In
Gaelic mythology
Celtic mythology is the body of myths belonging to the Celtic peoples.Cunliffe, Barry, (1997) ''The Ancient Celts''. Oxford, Oxford University Press , pp. 183 (religion), 202, 204–8. Like other Iron Age Europeans, Celtic peoples followed ...
, Brian (or Uar) was one of the three Sons of
Tuireann 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. 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 ...
, 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 Jas ...
''.["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 Gaels, Gaelic (Irish mythology, Irish, Scottish mythology, Scottish and Culture of the Isle of Man#Myth, legend and folklore, Manx) myth, the Cailleach (, ) is a divine hag and ancestor, associated with the Creator deity, creation of the lands ...
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
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