The Sorrows of Étaín (Celtic Myth Adapted for Children)

Irish Ways Series


The Sorrows of Étaín
An Irish Legend





Adapted for Children by Patricia Jones




The Marriage of Midir and Étaín

In ancient times the god Dagdae ruled over all of Ireland. Despite his godly nature the Dagdae fell in love one day with an earthly woman called Bóand. Bóand bore the Dagdae a son and the Dagdae chose his friend Midir to be his son’s foster father. This was a great honor for Midir.
The Dagdae’s son was known to all as Aengus. Aengus loved his foster father Midir so much that the sound of Midir’s voice was like the music of a harp in his ears.
Although Midir had many other foster children besides Aengus he was still a very lonely man. This was because Midir was married to a wicked woman called Fúamnach. Fúamnach was a wise and clever woman who had been versed in the powers of magic by her foster father, the druid Bresal. However, she was not suited to married life. Instead of caring for her husband and foster children, Fúamnach spent her days learning magic spells and her nights stirring up trouble the length and breath of Ireland.
Finally, Midir, could stand it no longer. He decided to divorce Fúamnach and somehow find himself a wife who was easier to get along with.
Aengus’s love for his foster father was great. He could not bear to see Midir so lonely. Consequently, he decided that he would find a new wife for lonely Midir.
Aengus spent many a day and many a night searching Ireland for a suitable wife for his foster father. However, Midir did not want to marry just any woman. He had someone in particular in mind. Midir had set his heart on Étaín, the most beautiful woman in all of Ireland. The beautiful Étaín was the daughter of King Ailill who ruled over the north of Ireland. Aengus knew Ailill’s daughter would come at a high price. However, he was determined that Midir should marry the woman of his heart’s desire.
Aengus visited King Ailill’s palace. He explained to King Ailill that his foster father, wished for Étaín’s hand in marriage. King Ailill knew that Aengus was the son of the god Dagdae. Consequently, he knew he could ask a high price for his daughter Étaín. And that was what King Ailill did. In return for his daughter’s hand in marriage he asked Aengus to clear twelve lands of forest and make them fit for farming. Moreover, he insisted that Aengus divert the course of twelve rivers. Aengus was shocked at the magnitude of these tasks. In those days in Ireland it was not easy to clear a wooded area or change the course of a river. However, King Ailill was not finished. He also wanted his daughter’s weight in gold and silver. Aengus was overwhelmed at the high price King Ailill was demanding in return for Étaín’s hand in marriage. How could he clear twelve wooded lands for farming? How could he divert the course of twelve rivers? Where would he find Étaín’s weight in gold and silver? These questions raced through Aengus’s mind. But he was at a loss. Finally, he decided to ask his father the Dagdae for help.
The Dagdae also had a great love for Midir. After all, Midir had raised his son Aengus for him. The Dagdae agreed to help Aengus obtain Étaín as a wife for Midir.
In one night the Dagdae cleared the twelve lands of forest and made them fit for farming. He changed the course of twelve rivers and gave Aengus Étaín’s weight in gold and silver for greedy Ailill. Having satisfied all of his demands, Ailill allowed Aengus to take Étaín back to Midir, who was waiting in anticipation for his new bride.
Midir was overjoyed when his foster son arrived with Étaín, whom he immediately married. The happy couple lived at Aengus’s fort for one year to show their friendship for Aengus.

The Torment of Étaín
Finally, it was time for Midir and Étaín to return to Midir’s own home. When they were leaving Aengus warned Midir to protect Étaín from the evil powers of Fúamnach, his ex-wife. Midir shuddered at the thought of Fúamnach’s evil. God only knew what she had been up to while he had been living at Aengus’s house.
When Midir and Étaín arrived back at Midir’s house there was someone waiting for them. To Midir’s shock and horror, who was standing at the door of his house but Fúamnach, arms open in welcome: “Tá fáilte roimhe!” she said in a warm friendly voice. Midir was not fooled by the friendly façade. He was suspicious and fearful of Fúamnach’s motives. However, he decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. “Maybe she has changed her ways”, he naively thought to himself. “Maybe she wants to bury the hatchet and be friends.” He couldn’t have been more wrong.
No sooner had Midir turned his back on his smiling ex-wife than she hit beautiful Étaín with her magic wand and turned her into a pool of water. On seeing his new wife turned into a pool of water Midir immediately fled the house in horror. Fúamnach also left and returned to the home of Bresal, her foster father for protection. Fúamnach felt confident that she had seen the last of her rival Étaín; “Bhain mé dioltas amach uirthi.”, she thought to herself in the native Irish language as she headed for the house of Druid Bresal.
However, what Fúamnach didn’t know was that she had not seen the last of Étaín. Fúamnach had turned Étaín into a pool of water. However, the heat of the fire caused the water to form into a worm, which in turn turned into a scarlet fly. Normally, flies are considered ugly insects. However, the like of this fly was never before seen in Ireland. It was as big as the head of a handsome youth. The sound of its wings beating was like the music of a harp in the ears of every man in Ireland. The flies eyes shone like precious gems and the dew from its wings could cure any ailment in Ireland. The fly accompanied Midir wherever he went. It soothed his lovesick heart. Midir knew that the scarlet fly was really Étaín in another form and he was content in the fly’s company. The fly guarded over Midir at all times and protected him from his enemies.
Unfortunately, one day news reached bad-minded Fúamnach that Étaín was still alive and living with Midir in the form of a fly. Again jealousy seized Fúamnach. She would not rest until she had destroyed Étaín. In the safety of three protectors she visited Midir once again. In no uncertain terms she told Midir it was her intention to pursue Étaín the length and breadth of Ireland until she had destroyed her.
Using the new magic powers she had learned from Druid Bresal, Fúamnach caused a sudden wind to rise which carried Étaín out of Midir’s protection and transported her the length and breath of Ireland.
For seven years the wind proved relentless in its torment of Étaín. Finally, one day she was blown back into the house of Aengus. Aengus immediately realized that the scarlet fly was none other than Étaín, his foster father’s second wife. He sheltered the tormented fly in his bosom and comforted it. Étaín regained her strength at the home of Aengus who took every trouble to raise her sad spirits.
Unfortunately, news once again reached Fúamnach that the fly was in the care of Aengus who was catering to its every need. Fúamnach was again overcome by jealousy. With talk of friendship, she tricked Aengus into leaving Étaín alone. Naively believing that Fúamnach wished to make amends, Aengus left Étaín and set off for Midir’s house where Fúamnach had arranged to meet him. Foolish Aengus! Once he was out of his house Fúamnach stirred up the same wind which had swept Étaín away before. For seven more years Étaín was blown to the four corners of Ireland.
When Aengus arrived at Midir’s house troublemaking Fúamnach was not there. He realized, too late, that Fúamnach had tricked him into leaving Étaín alone. She had not wanted to make amends. She had only wanted him out of the house so that she could harm Étaín.
In a fit of rage Aengus pursued Fúamnach the length and breadth of Ireland. He left no stone unturned until he finally caught up with her. This time she had no chance to utter a magic spell. Before she could open her mouth he struck off her head and that was the end of Fúamnach. But it was not the end of Étaín.
For seven years Étaín suffered at the mercy of the magic wind that blew her the length and breath of Ireland. One day the wind blew Étaín onto the roof of a house. Étaín was so weak she immediately fell limply from the roof and landed in the cup of a woman who unknowingly drank and swallowed her. Nine months after swallowing Étaín the woman gave birth. Thus was Étaín transformed from a scarlet fly back into a baby girl. Thus did she finally escape the torment of Fúamnach’s evil wind which had tormented her for seven years without rest.
Étaín was raised by her new mother the wife of the warrior Étar, in the company of fifty other foster sisters who attended to her every need. Once again Étaín grew into a beautiful young woman.

