THE 
 
 STORY OF CONN-EDA; 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE aOLDEN APPLES 
 
 OF 
 
 LOCH EENE. 
 
 TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL IRISH, 
 
 By NICHOLAS O'KEARNEY, Esq. 
 
 Reprinted from the " Cambrian Journal," Vol. II. 1855. 
 
 LONDON : 
 J. RUSSELL SMITH, 33, SOHO SQUARE. 
 
 TENBY: R. MASON. 
 
 1855. 
 

 R. MASON, PRINTER, HIGH STREET, TENBY. 
 
THE STOEY OP CONN-EDA/ &c. 
 
 The following romantic tale, or Fionn-sgeal, is as wild as 
 any told by the Arabian princess, and both curious and 
 interesting, because it solely relates to Ireland. The story 
 is a literal translation of an Irish one frequently told, or 
 rather recited, by a professed story-teller, or Ursgealaidhe, 
 named Abraham Mac Coy, during his professional en- 
 gagements. The story-teller, possibly the last member 
 of his profession known to have flourished in Ireland, was 
 a living encyclopaedia, replete Avith stories of the same 
 nature, some of which have been rescued from oblivion, 
 and may tend to throw light on the manners, customs, 
 and forms of religious belief entertained by the pagan 
 Irish, or, perhaps, help to elucidate some obscurities found 
 dimming many pages of our ancient history. There can 
 be no doubt entertained but that the archseologists of the 
 sister countries — those of Cambria in particular — will feel 
 obliged for having preserved this and similar tales from 
 the general wreck sustained by Irish traditional lore, as 
 
 1 Some years ago, two rude statues were found in Neale Park, 
 County Mayo, the seat of Lord Kilmaine. One represented an 
 unicorn, probably the goat, from whence the cornucopia was taken for 
 Jupiter, the other a lion, or some such animal. The inscription found 
 on those monuments of antiquity, as is stated, says that these were the 
 ** Die na feile^^ gods of plenty, and were the gods adored by Conn 
 and Eda. Hence the place has been called Neale, from the Irish words 
 ^^ an fkeile'^ (pronounced a neile); and because the Irish article an, 
 the, has been attached to the substantive, the Neale is the name by 
 which the place has been known. The traditions of the people 
 exactly correspond with this account. The statues, it is said, are 
 still preserved in the park of Lord Kilmaine ; but, never having been 
 in that part of the island, I have not seen them. 
 
' r'at 3TORY OF CONN-EDA. 
 
 they probably may find something analogous in their own 
 legends. Perhaps the lore of one country may materially 
 tend to explain that of another. 
 
 It was long before the time the western districts of 
 Innis Fodhla- had any settled name, but were indiscrimi- 
 nately called after the person who took possession of them, 
 and whose name they retained only as long as his sway 
 lasted, a powerful king reigned over this part of the 
 sacred island. He was a puissant warrior, and no indi- 
 vidual was found able to compete with him either on land 
 or sea, or question his right to the conquest he made by- 
 strength of his manly right hand, the point of his glit- 
 tering javelin, and keen edge of his blue sword. The 
 great king of the west held uncontrolled sway from the 
 island of Rathlin to the mouth of the Shannon by sea, 
 and far as the glittering Shannon wound its sinuous 
 length by land. The ancient king of the west, whose 
 name was Conn, was good as well as great, and passion- 
 ately loved by his people. His queen was a Breaton 
 (British) princess, and was equally beloved and esteemed, 
 because she was the very counterpart of the king in 
 every respect ; for whatever good qualification was found 
 wanting in one, the other was certain to indemnify the 
 omission. It was plainly manifest that heaven approved 
 of the career in life of the virtuous couple ; for during 
 their reign the earth produced exuberant crops, the trees 
 fruit ninefold commensurate with their usual bearing, the 
 rivers, lakes, and surrounding sea teemed with abundance 
 of choice fishes, while herds and flocks were unusually 
 prolific, and kine and sheep yielded such abundance of 
 rich milk, that they shed it in torrents upon the pastures; 
 and furrows and cavities were always filled with the pure 
 lacteal produce of the dairy. All these were blessings 
 heaped by heaven upon the western districts of Innis 
 Fodhla, over which the benignant and just Conn swayed 
 
 2 Innis Fodhlaf Island of Fate, as some think, an old name of 
 Ireland. 
 
THE STORY OF CONN-EDA. 
 
