THE
DECISION TO INVADE MUNSTER
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It had been prophetised by Aonghus that a disastrous
cattle disease would occur during the reign
of Cormac Mac Airt.
The
year of the Cattle disease Cormac collected
all his taxes and tributes due from the five
provinces of Ireland. This amounted to almost
900 cows. He distributed the tribute generously.
When his own herds died from the disease, he
had no provisions for his own people. Cormac
would have no revenue until the following year.
It would be an unfit king who could not provide
hospitality for his people.
Cormac
decided to ask the men of Munster for more tribute
and taxes.
His reasoning was that there were five provinces
in Ireland and two of those were in Munster,
but taxes were collected from only one province.
Also, a Munsterman, Fiachra’s brother, had killed
Cormac’s father in the Battle of Ma Mucraimhe
and Cormac would seek compensation for his death
from Fiachra, King of Munster. Fiacha's father
was killed on the same day in the same battle.
Cormac sent messengers to Fiachra at Cnoc Rafann,
close to Cahir to ask for tribute. The men of
Munster assembled and decided they would not
pay the tribute, but that they would assist
Cormac, the High King of Ireland, in his hour
of need, by giving cattle.
Again Cormac demanded the tribute and compensation
for the death of his father.
Again the Munstermen refused to pay tribute
but offered assistance.
They knew that Cormac would not accept this
final offer and they prepared for Cormac’s army
to invade Munster.
Fiachra called on the fighting men of Munster
to gather together at Ceann Chláire/ Ceann Abhrat
/ Sliabh Riabhach /Glenbrohane mountain, for
the defence of Munster.
Cormac
collected an army from three provinces and prepared
to invade Munster.
Cormac
realised that this would be the time of disaster
that Aonghus had prophetised.
Cormac
called his druids to examine the omens for the
expedition.
He had five chief druids, Ceathach, Cith Mór,
Céacht, Crotha, Cith Rua.
They examined the omens and told Cormac that
the invasion of Munster would be a disaster
for him.
Cormac was warned by the Druids that his claims
were unjust and that the army would be slaughtered.
He ignored all advice.
The fairy queen Báirinn Bhláith Bhairche, promised
to give him five fairy druids to help in his
expedition to Munster, Colpa and Lorga, Eirge,
Eang and Eangain.
Colpa and Lorga, could kill all warriors in
single combat and no-one could injure them.
The three women druids Eirge, Eang and Eangain
who were equal to a hundred warriors. They took
the form of three brown sheep. No-one could
escape from them alive.
Cormac
was delighted and set out on his expedition.
The army would not return for a year, a month
and a week.
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