Étaín Marries King Echu

Around this time a new king was elected to the throne in Ireland. His name was Echu. Almost a year after Echu became King he decided to hold a festival. However, to his embarrassment the men of Ireland refused to attend any festival he might hold, good or bad, until Echu first found himself a wife. The length and breath of Ireland was searched for a wife for the king. But no other woman could compare with the fairness of Étaín. And once he beheld her King Echu had eyes for no other. Such a handsome couple was never before seen in Ireland. King Echu and Étaín were very happy together. However, little did either of them realize that Étaín’s past life was about to come back to haunt her.

Midir Returns For Étaín

One day King Echu had to set off on a tour of his kingdom. While he was away he left his wife Étaín in charge of his dying brother Ailill. Fearing he would never see his sick brother alive again, it was with a sad heart that Echu left his home.
Miraculously, however, Ailill grew stronger every day under Étaín’s tender care. Soon he was back on his feet again. One evening, when Ailill’s health had improved sufficiently, Étaín arranged to meet him on a hill near the palace. When Étaín arrived on the hill the man she met there looked and spoke like Ailill, the king’s brother. But he was not Ailill. The next day when Étaín met Ailill he explained to her that he had not come to the hill because he had fallen asleep. Étaín was perplexed. If she had not met Ailill on the hill then who had been the man she had met? Ailill and Étaín arranged to meet again the following evening on the hill. Étaín went to the hill at the appointed time. Again she met a man there who looked and spoke like Ailill, the king’s brother. But he was not Ailill. When Étaín visited Ailill the next day he again apologized for not meeting her on the hill. Again Étaín was perplexed. Who was the man that had come in Ailill’s place? On the third evening when Étaín went to the hill to meet Ailill she said to the man before her: “You look like Ailill and you speak like Ailill but you are not Ailill. Cé h-é túsa?” she asked, switching to the native Irish language.
The man on the hill confessed that he was not Ailill at all. He told Étaín that he was Midir and that he had been her husband in a past life. He explained to Étaín that the saucery of his ex-wife Fúamnach and the spells of the druid, Bresal, had parted them. Midir asked Étaín to leave her new husband King Echu and return to him. Étaín was much perplexed by the discovery that she had another husband from a past life. She could remember nothing of her tragic past or her heartbroken husband Midir. Consequently, she refused to leave King Echu unless the king himself desire her to do so. Sick at heart at her refusal to return to him, Midir departed leaving Étaín alone on the hill.
By the time King Echu returned from his tour of Ireland his brother Ailill had recovered his health. King Echu thanked Étaín from nursing his beloved brother back from death’s door. Life returned to normal. Nothing was said about the man who had appeared on the hill in the form of Ailill. In time even Étaín forgot about the mysterious Midir and his talk of her past life as his wife. But that was not the last they saw of Midir.

Midir Tricks King Echu

One morning King Echu arose early and was viewing the plains around his palace when suddenly he spied a handsome young warrior approaching him. King Echu was perplexed because he did not know who the warrior was. The warrior introduced himself as Midir and challenged the king to a game of fidchell. King Echu loved to played fidchell because he usually won.
From beneath his red cloak Midir produced a silver board with golden fidchell pieces. King Echu refused to play unless there was a wager. Finally, Midir wagered fifty Breton ponies that he would win the fidchell game. However, to King Echu’s delight Midir did not win. He lost and, true to his word, at sunrise the following morning he reappeared at the palace with fifty Breton ponies for King Ailill.
Again the next day Ailill and Midir played fidchell. This time Midir wagered fifty fiery boars along with a wealth of other gifts. Again Midir lost and was obliged to give King Echu the fifty fiery boars and the other gifts he had wagered.
King Echu’s foster father noticed the riches that Echu was winning at Fidchell. He was astounded that anyone in Ireland other than a king could afford to gamble such riches. He warned King Echu that Midir must be a very powerful man if he could afford to gamble away such wealth. Echu agreed. However, by now he was addicted to winning. He was determined to continue playing Fidchell with Midir in the hope of winning even more riches from him.
The next time Midir arrived to play fidchell King Echu set him super human feats. If Midir lost the game of fidchell he would have to clear every stone from the king’s lands, build a road across Ireland and plant a forest in one night. Midir was taken aback at the magnitude of the wager. However, he agreed to the terms of the game. To Echu’s delight Midir again lost the game and was forced to clear Echu’s land of stones, build a road and plant a forest.
The fourth time that Midir came to play fidchell with King Echu it was Midir who set the terms of the wager: “This time let the winner name his own prize”, said Midir. “Agreed!” said King Echu, feeling confident that he would win again. But King Echu did not win again. He lost the fourth game of fidchell to Midir and now it was Midir’s privilege to name his prize. King Echu shuddered at what riches Midir might demand from him. However, he was more than a little astounded when Midir named as his prize a single kiss from the lips of his wife, Queen Étaín. Bound by the terms of the fidchell game Echu had no choice but to agree to Midir’s demand.
One month later Midir returned to receive his prize. King Echu, in the meantime, however, had changed his mind about allowing Midir a kiss from Queen Étaín. In anticipation of Midir’s arrival, King Echu barricaded himself and Étaín inside the palace and stationed his best warriors on guard at the gate. Despite the heavy blocade, Midir entered the palace without the slightest difficulty and in front of all present demanded his prize of the king. Ashamed not to keep his word King Echu reluctantly allowed Midir to encircle Étaín in his arms. No sooner had Midir done so than both he and Étaín rose up in the air and transformed into swans, to the stupefaction of all present, not least King Echu. Stunned into immobility by the incredulity of the transformation King Echu and his troops watched helplessly as the two swans flew out through a skylight in the roof and disappeared into the frosty night sky.
King Echu had had his wife stolen from under his own roof. He would not rest easy until he had her back. With the help of the best warriors in Ireland he raided every fairy fort in the country until he eventually found Midir. After a long siege of his fort Midir finally agreed to return Étaín to King Echu.
The following day fifty women arrived at the palace. They were all in the form of Étaín so that no one could tell which one was the real Étaín, not even Echu himself. What was the king to do? Finally, and after much deliberation, for in truth he could not tell one woman from another, the king chose the woman he believed most likely to be his wife. Once he had chosen the other women immediately left.
Some months later Midir returned to Echu’s palace. He asked Echu to pledge that he was content with the woman he had chosen. Echu happily did so, for he believed he had outsmarted Midir and had chosen the real Étaín. King Echu couldn’t have been more wrong. Midir informed him that he had played a trick on him. The woman King Echu had chosen was not the real Étaín. The real Étaín was still with Midir. King Echu was horrified. But he had pledged his contentment with his new wife and was therefore, according to Irish law, powerless to wreak revenge on Midir. In disgust King Echu banished his imposter wife from his sight and cruelly ordered for her baby girl to be thrown to the wild beasts. Luckily, the baby was discovered in the nick of time by a kindly herdsman and his wife. They raised the child in secret and, like Étaín, this baby too grew up to be the most beautiful woman in all of Ireland. Her name was Mess Buachalla.


