Deirdre of the Seven Sorrows.

Deirdre of the Seven Sorrows.

Deirdre was the daughter of Felim son of Dall. Felim was attending a feast at Emain Macha (County Armagh) when he received news that his wife had borne him a daughter. The company toasted the health of the child, the king called upon Cathbad the Druid to foretell the child's future. Cathbad prophesied that her beauty would bring disaster upon the Province of Ulster.

Deirdre was kept in hiding and betrothed to King Conor, however she fell in love with Naoise one of the kings bodyguards when she saw him out hunting.. Deirdre and Naoise together with two of his brothers eloped to Scotland, after some time they were persuaded by Fergus Mac Roy that it was safe to return. Deirdre foresaw strife but Naoise over ruled her and they returned to Dunseverick in County Antrim.

However the King had set a trap, making sure that Fergus had to leave them, so he entrusted his sons Illan the Fair and Bruino the Red to take care of them. When they came to Emain Macha They were lodged in the House of the Red Branch., Were shortly afterwards the King ordered them to be taken before him in anger, the three brothers and the sons of Fergus were killed defending them. Deirdre killed herself rather than be given to the Prince that had killed Naoise. Fergus destroyed the castle in anger at the treachery. He then left Ulster and went to the court of Maev and Ailell in Connacht.

DEIRDRE'S FAREWELL TO SCOTLAND.

A beloved land is that land in the east,
Scotland with its wonders;
I should have not have come hither out of it.
Had I not come with Naoise.

Beloved are Dun Fidhgha and Dun Finn,
Beloved is the string hold above them,
Beloved is Innis Draighen,
And beloved is Dun Suibhne.

The wood of Cuan,
To which Ainnle used to go,Alas!
Short we thought the time,
I and Naoise on the shores of Scotland.

Glenn Laigh,
I used to sleep beneath the shapely rock;
Fish and venison and badger's fat,
That was my food in Glenn Laigh.

Glen Massan,
Tall was its wild garlic, bright its grasses;
We used to have a broken sleep,
Above the wooded rivermouth of Massan.

Glen Entive,
There I raised my first house;.
Lovely is its wood,
And when it raises a cattle-fold
Of the sun is Glen Entive.

Glen Urchain,
That was a straight glen of fair ridges;
No man of his age was prouder than Naoise
IN Glen Urchain.

Glen Darual,
Happy is any mad who is native;
Sweet is voice of the cuckoo on the bending bough
On the peak above Glen Daruel.

Beloved is Draighen with its firm beach,
Belovede is its water in the prue sand;
I should not have come out of it
From the east if I had not come with my beloved.

Irish; author unknown ; fiftteenth century