Deirdre of the Sorrows

This is one of the saddest Celtic myths from Ireland. But remember, the saddest stories are usually the sweetest and most memorable.

Many hundreds of years ago, on a full moon night, a beautiful girl child was born to Fedlimid McDaill, the bard of King Conchobar of Ulster.

But as soon as he heard of it, Cathabad, the chief druid, announced with a face most solemn, ‘This child, so exquisite she may grow to be, will bring sorrow and bloodshed to our land. Her beauty will be her curse for she will die young. And because of her, three of our bravest knights will meet their ends too. This infant—she should not be allowed to live!’

Naturally, her parents were horrified. The baby was indeed a beauty with dazzling green eyes and golden curls. They had named her Deirdre. To kill her—they would never allow that. When the Red Branch Knights heard of the prophecy, they wanted to immediately kill the child but the king intervened. ‘No, we will bring her up in seclusion, where no one will see her. That way she will be protected and not cause anyone any harm.’

Now, make no mistake, the king was not so tender-hearted. If the child was to grow up to be a beauty, he meant to make her his bride in the course of time. So the baby Deirdre was packed to off to the deep woods with Lebercham, a wise old lady who would take care of her. Deirdre grew up in the forest, learning all she could from Lebercham—of herbs and their medicinal qualities, weaving and spinning. And her only companions were the wise old lady and a nurse who took care of her. Twice a year, the king sent an envoy bearing the supplies and provisions they needed and perhaps a gift for the young girl. And the envoy would return to the palace and report to the king of the girl’s growing beauty. The king could hardly wait for her to grow up.

Apple trees grew around the little cottage where they lived and sixteen summers passed. The king paid a visit to the cottage and Deirdre’s beauty took his breath away. He had brought her a gift—a string of amber beads and a roll of orange silk. He did not tell her anything but informed old Lebercham of his intentions. ‘I will make her my queen soon. That’s the only way we can keep her out of harm’s way,’ he told the lady, who remained silent. The king was advanced in years and to think that such an old man would want to marry this delicate little girl! The king left with happy thoughts of the grand wedding that he would plan.

One stormy night, as Deirdre sat spinning by the fire, they heard a piercing cry. Outside a wild wind was blowing and the old women looked at each other in panic. Who could that be? ‘What is that sound?’ asked Deirdre.

Now Lebercham had her orders. The girl was not to be seen by anyone. ‘Oh, It’s nothing. Just a goose caught up in the gale, maybe,’ she told the girl.

But the noise persisted and soon, someone was knocking at the cottage door. ‘Quick, go wait in the kitchen, Deirdre,’ said the nurse. ‘I’ll see who it is.’ This was definitely trouble at the door!

With Deirdre safe in the kitchen, the nurse opened the door. Standing there, soaked to the skin by the rain, was a young warrior. ‘By the moon and the stars, please let me in. I’m Naiose, son of Usna, and a warrior of the Red Branch Knights!’ cried the young man. ‘I’m sorry, I cannot. I am on the king’s orders,’ said the old nurse beginning to shut the door. But the young man pleaded, standing in the pouring rain, and seeing his handsome face, her heart melted and she let him inside.

When Lebercham saw Naoise, her heart sank. This was dangerous. The young man was handsome indeed, with raven hair and skin as fair as snow. She did not want Deirdre to see him but even as that thought crossed her mind the girl entered with wine and freshly baked bread for the stranger.

As her eyes met the handsome warrior’s over the glow of the warm fire, an impossible love sparked between them, one that would never, ever die. Both Lebercham and the old nurse looked at each other wordlessly and shook their heads. This was not good.

Later, Lebercham took the girl aside and told her about the king’s plans for her. ‘King Conchobar plans to marry you soon. You have been promised to him,’ she told her. ‘By whom?’ Deirdre’s emerald eyes flashed in anger. ‘Nobody asked me, did they?’

After that night, Naoise came often to visit, secretly, of course, for he knew the older women didn’t approve of him. Deirdre told him of the king’s plans for her. ‘In that case, I will no longer come here. I’m a warrior of the Red Branch, the king’s own loyal servant. I would never dream of betraying his trust,’ Naoise said sadly and proceeded to walk away.

‘Stop!’ cried Deirdre, pulling him by the hand. ‘Please take me away with you. Let’s go away together!’ Naoise tried to dissuade her even though his heart felt otherwise.

‘Naoise, Listen to me!’ pleaded Dierdre again, her eyes welling up with tears. ‘The king is old—old enough to be my father. How can I marry him? He wants to marry me all right, but I have not agreed, have I? In fact, he has not even said anything to me. It’s you that I love and no one else. Besides, I have not pledged myself to anyone.’