All content of this adaptation of "The Sorrows of Étaín" is copy right protected. All content on this site is sole property of Patricia Jones. Any copying, downloading or other reproduction of this content is strictly forbidden by the author.

Saint Patrick (The Holy Land)

The Holy Ground
For days before a feast Master spent long hours in his cave. Did I imagine he looked gaunt? He ate alone. How could I be responsible?
He was on edge too. The chirp of a bird or a random branch strewn in his path would drive him back up the hill. And for what? What anyone could do alone in a cave without the light of the sun or a scrap of food!
How many had I turned away from his door? Who was I to say when he’d return.
One night I had a dream about Master. He was in his cave, prostrate on the floor. He was speaking words into the ground. A black bird flew in. It landed on Master’s head and began to pick hard at him. His incantation into the floor of the cave grew desperate, yet all the time he moved not a muscle. He was no longer lord even of his limbs. Then his voice was more hesitant. I walked towards the entrance. The sun shone but gave the dirtiest of light. I turned my back on master. I walked down the hill toward the farm. Long may the sun shine grey I thought. But I could feel his dirty words under my feet, rotting up through the grass. I turned and ascended the hill again. Master still lay on the floor, silent.
“There is a ship. Get up and go down to the sea.”
“There is the same difference between you and me. It is the same difference now if I stay or go.”
“ So go.”
But it was I who went. I got up and walked out into the dirty light. Then I spoke to the sun. Long may you shine grey I said. Long may you shine grey.

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Bless Me Father For I Have Sinned

“Bless me father for I have sinned. It is a week since my last confession, Father. These are my sins.”
“Go on, my child.”
Father, I’ve had impure thoughts.”
“Go on my child.”
“It concerns women, Father.”
“Go on my child.”
“I don’t know where or how to begin, Father. Well, maybe I should work my way backwards.”
“Go on my child.”
“Let me start with Saint Paul.”
“Saint Paul?”
“Saint Paul, Father. Bear with me, Father. First I started having impure thoughts about Saint Paul.”
“Well, the Lord save us! I ...”
“Please Father, bear with me. This isn’t easy. I’ve started. Let me finish. On his way to Damascus a bright light from heaven shone about Saint Paul and he heard a voice ask, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” Saint Paul then fell to the ground and asked, “Who art thou, Lord?” And the Lord said, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest; it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” Well, Father, I have wrestled with the beast and it got the better of me. I’ve lain awake at night picturing the scene. A hundred times I’ve run it over in my mind, the bright light, the voice. It has tormented me and now I’d like to shed my burden.”
“What burden is that, my child?”
“Saint Paul was lying, Father. He was lying. It couldn’t really have happened like that.”
“My child, do you know what you’re saying? This is a serious sin.”
“Bear with me Father. Bear with me. It’s not as bad as it sounds. I don’t think Saint Paul was aware at the time that it was such a serious sin. ”
“My child. I think…”
“Bear with me Father. I haven’t even gotten to my impure thoughts and women yet. Bear with me. I’m not condemning Saint Paul. There was a lot of confusion about Jesus being the son of God at that time. With the heat from the sun and a bit of concussion Saint Paul may have misheard or become confused. You see it’s much more likely that it was the God of Abraham and not Jesus that spoke to Saint Paul.”
“Well now just a minute….”
“Hear me out Father. Jesus went around raising the dead and working miracles. It doesn’t make any sense that a man who gave sight to the blind would blind Saint Paul, even if it was only for three days. You have to give me that much.”
“My child, your thoughts are misdirected.”
“Have you ever thought about circumcision, Father? To circumcise or not to circumcise. In my opinion, Father, Saint Paul’s preoccupation with this question far surpassed what one would consider healthy for a God fearing Christian. Jesus’ mandate was to save the Jews and not the Gentiles. The Jews were already circumcised, so circumcision was never really an issue for Jesus in his preaching.”
“Hold it right there.”
“Father, please. I want to make a full confession. Saint Peter maintains that the God of Abraham told him in a vision to go out and convert the gentiles. Saint Peter may have been lying about this too because it is hard to imagine the God of Abraham taking an interest in the Gentiles after he ordered the massacre of so many in the Old Testament.”
“My child, I really have to….”
“Please Father, let me make my point. The God of Abraham was a great advocate of circumcision. On the unlikely assumption that he did tell Saint Peter in a dream to convert the Gentiles, being such a fan of circumcision, it is highly unlikely that he could have done a u-turn and allowed the Gentiles to go uncircumcised.”
“My child..”
“Father, please. Let me clear my conscience. The God of Abraham has always hated the Gentiles and even instigated their massacre on numerous occasions. I think Saint Peter was either lying when he said the God of Abraham told him in a trance to convert the Gentiles or he just overanalyzed some random dream. It is highly unlikely that the God of Abraham would condone the conversion of the Gentile, let alone converted Gentiles running around uncircumcised. It is more likely that Saint Peter and Saint Paul grew frustrated trying to convert the Jews. I have reason to suspect that Saint Paul was a compulsive prophet. When he finally started converting the gentiles he encouraged them to prophesy themselves. Saint Paul’s whole tone is more that of an Old Testament prophet than a messenger of Christ.”
“My child this is blasphemy.”
“That’s what I was thinking Father. It seems to have been rampant. I’m thinking Saint Paul took artistic license when it came to converting the Gentile and allowing them to run around uncircumcised. I’m not condemning him for it, Father, but this all brings me, Father, to the crux of my confession.”
“My child, I think….”
“Women.”
“My child…”
“Father please. I want to make a full confession. Saint Paul’s argument for the redundancy of the circumcision of the Gentiles was allegedly based on Jesus’ teaching that it is what is within and not what is without that is important. Saint Paul argues that the converted gentiles are circumcised in spirit, so there is no need for the physical circumcision of the flesh. Saint Paul is the reason Irish men are still running around uncircumcised today, and there may be others.”
“My child. I think…”
“Bear with me father. Saint Paul just gets finished explaining how there is no need for the physical sign of circumcision because the converted Gentile is circumcised in spirit and in the same breath he starts insisting that a woman’s head should be sheared if she doesn’t wear a veil in church. Saint Paul says a veiled head and a sheared head are all the one in the eyes of God and the woman can take her pick, whichever she’d prefer. Be veiled or be sheared!
Who do you think gave him that mandate father? Do you think it was Jesus or do you think it was the God or Abraham?”
“My child…”
“It sounds more in keeping with the God of Abraham, except, if he’s into spiritual circumcision instead of physical for the Gentiles, would he not be into spiritual shearing of women’s heads instead of the physical shearing? Not to be harsh, Father, but I think at some point Saint Paul started singing from his own hymn sheet. I mean, there’s a remote chance that he received his mandate from the God of Abraham. The God of Abraham could have changed his mind about converting the Gentiles and circumcision. I mean, he told Jesus to save only the Jews but then later he told Mohammed to convert everyone. It could be that he didn’t really expect the Jews to go through with the crucifixion of Jesus and he turned against them afterwards and then told Paul to forget about the Jews and convert the Gentiles and let them run around uncircumcised. What do you think father?”
“My child, there is only one God and Jesus is the son of God.”
“ I know all that father but do you think I could be right?”“My child, say three Hail Marys and an Our Father and come back to confession again next week. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.”

