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IRISH MYTHOLOGY
Achall
A loving sister who died of sorrow when her brother was killed in
battle.
Achtan
The mother of Cormac.
Aengus
The god of poetry that fell in love with Caer and became a swan.
Aeval
The lady of sexuality and fairy queen of Munster.
Airmed
The goddess of the Tuatha Da Danann, witchcraft, and herb lore.
Angus Mac Og/Mac ind
Og/Oenghus("The Young Lad")
The god of youth, love, and beauty. Angus was one of the Tuatha
De Danaan and the son of Boann by the Daghda. His kisses are said
to turn into singing birds. Angus has been identified with the
Welsh Mabon, Roman Cupid, and Gaulish Maponos.
Anu/Anann/Dana/Dana-Ana/Danu/Danann
The goddess of fertility, prosperity, and comfort. She is the
patroness of wizards, rivers, wells, water, prosperity and
plenty, magick, and wisdom. She is the mother of the gods and
represents mother earth.
Aife/Aoife
A famous female warrior (an Amazonian) and sister of Scathach.
Cuchulainn (whom she has a son with - Conlai) had to resort to
trickery to overcome her prowess.
Aoife
The wicked step-mother of Lir's children. Aoife turned Lir's
children into swans by means of a Druidic wand.
Avalon
The island of the blessed (paradise)
Badb/Badhbh/Badb
Catha("cow, raven")
The goddess of life, war, wisdom, inspiration, and enlightenment
that is associated with the cauldron, crows, and ravens. Badb is
the mother aspect of the Triple Goddess and had the ability to
appear as one or three entities and tos hapeshift into raven
form. She is depicted in the shape of a bird with a crimson
mouth. She is one of the triplications of Morrighan.
Balor
The evil ruler of Fomorii. It was prophesied that
Balor would be killed by his grandson (Lugh Lamhfada). Balor is
the father of Ethlinn.
Ban-Tuath-Caecha
Regarded as the messengers of fate, this is a trio of gruesome
crones.
Banba/Banbha
The earth goddess tht is an aspect of a triad with
Fotia/Folta/Fodla and Eriu/Erin. Banba used magick to repel
invaders.
Banshee
A female spirit whose wailing outside a house foretells the death
of one of its inhabitants. Banshees were ancient deities that
were driven underground.
Bebhionn
The underworld goddess. Bebhionn is the patroness of pleasure.
Bel/Belenus/Belinus/Belenos/Belimawr
The god of the sun, fire, science, healing, hot springs, success,
prosperity, purification, crops, vegetation, and fertility. Bel
is closely connected to the Druids and is the consort of
Belisama.
Belisama
The goddess of light, fire, forge, and crafts. She is the consort
of Bel.
Birog
A Druidess that helped Cian gain access to Balor's crystal tower.
Birog saved the life of Lugh Lamhfada.
Boann/Boannan/Boyne
The goddess of the Boyne River (river in the Republic of
Ireland). Boann is the mother of Angus Mac Og (by the Daghda) and
consort of Nechtan.
Bodmall
A Druidess that raised Fion Mac Cumhail when he was in hiding
from his father's killers.
Brigit/Brid/Brig/Brigid/Brighid("the
exalted one")
The goddess of fire, fertility, the hearth, all feminine arts and
crafts, martial arts, occult knowledge, love, poetry, wisdom, and
witchcraft. She is the daughter of the Daghda and sister of Ogma
(she also has two other sisters named Brigit). Brigit is
associated with Imbolg (pagan festival of spring). She is
renowned for her powers of divination and is a divinity of
healing, poetry, arts and crafts, and traditiona learning. Brigit
is known as Brigantia in northern Britain and Brigantu in Gaul.
She is the patroness of craftsmen and their crafts, Irish nuns,
dairy workers, and medicine. She is also the patroness of
Ireland, wales, Australia, and New Zealand. Brigit has been
identified with the Welsh Caridwen.
Bronach
The goddess of cliffs.
Brownies
The helpful little men of a brownish hue that visit Scottish
farms to perform domestic chores.
Cabadios
The grandfather of Cuchulainn.
Caer
The swan maiden. Aengus fell in love with her and became a swan.
Cailleach
The goddess of earth, sky, moon, and sun. Cailleach controlled
the seasons and weather.
Canola
The inventor of the Irish harp.
Caolite
The son of Ronan.
Carman
The goddess of evil magick. She is a destructive witch. Carmen
has three destructive sons.
Cathbad
The counsellor and father of Conchobar Mac Nessa. Cathbad is a
Druid.
Cernunnos
Cernunnos is depicted with the horns of a stag, ram, or bull. He
is also known as "the horned one" and "lord of the
animals" for his name means "The Horned or Peaked
One".
Cessair
A great magician that became Ireland's first queen.
Cethlion
The prophetess of the Formorians.
