Listen "31. Deirdire of the Sorrows - Part 1"
Episode Synopsis
This is an ancient Gaelic tale that has been told in both Ireland and Scotland for countless years. In Ireland, the story of Deirdre is part of the Ulster Cycle of mythology, but the version that I am telling comes from a fellow named John Macneil, who told it from his home on the Isle of Barra in 1867. The story of Deirdire was told in Gaelic and taken down by Alexander Carmichael, who later translated it into English and published both versions in 1905. This is the most comprehensive Scottish version of this story on record, and while it differs in some ways from the Irish telling, it’s no less of a cracker!You can read Alexander Carmichael’s original Gaelic transcription and English translation hereMany thanks to Caoimhe Keohane of Wild Anam for helping with the many Irish Gaelic pronunciations in this tale!Follow The Scottish Folklore Podcast on InstagramVisit the website and view the interactive mapSupport Jenny as she makes the show by joining the Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More episodes of the podcast The Scottish Folklore Podcast
38. The Goodwife of Auchtermuchty
07/09/2025
37. Beautiful Bready Bannocks!
31/08/2025
32. Deirdire of the Sorrows - Part 2
13/07/2025
29. St Mungo: Glasgow's Patron Saint
22/06/2025