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The Mother's Teeth Are Set on Edge (Ode to Jacob)

Maybe God sent us into this world but the place has a way of making its own of you. It can take what’s alive and make it like a rock. Before I even met him he was like a rock. The seven years service for my sister’s hand had hardened him. Too easy then to take my father’s treachery out on me. For it was me he received in lieu of wages, not Rachel. Another seven years for the promise of her hand, the hand he loved. Not my hand.
But I knew my place. Seven years the unsolicited wife and, ever after, subject to my sister’s wrath. But here is the wasteland of my husband’s heart, not mine.
We and our slaves bore him many sons. Not so many he did not still quake before his brother, Esau. Quake he might. And I trembled too, lest the sins of their father be visited upon my children. My husband came into this world with a firm grip on his brother’s heel. They say Rebekah, his mother, sent him into his aged father with the smell of the field still on him to steal his brother’s blessing? Then he fled Esau’s wrath. First a thief in the night, then a coward.
They say Sarah gave the slave Hagar to Abraham, but bid him cast Hagar’s offspring out to clear the way for Isaac, her own. They say Rebekah bid my husband go into Issac, his aged father, smelling of the field to steal his brother’s birthright. What of it.
They do not say it was Leah who bid her sons lay hands on Rachel’s boy and cast him into a pit til death befell him. Her sister’s boy. They do not say it was Leah who bid her children lay waste to the last oasis of her husband’s heart. But I say it was I. That the last oasis of that desert may consume in scorching flames til God forgive him his vanity. Let the sins of his fathers be visited upon him and let his own sins be visited upon his son.

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King Conare of Ireland (Celtic Myth: Adapted for Children)

Irish Ways Series


The Rise and Fall of King Conare of Ireland


An Irish Legend







Adapted for Children by Patricia Jones


Preface
Einstein once said: “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” In many ways I agree. However, there is yet another way to live your life and that is as though everything is a story. That is how I like to see the world and that is how I like to think my Irish identity defines me, as an Irish story germinating from a timeless wealth of other Irish stories, lived ones and dreamed ones and ones that arose, from the sweat and tears and sometimes blood and heartache that mixed the two together.
The myths and legends of Ireland can be at times and at once exciting, anti-climactic, ridiculously satirical and above all larger than life. For me their random turnings reflect our forefathers’ attempt to reconcile their dreams of heroism with the unpredictability of a harsh and cold reality. In a way that is what we all do in our lives; we strive to harmonize our dreams with whatever life deals us. In the Celtic tradition, this book bids the reader rejoice in the stories of life, the real, the fantastical and the in between.
















Forward
This tale King Conare of Ireland is a reworking of the Irish myth, “The Destruction of Da Derga’s Hostel”, which appears in the twelfth century manuscript, Lebor na huidre (The Book of the Dun Cow). However, the story may date back as far as the eight century. I have attempted to present the story in a palatable way for young readers. I have tried to strike a balance between simplicity of sentence structure and style. My intention is that readers will indulge their imaginations and interest in Irish heritage and at the same time exercise their reading skills.
I have changed some aspects of the story. For example, in most tellings of “The Destruction of Derga’s Hostel” King Conare had three foster brothers. My pictures imply that Conare’s foster siblings are female. Other than this deviation I have tried to remain as close as possible to the original telling. I hope my rendition of King Conare’s adventures will encourage readers to explore other versions of the tale.

















Objective of this Book
I have put together the Irish Ways series so that readers may indulge their imaginations in the fantastical myths and legends of Ireland, while at the same time, improving their reading skills.
In the Irish storyteller tradition I encourage readers to retell this story. Bring it out of the archives and back into the oral tradition.













Sources for the Story
Lebor na huidre: Book of the Dun Cow, edited by R.I. Best and Osborn Bergin (Dublin: Royal Irish Academy), 1929.

‘Togail bruidne Da Derga’ (The Destruction of Da Derga’s Hostel), L U 83al-99a47 and Y B L 91al-104.10; edited by Eleanor Knott in Togail bruidne Da Derga (Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), 1936.

Early Irish Myths and Sagas, edited and translated by Jeffrey Gantz. London: Penguin Books, 1981. ISBN 0-14-044397-5.
“The Destruction of Da Derga’s Hostel”, c1100, Medieval Sourcebook, edited and translated by Whitely. http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/dddh/dddh.htm
Other Sources
Albert Einstein. http://www.tc.umn.edu/~burc0050/quotes_einstein.html













King Conare of Ireland
Introduction
Many tales have been written about King Conare and his peaceful reign in Ireland. But let me tell you how it was. Let me tell you how I saw it in my mind’s eye .

Chapter One

Long ago in ancient Ireland there lived a beautiful woman called Mess Búachalla. She was raised in secret by her poor cowherd foster parents in a humble house with no doors. In fact, the only way into beautiful Mess Búachalla's house was through a skylight in the roof.
One day news reached the king of Ireland that a mysterious young woman was secretly living in a house with no doors and only a skylight in the roof for light. The druids had prophesized that the king would marry an enchanting woman from a foreign land. Was this the woman of whom the druids had foretold? The aging king reflected a long time on the enigmatic Mess Búachalla living in the house with no doors. Finally, he decided that he would make her his wife and he sent his servants to fetch her. However, their marriage was not to be.
The night before the king’s servants arrived to bring her to the palace, Mess Búachalla had a strange experience. A wondrous bird with feathers of every imaginable color flew in through the skylight in the roof of her house. The mysterious creature landed on the floor beside Mess Búachalla’s bed. To her amazement the bird then shed his feathers and turned into a handsome young warrior. Mess Búachalla was petrified. She had never seen a Sky Warrior before.
The Sky Warrior told Mess Búachalla that the king of Ireland wanted to marry her. However, he begged her not to marry the aging king: “A stór mo chroí!” he said to her in the native Irish language, “Marry me instead and bear me a son.” When Mess Búachalla finally stopped shaking with fear she considered the Sky Warrior’s offer. After some deliberation, she decided to accept his proposal and be the mother of his son. The Sky Warrior told her that when their son was born she was to call him Conare.
It was the custom in those days in Ireland for young boys to shoot stones at birds with their slings. The Sky Warrior warned Mess Búachalla that their son Conare was never to kill birds with his sling. Mess Búachalla agreed.
Almost a year later she gave birth to a son. She named him Conare. However, in the excitement of Conare’s birth, Mess Búachalla forgot to warn the boy never to kill birds.


