Deirdre facts for kids
Deirdre is a famous character from Irish mythology. She is known as a "tragic heroine," which means she is a brave and important woman in a story that ends sadly. People also call her "Deirdre of the Sorrows" because of her sad life. Many people today know Deirdre as one of the most famous figures in Irish legends.
Contents
Deirdre's Story
A Prophecy is Made
Deirdre was the daughter of Fedlimid mac Daill, who was the king's storyteller. Before Deirdre was born, a wise man named Cathbad, who was the chief druid (a kind of priest or magician) for King Conchobar mac Nessa of Ulster, made a prediction. He said that Fedlimid's daughter would grow up to be very beautiful. But he also warned that kings and lords would fight over her, and many people would be hurt because of her. He also said that Ulster's three best warriors would have to leave their home because of her.
When people heard this, many wanted Fedlimid to kill the baby when she was born. But King Conchobar, who was interested in her future beauty, decided to keep the child for himself. He took Deirdre away from her family. He had her raised in a quiet, hidden place by Leabharcham, a poet and wise woman. King Conchobar planned to marry Deirdre when she was old enough.
Falling in Love and Fleeing
One snowy day, when Deirdre was a young girl living alone in the woods, she told Leabharcham what kind of man she would love. She had seen a raven land in the snow with its prey. She said she wanted a man with hair as black as the raven, skin as white as the snow, and cheeks as red as blood.
Leabharcham told her she was describing Naoise. He was a handsome young warrior, hunter, and singer at King Conchobar's court. With Leabharcham's help, Deirdre met Naoise, and they quickly fell in love. Naoise, along with his brothers Ardan and Ainnle, who were also great warriors, ran away with Deirdre to Scotland. They lived happily there, hunting and fishing in beautiful places like Loch Etive. Some stories say Deirdre and Naoise even had two children, a son named Gaiar and a daughter named Aebgreine.
The Return to Ulster
King Conchobar was very angry and felt tricked. He found out where they were. He sent Fergus mac Róich, a trusted warrior, to them with an invitation to return home. Fergus promised them they would be safe. On their way back to Emain Macha (Conchobar's home), the king tricked Fergus. Fergus was forced to go to a feast because of a special rule he had to follow, called a geis. This meant he could not refuse the invitation.
Fergus sent Deirdre and Naoise's brothers ahead to Emain Macha with his own son to protect them. When they arrived, Conchobar sent Leabharcham to secretly check on Deirdre. He wanted to know if she was still beautiful. To protect Deirdre, Leabharcham told the king that Deirdre had lost her beauty and looked old. But Conchobar then sent another spy, Gelbann. This spy managed to see Deirdre but was spotted by Naoise, who threw a gold chess piece at him and hurt his eye.
The spy returned to Conchobar and told him that Deirdre was as beautiful as ever. King Conchobar then ordered his warriors to attack the house where Deirdre and Naoise's brothers were staying. Naoise and his brothers fought bravely. A few other warriors helped them. But then Conchobar reminded them of their promise to him. He had Deirdre pulled to his side. At this moment, a warrior named Éogan mac Durthacht threw a spear, killing Naoise. His brothers were killed soon after.
Deirdre's Sad End
Fergus and his men arrived after the fighting. Fergus was furious that his promise of safety had been broken. He left Ulster and went to live in Connacht. Later, he even fought against Ulster in a big war called the Táin Bó Cúailnge, also known as "the Cattle Raid of Cooley."
After Naoise died, King Conchobar took Deirdre as his wife. But Deirdre remained cold and sad towards him for a year. Angry about this, Conchobar asked her whom she hated most in the world, besides himself. She answered, "Éogan mac Durthacht," the man who had killed Naoise. Conchobar then said he would give her to Éogan. As she was being taken to Éogan, Conchobar made fun of her. He said she looked like a sheep between two rams. At this, Deirdre chose to end her life by jumping from the chariot, rather than be given to Éogan.
See also
- Gráinne
- Helen of Troy
- Tristan and Iseult
- Irish mythology in popular culture
Texts
- University of Cork, Ireland : CELT (Corpus of Electronic Texts) : Longes mac nUislenn
- University of Cork, Ireland : CELT (Corpus of Electronic Texts) : Longes mac nUislenn (translation by Douglas Hyde)
- A Scoto-Irish Romance of the first century A.D., compiled from various sources by William Graham, 1908
- The Exile of the Sons of Usnech
- Deirdre of the Sorrows by J. M. Synge
- The Lament of Deirdre
- John Coulter Finding Aid McMaster University Libraries
- "Deirdrê" A detailed retelling of the story for children, by Jeanie Lang (1914)
