original painting of Bran and Sceolan
2010 by Lisa Pahl
www.lisapahlpaintings.com

Fionn (Finn) Mac Cumhaill, a great warrior and leader of the Fianna who were the guards of the High King beginning 300B.C. Fionn had two maternal nephews with human minds, yet remained as dogs...

Fionn’s two favourite hunting dogs were named Bran and Sceolan and they accompanied him everywhere. They were no ordinary dogs either (although in a sense, perhaps, we are expected to take them to be exactly that). The story in a nutshell is this: Fionn’s aunt became the lover of one of his armed followers, but while she was living with this man, a former girlfriend of his, who was one of the Sidhe, came to visit her in a jealous rage and through a magic spell turned the poor woman into a bitch. In the fullness of time, since she had been pregnant when this catastrophe had struck her, Fionn’s aunt gave birth to two healthy dog pups, Bran and Sceolan.

Fionn’s aunt was ultimately turned back into her old, human self. Bran and Sceolan however, although Fionn’s maternal nephews and with human minds, remained as dogs and true to a maternal uncle’s duty, Fionn gave these dogs his love and a share of his home.

Story fragment recounted from: Gregory, Lady A., 1904. Gods and Fighting Men: The Story of the Tuatha de Danaan and of the Fianna of Ireland, Arranged and put into English by Lady Gregory. John Murray, London. Reprinted, 1998. Irish Myths and Legends. Running Press Book Publishers, Philadelphia, USA. Part Two: The Fianna. Book I: Finn, Son of Cumhal. Chapter 3: Birth of Bran, pp 173–175.

Another rendition of the story of The Hounds of Finn....

Bran and Sceolan were the two favorite hounds of Finn MacCumhal, legendary leader of the Fianna. They were so wise and knowing that they seemed human in knowledge, and so indeed they were.

According to the Irish story, Bran and Sceolan’s mother was human - a cousin to Finn. But, while pregnant, she had been turned into a wolf hound by a jealous sorceress. Finn eventually saved his Aunt, but not before Bran and Sceolan had been born. Tuiren had any reason to be displeased Iollan should allow her to return freely, and he made Iollan promise to this before he took Tuiren away.

Now, whether Finn had any inkling of it or not, it is certain that Iollan had already a sweetheart among the Sidhe named Uchtdealb. When she heard that Iollan was married she became bitterly jealous. She took on the appearance of Finn's woman messenger and, going to Ulster to Tuiren's house, she said: 'Finn sends all good wishes and long life to you, queen, and bids you prepare a great feast, and if you will come aside with me I will tell you how it must be.' Tuiren went aside with her, and when they got out of sight Uchtdealb took out a rod and smote her with it, and at once she turned into a most beautiful little bitch, and she led her away to the house of Fergus Fionnliath, the king of the harbour of Gallimh. She chose Fergus because he hated dogs more than anything in the world, and, still in the shape of Finn's messenger, she led the little bitch in to Fergus and said to him: 'Finn wishes you to foster and take charge of this little bitch. As she is with young, do not let her join the chase when her time is near'. Then she left the hound with him. Fergus thought it a strange thing that this charge should have been put on him, for everyone knew what a hatred he had of dogs, but he had a great regard for Finn, so he did his best, and the little hound was so swift and so clever that soon he changed his notions altogether and began to like hounds as much as he had hated them. In the meantime it became known that Tuiren had disappeared, and Finn called Iollan to account for it, and Iollan had to say that she was gone and that he could not find her. Iollan begged Finn for time to search for her. When he could not find her he went to Uchtdealb and told her in what danger he stood, and she consented to free Tuiren if he would be her sweetheart forever. She went to Fergus' house and freed Tuiren from her shape. But two whelps were already born, Bran and Sceolan. Finn kept them and they were always with him, accompanying him on many of his adventures with the Fianna.