Chapter Two

Conare was not raised by Mess Búachalla. He was raised instead by close friends of the family, as was the custom at the time. Conare was not the only child at his foster parents’ house. His foster parents had three other foster children; their names were, Fer Lé, Fer Gar and Fer Rogain. Fer Lé, Fer Gar and Fer Rogain were all the children of the mighty Irish warrior, Dond Désa. Conare loved his foster siblings, the children of Dond Désa so much that the sound of their voices was like the music of a harp in his ears.
As a boy Conare had the good fortune to possess three gifts, the gift of hearing, the gift of seeing and the gift of good judgment. He spent all thirteen months of the Celtic calendar teaching his foster siblings his three gifts of hearing, seeing and good judgment. Meanwhile, Conare’s foster siblings spent all thirteen months of the Celtic calendar teaching Conare the skills of an Irish warrior that they had learned from their warrior father.

Chapter Three

One day while Conare was still a youth the king of Ireland died. At news of the king’s death all the men of Ireland gathered together at a bull-feast. Many a day and many a night were spent mourning the old king and feasting in celebration of the good old days under his rule. Finally, it was time to elect a new king.
In those days druids were well respected by the people for their magical powers. Consequently, in keeping with the Celtic tradition, the head druid put a magic spell on one of the men present at the feast. The man immediately fell into a deep sleep. The druid then told everyone gathered that the sleeping man would see the new king of Ireland in his dreams. According to the druid, when the sleeping man woke up he would be able to tell them who the new ruler would be. All the men at the bull-feast secretly hoped that the sleeping man would name them King of Ireland. They waited in anticipation for him to wake.
Meanwhile, somewhere nearby Conare was playing with his foster siblings, the children of Dond Désa. The boy had no idea that the king had died and that the men of Ireland had all gathered at a bull-feast. He was oblivious to the fact that Ireland was looking for a new monarch.
Conare had being out all morning with his foster siblings. As the day progressed he grew weary of games. He decided to leave his companions and head east in his chariot in search of excitement. Speeding eastward along the road Conare suddenly spotted a flock of birds overhead. Without giving it a second thought he took out his sling and took aim.
The birds flew eastward toward the sea with Conare in hot pursuit. However, on reaching the sea they suddenly turned and, to the boy’s amazement, transformed into fighting warriors.

Chapter Four

The Sky Warriors attacked Conare with human weapons as good as his own. The boy was so amazed at the birds’ sudden transformation into an army that he was momentarily stunned and couldn’t move a muscle. He would have surely perished in the attack had not one of the Sky Warriors shielded him from the others with his wings. The Sky Warrior who protected Conare was called Nemglan and he was none other than the Sky Warrior king himself.
King Nemglan explained to Conare that Conare’s father had been a Sky Warrior and that it was forbidden for him to harass or injure birds. Conare apologized to King Nemglan for having pursued them in his chariot. He told the king that he had not known that he was of the same blood as the Sky Warriors. He promised Nemglan that he would never shoot at birds again with his sling. Nemglan accepted Conare’s apology. He believed that the boy was genuinely sorry for having unwittingly attacked his father’s kin. Then Nemglan made a strange request of Conare.
King Nemglan told Conare that the men of Ireland were all gathered at a bull-feast and that Conare too was to attend the feast. However, Nemglan insisted that the boy undress and go to the bull-feast naked. Conare was bewildered at this request. It was not the custom in those days for youths to run naked along the highways and byways of Ireland. What would his foster siblings think? Conare was mortified at the thought of going naked to a bull-feast where every man in Ireland was gathered.
The boy knew he would be the laughing stock of the whole country, were he to arrive naked to the feast. However, Nemglan explained that whoever arrived naked to the feast would be made King of Ireland. The Sky Warrior king had to explain no further. Conare immediately took off his clothes and set off for the bull-feast, naked as the day he was born.
Meanwhile, back at the bull-feast the sleeping man woke up. He was still under the influence of the druid’s magic spell. Consequently, all the men of Ireland believed him when he told them that the new king of Ireland was going to arrive naked to the feast. They waited in anticipation for the naked king to arrive. They were eager to welcome him and congratulate him on becoming the new leader of the country. However, the entire assembly was dumbfounded when a beardless youth appeared.
Nobody could believe that someone as young as Conare was going to be the new king. Perceiving the men’s uncertainty, Conare thought to reassure them. He spoke to them of his gifts of hearing, seeing and wisdom. The men of Ireland looked doubtful. He promised to study hard with the wise men of the country so that he would make a fair and just ruler. They were unconvinced. He told them about his honest and generous nature. They were still unsure. Conare persisted. Finally, after hours of unending persuasion the men of Ireland yielded. They agreed to make Conare King of Ireland.
True to his word, Conare was a generous and fair king. There was peace in Ireland while he ruled. Indeed, while he was king the people of Ireland were so content that every farmer’s voice was like the music of a harp in his neighbors’ ears.

Chapter Five

Ireland flourished while Conare was king. Indeed Conare had such a peaceful influence on the country that even the wolves of the forest were reluctant to attack the cattle in the fields. Instead, seven wolves lined up every day outside Conare’s palace to show their obedience to the king.
However, not everyone was happy at this time in peaceful Ireland. Conare’s foster siblings were discontent. Their father had been the great warrior, Dond Désa, who had roamed the country fighting fierce battles. They longed to follow in their father’s footsteps. They too wanted to be great warriors and to roam the highways and byways of Ireland fighting skirmishes.
Unfortunately, for the heirs of Dond Désa it was now a time of peace in Ireland. They resented Conare for the stability he had brought to the country. “How can we follow in our father’s footsteps when there are no more battles to be fought in Ireland?” they asked themselves. They held a grudge against Conare for the peace he had brought. However, perhaps they were a little jealous of him too. Who knows?
To make a long story short, Conare’s foster siblings were bored to tears in Ireland. Finally, they decided to take matters into their own hands. In order to stir up some trouble they stole a grey pig from a neighboring farmer. To make matters worse, they attempted to kill the farmer when he reproached them for the theft.
News of their crimes eventually reached the king’s ears. However, Conare’s love for his foster siblings impaired his good judgment. First he refused to punish them severely for the theft of the pig. Then he refused to punish them severely for their attempt to murder the pig farmer. As a result the heirs of Dond Désa grew bolder. They organized a large troop of warriors and went around Ireland stealing and plundering. The children of Dond Désa were finally starting to enjoy life again.
Conare was dismayed at his foster siblings’ barbarous behavior. Nevertheless, he could not bring himself to execute them for their crimes. Eventually, he was left with no choice but to banish them from Ireland. “Bailigí as anois!” said Conare to them in the native Irish language. “ If ye want to fight and steal ye can do it somewhere else, but not in Ireland. Leave your homeland and never return.” Little did Conare realize the lack of judgment he showed in banishing his foster siblings. He was to rue the day he exiled them.

