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Aided
Chuinn
Chétchathaig "The Violent Death of Conn Cétchathach"
Editions
- O. J. Bergin (ed & tr), 'Oided Chuind Chētchathaich
annso', ZCP 8 (1911) 274-277.
Manuscripts
Date
- Middle Irish period, probably no earlier than the eleventh
century
Characters
- Conn Cétcathach, king of Ireland and eponymous
ancestor of Dál Cuinn (prehistoric ancestors of the Connachta
and Uí
Néill)
- Eochaid Bélbuide, Conn's brother. In
Echtra Fergusa maic Léti,
Eochaid is said to be the son of Tuathal Techtmar and, therefore, Conn's
paternal uncle.
- Tibraite Tírech mac Máil, the killer of
Conn. In other versions of this story, Tibraite is regarded as
one of the kings of Ulaid, but he is not referred to as such in this
account. He is regarded as an ancestor of the historical
Dál nAraide.
- The following figures are mentioned but play no real
role in the narrative:
- Foitin Forbair mac Féigi Échtaig
- Énda mac Dega Laigen
- Ailill mac Fíngein meic Luchta (See Airne Fíngein for
information on Fíngen mac Luchta)
- Tibraite Túaithebrach mac Cleitig
- Asal mac Forandáin
- Cairpre Gnáthchorad, son of Mál mac
Rochraidi and king of Ulaid from Dál nAraide
- Bresal mac Briúin, king of Ulaid from Dál Fiatach,
though other sources connect him with Dál nAraide. (For the details, see Éigse 21 (1986) 61).
- Faílbe Findloga, king of Scotland. His
dynastic affiliations are unclear, but one would expect him to be of
Pictish descent given the timeframe of the story.
Notes
- This narrative is part of the Cycle Conn Cétchathach
and is one of the four extant accounts of his death. The other
three are Oidheadh Chuinn
Chéadchathaigh, Ardrí
dár gabh Érinn uill (a poem), and
an untitled
tract from the Book of Fermoy.
- The crime committed by Conn's five trusted servants is
called díguin--the
violation of a person's protection. It was a serious offense
under Irish law.
Summary
After disrupting his brother's reign, Eochaid Bélbuide flees to
Ulster under the protection of its kings--Cairbre Gnáthchorad
mac Máil and Bresal mac Briúin. Conn sends five of
his trusted servants (cúicer
fear gráda) north to have Eochaid expelled.
However, they find Eochaid hunting with his dog on Slíab Breg
and kill him in spite of the kings' protection. The kings of
Ulaid are infuriated and demand Conn's death, but eventually they make
peace.
Some time later, some of the kings of Ulaid die (presumably Cairpre is
among them but the text does not specify). Then either Bresal mac
Briúin or Tibraite mac Máil (the author of the story is
not sure which) declares that he will not remain at peace with Conn
because the latter is oppressing the Ulaid. Tibraite goes to
Scotland and stays three years with its king Faílbe
Findloga. But urged to make peace with Conn, he and his men
return to Ireland and--dressed as women--sneak up on Conn while he is
preparing for the Feast of Tara. Conn is alone at the time, and
Tibraite and his men kill him.
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