Deirdre of the Sorrows — the most beautiful woman in Ireland, and the doom she brought with her
The Exile of the Sons of Uisneach is one of the Three Sorrows of Irish Storytelling — the most heartbreaking of all the Ulster tales. It is the story of Deirdre, whose beauty was prophesied before her birth to destroy Ulster’s greatest heroes, and of the love she chose for herself over the king who intended to own her, and of what happened when that king finally caught up with them.
The Prophecy
Before Deirdre was born, the druid Cathbad heard her cry in her mother’s womb and prophesied: this child would be more beautiful than any woman in Ireland, and because of her, Ulster’s greatest heroes would go into exile and blood would be spilled and kingdoms would crack. The men of Ulster said: kill her now. Conchobar mac Nessa said: no. He took the baby himself and had her raised in seclusion, intending to marry her when she was old enough.
Naoise
Deirdre grew up extraordinary — and grew up knowing what she was intended for. One winter day she saw a raven drinking blood from a slaughtered calf in the snow, and told her nurse she wanted a man with hair as black as the raven, cheeks as red as the blood, and skin as white as the snow.
Her nurse said there was such a man: Naoise, son of Uisneach — one of the most beautiful and skilled warriors in Ulster. Deirdre found him and told him directly that she chose him. He argued — he knew the prophecy. She shamed him with it, telling him he was a coward. He went with her.
Exile
Naoise and his brothers Ainle and Ardan took Deirdre and fled Ulster. They spent years moving through Scotland, living as hunters and warriors for hire, always running one step ahead of Conchobar mac Nessa’s long reach. They were happy. The sons of Uisneach were brilliant warriors and loyal brothers, and Deirdre loved Naoise absolutely.
The False Peace
Conchobar mac Nessa sent word that he forgave them and invited them home. Deirdre begged Naoise not to go — she had dreamed of treachery, and she did not trust the king’s forgiveness. But Naoise’s honour was also involved: Ulster was his home and his king was offering peace. He went.
They were ambushed. The sons of Uisneach were killed — by supernatural aid that Conchobar mac Nessa had arranged, because no Ulster warrior could bring himself to kill them fairly.
Deirdre’s End
Conchobar mac Nessa took Deirdre. She did not speak, did not smile, did not raise her head for a full year. When he asked what she hated most in the world, she said: him and Eógan mac Durthacht, the man who had actually struck Naoise down.
Conchobar mac Nessa said he would give her to Eógan then. As she rode in a chariot between the two men, she threw herself from it and dashed her head against a rock. The prophecy was complete.
Key facts about the Exile of the Sons of Uisneach
- Irish title: Longes mac nUislenn (“The Exile of the Sons of Uisneach”)
- Also known as: “Deirdre of the Sorrows”
- Prophecy: Cathbad foretold Deirdre would cause the exile and death of Ulster’s greatest heroes
- Conchobar’s plan: Raised her in isolation; intended to marry her himself
- Naoise: Son of Uisneach; chosen by Deirdre; one of the most beautiful warriors in Ulster
- His brothers: Ainle and Ardan — the three sons of Uisneach went into exile together
- The betrayal: Conchobar offered false peace; had the sons of Uisneach killed
- Deirdre’s death: Threw herself from a chariot rather than live with Conchobar
- Irish tragic trio: One of the Three Sorrows of Storytelling
- Cycle: Ulster Cycle
Link/cite this page
If you use any of the content on this page in your own work, please use the code below to cite this page as the source of the content.
Link will appear as Deirdre of the Sorrows: https://irishgodsandgoddesses.net - Irish Gods & Goddesses, March 22, 2026