Irish Fairy Tales · Character

Cormac mac Art

The High King of Tara whose court is the arena where Fionn and Goll bring their feud for judgement.

supporting

Also known as Cormac, Art, young Art

First appearance: Becuma of the White Skin

As a supporting figure in Irish Fairy Tales, Cormac mac Art is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Art, son of Conn, sits at his father's right hand; Fionn is seated beside him.

In the storyXIOpen this moment free

Cormac mac Art presides at Tara with his son Cairbre and daughter Ailve beside him, calling witnesses and weighing the claims of Fionn and Goll after the great brawl. He is the still centre of a violent world, demanding evidence where others want vengeance, and his discomfort at the lopsided death toll pushes the truth into the open. His court is the story's measure of law against the Fianna's private war.

See Cormac mac Art in XI Book page

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Character Web

36 connections

A slice of how Cormac mac Art sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Romantic
Other

Character groups

Core Fianna and rivals
Mythical beings, heroes, and antagonists
Protagonist
Fianna warriors and foes

+31 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the dramatic climax because Duv Laca’s declaration of love and her simultaneous imposition of a year-l…

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Relationships

Becuma
romantic · ambivalent
Becuma is a fairy woman who becomes Cormac's wife, but their union is fraught with… How this plays out →
Becuma
romantic · ambivalent
Becuma is a fairy woman who becomes Cormac's wife, but their union is fraught with… How this plays out →
Becuma
romantic · ambivalent
Becuma is a fairy woman who becomes Cormac's wife, but their union is fraught with… How this plays out →

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Cormac mac Art in Becuma of the White Skin

In the story

Cormac mac Art appears across 9 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

XI
Art, son of Conn, sits at his father's right hand; Fionn is seated beside him.
III
Presides as king, questions the evidence, disagrees with Flahri's judgement, and ultimately agrees to the compromise.
Becuma of the White Skin
Son of Conn, later involved in the quest.
I
Art, son of Conn, is mentioned as part of Conn's adventure.
III
Art is mentioned as the son Conn is asked to banish for a year.
The Banishment of Art
Son of Conn, banished by his father due to Becuma's influence; returns after a year and takes up the quest to find a sinless boy.
VIII
Referred to as Art, the young prince and son of the king, who is targeted by Becuma.
Art's Quest for Delvcaem
Art, son of Cormac, sets out on a quest to find Delvcaem, following his father's earlier journey to the Many-Coloured Land.
Art's Ordeal in the Many-Coloured Land
Son of the Ard-Rí, undergoes trials in the Many-Coloured Land, defeats Morgan and Dog Head, rescues Delvcaem.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Cormac mac Art unlock in the free preview.

See Cormac mac Art in Becuma of the White Skin

See Cormac mac Art in XI