Leabharcham

Leabharcham and Deirdre

Leabharcham was a wise old woman of Emain Macha in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. She raised and educated Deirdre. Before Deirdre was born, Cathbad, the chief druid of King Conchobar mac Nessa's court, prophesied that she would become the most beautiful woman in the world, and that "she would mean the death of many of our men"; rather than have her killed, Conchobar sent her to be raised in seclusion by Leabharcham until she was old enough to marry him.

In the legend, Deirdre grows up, and tells Leabharcham that she will love a man with hair the color of the raven, skin as white as snow, and lips as red as blood. Leabharcham tells her she knows of such a man: Naoise, a handsome young warrior, hunter and singer at Conchobar's court. Leabharcham is the one who brings Deirdre and her lover Naoise together. Deirdre, Naoise, and Naoise's two brothers escape to Alba (Scotland). Later, when they have been tricked into returning to Ulster, the king sends Leabharcham to see if Deirdre is still beautiful. Leabharchan, trying to protect Deirdre, reports back to him that Deirdre has lost all her beauty. Only after the king sends a second spy does the battle break out, which ends tragically with the death of Naoise and his brothers and the king's seizure of Deirdre. Deirdre dies soon afterward.

Leabharcham (Lavarcham) is a character in Synge's play "Deirdre of the Sorrows." She has the last line of the play: "Deirdre is dead, and Naisi is dead; and if the oaks and stars could die for sorrow, it's a dark sky and a hard and naked earth we'd have this night in Emain."

External links

• Deirdre of the Sorrows Play by J. M. Synge
• Consolatio Lavarcham's last words