Conganchnes mac Dedad facts for kids

Conganchnes was a powerful hero from ancient Irish legends. His name means "the horny-skin" in the Irish language. He was known for his incredibly tough skin, which made him almost impossible to defeat in battle. Even though he was a great warrior, the legends say he was eventually killed, not that he killed the main hero. He was the son of either Dedu mac Sin or Cú Roí.

Conganchnes: The Hero with Tough Skin

Conganchnes traveled to the land of Ulster. He went there to get revenge for the death of his nephew, Cú Roí. As he journeyed, he caused a lot of damage to the land. No one could stop him because his skin was as hard as horn. This tough skin made swords and spears bounce right off him.

The Challenge for Ulster

The king of Ulster, Conchobar mac Nessa, was worried. He asked his own hero, Celtchar, to find a way to defeat the mighty Conganchnes. Celtchar agreed to take on this difficult task.

The Clever Plan to Defeat Him

Celtchar came up with a very smart plan. He sent his own daughter, Níab, to meet Conganchnes. Níab was told to gain his trust. She offered him huge feasts, enough for a hundred men, every single afternoon.

How Níab Found His Weakness

Níab soon became close to Conganchnes. She asked him how he could possibly be killed. Conganchnes trusted her and told her his secret. He said that red-hot metal spits had to be pushed into the soles of his feet. Then, they had to be pushed all the way up into his shins.

Níab quickly told her father, Celtchar, everything she had learned. She also told him to prepare a special sleeping spell. She advised him to gather a very large army as well.

The Final Battle

Celtchar followed Níab's instructions exactly. The men quietly approached Conganchnes while he was under the sleeping spell. They pushed the hot metal spits into the soles of his feet. The spits went deep, right into the bones of his shins. That is how the powerful Conganchnes finally died.

See also

• Gangani, a group of people mentioned by an ancient writer named Ptolemy.