Son of Uisneach
Ainnle mac Uisneach was the second of the three sons of Uisneach — the middle brother who went into exile in Scotland when Naoíse took Deirdre from Conchobar mac Nessa‘s court, and who was killed with his brothers when they came back.
The sons of Uisneach acted as one. They went together, lived together in Scotland in honourable service to Scottish kings, and died together on the same day, killed by Éogan mac Durthacht on Conchobar’s order when Fergus mac Róich‘s guarantee of safe return was broken. The brothers’ collective death — three men, one treachery, one day — is the clearest measure of how completely Conchobar had broken his word.
Ainnle’s name may derive from roots meaning “beauty” or “splendour.” The three sons of Uisneach were described as the most beautiful warriors of the Ulster court, and he was the middle of the three.
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