 his sceptre, in approbation of the course of government 
 he had marked out for his own guidance. It is needless 
 to state that the people who owned the authority of this 
 great and good sovereign were the happiest on the face 
 of the wide expanse of earth. It was during his reign, 
 and that of his son and successor, that Ireland acquired 
 the title of the " happy isle of the west" among foreign 
 nations. Conn Mor, and his good Queen Eda, reigned in 
 great glory during many years : they were blessed with 
 an only son, whom they named Conn-eda, after both his 
 parents, because the Druids foretold, at his birth, that he 
 would inherit the good qualities of both. According as 
 the young prince grew in years, his amiable and benignant 
 qualities of mind, as well as his great strength of body 
 and manly bearing, became more manifest. He was the 
 idol of his parents, and the proud boast of his people ; 
 he was beloved and respected to that degree that neither 
 prince, lord nor plebeian swore an oath either by the sun, 
 moon, stars, or elements, except by the head of Conn-eda. 
 This career of glory how^ever w^as doomed to meet a 
 powerful but temporary impediment, for the good Queen 
 Eda took a sudden and severe illness, of which she died 
 in a few days, thus plunging her spouse, her son, and all 
 her people, into a depth of grief and sorrow from which 
 it was found difficult to relieve them. 
 
 The good king and his subjects mourned the loss of 
 Queen Eda for a year and a day; and, at the expiration of 
 that time. Conn Mor reluctantly yielded to the advice of 
 his Druids and counsellors, and took to wife the daughter 
 of his Archdruid. The new queen appeared to walk in 
 the footsteps of the good Eda for several years, and gave 
 great satisiViction to her subjects. But, in course of time, 
 having had several children, and perceiving that Conn- 
 eda was the favourite son of the king, and the darling of 
 the people, she clearly foresaw that he would become 
 successor to the throne after the demise of his father, and 
 that her son would certainly be excluded. This excited 
 the hatred and inflamed the jealousy of the Druid's 
 daughter against her st;epson to such an extent, that she 
 
 327608 
 
b THE STORY OF CONN-EDA. 
 
 resolved, in her own mind, to leave nothing in her power 
 undone to procure his death, or even exile from the king- 
 dom. She began by circulating evil reports of the prince; 
 but, as he was above suspicion, the king only laughed at 
 the weakness of the queen ; and the great princes and 
 chieftains, supported by the people in general, gave an 
 unqualified contradiction ; while the prince himself bore 
 all his trials with the utmost patience, and always repaid 
 her bad and malicious acts towards him with good and 
 benevolent ones. The enmity of the queen towards Conn- 
 eda knew no bounds, when she saw that the false reports 
 she circulated could not injure him, because he was a 
 public man whose character was too well known and 
 appreciated to suffer the least injury from the poisoned 
 sting of calumny. As a last resource, to carry out her 
 wicked projects, she determined to consult her Cailleach- 
 chearc (hen wife), who was a reputed enchantress. 
 
 Pursuant to her resolution, by the early dawn of 
 morning she hied to the cabin of the Cailleach-chearc, 
 and divulged to her the cause of her trouble. " I cannot 
 render you any help," said the Cailleach, "until you name 
 the duals'' (reward). "What duais do you require?'* 
 asked the queen impatiently. " My duais,'' replied the 
 enchantress, " is to fill the cavity of my arm with wool, 
 and the hole I shall bore with my distaff with red wheat." 
 " Your duais is granted, and shall be immediately given 
 you," said the queen. The enchantress thereupon stood 
 in the door of her hut, and bending her arm into a circle 
 with her side, directed the royal attendants to thrust the 
 wool into her house through her arm; and she never per- 
 mitted them to cease until all the available space within 
 was filled with wool. She then got on the roof of her 
 brother's house, and, having made a hole through it with 
 her distaff, caused red wheat to be spilled through it, until 
 that house was filled up to the roof, so that tlicre was no 
 room for another grain within. " Now," said the queen, 
 " since you have received your duais, tell me how I can 
 accomplish my purpose." "Take this chess-board and 
 chess, and invite the prince to play with you; you shall 
 
THE STORY OF CONN-EDA. 7 
 
 win the first game. The condition you shall make is, 
 that whoever wins a game shall be at liberty to impose 
 whatever geasa (conditions) the winner pleases upon the 
 loser. When you win, you must bind the prince under 
 the penalty either to go into ionarhadh (exile), or procure 
 for you, within the space of a year and a day, the three 
 golden apples that grow in the garden, the each duhh 
 (black steed), and coilean con na mhuadh (hound of super- 
 natural powers), called Samer, which are in the possesion 
 of the king of the Firbolg race, who resides in Loch 
 Erne.^ Those two things are so precious, and so well 
 guarded, that he never can attain them by his own power; 
 and, if he would rashly attempt to seek them, he should 
 lose his life." 
 
