"The Birth of Bran." Irish Fairy Tales, Stephens, James, London: Macmillan, 1920, pp. 93-108.

Tale Summary

This story begins with a description of Fergus Fionnliath, a man known for hating dogs more than anyone else in Ireland. However, Fionn, whom Fergus is loyal to, has always been a lover of dogs. His two most favorite dogs are Bran and Sceolan, and the rest of the story explains why he is so connected to them. 

Fionn’s Aunt Tuiren visits him and decides to wed an Ulster man named Iollan. Fionn does not know Ulster very well, so he wearily consents to this marriage. Iollan and Tuiren are happy in their new marriage, but soon Iollan’s past comes back to haunt him. His old lover, Uct Dealv, a lady of the Shi, has been waiting for him to return to her whilst he has already moved on. 

When Uct Dealv hears of his new marriage, she decides to take matters into her own hands. She visits Tuiren in Ireland and transforms her into a hound upon meeting her. Uct Dealv then decides to take her to Fergus Fionnliath, who she believes will cause Tuiren suffering or even death. 

Fergus hates dogs very much, so at first he refuses to take in the hound. However, he is persuaded to watch it in debt to Fionn, who he is loyal to. At first, Fergus avoids the dog who is shivering in fear, but eventually realizes he should help so Fionn will not be upset with him. He orders his servant to take care of her, but Tuirenn, the dog, refuses their help. Fergus realizes that she is only comforted by him, and as he grows closer to her, his hatred of dogs disappears. 

Iollan and Fionn are desperately searching for Tuiren. Iollan knows that Uct Dealv must have had something to do with her disappearance, so he offers his life to her in exchange for returning Tuiren to her human state. Uct Dealv does this, and Tuiren marries Lugaidh now that her husband must remain with Uct Dealv. Tuiren left behind two puppies she had birthed as a hound named Bran and Sceolan. This is how they came to be Fionn’s most beloved dogs, for they were also his cousins.