Deirdre of the Sorrows

Deirdre of the Sorrows is a legend out of old, celtic Ireland. It was written in the stars at her birth that one day she would bring great trouble and sorrow to Ireland. In spite of this she caught the Fancy of King Connor who raised her, intending to marry her when she came of age. Deirdre had no desire to marry a man she saw as her father, and on the eve of the wedding she ran away with Naoise, a young fionna warrior, and his two brothers.

They went first to Albony, but when the king heard of the beauty of Deirdre he raided their home in the night, desiring to take her for his own. Deirdre and the three brothers barely escaped with their lives. The fled into the highland wilderness and made a home for themselves, hidden from all other men. But King Connor was not going to allow them to escape. He sent Fergus, an old warrior he knew Naoise would trust, to bid them come back to his hall and make peace. Deirdre begged not to go, but Naoise was a warrior and he missed his place in the hall at Tara, and eagerly agreed to accept Fergus' vow of safe conduct. But Connor used cunning treachery to make sure that the foursome were left alone on the shores of Ireland.

None of the Fionna would fight against one of their own, and many stood beside Naoise and his brothers in defense of his wife. But at the end of the day all had fallen to treachery or to the mercenaries called out by the King. Then Connor looked at the bloody field outside his door and regretted what he had done. And he sent to Naoise and his brothers, who remained standing in a tight shield wall around Deirdre, and offered them his friendship and asked for their pardon. The brothers laughed in relief and lowered their shields and sheathed their swords and went forward to greet their king. When their guard was down Connor gestured to his mercenaries and said, "Kill them."

Deirdre stood over the grave of her husband and her brothers. The man she loved was dead and the man she now hated she was to marry. She had no more will to live. Crying out to Naoise she lept into the grave beside him, her soul fled from her body and she died.

A storm came rushing on that night
Deirdre, Daughter of Sorrows,
When your eyes first saw the light.
Deirdre, did you know?

The stars proclaimed your future plight
Deirdre, Daughter of Sorrows,
There was no escape that night
Deirdre, did you know?

King Connor’s anger grew each day
Deirdre, Daughter of Sorrows,
You would become his queen one day
Deirdre, did you know?

Songs are sung and wars are won and tales are told of woe
When darkness fell ‘round fiery head
Deirdre, did you know?

He vowed to lock you far away.
Deirdre, Daughter of Sorrows
From the lads with whom you played.
Deirdre, did you know?

The son of Usna loved you well
Where you had gone no one would tell
What he found by chance he stole away
Your fate was finished on that day

You fled in fear of Connor’s wrath
Deirdre, daughter of Sorrows
First to Scotland than away to the west
Deirdre, did you know?

Songs are sung and wars are won and tales are told of woe
When darkness fell ‘round your fiery head
Deirdre, did you know?

It was treachery that laid you low.
Deirdre, Daughter of Sorrows
Every sorrow you’d come to know.
Deirdre, did you know?

Before your eyes Naoise was slain

But greater still was your living pain.

Songs are sung and wars are won and tales are told of woe
When darkness fell ‘round your fiery head
Deirdre, did you know?

Avenging and bright fall the swift sword of Erin
On him whom the brave sons of Usna betrayed
For every fond eye which he wakened a tear in
A drop of his heart blood shall weep o’er the blade

By the red cloud that hung o’er Connor’s dwelling
When Ulad’s three champions lay sleeping in gore
By the billows of war which so often times swelling
Hath wafted these heroes to victories shore

We swear to revenge them; no joy shall be tasted
The harp shall be silent the maiden unwed
Our halls shall be mute and our fields shall lie wasted
‘Till vengeance is wreaked on the murderer’s head

Yes monarch, though sweet is our home recollections,
Though sweet are the tears that from tenderness fall
Though sweet are our friends, our hopes and affections,
Revenge on a tyrant is sweetest of all.

Song are sung and wars are won and tales are told of woe
When darkness fell ‘round your fiery head
Deirdre, did you know?