ABSTRACT
The Longes Mac n-Uislenn or Loinges Mac n-Uislenn And-so ‘Exile of the Sons of Uisliu’ forms an early part of the ‘Ulster Cycle’, a prelude to the better-known battle sagas of Conchobar and Cú Chulainn in the Tain bó Cuailnge ‘Cooley’s Cattle Raid’. The Longes tells a love story, one between the hero Noisiu (Naoise) and Deirdre, the woman whose beauty is prophesied to cause wars between all men who see her. Noisiu is the nephew of Conchobar, the polygamous king of Ulster who has already married a brace of sisters, including the formidable Medbh (Maeve), later queen of Connaught. Shortly after the prophecy concerning Deirdre, even before her birth, Conchobar decides to have her to himself. He brings her up in seclusion solely to be his bride, but Deirdre falls in love with Noisiu. They fl ee to Scotland, but there more jealousy ensues from the local king, whom Noisiu and his brothers now serve as mercenaries. From this they all take refuge on an island in the Western Isles, where they receive an invitation from Conchobar, who apparently forgives them, to come back home to Ulster. Tired of running, they accept, although against Deirdre’s better judgement. Deirdre’s lover does not listen to her, and on their arrival in Ireland the trap is sprung. The lovers are artfully separated from the main guarantor of their safety, Fergus mac Roig. This important ally, once king of Ulster himself, tricked out of his throne by Conchobar and now the champion of Ulster, is put in a position where his geis or taboo honour tells him to accept an invitation to a feast on the way to the royal hall at Emain Macha (Armagh). The lovers have no choice but to go on without him. There is a public ceremony of welcome when they get there, but then Conchobar has Noisiu and his brothers, and Fergus’ son, speared to death in front of Deirdre, whom he then makes captive in the marriage she had tried to avoid. Fergus, in revenge for the death of his son and the loss of his honour, makes war on Ulster, burns down Armagh and, before going into exile in Connaught, slaughters the maidens of Ulster. The grieving Deirdre adds herself to the dead. When Conchobar, in revenge for her unrelenting coldness, passes her on to Eogan mac Durthacht, the vassal who had murdered Noisiu and his friends, Deirdre commits suicide by leaning out of their chariot, smashing her head on a rock.
