# Cormac mac Art — Irish Fairy Tales character guide

> Cormac mac Art in Irish Fairy Tales by James Stephens.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Cormac, Art, young Art

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

## Snapshot

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

## Who they are

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.

## Relationships

### [Becuma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/characters/becuma)

_romantic_

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

### [Becuma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/characters/becuma)

_romantic_

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

### [Becuma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/characters/becuma)

_romantic_

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

## In the story

### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/xi)

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

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

Presides as king, questions the evidence, disagrees with Flahri's judgement, and ultimately agrees to the compromise.

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

Son of Conn, later involved in the quest.

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

Art, son of Conn, is mentioned as part of Conn's adventure.

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

Art is mentioned as the son Conn is asked to banish for a year.

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

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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/viii)

Referred to as Art, the young prince and son of the king, who is targeted by Becuma.

### [Art's Quest for Delvcaem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/ix)

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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/x)

Son of the Ard-Rí, undergoes trials in the Many-Coloured Land, defeats Morgan and Dog Head, rescues Delvcaem.

## Links

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