Traditional Irish storytelling

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Because the male of the species is so ugly female female merrows prefer to take human lovers. This preference is so strong that often human males are taken against their wishes to the underwater homes of the merrows and kept there with magic and enchantments. It’s also not a good idea for these hostages to try too hard to get away as merrows have tempers and can be thrown into a rage, drowning their hostages or other innocent sailors, raising storms to kill as many humans as possible – they have even been known to eat their hostages.

Unfortunately, young Luty from the coast of Kerry did not know this about merrows. When he came across a beautiful woman with a fish tail who had been stranded on the beach by the outgoing tide his immediate thought was to help the beautiful young lady. Luty was a good old-fasioned gentleman and after having asked the merrow’s name and if she needed help, he picked her up and brought her down to the edge of the water in his arms. He waded into the ocean with her and when he was waist deep, he let her go. This was enough water for her to be able to escape back into the ocean, but not too much water that he risked drowning. The merrow, named Marina, put her hands to his face in gratitude and told him that she would grant him three wishes because of his selfless act that day. Luty pondered on the wishes for a few minutes and then asked for three things. Firstly, the ability to break the spells of witchcraft, secondly, to compel spirits to do good things, and thirdly to have these powers passed down his bloodline. Marina was very impressed with Luty’s wishes as he had wished for nothing selfish, rather the ability to bring good things to the world. As an extra reward she granted his family the gift of prosperity. Luty was thrilled and held her hand to shake it and wished her all the best of luck in life. But when he turned to go, Marina had other plans. She would not let go of Luty’s hand. She had realised that she may never find another man with as beautiful a soul as Luty’s and so she wanted to posses him. She quickly started uttering an enchantment to seduce Luty and force him to come to her underwater realm willingly as her lover. However Luty realised what was happening and quickly, albeit reluctantly drew his iron knife from his pocket. Iron was well known in Ireland at the time as being something that terrified the fairy folk. It worked, Marina was shocked and quickly released Luty and dove beneath the waves before the iron could hurt her. Before she disappeared however, she told Luty she would return in exactly nine years time to claim him.

Soon enough Luty had forgotten about her promise. He married a beautiful human woman and had two sons. Nine years later he was out fishing with his son on the rocks off a beach when Marina popped her head up above the waves. Before Luty even had time to understand what was happening Marina had enchanted him. Luty lost all his willpower and in front of his son, stood up and dove beneath the waves. Everything had happened too quickly for Luty or his son to act to break the enchantment with their new powers and so Luty was never seen or heard of again.

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The story begins with the marriage of Fionn’s aunt to Concobar Mac Nessa, Chief of Ulster of the Fianna, a military army of warriors whose stealth in battle and hunting was unparalled.  It was rumoured that Concobar had pledged his love already to a fairy woman who, on hearing of his impending marriage, cast a spell upon Fionn’s aunt who was at the moment with child. The spell turned the woman into a hound or Cú in Irish.  Whilst under the enchantment the Cú gave birth to twin dogs.  Fionn found out about the spell and forced the fairy to restore his aunt to human form again.  Alas, the spell couldn’t change the dogs to humans.  Fearing for them, Fionn took them into his care and called them Bran and Sceolán.

They grow up to be swift and beautiful companions. Bran was small and wise, with more human traits. Fionn gave her a collar of gold and led her on a silver leash.

One day, when Fionn and his men were out hunting, a fawn appeared in their sights. They chased it till men and dogs were all exhausted, except for Fionn, Bran and Sceolán, who followed the fawn into a deep gorge. Suddenly the fawn stopped and lay down. Bran and Sceolán know at once it was an enchanted creature. They gently nuzzled the fawn. Fionn was astonished but knew the wisdom of his hounds and left the fawn unharmed.

Turning to return to the Castle of the Fianna, Fionn noticed the Fawn following the warriors.  Once inside the castle gates, the form of the fawn changed into a beautiful maiden with long golden hair.  She spoke “my name is Sadhbh; I was turned into a fawn by an evil druid whose love I spurned, once inside these gates I am free of his power”.  Fionn fell in love instantly and they soon married.  For a whole year they stayed close to one another until one day Fionn had to leave to fight in a battle.

Each day Sadhbh would sit watching for Fionn’s return.  A long time past, then one day she saw a mist rolling in from the surrounding hills and saw the outline of Fionn with Bran and Sceolán at his feet, she ran to greet them.  As she approached the mist cleared and in its place stood the evil Dark Druid of her past, he struck her down with his hazel rod turning her back into a fawn.  Setting his hounds on her, she ran deep into the woods to escape them.

Fionn was heartbroken. He searched for Sadhbh throughout Ireland. Bran and Sceolán were the only hounds he brought with him because he could trust them not to harm Sadhbh if they found her.

Seven long years past with no success, then one morning whilst hunting on the sheer incline of Benbulben Mountain, Sligo, his dogstook off at a pace into the woods, with Fionn following fast behind them. There they found a beautiful golden haired young boy who could not speak.  Fearing for his safety, Fionn took him back to the castle and raised him as his own.

Bran and Sceolán were devoted to the little boy and played with him constantly, after a while he learned to speak and told Fionn of a deer whom he loved dearly. He remembered an evil man who had spoken angrily to the deer hitting her and forcing the deer to leave the boy behind on his own in the woods. Fionn knew at once that this was indeed his own son, he gave him the name Oisin which means “little fawn”.

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