Bran, the son of Febal, was once summoned by Mannanon, son of Lir, to view one of his islands, Emhaim, the Isle of Women.  This was the way in which he was summoned.  He was walking one day near his own dun when he heard a sound of music in the air which was so sweet that he sat down to listen to it, and was lulled asleep.

When he awoke, he found himself holding a silver branch in his hand covered with white apple blossom.  He carried it back with him to his dun.  When he was in the middle of his company, suddenly a woman in strange clothing stood before him and began to sing.  She sang about the Isle of Emhaim, where there was no winter or want or care and where the golden horses of Mannanon pranced upon the beach, and games and play went on forever without weariness.  She invited Bran to seek out that Island and visit the lady of it.  When she had finished, she turned to go and the silver branch leapt out of Bran's hand to hers, and she carried it away with her.

Next morning, Bran went down to the shore and prepared a fleet of curraughs to row out over the sea, searching for the Isle of Emhaim.  On the way, Mannanon passed them, driving his golden chariot over the waves, and he invited them to go to Emhaim and pointed out the way.  They passed many islands as they traveled, but came in the end to the Isle of Women, where the Chief Woman drew them ashore and welcomed them; and she and Bran lived together in great delight.

When they had been there for what seemed a year, though in that winterless land it was not easy to tell, some of Bran's company began to yearn for Ireland, and Nechtan, son of Coluinn, was specially urgent to return, if only for one hour.  The Chief Woman, Bran's lover, was most unwilling to let them go; but Bran promised that they would only stay for a short time and immediately return.  Then she warned them that they must only speak to their friends from the boat and must not touch the soil of Ireland, for if they did, they would never return to Emhaim.  Bran promised again and they rowed away and reached the coast of Ireland at a place called Scrub Bruin.

People gathered on the shore and Bran hailed them and asked if there were any there who knew Bran, son of Febal.  They answered that no such man was alive now in Ireland but that in the stories told by their oldest men, there were mentions of how one Bran, son of Febal, sailed away hundreds of years ago to look for the Isle of Women.

When Nechtan heard that, he leapt out of his curraugh, like one frantic, and waded toward the land.  When he touched the soil of Ireland, his years came on him, and he fell into a pile of dust.

Bran was warned by his fate.  He stayed for a little time telling of what happened to him then he and his companions turned their little fleet and rowed back again to the timeless joys of the Isle of Emhaim.

--Celtic fairytale