Poor Naoise! How ever much he tried to decline, Deirdre would not let him go. ‘Dear Naoise, please take me with you . . . let’s get away from here . . . the day will soon come when the king will make me his bride. I would rather die than face such a fate!’ The knight finally agreed and told her he would leave her a sign; he tied a red scarf to a silver birch tree. That night, under the cover of darkness he came for her, accompanied by his two brothers, also Red Branch Knights. ‘We must leave Ulster now for we’ll never be safe here,’ they told her.

Leaving Ireland, they set sail to the isle of Scotland. In that land of purple hills, Deirdre and Naoise lived happily. Five summers passed and one day, a messenger came from King Conchobar. ‘His Majesty has forgiven you, Naoise! He looks forward to your return with Deirdre. All of Ulster has missed the sons of Usna.’ The messenger appeared genuine and Naoise wanted to return immediately.

‘But do you really trust the king?’ asked Deirdre for she did not. ‘I’m sure he is waiting to punish us! Let us not go back. Aren’t we happy here?’

‘Deirdre, dearest, we cannot run away from our duties. Don’t forget, my brothers and I are Red Branch Knights and we are in the service of His Majesty. We have to trust and obey him,’ Naoise explained gently. He knew how Deirdre loved her quiet life here but his brothers and he longed for adventure and a knight’s life.

So Deirdre had no choice but to return with them. Once more, she climbed the purple hills she had come to love and picked a sprig of heather. Deirdre looked across the waters and sighed. What lay in store for them at Ulster?

As Deirdre, along with Naoise and his brothers, reached the shores of Ireland, they were received with much joy. Naoise held Deirdre close to him, smiling. ‘See, I told you. There’s nothing to fear,’ he whispered to her. Lebercham was there and the old lady welcomed the girl with a warm embrace. They were then taken to the fortress of the Red Branch Knights for the night. Deirdre was still uneasy since the king had neither received them nor sent for them. He is definitely angry, she thought.

Of course, King Conchobar was angry, very angry at that. After all, his loyal Red Branch Knights had run away with the very girl he had made elaborate plans to marry! He had sent the unsuspecting messenger, who was a friend of Naoise, to lure them back with a promise of a safe life here in Ulster.

Foolish boy, did he really think I had forgiven or forgotten? As he paced the floor of his royal chambers, he sent word for Lebercham. He was curious to know how Deirdre looked after all these years. ‘Oh, Your Majesty! You will be glad of it,’ said Lebercham. ‘The girl has lost her looks after all these years of hard living! She now looks like any farmer’s wife!’ The King felt relieved at this report and turned in for the night.

But a little later, he began to have his doubts. What if Lebercham was trying to protect the girl? After all, she had been her guardian from the time Dierdre was born. So he sent one of his personal servants to spy on Naoise and Deirdre. The spy climbed the fortress and stole his way in and came upon the couple playing a game of chess. When he saw what a beauty Deirdre was, he gasped in surprise. Naoise looked up on hearing the sound and threw a chess piece (a knight!) at him. The piece hit the spy’s eye, knocking it right out of its socket. On his return he told the king, ‘If I may say so, Your Majesty, the lady is question is such an exquisite and fine beauty that I’d gladly risk my other good eye to get a glimpse of her once more!’ Thus, the fate of the young couple was sealed.

As dawn broke the following day, a rumour spread among the Red Branch Knights that Naoise and his brothers had planned to kill the king. Someone set fire to the portion of the castle where Deirdre and Naoise were housed. Naoise and his brothers rushed out, swords in hand, as they heard the commotion outside. They put up a brave fight but were soon overpowered by their own Red Branch Knights.

‘Off with their heads!’ thundered the king, finally making his appearance. No one had the heart to kill their own but a warrior from another land offered to do so. Naoise and his brothers were beheaded. On seeing the body of the slain Naoise, a grief-stricken Dierdre wept inconsolably.

King Conchobar, heartless as he was, demanded that Deirdre marry him, but she refused. As the three brothers were laid to rest, Deirdre threw the sprig of heather she had brought with her from Scotland. ‘Wait for me, dear Naoise,’ wept Deirdre and fell down dead beside the grave. She had died of a broken heart.

The king refused to let her be buried alongside Naoise. But over the years, a yew tree grew over their graves and the branches stretched across and became entwined. In the summer, red berries grew from the trees and people said, ‘Look! It’s the wedding of Deirdre and Naoise.’ In both life and death, they were never parted.