Conn (son of Lir)

Family: Children of Lir · Role: son of Lir · First appears: The Gods · The Fate of the Children of Lir · Part 1

After Aobh gave birth to Fiachra (son of Lir) and Conn, she died at their birth. Conn was one of Lir and Aobh’s four children, with Fionnuala, Aodh (son of Lir) and Fiachra (son of Lir). At Loch Dairbhreach, Aoife (wife of Lir) struck the four with a Druid rod and changed them into swans, then condemned them to three hundred years at each of three waters. She restored their speech and gave them sweet music; the next morning, Lir found them transformed and learned they could not regain their former shapes until their nine hundred years were over.

After leaving Loch Dairbhreach, the siblings flew to Sruth na Maoile, where a storm scattered them across the sea. They found one another again at the Rock of the Seals, and Fionnuala sheltered Conn beneath her left wing. At Carraig na Ron, winter ice froze them to the rock; escaping tore the skin from their feet and the feathers and tops of their wings. Their feathers and wings grew back and their sores healed, and at the mouth of the Banna they met riders who welcomed them and told them that Lir and the Tuatha de Danaan were well. After their three hundred years at Sruth na Maoile, they went to Irrus Domnann, then returned to Sidhe Fionnachaidh, where their father’s place was empty.

The siblings made Inis Gluaire their nightly home, and Aibric befriended them, loving their singing. After the faith of Christ and blessed Patrick came to Ireland, Mochaomhog came to Inis Gluaire; the swans trusted him, lived at his dwelling and heard Mass with him. He had silver chains made, joining Conn to Fiachra (son of Lir), while Aodh (son of Lir) was joined to Fionnuala. When Lairgnen seized the swans, their bird skins fell away. They were baptized and died, and were buried as Fionnuala had asked: “Fiachra and Conn one at each side of her, and Aodh before her face.”