A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.
Overview
The woman first appears as a deer chased by the lap-dog given to O’Cronicert by the King of Erin. She agrees to marry him if he observes three conditions concerning invitations, disclosure of her animal origin and leaving her alone with another man. Their poor home becomes a rich tower, and cattle, sheep and horses surround it by morning. She explains that these possessions accompany her and will remain only while he keeps her. The account presents the wealth as part of her marriage portion, not as a magical herd with independently described powers.
O’Cronicert breaks the first condition by inviting his king without warning her, then abuses her and calls her a deer before the guests. Her brother takes him to a superior household and returns the two teeth he knocked out, demonstrating both the falsity of his contempt and her family’s restorative power. After the final breach, she becomes a great filly, breaks Kayn’s thigh with a kick and departs. The tower goes with her as a light burden, leaving the former ruined house. The narrative exposes coercion and violence within the marriage; these events are attributed without treating her conditions as justification for abuse.
Origins & earliest records
Jacobs combines MacInnes’s Folk-Tales from Argyleshire, tale vii, with Campbell of Tiree’s version. His note reports earlier manuscript and printed parallels for the containing narrative. The selected 1895 adaptation is inspected directly, not all of those earlier versions.
Records & interpretation
Explicit deer, woman and filly forms, the disappearing estate and restored teeth attest an Otherworld spouse in the narrative. They do not establish a real animal transformation, medical cure or general description of married women. Her unnamed identity is retained.
In the literature
“became a big filly”
The Leeching of Kayn’s Leg; p176; final breach
A chased roebuck becomes a woman who accepts marriage to O’Cronicert under three promises. She supplies palace, animals and wealth, and tolerates his first breaches, including his assault knocking out two teeth. Her brother restores those teeth and warns that another breach will end the marriage.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
More Celtic Fairy Tales: The Leeching of Kayn’s Leg, pp. 170–177; note XLII
Selected episode and relevant source note inspected. Earlier works named by Jacobs are attributed references, not falsely claimed as independently collated texts.
- 02
More Celtic Fairy Tales
Joseph Jacobs, More Celtic Fairy Tales, selected1895 Nutt/Putnam edition, PG34453. Complete The Leeching of Kayn’s Leg, pp169–194, and noteXLII independently read.
Family & connections
A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.
Located primary passages
Specific passages supporting details in this entry, grouped by their published witness.
More Celtic Fairy Tales
Joseph Jacobs, More Celtic Fairy Tales, selected1895 Nutt/Putnam edition, PG34453. Complete The Leeching of Kayn’s Leg, pp169–194, and noteXLII independently read.
- A chased roebuck becomes a woman who accepts marriage to O’Cronicert under three promises. She supplies palace, animals and wealth, and tolerates his first breaches, including his assault knocking out two teeth. Her brother restores those teeth and warns that another breach will end the marriage.
The Leeching of Kayn’s Leg, pp169–194; Deer-to-woman marriage and supplied wealth
- Left alone with Kayn contrary to the third promise, she becomes a large filly, kicks and breaks Kayn’s thigh, then escapes carrying the castle. The supplied riches vanish, leaving the former hut. The source does not name her, depict her death, or identify an original transformation curse.
The Leeching of Kayn’s Leg, pp169–194; Last breach, filly departure and removed palace
Inconsistent names and omitted mechanisms retained. No prayer, recurring healing formula or ritual instructions excerpted.
Primary source witness
Joseph Jacobs, More Celtic Fairy Tales, selected1895 Nutt/Putnam edition, PG34453. Complete The Leeching of Kayn’s Leg, pp169–194, and noteXLII independently read.
- Jacobs explicitly combines MacInnes’s Folk-Tales from ArgyleshireVII with Campbell of Tiree’s version. His manuscript dating, larger episode counts and comparisons are reported compiler scholarship; this selected adaptation is not represented as a direct transcript of one informant.
No cited manuscript or independent earlier print collation claimed.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Primary textMore Celtic Fairy Tales, selected 1895 edition: The Leeching of Kayn’s Leg, pp. 170–177; note XLIIResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.