 The queen was greatly rejoiced at the advice, and lost 
 no time in inviting Conn-eda to play a game at chess, 
 under the conditions she had been instructed to arrange 
 by the enchantress. The queen won the game, as the 
 enchantress had foretold; but so great was her anxiety to 
 have the prince completely in her power, that she was 
 tempted to challenge him to play a second game, which 
 Conn-eda, to her astonishment, and no less mortification, 
 easily won. " Now," said the prince, " since you have 
 won the first game, it is your duty to impose your gets 
 first." "My geis" said the queen, "which I impose upon 
 you, is to procure me the each duhh (black steed), and 
 cuilean con na mhuadh (hound of supernatural powers), 
 which are in the keeping of the king of the Firbolgs, in 
 Loch Erne, within the space of a year and a day ; or, in 
 case you fail, to go into ionarhadh (exile), and never 
 return, except you surrender yourself to lose your head 
 and comhead heatha'^ (preservation of life). "Well, then," 
 said the prince, " the gets which I bind you by is, to sit 
 upon the pinnacle of yonder tower until my return, and 
 to take neither food nor nourishment of any description, 
 except what red wheat you can pick up with the point 
 of your bodkin; but, if I do not return, you are at perfect 
 
 3 The Firbolgs believed their elysium to be under water j and the 
 Irish still fancy that many of our lakes are peopled. 
 
n THE STORY OF CONN-EDA. 
 
 liberty to come down at the expiration of the year and a 
 day." 
 
 In consequence of the severe gets imposed unexpectedly 
 upon him, Conn-eda was very much troubled in mind ; 
 and, well knowing he had a long* journey to make before 
 he would reach his destination, immediately prepared 
 to set out on his way, not, however, before he had the 
 satisfaction of witnessing the ascent of the queen to the 
 place where she was obliged to remain exposed to the 
 scorching sun of summer, and the blasting storms of 
 winter, for the space of one year and a day, at least. 
 Conn-eda being ignorant of what steps he should take to 
 procure the each duhh and cuilean con na rnhuadh, though 
 he was well aware that human energy would prove un- 
 availing, thought proper to consult the Great Druid, 
 Fionn Badhna, of Sliabh Badhna, who was a friend of 
 his, before he ventured to proceed to Loch Erne. When 
 he arrived at the hruighean of the Druid, he was received 
 with cordial friendship, and the failte^'^ as usual, was 
 poured out before him ; and, when he was seated, warm 
 water was fetched, and his feet bathed, so that the fatigue 
 he felt after his journey was greatly relieved. The 
 Druid, after he had partaken of refreshments, consisting 
 of the newest of food and the oldest of liquors, asked him 
 the reason for paying the visit, and more particularly 
 the cause of his sorrow; for the prince appeared exceed- 
 ingly depressed in spirit. Conn-eda told his friend the 
 whole history of the transaction with his step- mother, 
 from the beginning to the end ; which, when the Druid 
 heard it, caused him to compress his lips and nod his 
 head very significantly, but he made no answer. " Can 
 you not assist me?" asked the prince, with downcast 
 countenance, having observed the motions of the Druid. 
 " I cannot, indeed, assist you at present,*' replied the 
 Druid, " but I will retire to my grianan, at sun-rising 
 
 * Failte means welcome, but it means much more in orijjinal MSS.; 
 even the Irish contraction of the word ( t ) means /a?7, a circle, and 
 r, or te, the individual surrounded by friends. 
 
