Conor

Also known as: Conor the son of Ness / Father Conor / king Conor · Family: Ulstermen · Role: king of Ulster · First appears: The Courtship of Etain · Egerton Version · Part 1

In The Courtship of Etain, Conor the son of Ness, king of Ulster, is described as a vassal of Eochaid Airemm. In Mac Datho’s Boar, Mesroda Mac Datho first tells the Connaught messengers that he will give the hound to Ailill and Maev; after three days and three nights, he tells the Ulster messengers that he has awarded it to Conor. The armies of Connaught and Ulster arrive together, and Mac Datho’s boar is slaughtered for them. Conor is the father of Cuscrid, whose stammer, Ket says, followed a spear wound. Later, Fer-loga seizes Conor by the head in the heather of Meath and asks for a boon in exchange for his life. Conor agrees, and at Emain Macha the widows and growing maidens of Ulster are made to serenade Fer-loga at each ninth hour; after a year, Fer-loga crosses into Connaught with two of Conor’s horses.

In The Sick-bed of Cuchulain, Ethne Aitencaithrech is identified as Conor’s wife, and Cuscraid Mend as his son. The tale explicitly breaks at the Bull-Feast and resumes from another version; in Part 5, Emer comes to Emain and tells Conor of Cuchulain’s state, whereupon Conor sends learned men, people of skill, and Ulster’s Druids to seek him and bring him back.

In the Book of Leinster version of The Exile of the Sons of Usnach, Conor decrees that Deirdre will be reared to become his wife, and later has her brought to him bound. After the sons of Usnach agree to return with Fergus mac Rog as surety, Conor’s scheme delays Fergus while the sons continue toward Emain. Eogan makes peace with Conor, but Eogan’s and Conor’s warriors are charged with killing the sons before they reach the king. Dubhtach kills Conor’s son Mane and Fiachna, son of Conor’s daughter Feidelm; Fergus and his followers go into exile in Connaught. Deirdre remains in Conor’s household for a year, then Conor gives her to Eogan for another year, saying, “thou shalt dwell with Eogan for a year”.

In the Glenn Masain version, Cathbad curses Emain Macha, declaring that Conor and his descendants should never hold it. On the morrow after the sons of Usnach are slain, Fergus, Cormac, Dubhtach, and their armies fight Conor’s household, killing Maine and three hundred of Conor’s people; they destroy and burn Emain Macha and kill Conor’s women. Deirdre remains in Conor’s household for a year, grieving, before Conor orders her to go to Eogan. She leaps from the chariot and dies.