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Editions

• C. Breatnach (ed & tr), Patronage, Politics and Prose: Ceasacht inghine Guile, Sgéala Muice Meic Dá Thó, Oidheadh Chuinn Chéadchathaigh (Maynooth 1996) 90-107.
  

Manuscripts

• R.I.A. 24 P 12 (pp. 213-216)
• National Library of Ireland G448 (pp. 90-104)
  

Date

• Early Modern Irish, some time after 1567 (the murder of Shane O'Neill) but no later than 1648 (the date of the earliest MS).
  

Characters

• Conn Céadchathach, king of Ireland and eponymous ancestor of Dál Cuinn (prehistoric ancestors of the Connachta and Uí Néill)
• Tiobraide Tíreach mac Máil, king of Ulster from Dál nAraide.
• Art Coirbthe, son of Fiacha Suidhe.  In this version of the story, Fiacha Suidhe is taken to be a kinsman of Tiobraide (and thus of Dál nAraide).  However, Fiacha Suidhe is normally regarded as the brother of Conn and an ancestor of the Déisi.
  
• The following are Conn's bodyguards:
• Ailill mac Luchta (in Aided Cuinn, he is Ailill mac Fíngein meic Luchta.  On Fíngen mac Luchta, see Airne Fíngein).
• Asal mac Forannáin (from Formhaol)
• Éanna mac Deadhadh (from Leinster)
• Tiobraide Tuaithmhidhe mac Cleitigh
• Foitin Fionnabhair mac Fionchoin Éachtaigh
  
• The following figures are mentioned but play no real role in the narrative:
• Éogan Mór, king of Munster from Clanna Dergthened (prehistoric ancestors of the Éoganachta).  He is killed by Conn at the battle of Magh Léana.
• Conall Cruachna mac Aonghusa Firt, foster-father of Conn from the Gamanraige of Connachta
  
• Mál mac Rochraidhe, king of Ulster from Dál nAraide.
• Art Coirbthe mac Fiacha Suidhe.  Here a kinsman of Tiobraide, but elsewhere he is Conn's nephew.
• Tiobraide mac Breasail, (in this text) uncle of Tiobraide Tíreach.  Elsewhere his dynastic affiliations are uncertain.  (See Éigse 21 (1986) 61).
• Corb Mhór inghean Bhreasail, the mother of Tiobraide Tíreach

• This narrative is part of the Cycle Conn Cétchathach and is one of the four extant accounts of his death.  The other three are Aided Chuinn Chétchathaig, Ardrí dár gabh Érinn uill (a poem), and an untitled tract from the Book of Fermoy.
• This account draws much from the Book of Fermoy version, but it contains some important differences.  (See Breatnach's analysis.)
  

During the conflict between Conn Céadchathach and Éogan Mór over the division of Ireland, Conn along with Conall Cruachna mac Aonghusa Firt and the men of Connacht kill Mál mac Rochraidhe, king of Ulster, before he and his army can join forces with Éogan. 

Nursing a grudge against Conn for the death of his father, Tiobraide Tíreach mac Máil, the new king of Ulster, sends word to his kinsmen who are in Conn’s custody--the Clann Fhiacha Suidhe--asking them to find a way to betray Conn.  They in turn send Art Coirbthe mac Fiacha Suidhe to Tiobraide mac Breasail, who comes up with an idea: Tiobraide Tíreach and Ailill Gaibhne along with 150 of their warriors are to dress up as women.  They are to approach Conn at Tuaitheamhair, as he is preparing for the feast of Tara, and say that they are Corb Mhór inghean Bhreasail and the women of the Ulaid coming to converse with Aoife inghean Fheidhlimidh (Conn’s sister).  Conn is to have but few men about him at this time, and so they should catch him at a disadvantage.

Meanwhile, Roithniamh inghean Umhaill Uarchoraigh from Síth Ochta Clithigh (an otherworld mound) comes to Tara and chants a poem prophesizing Conn’s death.  She was the same woman who announced Conn’s birth to Fíngen mac Luchta years before (see Airne Fíngein).  When her prophecy is confirmed by Mál, one of Conn’s druids, she takes her leave.

Then the Ulaid make their way to Tulach in Toirléime above Tuaiththeamhair and wait.  The next morning, Aoife and her train go out to shear sheep, as Conn awakes and dresses (a process described in a long alliterative run).  When his bodyguards give him his shield and spear, he makes an eloquent speech in which he boasts about his accomplishments as king.  Then, they go out to meet the shearers.

In the distance, Conn and his men see what appears to be a group of women coming towards them.  Although the king does not think they really look like women, Aoife says that it is Corb Mhór and her train coming to her with gifts for the Feast of Tara.  But as they come closer, they throw off their costumes and draw their weapons.  Conn then realizes that Art mac Fiacha Suidhe has betrayed him to the Ulaid.

Although his bodyguards offer to hold the Ulaid off while he escapes, Conn knows that his time has come.  He even refuses the magical aid that his sister offers.  He acquits himself manfully in the ensuing battle, but is eventually killed by Tiobraide.