King Conchabar Mac Nessa

Princess Nessa of the Ulaid, daughter of King Eochaid Sálbuide is wandering deep in the forest when she comes across the druid Cathbad. She asks him “What’s good today Cathbad?” To which the famous druid replies with a flash of fire in his eyes, “It is a good day to conceive a king.”

And so they do.

Her 12 foster fathers now owe her family for allowing this. Nessa loved her foster fathers and was well loved and protected until now. And tied to a druid no less. Ness is brought to her father the king with the news and the Brehon declares the payback. The foster fathers fight with a group of the King's ‘’fianna’’(warriors) and are killed by them in the battle.

Nessa asks for a ''fianna'' of her own to track the father of her soon to be born child. Her pregnancy hormones and growing vulnerability have made her become less than gentle - ‘Ní-assa’ he calls her and agrees that Cathbad should pay his geas for making the child. They are camped by the lake. Nessa goes off to bathe when her druid lover Cathbad appears. He agrees to take care of her throughout the pregnancy and to deliver the child as price.

King Eochaid gives the couple land in Crích Rois near the river Conchobar.

While visiting the High King Fergus of Erui, Nessa goes into labour on the bank of the river. Cathbad says if she can wait until the following day the child will be born under an auspicious sign. All night Nessa labours for her child to be blessed by the stars. Some wolves in the distance howl with her as she sits in agony, the cool turf easing the heat of the pain. At the first sign of sunrise she enters the water to push the child into the world. Cathbad delivers his son in the river and they name the child after the river and its wolves. Cathbad holds his child and blesses him saying "my son and my grandson” which wishes the child much luck and good fortune for succession. He takes his mothers name Conchobar mac Nessa as Cathbad is to leave shortly after to return to his druidical life in the forest.

Some years later the king of Ulster seeking more land approaches Ness for marriage and she consents as long as he protects her son. She suggests that he spend time with her son for a year and honour him in the greatest way possible. To show his trust and fidelity he is to make her son King for a year. King Fergus consults with his nobles and they advise him that the boy will be king in name only, so he agreed.

King Conchobar advised by his loving, gregarious mother Nessa, is so generous in distributing money and possessions that the Ulstermen vote to keep him in the Kingship.