Irish title of a narrative usually known in English as ‘The Adventure of Art Son of Conn’, a part of the Cycle of Kings. The sole surviving text, found in the Book of Fermoy, has long been thought to be derived from a lost original, based in part on the attention given to the legal and governmental system of early Ireland. The focus of the action is Art, son of Conn Cétchathach [of the Hundred Battles], legendary ancestor of Irish kings and noble families. Inconsistencies and obscurities mar the text.
After the death of his wife, Eithne Tháebfhota, Conn Cétchathach goes out one day from Tara to Benn Étair [Hill of Howth]. On that same day the Tuatha Dé Danann in council judge Bé Chuma to be in sin with Gaidiar, son of Manannán mac Lir, and so she is banished from the sídh and sent to live among the mortals of Ireland. Although she has never seen him, Bé Chuma already loves Art, son of Conn, and so sets out in a flimsy coracle to find him, landing at Benn Étair. She finds him quickly but misidentifies herself as Delbcháem, daughter of Morgán, though admitting that she has come in search of the young prince. Even as she becames more enamoured of Art, and he of her, Bé Chuma asks Conn to ban him from Tara for a year (an action inexplicable in the text). Bé Chuma and Conn then arrive themselves at Tara as man and wife, and for the following year there is neither grain nor milk in all of Ireland. The druids declare that Bé Chuma's wickedness and unbelief have brought this blight on the country, and that it can be removed only by the sacrifice made by a sinless couple, whose blood should be mixed with the soil of Tara.
Conn goes forth in search of the son of the sinless couple, sailing the coracle of Bé Chuma from Benn Étair through seas filled with monsters until he lands at the mysterious island of Dáire
On the next day, when Conn makes his grim request to have Ségda for human sacrifice, his parents decline but the son consents, saying that the king of Ireland should not be refused. Although the parents ask that the boy be protected, Conn on his arrival at Tara accedes to the wishes of the druids, who insist on the boy's death. Before the druids can kill Ségda, a woman driving a cow enters the assembly and rescues the boy. She is revealed to be Rígru, the boy's mother, and before she departs she bids Conn to put Bé Chuma aside, which he will not do. She then prophesies that their state will grow worse.
Some time later, when the returned Art defeats Bé Chuma in a game of fidchell, he lays a geis on her not to taste food in Ireland until she shall bring him the wand of Cú Roí. After an extensive search she finds it at Cahirconree on Sliab Mis [Slieve Mish] and brings it to him. In a second game of fidchell, Bé Chuma wins; she bids Art taste no food until he has brought back Delbcháem the daughter of Morgán (whom Bé Chuma has previously impersonated). Art sails a coracle from the mouth of the Boyne (Inber Colptha) and finds a wonderful island inhabited by beautiful women, among them Créide, the ravishing daughter of Fidech of the Long Hair. After a month and a fortnight Art tells Créide of his quest. She responds that the way will be long and fraught with difficulties, natural and supernatural. She predicts that when he reaches the maiden he will find a stronghold surrounded by a bronze fence festooned with heads of men killed by Coinchenn [Dog-Headed], Delbcháem's fearsome mother. Thus forewarned, Art succeeds in his quest, slaying as he goes Delbcháem's terrible brother Ailill Dubdétach [Black-Tooth].
When Art enters the fortress, Delbcháem is waiting for him in a sunroom. Saying she fears for his safety, she has her women welcome him and wash his feet. Coinchenn, who appropriately fears that she will die if ever her daughter is wooed, then enters; Art makes short work of her, placing her head on a vacant bronze stake outside the fortress. Then Morgán comes to avenge his wife, but he too loses his head. Art then takes hostages from Morgán's people, and also takes possession of the Land of Wonder and sets out with Delbcháem for Ireland. When they arrive at Benn Étair, Delbcháem bids Art to oblige Bé Chuma to leave Tara because it is she, Bé Chuma, who is blighting the land. Without farewell, then, Bé Chuma departs, and the nobles welcome Delbcháem and Art, who tells all present of his adventure.
Bibliography
- the translation by R. I. Best, Ériu,
3 (1907); repr. in - T. P. Cross and C. H. Slover (eds.), Ancient Irish Tales (New York, 1936), 491–502
