Longes mac nUislenn

Longes mac nUislenn (Exile of the Sons of Uisliu), the tragic story of Deirdre (Derdriu) and the sons of Uisliu from the Ulster cycle. Preserved in the Book of Leinster and the Yellow Book of Lecan, it is known as one of the Three Sorrows of Storytelling. When Fedlimid, ollam [see áes dána] to Conchobor, gives a drunken feast at his house, the child his wife is bearing is born. The druid Cathbad names her as Deirdre and fore-tells that she will cause destruction. Conchobor decrees that she be brought up in secret. Years later, Deirdre accosts Noisi at Emain Macha, and when he tries to remind her of the prophecy she mocks him. Noisi and his brothers flee with Deirdre. They eventually agree to return, but the men are slaughtered. Deirdre lives on in joyless subjection to Conchobor. When he plans to give her to an accomplice in his treachery, she smashes her head against a rock.