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High King
Cormac Mac Art 3rd Century A.D.
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Tara
Cormac's
Well, Co. Sligo.
Consort: Der Droighen (mother of Cairpre Lifechair) :: Ciarnait (a servant of his whom he made pregnant)
Son: Cairpre
Daughter: Gráinne
Army: The Fianna
Associated
Deities:
Morrigan
Medb
Manannán
Mac Lír
Warriors:
Cumhall
Fionn Mac Cumhaill
Goll Mac Morna
Oisín
Diarmuid O'
Duibhne
Fiachna Mac
Conga.
King Cormac Mac Art, ruled in Tara, Co. Meath in the third century A.D.
He is credited with streamlining the Army of the Fianna which was set up with troops from many different clans around Ireland to guard the country against invasions.
In the words of the later Chronicles of Clonmacnoise (translated by C. Mageoghagan) he was:
'Absolutely the best king that ever reigned in Ireland before himself.... wise, learned, valiant and mild, not given causelessly to be bloody as many of his ancestors were; he reigned majestically and magnificently.'
He is also credited with being a great law-maker and was instrumental in formulating Ireland's Brehon Laws. He also is credited with rebuilding some of the monuments on the hill of Tara. He lost an eye in battle and had to abdicate for it was an immutable law that the High King must be completely whole in body.
He owned a magical cup which broke in three if lies were told in its presence but miraculously restored itself if it heard three truths.
Stories, Myths and Legends associated with Cormac Mac Art:
The Siege of Knocklong (summary)
Cormac's Adventures in the Land of Promise
Forbuis Dromma Damghaire/The Siege of Knocklong
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