General Notes

115th King of Ireland

King of Tara; father of Cairpre. [GRS 3.03, Automated Archives, CD#100]  Also called Cormac MacNess and Cormac Ulfada - "Longbeard" and "the Magnificent"; 115th Kin g of Ireland; said to be the wisest and most learned of the descendants of Eermon. Cormac wa s considered a god king by some and recorded to be a christian by others; he d. by choking o n a salmon bone; son of Airt Eanfhear, 112th king of Ireland; father of Carby Lifeachain, 117 th king of Ireland. [The Genealogy of the Royal Family O'Nei  Son of King Arb Aonflier; father of King Caibre Liffeachair; reigned 40 years. [Annie Natalel li-Waloszek

Event: Fact Known as "Cormac, the Long Beard." 2 1 Event: Fact AKA Cormac Mac Art signifying Cormac the son of Airt. 2 1 Event: Fact He ordained good laws, wrote several learned treatistes, one on Kingly Government. 1 Event: Fact He was the wisest, most learned, and best of any of the Milesian race before him to rule the Kingdom. 1 Event: Fact Magnificent in his housekeeping, hving always 1150 persons to attend the Great Hall at Tara, 300 feet long, 30 cubits high, 50 cubits broad, with 14 doors to it. 1 Event: Fact May have been enlightened by the Holy Spirit in the truths of Christianity. 3 1 Event: Fact 226 115th Monarch of Ireland 1 Religion: BET 259 AND 266 Christianity, last seven years of his life

He was the wisest, most learned, and best of nay of the Milesian race before him, that ruled the Kingdom. He ordained several good laws; wrote several learned treatises, among which his treatise on "Kingly Government," directed to his son Carbry Liffechar, is extant and extraordinary.  He was very magnificent in his housekeeping and attendants, having always 1150 person in his daily retinue constantly attending at his Great Hall at Tara; which was 300 feet long, 30 cubits high, and 50 cubits broad, with 14 doors to it. His daily service of plate, flagons, drinking cups of gold, silver, and precious stone, at his table, ordinarily consisted of 150 pieces, besides dishes, etc., which were all pure silver or gold. He ordained that ten choice persons should constantly attend him and his successors -- Monarchs of Ireland, and never to be absent from him, viz. --  1. A nobleman to be his companion; 2. A judge to deliver and explain the laws of the country in the King's presence upon all occasions; 3. An antiquary or historiographer to declare and preserve the genealogies, acts, and occurrences of the nobility and gentry from time to time as occasion required; 4. A Druid or Magician to offer sacrifice, and presage good or bad omens, as his learning, skill, or knowledge would enable him; 5. A poet to praise or dispraise every one according to his good or bad actions; 6. A physician to administer physic to the king and queen, and to the rest of the (royal) family; 7. A musician to compose music, and sing pleasant sonnets in the King's presence when thereunto disposed; and 8, 9, and 10. three Stewards to govern the King's House in all things appertaining thereunto.  This custom was observed by all the succeeding Monarchs down to Brian Boromha, the 175th Monarch of Ireland, and 60th down from Cormac, without any alteration only that since they received the Christian Faith they changed the Druid or Magician for a Prelate of the Church.  What is besides delivered from antiquity of this great Monarch is, that (which among the truly wise is more valuable than any worldly magnificence or secular glory whatsoever) he was to all mankind very just, and so upright in his actions, judgments, and laws, that God revealed unto him the light of His Faith seven years before his death; and from thenceforward he refused his Druids to worship their idol-gods, and openly professed he would no more worship any but the true God of the Universe, the Immortal and Invisible King of Ages. Whereupon the Druids sought his destruction, which they soon after effected (God permitting it) by their adjurations and ministry of damned spirits choking him as he sat at dinner eating of salmon, some say by a bone of the fish sticking in his throat, AD 266, after he had reigned forty years.  He died at Cleitach, on the Boyne. Before his death he gave directions that, instead of at Brugh, a famous burial place of the Irish pre-Christian kings, he should be buried in Ross-na-Ri near Slane -- both in the county of Meath; and that his face should be towards the East -- through respect for the Savior of the World, whom he knew to have been there born and crucified.