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Revision as of 09:14, 11 February 2005 by Nicknack009 (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Cormac Mac Airt, aka Cormac Ua Cuinn (grandson of Conn) or Cormac Ulfada ("long beard") is probably the most famous of the ancient High Kings of Ireland, and may have been an authentic historical figure, although many legends have attached themselves to him. He was the son of Art, son of Conn of the Hundred Battles. He is said to have ruled from Tara, the seat of the High Kings of Ireland, for forty years (ca. 227 - 266 CE) and under his rule Tara flourished. He was famous for his wise, true, and generous judgments.
Many stories have Fionn mac Cumhail living in his time. Fionn was to marry Cormac's daughter Gráinne, but she ran off with Diarmuid Ua Duibhne.
Cormac owned the wonderful gold cup given to him by the sea-god Manannan mac Lir in the Land of the Living. If three lies were spoken over it, it would break in three; three truths made it whole again. Cormac used this cup during his kingship to distinguish falsehood from truth. When Cormac died, the cup vanished, just as Manannan had predicted it would.