THE STORY OF CONN-EDA. 9 
 
 on the morrow, and learn by virtue of my druidism what 
 can be done to assist you." The Druid, accordingly, as 
 the sun rose on the following morning, retired to his 
 grianan, and consulted the god he adored, through the 
 power of his druidheacht. When he returned, he called 
 Conn-eda aside on the plain, and addressed him thus : — 
 " My dear son, I find you have been bound under a 
 severe — an almost impossible — gets, intended for your 
 destruction ; no person on earth could have advised the 
 queen to impose it, except the Cailleach of Loch Corrib, 
 who is the greatest Druidess now in Ireland, and sister to 
 the Firbolg king of Loch Erne. It is not, I am sorry to 
 have to inform you, in my power, nor in that of the deity 
 I adore, to interfere in your behalf; but go directly to 
 Sliabh Mis, and consult Ecin chinn-duine (the bird with 
 a human head), and if there be any possibility of relieving 
 you, that bird shall do it ; for there is not a bird in the 
 western w^orld so celebrated as that bird, because it knows 
 all things that are past, all things that are present, and 
 exist, and all things that shall hereafter exist. It is 
 difficult to find access to his place of concealment, and 
 more difficult still to obtain an answer from him ; but I 
 will endeavour to regulate that matter for you ; and that 
 is all I can do for you at present." 
 
 The Archdruid then instructed him thus: — "Take," 
 said he, " yonder little shaggy steed, and mount him 
 immediately ; for in those days the bird will make him- 
 self visible, and the little shaggy steed will conduct you 
 to his place of abode. But lest the bird should refuse to 
 reply to your queries, take this precious stone {leag 
 longmhar), and present it to him ; and then little danger 
 and doubt exists but he will give you a ready answer." 
 The prince retui'ned heartfelt thanks to the Druid ; and, 
 having saddled and mounted the little shaggy horse with- 
 out making much delay, received the precious stone from 
 the Druid, and, after having taken his leave of him, set 
 out on his journey. He suffered the reins to fall loose 
 upon the neck of the horse, according as he had been 
 instructed, so that the animal took whatever road he chose. 
 
10 THE STORY OF CONN-EDA. 
 
 It would be tedious to relate the numerous adventures 
 he had with the little shaggy horse, which had the extra- 
 ordinary gift of speech, and was a draoidheacht horse, 
 during his journey. 
 
 The prince having reached the hiding-place of the 
 strange bird at the appointed time, and having presented 
 him with the leag loiigmhar, according to Fionn Badhna's 
 instructions, and proposed his questions relative to the 
 manner he could best arrange for the fulfilment of his 
 geis, the bird took up the jewel from the stone on which 
 it was placed, in his mouth, and flew to an inaccessible 
 rock at some distance, and, when there perched, he thus 
 addressed the prince: — " Conn-eda, son of the king of 
 Cruachan," said he, in a loud croaking human voice, 
 "remove the stone just under your right foot, and take 
 the ball of iron and the coma (cup) you shall find under 
 it; then mount your horse, cast the ball before you, and, 
 having so done, your horse will tell you all the other 
 things necessary to be done." The bird, having said 
 this, immediately flew out of sight. 
 
 Conn-eda took great care to do everything according 
 to the instructions of the bird. He found the iron ball 
 and corna in the place which had been pointed out. He 
 took them up, mounted his horse, and cast the ball before 
 him. The ball rolled on at a regular gait, while the 
 little shaggy horse followed on the way it led, until they 
 reached the margin of Loch Erne. Here the ball rolled 
 into the water, and became invisible. "Alight now," 
 said the draoidheacht pony, "and put your hand into 
 mine ear ; take from thence the small bottle of ice (all- 
 heal) and the little wicker basket which you will find 
 there, and remount with speed, for just now your great 
 dangers and difficulties commence." Conn-eda, ever 
 faithful to the kind advice of his draoidheacht pony, did 
 what he had been advised. Having taken tlie basket 
 and bottle of we from the animal's ear, remounted and 
 proceeded on his journey, while the water of the lake 
 appeared only like an atmosphere above his head. When 
 he entered the lake the ball again appeared, and rolled 
 
