Conall Eachluaith was a king of Munster in the 4th century. He was educated with King Crimthann, and was placed by him on the throne of Munster, a vacancy having occurred in the succession. It was pointed out by the chieftains that to Corc rightfully belonged the succession, and Conall referred the matter to arbitration, though he had the power of maintaining himself by force of arms. The umpires decided that Core had the present right to the throne, but that Conall or his heirs should succeed him, in accordance with the rule of alternate succession as arranged by Oilill Olum. Core lived but a short time, and Conall re-entered on the sovereignty, having gained the love and respect of all by his generous conduct. 171 196
Concanen, Matthew, a miscellaneous writer, was born in Ireland, probably the end of the 17th century. He early went over to London, and commenced writing as an advocate of the Government, and for the newspapers, especially the Speculatist. His brilliant abilities recommended him to the Duke of Newcastle, who in 1732 procured for him the Attorney-Generalship of Jamaica, a post he held for nearly seventeen years. He published a volume of miscellaneous poems, original and translated, and was the author of a comedy, Wexford Wells. Concanen died in London in 1749. Allibone says: "He is principally remembered by the celebrated letter of Warburton concerning him, and by his position in the Dunciad—his reward for attacking Pope." 16 35 42
Connlaid, Saint, first Bishop of Kildare. He was induced to leave his cell, situated "in the south part of the plains of Liffey," at the instance of St. Bridget, to administer the rites of the Church in her establishment at Kildare. He is styled also her artificer. According to the Martyrology of Donegal, "Roincenn was his first name. He was of the race of Laeghaire Lore." He died in 519, and was buried on the right of the altar in Kildare Cathedral. His festival is the 3rd of May. 119 234
Connor, Bernard, M.D., was born in Kerry in 1666. He studied medicine in Paris. Two fellow-students, sons of the Polish Chancellor, induced him to visit Poland, where he was appointed physician to the king, John Sobieski. In 1694 he followed the Electress of Bavaria to Brussels as her physician; and in 1695 he went to England, where he abjured Catholicism and took up his residence at Oxford. The publication of some medical treatises brought him much reputation, and he was elected member of the College of Surgeons and Fellow of the Royal Society. About 1697 he published his History of Poland, a work that attracted much attention to that country. He died in 1698, at the early age of 32, having latterly devoted himself to the practice of his profession in London. In his Medicina Mystica was an attempt to explain the miracles related in the New Testament by ascribing them to the agency of natural causes. 16 42 339
Conor MacNessa, King of Ulster, flourished in the 1st century. His mother, Nessa, married Fergus MacRoigh, King of Ulster, on condition that her son should reign for one year. At the expiration of that period, the people had become so attached to him, and his father-in-law was so impressed by the wisdom of his counsels, that he was permitted to occupy the throne of Ulster. A mythical story is told of how in battle with the Connaught clans he was wounded by a magic ball of lime and human brains. It remained embedded in his forehead, and his physicians declared that the least excitement would cause the ball to drop out, and death to ensue. With the utmost difficulty his life was prolonged for a few years; and we are told that his death was caused in the end by his agitation on hearing the narrative of the Crucifixion—the ball fell out of his forehead, and he died immediately. He extended the limits of Ulster, and instituted the Red Branch Knights. We meet his name continually throughout the heroic period of Irish history, and incidents in his life have been strikingly illustrated by Ferguson, Sullivan, and other modern poets. One of Ferguson's most beautiful poems is "The Abdication of Fergus Mac-Roy." [See Fergus MacRoigh.] 260 339
Conroy, Florence, an ecclesiastic, was born in Galway in 1560. At an early age he was sent to college in the Netherlands, and afterwards to Spain, where he entered the Franciscan order, and distinguished himself as a student of St. Augustine's works. His defence of the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception enhanced his fame, and attracted the notice of Philip II. In 1588, he was appointed Provincial of the Franciscans in Ireland, and embarked in the Spanish Armada. We have no particulars of his adventures in that expedition, although he wrote a tract in reference to it, Feregrinus Jerichontinus. In 1593 he published in Irish a translation of a Spanish work, A Christian Instruction. In 1602 he met Hugh Roe O'Donnell, and acted as his chaplain during the last hours of that chieftain at Simancas, follow-
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