The High King of Ireland Cormac MacAirt, also referred to as Cormac Ulfada (long beard) is probably the most famous of the ancient Gaelic High Kings. He reigned over the Island of Ireland at some point between the 2nd century and 4th century CE. Some versions of the Lebor Gabála Érenn synchronise his reign with that of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180). As per tradition Cormac MacAirt ruled from Tara, the seat of the High Kings of Ireland, for forty years.
He is described in the Annals of Clonmacnoise as:
“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”.
Birth and Childhood of Cormac MacAirt
Cormac’s father was also a High King of Ireland. Art mac Cuinn. His mother was Achtan, daughter of the druid Olc Acha. Olc Acha was advised previously that a great leader would be born from his progeny. When Olc Acha met Art MacCuinn he proposed instantly that Art must take his daughter Achtan’s hand in marriage. It was from this consummation that Cormac was born.
A Dream
Achtan had a vivid dream one night sleeping beside Art. She saw herself beheaded, with a great tree growing out of her neck. The branches of the tree spread all over Ireland. Art awoke to see his wife in great distress. Achtan told Art about the dream, in which he immediately explained that her dream has predicted a tragedy. Art was to die, and his throne would be usurped by his nephew. However, eventually Cormac would rise to power and restore justice throughout the entire island.
The very next day, Art fell in battle. Lugaid MacCon the nephew of Art killed him and became new High King. Within the turmoil, the infant Cormac was carried off into the woods by a she-wolf. He was raised with her cubs in the caves of Kesh (Keash, Co Sligo). Eventually a hunter would find him and bring him back to Achtan. Achtan understanding that he must be raised in the ways of the warrior brought him to Fiachrae Cassan, a notable warrior. Fiachrae accepted.
Cormac MacAirt’s Rise to Power
When Cormac reached the age of thirty, he equipped his father’s sword and made his way to Tara. A weeping woman greeted him as he approached. She requested that Cormac help her retrieve her sheep. Her sheep had been confiscated by the High King because they cropped the queen’s woad-garden. At once Cormac declared, “More fitting would be one shearing for another,” because both the woad and the sheep’s fleeces would grow again. Once Lugaid heard this, he abdicated his throne due to being wholly impressed by the brevity of Cormac’s speech and wisdom in his judgement.
As Cormac was about to claim High Kingship, he met opposition from the King of Ulaid, Fergus Dubdétach. Fergus drove him into Connacht and took the throne for himself. While in Connacht, Cormac asked help from a local nobleman Tadg MacCéin whose father had been killed by Fergus. If Fergus were to help Cormac take the throne, he would receive a large portion of land on the plain of Brega. Cormac would then go on to recruit Lugaid Láma. The party then set out for Tara where The Battle of Crinna began.
The battle consisted of Lugaid taking the head of Fergus’ two brothers before eventually killing Fergus. Lugaid lost his life in the process collapsing from exhaustion and loss of blood. The entire event culminated in Tadg ruling large tracts of land in the northern half of Ireland while Cormac took the throne.
Cormac MacAirt the High King
Cormac’s reign consisted of many battles against the Ulaid and Connacht, while also leading a lengthy campaign against Munster. It has also been said that he sailed to Britain and made conquests there. He compiled the famous Psalter of Tara, a book containing the chronicles of Irish history, the laws concerning the rents and dues kings were to receive from their subjects, and the records and boundaries of Ireland.
Cormac was also in possession of a mysterious gold cup, which he used to distinguish falsehood from truth. He received this cup from Manannan mac Lir, the ruler of the sea.
Cormac MacAirt’s Death
After ruling for forty years Cormac choked to death on the bone of a salmon. Some believed this to be because of curse put on him by the druids for converting to Christianity.
It has been said that Cormac was the third man from Ireland to hear about the Prophet from the east. This was before Saint Patrick arrived on the Island. As such, Cormac does not just represent the old ways of the Gaelic people but he is a transitional figure who was admired by both those who observed the old ways and those who would go on to adopt Christianity. He refused to consult the Druids or worship the images they made.
Cormac’s dying wish was not to be buried at Newgrange, where his ancestors had been placed previously because “All these Kings paid adoration to Gods of wood or stone, the sun or the elements but he came to know the one God, immortal and transcendent”. Instead he favoured the site of an east facing hill at Rossnaree, so that he could wait the coming of the son of Mary. However upon his death, his wish was discarded by the living. He was to be buried with his father and grandfather at Newgrange. Legend has it, that when he was to be buried, the river broke its banks and carried him to Rossnaree.