Deirdre of the Sorrows

Unreal Irish Folklore

There once was born a cursed girl. She was beautiful, and strong-willed, and would do anything for the man she loved. But in her name, evil came to Ireland, bringing war and fighting that left hundreds dead in its wake. Her name was Deirdre, and stories told about her live on, as one of Ireland’s most sorrowful legends.

Read the Podcast Script

• Sonder Magazine
• Let's Talk About the Arts episode (my story is at about 28:30)

Sources and further Reading

Story Sources

• The Exile of the Sons of Uisliu by Vernam Hull
• Deirdre, or, The Exile of the Sons of Usnech
• Deirdre, in The Three Sorrows of Storytelling by Douglas Hyde
• The Trí Truaighe na Scéalaigheachta by Eugene O'Curry

Background reading

• Kingship Made Real? Power and the Public World in Longes Mac nUislenn by Elva Johnston
• Satire in Medieval Ireland
• Leabharcham
• Milesians
• How Ronan Slew His Son
• Cano meic Gartnáin
• Diarmuid & Gráinne

Music

• The Butterfly by Sláinte
• Our Green Lands by Bonn Fields
• Calling on the Hill by Moorland Songs
• Red as a Rose by Rune Dale
• Turnpikes by Rune Dale
• Farewell to Ennerdale Water by Moorland Songs

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.