Deirdre or Derdriu is the foremost tragic heroine in Irish mythology. Her story is part of the Ulster Cycle. In general usage a tragedy is a drama, movie or sometimes a real world event with a sad outcome. ... The mythology of pre-Christian Ireland did not entirely survive the conversion to Christianity, but much of it was preserved, shorn of its religious meanings, in medieval Irish literature, which represents the most extensive and best preserved of all the branches of Celtic mythology. ... The Ulster Cycle, formerly the Red Branch Cycle, is a large body of prose and verse centering around the traditional heroes of the Ulaid in what is now eastern Ulster. ...

Deirdre was the daughter of Fedlimid mac Daill, a bard. When she was born, Cathbad the druid prophesied that she would be very beautiful, with ruby red hair and mesmerizing grey-green eyes, but that kings and lords would go to war over her, and Ulster's three greatest warriors would be forced into exile for her sake. Conchobar mac Nessa, king of Ulster, decided to have her brought up in seclusion by Leabharcham, an old woman, and marry her when she was old enough. However, she met, fell in love with, and eloped with Naoise, a handsome young warrior, hunter and singer, accompanied by his two brothers--the sons of Uisnech. They fled to Scotland, but wherever they went the local king would try to kill Naoise and his brothers so he could have Deirdre. Eventually they ended up on a remote island, where Conchobar tracked them down. Fedlimid mac Daill was a harper and the chief-storyteller in the court of Conchobar mac Nessa in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology. ... Cathbad is the chief druid in the court of Conchobar mac Nessa in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology. ... Two druids, from an 1845 publication, based on a bas-relief found at Autun, France. ... In Irish mythology, Conchobar mac Nessa (also Conchobor, Conchubar, Conchobhar, Conchubhar, Conchúr, Conchúir, Conor) was king of Ulster during the events of the Ulster Cycle. ... Statistics Area: 24,481 km² Population (2006 estimate) 1,993,918 Ulster (Irish: Cúige Uladh, IPA: ) forms one of the four traditional provinces of Ireland. ... Leabharcham was the wise old woman who raised Deirdre, a figure in Irish folklore who was prophesied to be the most beautiful woman in the world. ... In Irish mythology, Naoise (also spelled Noisiu) was the nephew of King Conchobar of Ulster, and a son of Usnech (or Uisliu), in the Ulster Cycle. ... Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I...

"Deirdre's Lament", drawing by J.H. Bacon, c.1905.

He sent Fergus mac Róich to them with a message of safe conduct home, but on the way back to Emain Macha Fergus was waylaid, forced by his role as a Red Branch Knight to accept any offer of hospitality. He sent them on to Emain Macha with his son to protect them. After they had arrived, Conchobar sent Leabharcham to spy on Deirdre, to see whether or not she had lost her beauty in her long years of travel. Leabharcham, trying still to protect Deirdre from a marriage to Conchobar, told him she had lost all her beauty. However, Conchobar had sent another spy, Trendhorn, who told him that Deirdre was as beautiful as ever, although not before having his eye put out by a silver chess piece, thrown by Naoise. The next day, Naoise and his brothers, Ardan and Ainle, faced Conchobar outside Emain Macha, aided by a few Red Branch Knights, before Conchobar evoked their oath of loyalty to him and had Deirdre dragged to his side. At this point, Éogan mac Durthacht threw a spear, killing Naoise, and his brothers were killed shortly after. Fergus and his men arrived immediately after this. He was outraged by this betrayal of his word, and went into exile in Connacht, and fought against Ulster for Ailill and Medb in Táin Bó Cúailnge (the Cattle Raid of Cooley). Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (400x685, 97 KB) Illustration of Deirdres lament by J.H.F. Bacon, published in Celtic Myth and Legend by Charles Squire (1905), and scanned and made available online at sacred-texts. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (400x685, 97 KB) Illustration of Deirdres lament by J.H.F. Bacon, published in Celtic Myth and Legend by Charles Squire (1905), and scanned and made available online at sacred-texts. ... In Irish mythology, Fergus (or Fearghus) mac Róich (or mac Róeg) is the former king of Ulster during the events of the Ulster Cycle. ... Emain Macha, (Old Irish , Emuin Macha, Modern Irish Eamhain Mhacha , Emania) known in English as Navan Fort, is an ancient monument in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. ... Emain Macha, (Old Irish , Emuin Macha, Modern Irish Eamhain Mhacha , Emania) known in English as Navan Fort, is an ancient monument in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. ... Leabharcham was the wise old woman who raised Deirdre, a figure in Irish folklore who was prophesied to be the most beautiful woman in the world. ... Leabharcham was the wise old woman who raised Deirdre, a figure in Irish folklore who was prophesied to be the most beautiful woman in the world. ... In Irish mythology, Conchobar mac Nessa (also Conchobor, Conchubar, Conchobhar, Conchubhar, Conchúr, Conchúir, Conor) was king of Ulster during the events of the Ulster Cycle. ... In Irish mythology, Naoise (also spelled Noisiu) was the nephew of King Conchobar of Ulster, and a son of Usnech (or Uisliu), in the Ulster Cycle. ... Éogan mac Durthacht is king of Fernmag (Farney, county Monaghan) in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. ... Connaught redirects here. ... Ailill (Aillell, Oilioll) mac Máta was king of Connacht and husband of Medb in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. ... (, Medb, Medhbh, Meabh, Maeve, Maev) is queen of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. ... Táin Bó Cúailnge (the driving-off of cows of Cooley, more usually rendered The Cattle Raid of Cooley or The Táin) is the central tale in the Ulster Cycle, one of the four great cycles that make up the surviving corpus of Irish mythology. ...

Frustrated by Deirdre's lack of love for him, Conchobar offered her to Éogan mac Durthacht, the man who'd murdered Naoise. She committed suicide by leaning out of her chariot and dashing her head against a rock. In later versions of the story, she died of grief. Éogan mac Durthacht is king of Fernmag (Farney, county Monaghan) in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. ... Hittite chariot (drawing of an Egyptian relief) Approximate historical map of the spread of the chariot, 2000 –500 BC. A chariot is a two-wheeled, horse-drawn vehicle. ...

There are three plays based on Deirdre's story: William Butler Yeats's Deirdre (1907), J.M. Synge's Deirdre of the Sorrows (1910), and Vincent Woods' A Cry from Heaven (2005). W.B. Yeats in Dublin on 24 January 1908. ... See also: 1906 in literature, other events of 1907, 1908 in literature, list of years in literature. ... John Millington Synge John Millington Synge (April 16, 1871 - March 24, 1909) was an Irish dramatist, poet, prose writer, and collector of folklore. ... See also: 1909 in literature, other events of 1910, 1911 in literature, list of years in literature. ... Vincent Woods is an Irish poet and playwright born in County Leitrim in 1960 . ... A Cry from Heaven is a play by Irish playwright Vincent Woods. ...

The LÉ Deirdre (P20), a ship in the Irish Naval Service (now decommissioned), was named after her. LÉ Deirdre (P20) is a ship in the Irish Naval Service. ... Irish Naval Jack The Irish Naval Service is the navy of the Republic of Ireland and is one of the three standing branches of the Irish Defence Forces (Óglaigh na hÉireann). ...

Texts

• The Exile of the Sons of Usnech
• Deirdre of the Sorrows
• Deirdre
• Deirdre of the Sorrows by J. M. Synge

See also

• Grainne
• Helen of Troy
• Tristan and Iseult