THE STORY OF CONN-EDA. 1 1 
 
 along until it came to the margin, across which was a 
 causeway, guarded by three frightful serpents; the hissings 
 of the monsters were heard at a great distance, while, on 
 a nearer approach, tlieir yawning mouths and formidable 
 fangs were quite sufficient to terrify the stoutest heart. 
 " Now," said the horse, " open the basket, and cast a 
 piece of the meat you find in it into the mouth of each 
 serpent ; when you have done this, secure yourself in 
 your seat in the best manner you can, so that we may 
 make all due arrangements to pass those draoidheacht 
 peists. Take the pieces of meat you shall find in the 
 basket, and, with a straight hand and well-directed aim, 
 cast one into the mouth of each peist. If you do so 
 unerringly we shall pass them safely, otherwise, we are 
 lost. Conn-eda flung the pieces of meat into the jaws of 
 the serpents with unerring aim. " Bear a benison and 
 victory," said the draoidheacht steed, "for you are a 
 youth that will win and prosper." And, on saying these 
 words, he sprang aloft, and cleared in his leap the river 
 and ford, guarded by the serpents, seven measures beyond 
 the margin. "Are you still mounted. Prince Conn-eda?" 
 asked the steed. " It is only half my exertion to remain 
 so," replied Conn-eda. " I find," said the pony, " that 
 you are a young prince that deserves to succeed, — one 
 danger is now over, but two others still remain." They 
 proceeded onwards after the ball imtil they came in view 
 of a great mountain flaming with fire. " Hold yourself 
 in readiness for another dangerous leap," said the horse. 
 The trembling prince had no answer to make, but seated 
 himself as secure as the magnitude of the danger before 
 him would permit. The horse in the next instant sprung 
 from the earth, and flew like an arrow over the burning 
 mountain. "Are you still alive, Conn-eda, son of Conn- 
 more?" inquired the faithful horse. "I am just alive, 
 and no more, for I am greatly scorched," answered the 
 prince. "Since you are yet alive, I feel assured that you 
 are a young man destined to meet supernatural success 
 and benisons," said the druidic steed. "Our greatest 
 dangers are over," added he, " and there is hope that we 
 
12 THE STORY OF CONN- EDA. 
 
 shall be able to overcome the next, and last danger." 
 After they proceeded a short distance, his faithful steed, 
 addressing Conn-eda, said, "alight now, and apply a 
 portion of the contents of the little bottle of ice to your 
 wounds.'' The prince immediately followed the advice 
 of his monitor; and, as soon as he rubbed the ice (all- 
 heal) to his wounds, he became as whole and fresh as 
 ever he had been before. After having done this, Conn- 
 eda remounted, and, following the track of the ball, soon 
 came in sight of a great city surrounded by high walls. 
 The only gate which was visible was not defended by- 
 armed men, but by two great towers, which emitted 
 flames that could be seen at a great distance. "Alight 
 on this plain," said the steed, "and take a small knife 
 from my other ear; with this knife you shall kill and 
 flay me. When you have done this, envelope yourself 
 in my hide, and you can pass the gate unscathed and 
 unmolested. When you get inside you can come out at 
 pleasure; because, when once you enter, there is no danger, 
 and you can pass and repass whenever you wish ; and 
 let me tell you that all I have to ask of you, in return for 
 any little service I may have rendered you, is that you, 
 when once you get inside of the gates, will immediately 
 return, and drive away any birds of prey that may be 
 fluttering around to feed on my carcass, and more, that 
 you will pour any little drop of that powerful ice, if such 
 still remain in the bottle, upon my flesh, to preserve it 
 from corruption. When you do this in memory of me, 
 if it be not too troublesome, dig a pit and cast my remains 
 into it." 
 
 " Well," said Conn-eda, " my noblest steed, because 
 you have been so faithful to me hitherto, and because I 
 had the pleasure, as well as the happiness, to meet with 
 you, and you still would have rendered me further service, 
 I consider such a proposal insulting to my feelings as a 
 man, and totally at variance with the spirit which can 
 feel the value of gratitude, not to speak of my feelings as 
 a prince. You, that propose to sacrifice your life for my 
 welfare and benefit, — what a horrid revolting proposal 
 
