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How does The Voyage of Bran describe a journey to the otherworld?

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An overview of the Irish language — Celtic literature Britannica editor Jeff Wallenfeldt provides an overview of the Irish language.

The Voyage of Bran (Imram Brain) is a prominent example of an imram, a genre of early Irish literature focused on adventurous sea voyages. In this tale, the journey to the otherworld is characterized by a transition to the enchanted Land of Women.1

The narrative reflects broader Celtic beliefs regarding the otherworld, which was often envisioned as a realm of eternal happiness, free from sickness, old age, or death. In such voyage tales, the hero is typically lured by a beautiful figure who sings of this blissful land. Upon departing, the hero experiences a distorted perception of time; what feels like a short duration—such as a single year—actually spans centuries in the mortal world. When Bran and his companions eventually return home, they discover that their voyage has lasted far longer than any living memory, leaving their journey recorded only in ancient sources. This theme highlights the magical, timeless nature of the otherworld compared to the reality of the human world.21