Chapter Six

When the heirs of Dond Désa were first banished from Ireland they were unsure what type of life they would lead in exile. Finally, they decided to buy a boat and become pirates. They weren’t long at sea when they met a foreboding character called Ingcel Caech. Ingcel Caech, or Ingcel the Terrible, had only one eye in his forehead. That one eye was as broad as an ox and as black as a beetle.
Ingcel had once been a prince in a foreign country. However, one day to everyone’s surprise, he decided to give up his privileged life at the palace and become a pirate instead. Ingcel preferred the exciting life of a notorious sea robber to the boring life of a pampered prince. Ingcel Caech was a disappointment to his royal parents, who had hoped he would turn his hand to more noble practices.
As fate would have it, black-eyed Ingcel was one of the first people that the heirs of Dond Désa befriended when they went to sea. His notoriety as a sea robber ensured he was an instant hit with the impressionable and inexperienced Irish pirates. Sadly, not only did they befriend Ingcel, worse still, the heirs of Dond Désa made a pact with him. This was the arrangement: Together they would sail up the rivers of every nearby country in order to rob and steal from the unfortunate and unsuspecting natives. Conare’s foster siblings would help one-eyed Ingcel to rob and steal in Ingcel’s home country. In return, Ingcel would help the children of Dond Désa to pillage and plunder in Ireland.
As a result of this agreement, Conare’s three foster siblings spent many a day and many a night plundering with Ingcel in Ingcel’s homeland. Finally they had stolen all there was to be stolen in that unfortunate country. One morning Ingcel woke up and said:
“It’s time to move on. You heirs of Dond Desa will help me to plunder and pillage elsewhere. It is part of our deal. You cannot refuse. Tomorrow we sail for Ireland.”




Chapter Seven

After Conare banished his troublesome foster siblings, all was quiet again in Ireland. The sound of every farmer’s voice was like the music of a harp in his neighbors’ ears. The wolves refused to attack the cattle, and seven of them lined up every day outside Conare’s palace to show their commitment to peace.
One day King Conare decided to pay a visit to two close friends. These friends were like family to him. However, they had been quarreling lately and Conare wanted to act as mediator between them.
As a youth Conare had been known for his gift of good judgment. Moreover, he had spent years studying with the wise men of Ireland. All this made him a good arbitrator, or so he thought. After a lot of negotiation, Conare succeeded in helping his friends see eye to eye. He spent five days feasting and hunting with each of them before he finally bid farewell and set out on the long journey back to his palace. On the road home, however, Conare encountered strange sights, sights which made his hair stand on end and the teeth rattle in his head.
At one point in the journey Conare found himself and his servants mysteriously surrounded on almost all sides by a ring of fire. “Dar mo ainm!” cried Conare’s servants in the native Irish tongue.
“What is going on? What does this fire mean?”, wondered Conare, as startled as the next person. His servants informed him that the fire around them was a bad omen. They told him it was a sign that law and order were breaking down in the country and that misfortune was in store. At these words the hair on Conare’s head stood up on end so that for a moment he resembled more the coarse haired wolves outside his palace than the prestigious king that he was.
Conare was shaken at the thought of the misfortune that might lie ahead. However, he pulled himself together and collected his thoughts. He looked at the fire which had almost completely encircled them. If law and order broke down in Ireland he did not know whom he could trust or which way he should turn. Finally, he decided on a course of action. King Conare led his train of servants through an opening in the fire and they all set out for the house of Conare’s old acquaintance, a man called Da Derga.
Conare knew he could seek refuge at his friend Da Derga’s house. In the past Conare had been very generous to Da Derga; he had given him fat cows, grey pigs, brown horses, hunting dogs, flashing weapons, hardworking servants, thirst quenching drink and even elegant clothes and jewelry to boot. In fact, the only thing Conare hadn’t given Da Derga was a wife and that was because Da Derga was already married. Yes, Conare had been very generous to Da Derga. Of course he could rely on him to be hospitable if law and order broke down in Ireland. Beard ablaze from the fire, Conare led his train of servants through an opening in the flames and headed for his friend Da Derga’s house.

Chapter Eight

By the time King Conare and his servants had made their way through the flames their beards were so aflame you could roast a grey pig on them. While Conare and his men were busy extinguishing the fire in their beards, Ingcel and Conare’s foster siblings were secretly sailing toward Ireland with the wind behind them. King Conare had no inkling of the peril he was in.
Macc Cecht, Conare’s right-hand man, was the first to extinguish the fire in his beard. “I’ll advance ahead of you to Da Derga’s house and light a fire”, he said to King Conare. The last thing Conare wanted to see at Da Derga’s house was another fire. However, an Irish house can be a cold and drafty place without a fire to warm it. King Conare knew this as well as the next person. Moreover, he realized that Da Derga’s house was not easy to access. The house had seven entrances, but only one door. To make matters worse, this one door was difficult to find. The door of Da Derga’s house always faced in the direction that the wind blew. As a result, in principle, all you had to do to find the door was let your hair down and see which way the wind swept it. Then you walked in the direction of your windblown hair and your curly locks led you to the door. The problem, however, was that the wind in Ireland has a tendency to change direction. This meant that the door to Da Derga’s hostel was notoriously hard to locate. Every time the wind changed direction the door moved.
King Conare reflected on how they would find the door of the hostel. He also reflected on whether or not he was in the mood to see another fire burning in the fireplace at Da Derga’s house after having the beard just singed off him. He reflected a long time. Finally, he agreed that Macc Cecht, his second in command, could go ahead and find the door. Moreover, he decided it would probably not be a bad idea for Macc Cecht to have a grey pig roasting over a hearty fire at the house when they arrived.
Chapter Nine

Macc Cecht set off for Da Derga’s house at a mighty speed. Conare and his servants proceeded slowly along the road behind him, but they soon lost sight of Macc Cecht. They had not gone far when, on rounding a bend, Conare perceived a sight which made the blood freeze in his veins. Three riders had suddenly appeared ahead of them on the road. These riders were also advancing in the direction of Da Derga’s house. All three glowed blood-red from the hair on their heads to the clothes on their backs to the horseshoes forged to their Bretons’ hooves.
Conare’s blood ran cold in his veins. Never before was there seen in Ireland as foreboding an omen as these bloody horsemen. “It can mean only one thing; the death of a king and the end of peace”, whispered Conare’s servants out of earshot of the king. It was all any of them could do to keep their teeth from clattering in their heads, so shaken were they at the thought of the doom that was impending.
Twice Conare sent his son, Le Fer Flaith, ahead of him on the road to talk to the riders. Conare’s son tried to dissuade the blood-red riders from proceeding to Da Derga’s house. However, the riders refused to change their direction. They spoke only in riddles and neither Le Fer Flaith nor his father Conare could make any sense of their conversation.

Chapter 10


Conare had hardly recovered from the horrific sight of the bloody horsemen when he encountered another strange scene. From nowhere there appeared on the road behind him the strangest little man ever to be seen the length or breadth of the country. In one hand he held a large fork and over his shoulder he carried a squealing black pig. The man was hopping along the road behind Conare at a ferocious speed so that he soon caught up with the king’s train.
As he came closer Conare noted in amazement that the man’s hair was completely spiked. “If I emptied a sack of apples over his head they would surely all stick in his spiked hair”, thought Conare to himself in amusement. The man’s name was Fer Calliu. He informed Conare that he was on his way to Da Derga’s house to prepare the black pig for the king’s supper. Conare, fearing that the appearance of this little man might be another strange omen, tried to convince the man not to go to Da Derga’s house: “Cook the pig for me another night, my friend. As we speak my servant Macc Cecht is already preparing a pig for our supper.” However, Fer Calliu would not listen to Conare. He insisted on proceeding to Da Derga’s house to prepare his black pig for the king.
Conare was reflecting on the strangeness of this stubborn little man when an even more peculiar character appeared on the scene. A frowning giant of a woman suddenly materialized from nowhere behind the spikey haired man. Her face was so sad and melancholy that Conare was convinced it was an ill wind that had brought her his way that night. She too was on her way to Da Derga’s house. Conare tried to persuade her to go elsewhere, but in vain. She too was determined to arrive at Da Derga’s house ahead of the king.
Helplessly, Conare watched as the spikey haired man and the frowning woman advanced toward Da Derga’s house on the road before him. He reflected momentarily on all he had encountered since he set out on his journey. He contemplated the fire that had encircled them, the blood-red horsemen and now these two odd characters. All these encounters Conare interpreted as bad omens. He shuddered at the thought of what the night held in store for him.

