subject. Next week, I will be speaking with a river scientist on the likely causes of the demise of the salmon, and the things that can be done to help restore their numbers and their habitat. I am planning to record that podcast conversation on the banks of the Boyne close to Fiacc's Pool.

These podcasts are produced exclusively for Mythical Ireland Patrons at the Bronze Age level and above. To access the podcast, you can either become a patron at the Bronze Age level ($10/month) or higher, or purchase access to the podcast for a one-off fee. If you enjoy the podcasts, why not recommend them to your family, friends and acquaintances?

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this latest, largely unscripted, podcast.

Thanks, Anthony