Fionn McCool and his smart dogs

Here is another story I heard of Fionn...

Fionn and his warriors have many adventures and win many battles. When Fionn is not with the Fianna, however, he prefers the company of his magical hounds, Bran and Sceolan. His hounds, like himself, are the product of magical marriage, their mother being a fairy-woman.


One of Fionn's most famous adventures occurs during a hunting expedition with Bran and Sceolan, during which he encounters a beautiful red fawn. Bran and Sceolan are some pretty smart dogs.  As much as Fionn desires this deer, however, his enchanted hounds balk and refuse to attack it. He watches, amazed, as his hounds joyfully cavort about the meadow with his would-be prey.

A disappointed Fionn finally gives up and heads for home, but the deer follows. As the hunting party enters the gate of Fionn's estate, the red deer suddenly transforms into a beautiful woman. The woman is Sadbh (“Doe”), who has labored under a curse for refusing the advances of a love-struck druid. Because Fionn's hounds recognized her predicament, the curse is lifted. Fionn and Sadbh fall in love and marry, and Sadbh soon becomes pregnant.


Unfortunately, because Sadbh is innocent and trusting, she is lured away once more by the wicked enchanter and forced to return to the forest with him. Fionn searches endlessly for his missing bride, but he is never able to recover her from the wily druid. One day, seven years after Sadbh's disappearance, Fionn is once again on a hunting expedition, when his party encounters a strange boy who cannot speak. Fionn's hounds once again intervene, and the boy is taken into Fionn's care. As he learns to speak, it is revealed that the boy is the son of Fionn and Sadbh, cared for over the years by his mother, the red deer. Fionn names his son Oisin, “Small Deer,” and the boy grows up to become an accomplished bard and a distinguished member of the Fianna.

The lesson from this story is...ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR DOGS!  They know what is what in this world.  We just might not always understand what they are telling us!