Chapter 11

At this time in Ireland there lived a very powerful married couple called Ailill and Medb. Indeed, so powerful and influential were they that they were looked on by some people as a king and queen in their own right. Ailill and Medb had seven sons. For some reason best known to themselves, Ailill and Medb decided to give all their seven sons the same name. They called all seven of them Mane. The seven brothers Mane shared not only the same name but also the same passion; that passion was robbing and plundering the four corners of Ireland.
In time they grew so notorious that Conare was finally left with no choice; he had to banish them from Ireland like he had banished his own foster siblings before them. In exile the seven brothers Mane all turned to the life of piracy they had dreamed of as children. One day at sea they encountered a ship in the distance. The seven brothers Mane first intended to rob the ship. However, what they didn’t know was that the ship they were looking at was the ship of Ingcel the Terrible. They had never seen such a ferocious pirate with the one eye in his forehead as wide as an ox and as black as a beetle.
Ingcel won the immediate respect and admiration of the seven brothers Mane. Although the seven brothers Mane outnumbered him, Ingcel still managed to talk them into joining forces with him. Their agreement was that Ingcel would help them to raid and plunder in Ingcel’s country and they would help Ingcel to pillage and plunder in Ireland.
Consequently, by the time one-eyed Ingcel landed on the shores of Ireland he was accompanied by a large band of Irish warriors; they were the three heirs of Dond Désa and the seven brothers Mane.

Chapter Twelve

Conare was fearful of impending doom as he made his way toward Da Derga’s house. However, he had no idea what that impending doom might be. He had no idea that his three foster siblings and the seven brothers Mane had become pirates and were on their way to Ireland in the company of Ingcel the Terrible.
Meanwhile, Ingcel’s ships were by now just off the east coast of Ireland. Before landing Ingcel decided to send nine scouts ashore. They soon returned to the ship with tales of the king’s train and all its finery making its way to Da Derga’s house. On hearing of the booty awaiting them the pirates were all eager to go ashore.
Meanwhile, back on dry land Macc Cecht, Conare’s right-hand man, had arrived at Da Derga’s house. The first thing Macc Cecht did when he arrived was circle the house. As he walked around the house he noted the seven entrances. However, although the entrances were visible he could see no sign of the door. He circled the house again. He knew the door was always positioned in the direction that the wind blew, so he let his hair down. Whatever direction the wind blew his hair would be the direction in which he would find the door. It wasn’t a particularly windy night so Macc Cecht had to wait quite a while before a gust of wind caught his hair. Finally, his patience paid off. A light wind rose and blew his curly locks to the left across his face and it was in this direction that Macc Cecht went to find the door of the house.
Once inside Macc Cecht greeted Da Derga and began to light a fire to warm the house for the king.

Chapter 13

Macc Cecht was renouned throughout Ireland at that time for his fire lighting skills. The first spark he struck to light the fire at Da Derga’s house was as loud as a bolt of thunder. The earth shook and in turn the sea. Meanwhile, offshore Ingcel and his Irish crew were about to disembark. Suddenly, a tidal wave, triggered by Macc Cecht’s booming spark, swept them back out to sea. One-eyed Ingcel turned to Fer Rogain his skipper and the following conversation ensued:

“Explain that noise if you can, Fer Rogain.”
“I have no idea what that noise is, Ingcel. Unless it is King Conare’s temperamental poet, clapping his hands in frustration because someone took his food away from him?”
“That’s hardly likely Fer Rogain! What else could it be?”
“I have no idea what else it could be, Ingcel. Unless it is King Conare’s temperamental bard screaming his head off at the other end of the country?.”
“That’s hardly likely Fer Rogain! What else could it be?”
Fer Rogain was starting to find Ingcel’s questions a bit irritating:
“I really have no idea what it is, Ingcel. Unless it is Macc Cecht the king’s servant lighting a fire for the king at Da Derga’s house?”

At the mention of Macc Cecht’s name Conare’s three foster siblings and the seven brothers Mane fell silent. For the first time since they had joined forces with Ingcel doubt seized them. They began to wonder if they were doing the right thing coming back to Ireland to pillage and plunder. Did they really want to attack King Conare and Macc Cecht and all King Conare’s servants at Da Derga’s house? “He is our foster brother, after all,” thought the three heirs of Dond Désa.
“He is the King of Ireland, after all,” thought the seven brothers Mane.
“Let us not attack the king tonight at Da Derga’s house. Let us plunder elsewhere in Ireland,” said the heirs of Dond Désa aloud and in unison. On hearing these words Ingcel fixed his fierce black eye on them, a pupil on every sibling:
“You are all bound by the terms of our agreement. I helped you loot and plunder in my homeland. Now you must help me loot and plunder in Ireland. You are getting cold feet, but it doesn’t matter because it is I who will decide where we attack. Not you.”
Ingcel the Terrible was right. Conare’s three foster siblings and the seven brothers Mane were all getting cold feet. They were changing their minds about attacking the King of Ireland. However, they had made an agreement with Ingcel. Call it honor among thieves but they were duty bound to attack Da Derga’s house, if that was what Ingcel wanted. That was what Ingcel wanted.

Chapter Fourteen

Ingcel the Terrible finally set foot for the first time in Ireland with the three heirs of Dond Désa and the seven brothers Mane all in toe. When they landed the sound of their boats on the shore made such a din that it was heard as far away as Da Derga’s house, where Conare had just arrived. The thunderous sound initiated the following conversation between Conare and his companions:
“King Conare, you are blessed with the gift of good judgment. What was that thunderous noise that just echoed the length and breath of the country?”
“Well my companions, maybe it is the earth turning over.”
“That’s hardly likely, King Conare. What else could it be?”
“…or my friends, maybe the serpent that encircles the earth has knocked the planet over with its tail?”
This time Conare’s answer was greeted with silence. It was obvious that the entire household was giving his words serious consideration, so Conare quickly continued:
“..but that’s hardly likely my friends. Maybe it is the ships of my foster siblings the children of Dond Désa landing on the east coast of Ireland. I wish I had never banished them. I wish they were here tonight among us as friends so that I would not have to fear them.”

