The Immram or Immrama (plural) meaning voyage or wonder voyage (direct translation is to ‘row about’), have been well documented throughout history in Irish literature. The ancient text ‘Imram Brain’, (The Voyage of Bran), written in the 7th Century, tells the physical and spiritual voyage of Bran as he journeys over seas and to distant lands in the Celtic otherworlds. It was thought that Bran probably made this voyage in a ‘Currack’, (an Irish boat made from animal skins). On this voyage he also meets the Celtic sea god Manannán Mac Lír.
The tale says one day Bran hears beautiful music, so beautiful, that it lulls him to sleep. Upon awakening, he sees a beautiful silver branch in white bloom in front of him. An Otherworld woman appears, and sings to him a poem about the land where the branch had grown. In the song, she identifies the branch to be from an apple tree in Emain, another part of Ireland. In this Otherworld, it is always summer, there is no want of food or water, no sickness or despair ever touches the perfect people, and there is no unhappiness or “no rough or harsh voice.” She tells Bran to voyage to the Land of Women across the sea, and the next day he gathers a company of nine men to do so.
Bran comes to the Isle of Joy. All the people upon the Isle of Joy laugh and stare at him, but will not answer his calls. When Bran sends a man ashore to see what the matter is, the man starts to laugh and gape just like the others. Bran leaves him there on the island.
He then reaches the Land of Women, but is hesitant to go ashore. However, the leader of the women throws a magical clew (ball of yarn) at him, which sticks to his hand. She then pulls the boat to shore, and each man pairs off with a woman, Bran with the leader. There are three times nine “couches” available for all of them.
For what seems to be one year, although it is in actuality many more, the men feast happily in the Land of Women until Nechtan Mac Collbran feels homesickness stir within him. The leader of the women is reluctant to let them go, and warns them not to step upon the shores of Ireland and to get back the man they left on the Island of Joy.
Bran and his company sail back to Ireland. The people that have gathered on the shores to meet him do not recognize his name except in their legends. Nechtan Mac Collbran, upset, jumps off the boat onto the land. Immediately, Nechtan Mac Collbran turns to ashes.
Bran and his company relate the rest of their story to the Irish, and then sail across the sea, never to be seen again.
Bean Feasa 