Salmon of Knowledge at Ash Cottage

Salmon of Knowledge

The Salmon of Knowledge panel draws inspiration from ancient Irish folklore, where the salmon symbolizes wisdom, transformation, and deep connection to nature. In the legend, the salmon gains all the world’s knowledge by eating hazelnuts that fall into the sacred Well of Wisdom, a reminder that true understanding grows through stillness, curiosity, and time spent in nature. Alongside the main panel, we created a series of 9 stained glass hazelnuts to hang from 9 hazel trees alongside which are hanging within the hazel trees to be discovered as part of an immersive journey.

Taking inspiration from the Sensory Attachment Intervention work carried out by Éadaoin and Ray Bhreathnach at Ash Cottage- a therapeutic environment dedicated to supporting self-regulation, co-regulation, and sensory healing, we were especially inspired by the salmon’s journey: swimming upstream against the current, against all odds. This quiet determination mirrors the process of healing, where growth emerges through gentle persistence and resilience.

Created as part of the Regulating Gardens, the panel invites reflection and calm. Its flowing patterns and natural pigments echo the rhythms of the landscape; the movement of water, the glimmer of light, and the grounding presence of the earth. Like the story itself, the artwork encourages moments of pause and balance, offering a visual space for restoration and insight.