Scéla Conchobair facts for kids

"Scéla Conchobair maic Nessa" (say "Skella Kon-ko-bar mik Nessa"), also known as the "Tidings of Conchobar mac Nessa," is an old Irish story. It's part of a collection of tales called the Ulster Cycle, which tells exciting stories about heroes and kings from ancient Ireland. This particular story was written down a long time ago, in a book from the 1100s called the Book of Leinster. It shares special details about the different parts of King Conchobar's court in a place called Emain Macha and even describes the shields of his warriors.

What is the Story About?

This story is found right after a very famous tale called the Táin Bó Cúailnge in the Book of Leinster. It's listed among other stories about King Conchobar, the hero Cú Chulainn, and other important figures.

How King Conchobar Came to Be

The first part of "Scéla Conchobair maic Nessa" tells how King Conchobar was born. Because of this, some people also call it a version of the "Compert Conchobair," which means "The Conception of Conchobar." Other experts see it as a different version of the story about "How Conchobar became King of Ulster."

The Three Halls of King Conchobar

A cool part of this story describes the three main halls, or "branches," in King Conchobar's court. Each hall had a special purpose:

• Croebrúad (say "Kroyv-roo-ad"): This was the main palace hall. It's where the Ulstermen, King Conchobar's warriors and nobles, gathered. It was like their main meeting place and feasting hall.
• Téite Brecc (say "Tay-te Brek"): This hall was like a giant storage room for valuable items. It held all the weapons, shields, and fancy goblets. Think of it as the royal armory and treasure room.
• Croibderg (say "Kroyv-derg"): This hall was where the heads of defeated enemies and other war prizes were kept. It showed off the victories of the Ulstermen.

The Shields of the Ulstermen

The story also lists eighteen shields belonging to the Ulstermen. The most important one is the Ochain shield, which belonged to King Conchobar himself. It can be a bit tricky to figure out exactly who some of the other shields belonged to, because the story doesn't always give full names or nicknames for the warriors.

Calling Everyone's Attention

The tale also mentions a huge ale or wine vat called "Ol n-guala." It talks about a special rod with apples or balls on it. This rod was used to get everyone's attention when there was something important to announce to the crowd. You can find similar descriptions in other old Irish stories, like the "Tochmarc Emer."

A Note on Translations

Sometimes, this story is included as an introduction in modern translations of "The Táin." This can be a little confusing because the version of "The Táin" used in those translations might be different from the one found in the Book of Leinster, where "Scéla Conchobair maic Nessa" originally appears.