Mess Búachalla, meaning 'the cow-herder's foundling', in
Irish mythology, is the mother of the
High King Conaire Mór. Her origins are somewhat confused. In the tale
Tochmarc Étaíne she is the daughter of the High King
Eochu Airem and his own daughter, whom he slept with after being fooled into believing she was her mother
Étaín (in the
Banshenchas Eochu and Étaín's daughter is named as Esa). In
Togail Bruidne Dá Derga, she is the daughter of Eochu's brother
Eochu Feidlech and Étaín herself. Because of her incestuous conception her father orders her exposed, but she is found and brought up by a herdsman and his wife. She grows up to be very beautiful, and is forcibly married by the High King
Eterscél. One night, in Eterscél's house, she is visited by an unknown man who flies in her skylight in the form of a bird, and she has his son, Conaire Mór, who is brought up as Eterscél's son.