Chapter Fifteen

Sitting at the fire waiting for the pig to roast, Conare reflected on his youth and the happy times he had spent with his three foster siblings, Fer Le, Fer Gar and Fer Rogain. He remembered how for thirteen months of the Celtic calendar the children of Dond Désa had taught him the skills of an Irish warrior. He in turn had taught them his three gifts of seeing, hearing and good judgment. If only he had had the good judgment not to exile them from Ireland. Alas, Conare could not turn back time.
While Conare reflected on his childhood and the good old days, his foster siblings too were experiencing bitter regret every step of the way as they proceeded behind Ingcel toward Da Derga’s house. They reflected on the virtues of Conare, their king and foster brother. Since Conare had become King no cloud had darkened the sky over Ireland from the middle of spring to the middle of autumn. Since Conare had become King the wind blew so gently no gust of air ever stirred a cow’s tail before evening. Since Conare had become King every farmer’s voice was like the music of a harp in his neighbors’ ears. Such were the thoughts that tortured the heirs of Dond Désa as they closed in on Da Derga’s house.

Chapter 16

In ancient Ireland a cairn symbolized destruction and it was the custom for Irish warriors to erect one before launching an attack. Consequently, ever one of Ingcel’s pirates had brought with him a rock. When they were within a stone’s throw of Da Derga’s house the pirates began to build a cairn with the stones they had carried. This cairn was to symbolize the havoc they intended to wreak on the house.
Once the cairn was complete Ingcel was eager to access the plunder to be looted. Consequently, before launching his devastating attack he made a quick scout of the house. While they waited for word from Ingcel, the three heirs of Dond Desa clung to the desperate hope that Conare might not be in the house and thus be spared a brutal death.

Chapter Seventeen

Ingcel soon returned and described for the other pirates every warrior and nobleman gathered in Da Derga’s house. With every description the three children of Dond Désa and the seven brothers Mane shook with foreboding. They knew every man in the house and his strength in battle. There was going to be a blood bath.

Chapter Eighteen

On Ingcel’s command and sick at heart the Irish pirates stormed Da Derga’s home. A fierce battle raged. Blood washed the walls in and out. Three times Ingcel’s men attempted to set fire to the house. On the third day of the siege King Conare grew parched with thirst. His men had used the water to quench the fires and not a drop remained.
Unable to bare the torment any longer, Conare finally ordered Macc Cecht to break out through the enemy line and fetch him something to drink. Macc Cecht immediately refused such a demeaning request. It was his job to defend the king in battle. He might stoop so low as to light an occasional fire now and again but there he drew the line when it came to servant’s work. He was not the king’s lowly cup bearer. Under no circumstances would he run to fetch water in the height of a battle. However, after hours of endless badgering and reproach by the king Macc Cecht finally relented and agreed to carry out Conare’s request, demeaning and all as it was to him. He broke out through the enemy line in the dead of night and quickly searched the length and breadth of Ireland until he found enough water to fill the king’s cup.
Miraculously Macc Cecht returned unhurt through the enemy line with the king’s cup overflowing with water, but alas, he was too late.
King Conare had been shamefully murdered. The grief-stricken Macc Cecht poured the water from the royal cup over Conare’s bloody body in an act of mourning. Bitterly he reproached himself for having left the king on a fool’s errand.
With the death of King Conare the seven wolves departed from outside the royal palace and resumed their attacks on the cattle in the fields. Clouds once again began to darken the Irish sky from the middle of spring to the middle of autumn, much to the despair of haymakers. But, worst of all, the sound of a farmer’s voice was never again like the music of a harp in his neighbors’ ears in Ireland.
On the same day of his return to Da Derga’s house Macc Cecht himself was fatally wounded in the battle that still raged. It is with Macc Cecht’s death that this sad tale of King Conare and peaceful Ireland ends.

The End


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Esther ( Vessel of the Lord)

I am old now. My garments are white and my head lacks no ointment, save the one by my bed from which the flies send forth a stench. More bitter than death am I whose heart you ensnared and whose hands you bound. Would that it pleased God that I should escape the sins that consume me.
“Curse not the King, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber…” So said my uncle to me as I knelt before him. And I did not curse the King but my own inheritance. Uncle, I forgive you your trespasses. I know oppression can make a wise man mad. A good name is better than precious ointment, but you bid me conceal mine.
My youth and fairness pleased the keeper of women. For twelve months I purified myself, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with sweet odours for one night with the king and then to return to the house of the concubines. But, being youthful and fair, more than all other virgins, the King of the Gentiles cast out his queen and set her crown on my humbled head.
You sat in the King’s gate. Did it not warm your heart to see me soar? You brought me tales of conspiracy. Uncle, I reproach thee not for you swallowed fire into your belly when you sold my maidenhead.
Because you informed the conspirators were hanged and the prince of princes set you on the royal horse and led you forth for the King delighted to honor you.
And so, the earth has seen servants upon horses and princes walking as servants. Yet still, as I lie here the stench from the flies in the ointment nauseates, and I think, was it not as God ordained?
You would not bow down to the King’s favorite. Vanity. How you stirred up his wrath. You bid me approach my lord to reverse the genocide his prince conspired against you. Trepidation seized me lest I lose my own life like my people outside the gates. I fasted three days and went into the King. I pleaded your case against the prince of princes and the King hearkened to me. In the morning his vassal swung from the gallows he had built himself, but for you.
Now you were prince among princes for the King raised you up. He gave you free reign. And when our brethren had slain seventy and five thousand you declared a day of gladness in the month of Adar.
Then you sought the wealth of our people and spoke peace to all your seed. But I was your brother’s seed. I am old now, Uncle. I thought that God would set the world in my heart but you set it on my head and who can make straight what you have made crooked? I sought to know wisdom but knew only madness and folly. No ointments and perfumes rejoice my heart. For what vow can one bring the hire of a whore into the house of the Lord?

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This is the Word of the Concubine

God made the Angels from fire. And when God made man he made him from clay. And God told the angels to bow down to man. And all did, save one, Satan, for Satan thought that that of fire should not bow down to clay. And for his vanity God cast Satan out of heaven.
I am concubine. In Bethlehem my lord stayed at my father’s house five days, feasting and making merry. Then he put me on an ass, called me concubine and let me away.
In Gibeah we stopped for shelter. No room at the inn. But an old man returning from the fields, being also of my lord’s hometown, had pity on us. He took us in.
While he and my lord broke bread the men of the town laid siege to the house. They demanded the stranger be sent out, for sport. But our host, a man of honor, told them he would allow no guest of his to suffer an abomination. He would sooner they took his daughters and me, the concubine. But they would not be appeased.
Finally, it was I alone who was sent out. To save themselves they sent me out. God listened to Daniel in the lion’s den but he did not listen to me who was made from the rib of man.
In the dawn I was still not yet dead. I crawled back to the door of the house. My lord found me in his path as he exited. He spoke words but I could not answer. He put me on an ass and carried me back to his hometown. Was I dead when he took a knife to my flesh? He made twelve pieces of me. To the twelve tribes of Israel he sent my bloody bones, that the abomination of my flesh might be a sign of the hospitality of Gibeah. To avenge the injustice done my lord the house of Israel declared war on the house of Benjamin. Thousands fell before Benjamin was humbled, but I say to you husband, why did you send me out? And I say to you Lord, why did you not hear me cry? You cast Satan out because he would not bow down to clay. Did you not send him to hell? This is the word of the concubine.

All content is copy right protected, all content on this site is sole property of Patricia Jones, any copying, downloading or other reproduction of this content is strictly forbidden by the author.