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Tale Summary

Finnian, the Abbot of Moville, discovers one day that someone in his province still believes in gods, rather than the Christian God. He sets off to change this person鈥檚 mind because he finds this appalling. Tuan, the man who believes in gods, does not wish to speak to Finnian and refuses him entrance. Finnian remains determined so he fasts outside of Tuan鈥檚 home in order that Tuan will have to offer him hospitality and food. This works, and once Finnian enters his home, Tuan begins telling his story to explain why he believes in gods.听

Tuan describes how he was alive when people first moved to inhabit Ireland, which shocks Finnian, as he has grown up hearing stories of these ancient times. Tuan came to Ireland many years before with a famous man named Partholon who had numerous offspring there. A plague came upon his offspring and everyone except for Tuan passed away. After this, Tuan was destined by the gods to inhabit the body of many creatures such as a stag, hawk, boar, and a salmon.

Finally, after living as various animals, Tuan is caught and eaten by the queen when he is in the body of a salmon. He is then born as her child, thus explaining how he came to be the person Finnian was conversing with. The story ends with Tuan being reborn once again in the name of the Lord. After this, it is unclear whether he finally passes away or remains in Ireland where he has always lived.