Deirdre of the Sorrows, Part I of III

In Irish legend their is none with more woes than that of fair Deirdre of the Sorrows. Here I will recount the legend of Deirdre as I know it, through scouring tons of websites and countless hours of research. Why, you might ask, would I do such a thing? Simply dear reader, for the sheer pleasure of it. Oh that only I were Irish and these legends were my own heritage. But, alas, they are not. Yet I hold tightly to the myths and legends and poetry of ancient Ireland. Among my favorite legend of Ireland is the story of Deirdre (pronounced Deer-Dra), which I will now share with you without further ado! 

When Deirdre was born, it was foretold that she would be the most beautiful woman in all of Ireland. She would be so beautiful, in fact, that where ever she would roam, kings would surely fight over her. King Conchobar mac Nessa, known as king Conor, was king of Ulster. The cycle of legend which recounts his tale with Deirdre is known as the Ulster Cycle or the Red Branch Trilogy.  Red Branch meaning two of his three homes. Well, having heard of this prophesy about Deirdre, King Conor decided that he wanted her for his own and planned to make her his wife.

He had her locked away so no one could see her until she would reach a marriageable age when the two could wed. As was expected, Deirdre grew into a beautiful woman if beautiful can even describe it. She was the greatest beauty of the land, and despite what some may think- she had a head full of blonde hair and enchanting green eyes (though I recently heard a version which states she had red hair, not blonde). Locked away she stayed and it is said that she dreamt of the man she would fall in love with. That man, as you might have guessed already, was not King Conor.

The man she dreamed of showed himself shortly before her marriage to the king. He was Naoise (also called Neesa, Naisi, etc...depending on translation) and was related to King Conor. They met, and depending on which version you read they either fell madly in love or she tricked him. Either way, both of them decided to forsake their beloved Ireland and elope together, leaving their homeland for Alba (present day Scotland) with Naoise's two brothers.

As was predicted, men, warriors, kings- they all fought over her when they seen her. No doubt Naoise and his brothers had their work cut out for them if this be the case! Other versions say that they kept her hidden so no one could die because of her loveliness. Some versions mention that they even had a child together.

Eventually King Conor caught up with them and through his messenger told the couple that he harbored no ill will and wished them to come back to Ireland. King Conor said that they would all have safe passage and no harm would befall any of them should they come home. Naoise decided to take them all back to Ireland in light of the King's declaration. After all, it was his home and King Conor was family who had given him his word. What could happen? This will be answered in Deirdre of the Sorrows Part II of III.

The following is a poem by Flann Fionn in the 12th century, and translated by Samuel Ferguson. It can be found in the book called 1000 Years of Irish Poetry: The Gaelic and Anglo Irish Poets from Pagan Times to the Present by Kathleen Hoagland. Enjoy it Darkly.

Deirdre’s Farewell To Alba

Farewell to dear Alba, high house of the sun,

Farewell to the mountain, the cliff, and the dun;

Dun Sweeny, Adieu! For my love cannot stay,

And tarry I may not when love cries away

Glen Vashan! Glen Vashan! Where roebucks run free,

Where my love use to feast on the red deer with me,

Where rocked on thy waters while stormy winds blew,

My love used to slumber- Glen Vashan, adieu!

Glendaro! Glendaro! Where birchen boughs weep

Honey dew at high noon o’er the nightingale’s sleep,

Where my love used to lead me to hear the cuckoo

‘Mong the high hazel bushes- Glendaro, adieu!

Glen Urchy! Glen Urchy! Where loudly and long,

My love use to wake up the woods with his song,

While the son of the rock, from the depths of the dell,

Laughed sweetly in answer- Glen Urchy, farewell!

Glen Etive! Glen Etive! Where dappled does roam,

Where I leave the green sheeling I first called a home;

Where with me and my true love delighted to dwell,

The sun made his mansion- Glen Etive, farewell!

Farewell to Inch Draynach, adieu to the roar

Of the blue billows bursting in light on the shore;

Dun Fiagh, farewell! For my love cannot stay,

And tarry I may mot when love cries away

I own no copyright to legend, poem, or the artwork used. 

Artwork found at:  http://cdnimg.visualizeus.com/thumbs/5c/6e/animals,architecture,birds,fantasy,forest,illustration-5c6e64883a5802ac0a33d5991f94a220_h.jpg

*Please note that as with any retelling, things may not always be perfectly accurate. Thank you.*

**Edited on Monday, April 9th, 2012**