description: J M Synge (1871 1909) was an Irish poet and playwright. He participated in the founding of the Abbey Theatre. Deirdre of the Sorrows is a three-act play, first performed at the Abbey Theatre by the Irish National Theatre Society in 1910. The play is based on Irish myth concerning Deirdre and Conchobar. The work was unfinished at the author's death in 1909. William Butler Yeats and Synge's widow, Molly Allgood completed the work. The story begins with Conchubor charging Lavarcham with raising Deirdre to be his queen, but she is a willful girl with no interest in marrying an old man. When she was born, Cathbad the druid prophesied that she would be very beautiful, with twisted yellow tresses and mesmerizing grey-green eyes, but that kings and lords would go to war over her, and Ulster's three greatest warriors would be forced into exile for her sake. Deirdre is aware of the prophecy that she will be the doom of the sons of Usna, but nonetheless she asks Naisi to take her away from Ulster. He agrees, and Ainnle weds them in an impromptu ceremony.
language: English
title: Deidre of the Sorrows
titlecomplete: Deidre of the Sorrows (Collected Works of John Millington Synge)
characters: Ardan, Ainle, Naoise, Conchobar mac Nessa, Fergus mac Rossa, Deirdre
genres: Plays, Ireland, Theatre, Drama, Literature, Classics, Irish Literature
ratings_count: 119
places: Ulster
publisher: Classic Books