Conary Mor

A legendary high king of Ireland. It is said that his great-grandfather destroyed the Fairy Mound of Bri-Leith, and thus brought ill fate upon Conary Mor. As a child, he left his three foster brothers on the Plains of Liffey and followed a flock of beautiful birds down to the shore. The birds were transformed into armed men, who told him they belonged to his father and were his kin. His geise (taboo) was made known to him, and later he was proclaimed king of Erin.

His reign was prosperous, until the Danaans lured him to break his geise. It is told how Conary, dying of thirst after battle, sent his warrior Mac Cecht to bring him water. Mac Cecht had much difficulty in obtaining the water, and on his return, he found Conary had been beheaded. The water, however, was raised to the mouth of the bodiless head, which, it is said, thanked Mac Cecht for his deed.