Cian
The consort of Ethlinn and father of Lugh Lamhfada.
Cliodhna (pronounced
clee-ona)
A banshee-like, supernatural female entity that lures young men
away for sexual purposes. Cliodhna sometimes appears in the form
of a wren.
Coinchend
A female warrior.
Conchobar Mac Nessa
The king of Ulster whose intended bride (Deirdre) eloped with
Noisi. Conchobar killed Noisi and his brothers. He is the son of
Cathbad and uncle of Cuchulainn.
Cormac
The son of Achtan.
Credne
A female champion and one of the Fianna.
Crunnchua mac Agnoman
The consort of Macha and father of twins (one boy, one girl).
Crunnchua is a wealthy husbandman and widower of Ulster.
Cu Cuchulainn
The chief figure and herof in a cycle of Irish legends.
Cuchulainn is the son of Lugh and Deichtine, nephew of Conchobar
Mac Nessa, and grandson of Cabadios.
Cu Roi
A sorcerer who transforms himself into various guises.
Dagda
(The)("father of the gods", "the good god")
The god of protection, warriors, knowledge, magick, fire,
prophecy, weather, reincarnation, the arts, initiation, the sun,
healing, regeneration, prosperity and plenty, music, and the harp
(an attribute). Dagda is the father of Brigit and Ogma and Mac
ind Og (by Boann) and the chief god of the Irish and of Druidism.
He is the son of Danu and Bile. His cult was widespread
throughout the Celtic world. Daghdha literally means "the
Good God" and he is known as Eochaidh Ollathair
("Eochaidh the Great Father") and Ruadh Rofhessa
("The Mighty One of Great Knowledge"). He has a club
(one end killed and the other end revived the dead) that
corresponds to Thor's hammer and Indra's thunderbolt and a
cauldron. Dagda's rules the seasons with his harp's music.
Deichtine
The mother of Cuchulainn, consort of Lugh, and sister of
Conchobar.
Deirdre
The beautiful, intended bride of Conchobar Mac Nessa that eloped
with Noisi. Deirdre died from sorrow when Conchobar killed Noisi
and his brothers.
Dian Cecht
The god of healing, medicine, regeneration, and silver-working.
Dian was the physician-magician and one of the craft-gods of the
Tuatha Da Danann.
Domnu("the
world")
The Mother Goddess of the Fomorii.
Don/Donn("the
brown or dark one")
The god of the land of the dead and entrances to the underworld.
Don controls the elements, protects crops and cattle, and sends
storms and wrecks ships. He is the eldest son of Midir the Proud.
Don has been identified with the Gaulish Dis Pater.
Duibhne/Diarmaid ua
Duibhne
The consort of Grainne. Duibhne is also known as the "master
and charmer of women".
Emer
An exceptionally beautiful and intelligent woman that knew it.
Epona
The goddess of horses, maternity, prophecy, and prosperity. Epona
watches over the land, protects its abundance (nature), and
insures a good harvest. She is also known as "The Divine
Horse". Epona has been identified with the Welsh Rhiannon.
Erin/Eriu
One of the three queens of the Tuatha Da Danann.
Estiu
A female champion.
Etain
An early sun-goddess.
Ethlinn
The daughter of Balor, consort of Cian, and mother of Lugh
Lamhfada.
Fedelmar
A poetess and prophetess in the service of Queen Medb.
Feidiline
The prophetess who foretold the death of Queen Medb.
Fergus Mac Roigh
A king and great warrior of Ulster. Fergus is Cuchulainn's tutor.
Fianna
Fionn Mac Cumhail's elite band of warriors. The Fianna's
principal activity was hunting.
Findabar
The daughter of Queen Maeve and Aillil and consort of Froach.
Findgoll Mac Findemas
Bres' Druid. Findgoll briefly ruled the gods.
Finn
The leader of the Fianna.
Fionn Mac Cumhail
A Druid, seer, poet, and famous warrior that had an elite band of
warriors (Fianna). Fionn is the son of Murna, grandson of Tages,
consort of Sibh, and father of Oisin.
Fir Droirich
The black Druid that turned Sibh into a fawn.
Fland
The lake maiden and daughter of Flidais.
Flidais
The goddess of forests, woodlands, and wild things. Flidais is
the stag-mistress that roamed earth in a chariot drawn by
supernatural deer. She possessed a cow whose milk supplied thirty
people a day. She is the mother of Fland.
Fomorii("under-sea
dwellers")
Evil gods.
Goibhniu
The god of blacksmiths, weapon makers, fire, and metalworking.
Goibhniu's name is derived from the word for "smith";
he is known for his therapeutic powers, and he is the first of a
triad of craftsman-gods. Goibhniu has been identified with the
Welsh Gofannon, he is invoked in an Old Irish charm for the
removal of a thorn, and he is the host/provider of the Otherworld
feast (Fledh Ghoibhnenn).
