Some of these balls were preserved in the royal palace at Emania.

One, that was specially prized, passed accidentally into the hands of a famous Connaught champion, who found a treacherous opportunity of throwing it at Conor, while he was displaying himself, according to the custom of the times, to the ladies of an opposing army, who had followed their lords to the scene of action.

The ball lodged in the king's skull, and his physicians declared that an attempt to extract it would prove fatal.

Conor was carried home; he soon recovered, but he was strictly forbidden to use any violent exercise, and required to avoid all excitement or anger.

The king enjoyed his usual health by observing those directions, until the very day of the Crucifixion.