The Siege of Knocklong/Forbhais Droma Damhghaire Book

Originally part of The Book of Lismore this ancient Irish epic (which could be called the Tain of Munster) is a marvelous story of magic and fantasy, political influence and vengeance, with a wealth of place-names and curious traditions. The story concerns the march of the high-king Cormac MacAirt, his army and druids from Tara into Munster for the purpose of forcing Fiacha, king of Munster, to pay taxes. A series of encounters take place in which the Munstermen suffer terrible defeats - not through any lack of military ability but through the superior magic of Cormac's druids and druidesses. The situation becomes critical when the druids dry up the wells and Fiacha's men are reduced to shadows of their former selves. At this point Fiacha is obliged to agree to the humiliating conditions imposed by Cormac until the great Munster druid Mogh Roith comes to his aid.