# Becuma — Irish Fairy Tales character guide

> Becuma in Irish Fairy Tales by James Stephens.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0069-becuma-of-the-white-skin

## Snapshot

A pale Otherworld bride who marries Ireland's king, then turns her wounded pride into a quiet war against his son and the land itself.

## Who they are

Becuma arrives at Tara as Conn's new queen, but her vanity has been bruised by submission, and she rages against Ireland and especially against young Art. She challenges Art to a chess match with stakes, loses deliberately, and binds him to a quest for the wand of Curoi. Her presence poisons the court's peace and sets the story's central pursuit in motion.

## Relationships

### [Cormac mac Art](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/characters/cormac_mac_art)

_romantic_

Becuma is a fairy woman who becomes Cormac's wife, but their union is fraught with jealousy and supernatural intrigue.

### [Cormac mac Art](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/characters/cormac_mac_art)

_romantic_

Becuma is a fairy woman who becomes Cormac's wife, but their union is fraught with jealousy and supernatural intrigue.

### [Cormac mac Art](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/characters/cormac_mac_art)

_romantic_

Becuma is a fairy woman who becomes Cormac's wife, but their union is fraught with jealousy and supernatural intrigue.

## In the story

### [Becuma of the White Skin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/becuma-of-the-white-skin)

A woman of the White Skin from the Otherworld, central to the chapter's events.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/i)

Becuma Cneisgel, daughter of Eogan Inver, is banished from the Many-Coloured Land for running away from her husband Labraid and taking refuge with Gadiar. She arrives at Ben Edair in a coracle.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/iii)

Disguised as Delvcaem, she arrives from the sea, claims to love Art, but manipulates Conn into marrying her and banishing Art.

### [The Banishment of Art](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/iv)

New wife of Conn, identified as Becuma of the White Skin; her presence causes famine, and she is revealed as banished from the Many-Coloured Land.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/vii)

Revealed by Segda's mother as the true cause of Ireland's troubles; her banishment is proposed as the solution.

### [Art's Ordeal in the Many-Coloured Land](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/x)

Banished from Tara by Delvcaem, exiled to Sasana where she becomes queen and fosters rage against the Holy Land.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/characters/becuma
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/characters