He came to the throne on the death of Cormac mac Airt. A story about Cormac mac Airt refers to his eldest son as his tanist. A castle ruin and a famine mass stone is situated in Baile Mhic Airt lower. Mac Airt was born in Belfast in April 1922. Mac Airt died in 1992 at the age of 69. Mac Con takes Cormac mac Airt as his foster son, and rules for seven years. Mac Airt was later interned during the Irish Republican Army's Border Campaign of 1956-1962.