THE STORY OF CONN-EDA. 13 
 
 your good nature prompts you to make, — a proposal 
 which shall never be sanctioned by me, much less its 
 details be carried into execution. Ah, you, who have 
 been my dearest companion, faithful friend and infallible 
 counsellor, to demand such a sacrifice at my hands ! But 
 as a prince I am able to say 'come what may, — come 
 death itself in its most hideous forms and terrors, — I 
 never will sacrifice private friendship to personal interest, 
 no matter, what the urgencies or provocations may be/ 
 Hence I am, I swear by my arms of valour, prepared to 
 meet the worst, — even death itself, — sooner than violate 
 the principles of humanity, honour and friendship ! My 
 life, in corroboration of what I state as a prince and a 
 hero, shall be sacrificed before I will lay a single finger 
 upon my noble steed and counsellor, to injure his life. 
 Come, death, come in your most hideous forms, and 
 you will find what an Irish prince, filled with grateful 
 feelings, can endure, with not only patience, but cheer- 
 fulness ! Well, let me say, your death would lead me to 
 victory. But what would that victory be but a triumph 
 over a weak woman ? What a sacrifice you propose ! " 
 " Pshaw, man ! heed not that : do what I advise you, 
 and prosper." "Never! never!" exclaimed the prince. 
 " Well, then, son of the great western monarch," said 
 the horse, with a tone of sorrow, " if you do not follow 
 my advice on this occasion, I can tell you that both you 
 and I shall perish, and shall never meet again ; but, if 
 you act as I have instructed you, matters shall assume a 
 happier and more pleasing aspect than you may imagine. 
 I have not misled you heretofore, and if I have not, what 
 need have you to doubt the most important portion of 
 my counsel ? Do exactly as I have directed you, else 
 you will cause a worse fate than death to befall me. 
 And, moreover, I can tell you that, if you persist in your 
 resolution, I have done with you for ever." 
 
 When the prince found that his noble steed could not 
 be dissuaded from his purpose, he took the knife out of 
 his ear with reluctance, and with a faltering mind and 
 trembling hand, essayed experimentally to point the 
 
14 THE STORY OF CONN-EDA. 
 
 weapon at his throat. Conn-eda's eyes were bathed in 
 tears; but no sooner had he pointed the druidic scian to 
 the throat of his good steed, than the dagger, as if 
 impelled by some druidic power, stuck in his neck, and 
 in an instant the work of death was done, and the noble 
 animal fell dead at his feet ! When the prince saw his 
 noble steed fall dead by his hand, he cast himself on the 
 ground, and cried aloud until his consciousness was gone. 
 When he recovered, he perceived that the steed was quite 
 dead; and, as he thought there was no room left for hope 
 of resuscitating him, he considered it the most prudent 
 course he could adopt, to act according to the advice he 
 had given him. After many misgivings of mind, and 
 abundant showers of tears, he essayed the task of flaying 
 him, which was that of only a few minutes. When he 
 found he had the hide separated from the carrion, he, in 
 the derangement of the moment, enveloped himself with 
 it, and proceeding towards the magnificent city in rather 
 a demented state of mind, entered it without any moles- 
 tation or opposition. It was a surprizingly populous 
 city, and an extremely wealthy place ; but its beauty, 
 magnificence, and wealth had no charm for Conn-eda, 
 because the thoughts of the loss he sustained in his dear 
 steed were paramount to those of all other earthly con- 
 siderations. 
 
 He had scarcely proceeded more than fifty paces from 
 the gate, until the last request of his beloved draoidheacht 
 steed forced itself upon his mind, and compelled him to 
 return to perform the last solemn injunction imposed 
 upon him. When he came to the spot upon which the 
 remains of his beloved draoidheacht steed lay, an appalling 
 sight presented itself: ravens and other carnivorous birds 
 of prey were tearing and devouring the flesh of his dear 
 steed. It was but short work to put them to flight; and, 
 having uncorked his little jar of ice, he deemed it a labour 
 of love to embalm the now mangled carrion with the 
 precious ointment. The potent ice had scarcely touched 
 the inanimate flesh, when, to the surprize of Conn-eda, it 
 commenced to undergo some strange change, and in a 
 
THE STORY OF CONN-EDA. - 15 
 
 few minutes, to his unspeakable astonishment and in- 
 expressible joy J it assumed the form of one of the 
 handsomest and noblest young men imaginable, and, in 
 the twinkling of an eye, the prince was locked in his 
 embrace, smothering him with kisses, and drowning him 
 with tears of joy. When one recovered from his ecstasy 
 of joy, and the other from his surprize, the strange youth 
 thus addressed the prince : — " Most noble and puissant 
 prince, you. are the best sight I ever saw with my eyes, 
 and I the most fortunate being in existence for having 
 met you I Behold in my person, changed to the natural 
 shape, your little shaggy draoidheacht steed ! I am brother 
 of the king of this city ; and it was the wicked Druid, 
 Fionn Badhna, who kept me so long in bondage ; but 
 he was forced to give me up when you came to consult 
 him, as my geis was then broken ; yet I could not 
 recover my pristine shape and appearance, unless you had 
 acted as you have kindly done. It was my own sister 
 that urged the queen, your stepmother, to send you in 
 quest of the steed and powerful puppy hound, which my 
 brother has long had in keeping. My sister, rest assured, 
 had no thought of doing you the least injury, but much 
 good, as you shall find hereafter ; because, if she were 
 maliciously inclined towards you, she could have accom- 
 plished her end without any trouble. In short, she only 
 wanted to free you from all future danger and disaster, 
 and recover me from my relentless enemies, through your 
 instrumentality. Come with me, my friend and deliverer, 
 and the steed, and the puppy hound of extraordinary 
 powers, and the golden apples, shall be thine, and a 
 cordial welcome shall greet you in my brother's abode ; 
 for you deserve all this, and much more." 
 
