In
Gaelic mythology
Celtic mythology is the body of myths belonging to the Celts, Celtic peoples.Cunliffe, Barry, (1997) ''The Ancient Celts''. Oxford, Oxford University Press , pp. 183 (religion), 202, 204–8. Like other Iron Age Europe, Iron Age Europeans, Ce ...
, Brian (or Uar) was one of the three Sons of
Tuireann
In Irish mythology, Tuireann (Old Irish: Tuirenn or Tuirill Biccreo) was the father by Danu (or Brigid) of Creidhne, Luchtaine, and Goibniu.
His other sons, by his daughter Danand, included Brian, Iuchar, and Iucharba, who killed Lugh's father ...
along with Iuchar and Iucharba.
Name
In many extant institutionally-held manuscripts of the ''Oidheadh Chlainne Tuireann'', Brian is actually called Uar (or Uair
[), but the name has been emended by editors to "Brian" which conforms with the name in ancient texts. Eugene O'Curry was working from a manuscript in his possession, and gives the name as "Brian", but notes that "Uar" was an alternate name for Brian.
]
Plot
In ''Oidheadh Chlainne Tuireann'' (The Tragedy of the Sons of Tuireann), the three set out to kill their father's enemy Cian
In Irish mythology, Cian or Cían (), nicknamed Scal Balb, was the son of Dian Cecht, the physician of the Tuatha Dé Danann, and best known as the father of Lugh Lamhfada. Cían's brothers were Cu, Cethen, and Miach.
Cían was slain by the Son ...
. Cian is the father of Lugh
Lugh or Lug (; ga, label=Modern Irish, Lú ) is a figure in Irish mythology. A member of the Tuatha Dé Danann, a group of supernatural beings, Lugh is portrayed as a warrior, a king, a master craftsman and a savior.Olmsted, Garrett. ''The God ...
, one of the greatest of the Tuatha Dé Danann
The Tuath(a) Dé Danann (, meaning "the folk of the goddess Danu (Irish goddess), Danu"), also known by the earlier name Tuath Dé ("tribe of the gods"), are a supernatural race in Irish mythology. Many of them are thought to represent deity, ...
. Cian shapeshifts into a pig to disguise himself, but the brothers shapeshift into dogs and hound him. They kill him, dismember his body and try to cover up their crime. In recompense, Lugh makes them quest all around the known world fetching magical weapons, which Lugh plans to use at the Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh. They succeed in obtaining all that Lugh demanded, but return to Ireland badly wounded, pleading for Lugh to heal them; but he refuses.
In at least one version of this tale, Brian is the clever and subtle one, while his brothers Iuchar and Iucharba are bumbling and easily overawed by Brian. This tale of the Sons of Tuireann has sometimes been likened to an Irish ''Argonautica
The ''Argonautica'' ( el, Ἀργοναυτικά , translit=Argonautika) is a Greek epic poem written by Apollonius Rhodius in the 3rd century BC. The only surviving Hellenistic epic, the ''Argonautica'' tells the myth of the voyage of Jason a ...
''.["The Children of Tuireann". P.W. Joyce (translator). 1879. ''Old Irish Romances.'' C. Kegan Paul & Co.]
Popular culture
Brian is one of the main characters in '' As Baile: A Story'', a 2012 novel retelling the tale of the Sons of Tuireann.
See also
* Brian - In later Scottish folklore, a pompous man who helped the Cailleach
In Gaelic (Irish, Scottish and Manx) myth, the Cailleach (, ) is a divine hag and ancestor, associated with the creation of the landscape and with the weather, especially storms and winter. The word literally means 'old woman, hag', and is foun ...
rescue Deò-ghrèine
Deò-ghrèine () or Deò-grèine (meaning “ray of sunshine”; or as “tear of sunshine”) can refer to the following:
# Fionn mac Cumhaill's famous banner, also known as “ Deò-ghrèine Mhic Cumhail” after him.
# Perhaps inspired by MacC ...
.
Explanatory notes
References
;Citations=
;Bibliography
*
*
** (Some of the earlier notes on MSS in the earlier edition are wanting)
Irish gods
Tuatha Dé Danann
Scottish mythology
{{celt-myth-stub