Editing Conchobar mac Nessa (section)

===Deirdre===
When Conchobar is visiting the house of his storyteller [[Fedlimid mac Daill]], Fedlimid's wife gives birth to a daughter. Cathbad, now Conchobar's chief druid, prophesies that she will be so beautiful that kings will go to war over her, and she will bring nothing but sorrow. The child is named [[Deirdre]], and Conchobar decides to have her brought up in seclusion from men, intending to marry her when she comes of age. However, she elopes with a young warrior called [[Naoise]]. Along with Naoise's two brothers, the couple go into hiding and are eventually forced to flee to Scotland. Wherever they settle, the local king tries to have the brothers killed so he can have Deirdre for himself, and they have to move on. Eventually, Conchobar tracks them down to a remote island and sends [[Fergus mac Róich|Fergus]] to them with his guarantee of safe passage home. On the way home he arranges for Fergus to be separated from his charges by having him invited to a feast, so they are escorted back to Emain Macha by Fergus's son Fiachu. When they arrive, Fiachu, Naoise and his brothers are murdered on Conchobar's orders by [[Éogan mac Durthacht]], and Deirdre is forced to marry Conchobar.

Fergus, outraged by the death of his son and the betrayal of his honour, makes war against Conchobar, alongside Cormac Cond Longas, who sides with his foster-father against his father, and [[Dubthach Dóeltenga]]. They burn Emain and slaughter the maidens of Ulster, before going into exile with Medb and her husband [[Ailill mac Máta|Ailill]] in [[Connacht]].

Deirdre lives with Conchobar for a year, but during that time she never smiles, rarely eats or sleeps, and refuses to be comforted. Conchobar asks her what it is she hates, and she replies, "you, and Éogan mac Durthacht." Conchobar gives her to Éogan. The next day, riding in Éogan's chariot, she commits suicide by dashing her head against a stone.<ref>Vernam Hull (ed & trans), "''Longes mac n-Uislenn'': the Exile of the Sons of Uisliu", Modern Language Association of America, 1949</ref>