Cormac Ulfhada mac Airt
Abt 190 - 266 (~ 76 years)
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Name Cormac Ulfhada mac Airt Born Abt 190 Ireland 
Gender Male Died 266 Tara, Meath, Ireland Person ID I145 Brown Genealogy Last Modified 22 Aug 2024
Father Airt Aoinfhear, b. Abt 140, Ireland , d. 195 (Age ~ 55 years) Relationship natural Mother Maedhbh Leathdearg, b. Abt 160, Ireland , d. UNKNOWN Relationship natural Family ID F13 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family Eithne ingen Dunlong, b. Abt 200, Ireland , d. UNKNOWN Children 1. Cairbre Lifeachar, b. Abt 220, Tara, Meath, Ireland , d. 284, Battle of Gabhra, Ireland (Age ~ 64 years) [natural]2. Muireadach mac Cormac, b. Abt 222, Tara, Meath, Ireland , d. UNKNOWN [natural]3. Moghruith mac Cormac, b. Abt 225, Tara, Meath, Ireland , d. UNKNOWN [natural]4. Ceallach mac Cormac, b. Abt 228, Tara, Meath, Ireland , d. UNKNOWN [natural]5. Daire mac Cormac, b. Abt 230, Tara, Meath, Ireland , d. UNKNOWN [natural]6. Aongus Fionn mac Cormac, b. Abt 232, Tara, Meath, Ireland , d. UNKNOWN [natural]7. Grania ingen Cormac, b. Abt 234, Tara, Meath, Ireland , d. UNKNOWN [natural]8. Ailbh ingen Cormac, b. Abt 236, Tara, Meath, Ireland , d. UNKNOWN [natural]Last Modified 22 Aug 2024 Family ID F32 Group Sheet | Family Chart
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Notes - Cormac was one of the most famous of the ancient Ard Righean (High Kings) of Ireland. He was called "Ulfhada" = "long beard". He was described as "the wisest, most learned, and best of any of his race before him that ruled the Kingdom of Ireland. He ordained several good laws, wrote several learned treatises, among which his treatise on Kingly Government, directed to his son, Cairbre, is extant and extraordinary. He was very magnificent in his housekeeping and attendants, having always 1150 persons 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 fourteen doors to it. His daily service of plate, flagons, drinking cups of gold, silver, and precious stones, 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 constant attend him and his successors, as High Kings of Ireland, and never to be absent from him. These were to include: a nobleman to be his companion; a judge to deliver and explain the laws to the country in the King's presence upon all occasions; an antiquary or historiographer to declare and preserve the genealogies, acts and occurances of the nobility and gentry from time to time as occasion required [note the anachronistic titles]; a druid or magician to offer sacrifice and presage good or bad omens as his learning, skill, or knowledge would enable him; a poet to praise or dispariase every one according to his good or bad actions; a physician to adminsiter physic to the king and queen, and to the rest of the royal family; a musician to compose music and sing pleasant sonnets in the king's presence; and three stewards to govern the king's house in all things appertaining thereunto. This custom was observed by all the succeeding High Kings down to Brian Boramhu, without any alteration only that since they received the Christian faith they changed the druid for a prelate of the Church."
He is claimed to have converted to Christianity seven years before his death, and was said to have banished his druids thereafter. It is said that his banished druids then conjured against him and caused him to choke on a fish bone and die in 266 in the 40th year of his reign.
He is reported to have had ten daughters, only two of whom are known.
- Cormac was one of the most famous of the ancient Ard Righean (High Kings) of Ireland. He was called "Ulfhada" = "long beard". He was described as "the wisest, most learned, and best of any of his race before him that ruled the Kingdom of Ireland. He ordained several good laws, wrote several learned treatises, among which his treatise on Kingly Government, directed to his son, Cairbre, is extant and extraordinary. He was very magnificent in his housekeeping and attendants, having always 1150 persons 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 fourteen doors to it. His daily service of plate, flagons, drinking cups of gold, silver, and precious stones, 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 constant attend him and his successors, as High Kings of Ireland, and never to be absent from him. These were to include: a nobleman to be his companion; a judge to deliver and explain the laws to the country in the King's presence upon all occasions; an antiquary or historiographer to declare and preserve the genealogies, acts and occurances of the nobility and gentry from time to time as occasion required [note the anachronistic titles]; a druid or magician to offer sacrifice and presage good or bad omens as his learning, skill, or knowledge would enable him; a poet to praise or dispariase every one according to his good or bad actions; a physician to adminsiter physic to the king and queen, and to the rest of the royal family; a musician to compose music and sing pleasant sonnets in the king's presence; and three stewards to govern the king's house in all things appertaining thereunto. This custom was observed by all the succeeding High Kings down to Brian Boramhu, without any alteration only that since they received the Christian faith they changed the druid for a prelate of the Church."