 The exciting joy felt on the occasion was mutual, and 
 they lost no time in idle congratulations, but proceeded 
 on to the royal residence of the king of Loch Erne. Here 
 they were both received with demonstrations of joy by 
 the king and his chieftains; and, when the purport of 
 Conn-eda's visit became known to the king, he gave a 
 free consent to bestow on Conn-eda the black steed, the 
 
16 THE STORY OF CONN-EDA. 
 
 coilean con na mbuadh, called Samer, and the three 
 golden apples of health that were growing in his garden, 
 under the special condition, however, that he would con- 
 sent to remain as his guest until he would set out on his 
 journey, in proper time to fulfil his geis. Conn-eda, at 
 the earnest solicitation of his friends, consented, and 
 remained in the royal residence of the Firbolg king of 
 Loch Erne, in the enjoyment of the most delicious and 
 fascinating pleasures during that period. 
 
 When the time of his departure came, the three golden 
 apples were plucked from the crystal tree in the midst 
 of the pleasure garden, and deposited in his bosom ; the 
 puppy hound, Samer, was leashed, and the leash put into 
 his hand ; and the black steed, richly harnessed, was got 
 in readiness for him to mount. The king himself helped 
 him on horseback, and both he and his brother assured 
 him that he might not fear burning mountains or hissing 
 serpents, because none would impede him, as his steed was 
 a passport to and from his subaqueous kingdom at every 
 time. And both he and liis brother extorted a promise 
 from Conn-eda, that he would visit them once every year, 
 at least. 
 
 Conn-eda took his leave of his dear friend, and the 
 king, his brother ; the parting was a tender one, soured 
 by regret on both sides. He proceeded on his way, 
 without meeting anything to obstruct him, and, in due 
 time, came in sight of the dun of his father, where the 
 queen had been placed on the pinnacle of the tower, in 
 the full hope that, as it was the last day of her imprison- 
 ment there, the prince would fail to make his appearance, 
 and thereby forfeit all pretensions and right to the crown 
 of his father for ever. But her hopes were doomed to 
 meet a disappointment ; for when it had been announced 
 to her by her couriers, who had been posted to watch 
 the arrival of the prince, that he approached, slie was 
 incredulous ; but when she saw him mounted upon a 
 foaming black steed, richly harnessed, and leading a 
 strange kind of animal of the dog kind by a silver chain, 
 she at once knew he was returning in triumph, and that 
 
THE STORY OF CONN-EDA. 17 
 
 her schemes laid for his destruction were frustrated. In 
 the excess of grief at her disappointment, she cast herself 
 from the top of the tower, and was instantly dashed in 
 pieces. Conn-eda met a welcome reception from his 
 father, who mourned for him as lost to him for ever, 
 during his absence ; and when the base conduct of the 
 queen became known, the king and his chieftains ordered 
 her remains to be consumed to ashes, for her perfidy and 
 wickedness. 
 
 Conn-eda planted the three golden apples in his garden, 
 and instantly a great tree, bearing similar fruit, sprung 
 up. This tree caused all the district to produce an 
 exuberance of crops and fruits, so that it became as 
 fertile and plentiful as the dominions of the Firbolgs, in 
 consequence of the extraordinary powers possessed by 
 the golden fruit. The hound, Samer, and the steed, were 
 of the utmost utility to him ; and his reign was long and 
 prosperous, and celebrated among the old people for the 
 great abundance of corn, fruit, milk, fowl and fish that 
 prevailed during this happy reign. It was after the 
 name of Conn-eda the province of Connacht, or Conn- 
 eda, Connacht, was so called. 
 
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