Grainne
The bethrothed of Fionn that eloped with Diarmaid ua Duibhne.
Leprechaun
A mischievous fairy in the shape of an old man with a hidden
stone of gold. Leprechauns are sometimes depicted as a cobbler
(one that mends shoes). They also did favors for humans who were
good to them. Leprechauns are believed to posses great wealth
(concealed in secret places).
Llyr/Lear/Lir
The god of the sea and water.
Luchta/Luchtaine
A wright (maker or repairer).
Lugh
The god of skills, Druids, physicians, war, magick, water,
commerce, lightning, arts and crafts, journeys, poets, musicians,
historians, revenge, healing, and sorcerers. He is the consort of
Deichtine and father of Cuchulainn. Lugh has been identified with
the Welsh Lleu Llaw Gyffes and Gaulish Mercury.
Lugh Lamhfada
The god of arts and crafts. Lugh Lamhfada is the son of Cian and
Ethlinn.
Mac Da Tho
The god of the underworld.
Macha
("crow")
The consort of Cimbaeth (one of her rivals) and the ruler of
Ireland.
Macha
("crow")
The triune goddess of
horses, war, death, sexuality, and fertility. She is the third of
the three war goddesses known as the Morrigan. Macha is a
protectress in war and peace. She is the consort of Crunnchua mac
Agnoman and mother of twins (one boy, one girl). Macha feeds on
the heads of slain enemies.
Macha
("crow")
The war-goddess that died in one of the twelve plains cleared by
Nemhedh (her consort).
Magh Ruith/Mug Ruith
Originally the sun-god, Magh Ruith is also known as Mac Seinghesa
("son of ancient wisdom"). He is depicted as the chief
Druid of Ireland and the world who lost and eye, is able to dry
up waters, and lives through nineteen reigns. Magh drives a
chariot of white metal with gems and its light makes night into
day. He also carries Roth Fail ("wheel of
destiny") which can blind those who see it and studied with
Simon Magus for thirty-three years.
Manannan Mac Lir
The god of the sea, navigators, storms, sea weather, rebirth,
fertility, sailing, arts, merchants, and commerce. Manannan's
name relates to the Isle of Man and literally means "son of
the sea". He is also known as "the rider of the crested
sea".
Midir the Proud
The father of Don/Donn.
Morrigu/Morrigan/Morigan
The supreme war-goddess of revenge, night, magick, and prophecy.
Morrigu was the patroness of priestesses and witches and the
queen of phantoms and demons. She is the High Queen and goddess
of the Tuatha Da Danann. She has the ability to appear as one or
three entities.
Morrigu can shapshift into raven form.
Murna
The daughter of Tages and mother of Fionn Mac Cumhail.
Nantosvelta
The consort of Sucellus whose name indicates a connection with
water.
Nechtan
Originally a water-deity, Nechtan is the consort of Boann.
Nemedh("The Sacred
One")
The consort of Macha.
Nuada/Nuadha/Nudd/Nodons
The god of the water, oceans, fishing, the sun, and sailing.
Nuadha is similar to Neptune and is the king of the Tuatha Da
Danann. He has been identified with the Welsh Nudd and also known
as Nuadha Airgedlamh ("Nuadha of the Silver Hand or
Arm").
Ogma/Oghma/Ogmios
A god; similar to Hercules; of eloquence, poetry, and the Druids.
Ogma is the son of the Dagda, sister of Brigit, and known as a
champion. He is credited with the invention of the Ogham letters
(a system of writing based on the Latin alphabet consisting of
strokes and notches cut upon wood or stone). Ogma has been
identified with the Gaulish Ogmios.
Oisin("little
deer")
Oisin is the son of Sibh and Fionn.
Scathach/Scota/Scatha
A goddess in the destroyer aspect and patroness of blacksmiths,
healing, magick, prophecy, and martial arts. Scathach is a
warrior and prophetess who lived in Albion (ancient Greek and
Roman name for Britain that is named (by the Romans) after the
white cliffs of Dover - albus "white"). She is
called the "shadowy one" and is the principal
instructor of the martial arts to Cuchulainn (she ran finishing
schools for young heroes). Scathace is the sister of Aife/Aoife.
Sibh
The future consort of Fionn Mac Cumhail and mother of Oisin. Sibh
was turned into a fawn by Fir Droirich.
Sucellus("the Good
Striker")
The consort of Nantosvelta. He has been identified with Dio Pater
and depicted with a mallet, a cask, a drinking jar, or with a
dog.
Tages
A Druid and father of Murna.
Tethra
The god of the sea. Tethra is also known as "lord of the
joyous otherworld".
Tuatha Da Danann/Tuatha
De Danaan("the people of the goddess Danu")
Irish gods and goddesses that have Druids and are skilled in the
arts of druidry and magick. The Tuatha had four talismans.
