Aengus - Irish God of Love, Youth & Poetry

Written by Ben Kesp 

Aengus is a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann and the God of Love, Youth and Poetry. Even though Aengus is not seen as a god of great power, someone to be fearful of like Lugh, Dagda or the Morrígan, he would certainly be ranked high among the gods, being the son of Dagda, Earth God and the father of the gods. His home is associated with Newgrange on the Boyne Valley – this he tricked from his father. When the great Dagda was sharing out his possessions among his legitimate children, there was nothing left for Aengus so he asked his father if he could stay for “a day and a night” at Newgrange. This phrase “a day and a night” literally means “day and night” so Aengus made his father’s home his permanently. 

Aengus’s birth came about following an affair between Dagda and Boann, goddess of the River Boyne and the wife of Nectan, whose cult following may have been replaced later by Nuada, King of the Dannan or Nuada the “Silver Arm”. To hide his infidelity, Dagda, held the sun still for nine months until Aengus was born which makes him conceived and born in one day. 

Aengus plays many roles in early Irish literature and appears in many texts. In the story, “The Wooing of Étáin” which features during the Ulster Cycle and Historical Cycle (cycle of the kings), it explores the life of Étáin a beautiful woman from Ulster and her involvement with Aengus and Midir, his step brother and foster father. 

Another tale tells that in his dreams, Aengus fell in love with a woman that sent him on a mission throughout Ireland to find her. His mother Boann and his father Dagda also helped in the search to find this mysterious and beautiful woman. Eventually Aengus’s step brother Bodh Dearg discovered she was held in the lake of the Dragon’s mouth. Aengus went to the lake to find one hundred and fifty girls chained in pairs and his mysterious love from his dreams was among them, named Caer Ibormeith. On the festival of Samhain, every second year, Caer and the other girls would turn into swans for a year. They would spend their lives one year as a girl and one year as a swan. Aengus discovered Caer by turning himself into a swan and they both flew together signing beautiful music, sending everyone who heard to sleep for three days and nights. 

Aengus was also the foster father and protector of Diarmuid Ua Duibhne of the Fianna. He rescued and helped Diarmuid and Gráinne twice during their pursuit by the Fenian warriors across Ireland. 

Aengus’s power is seen many times in Irish mythology whether it is vengeful, mockery, repairing broken bones, reversing death or in his pursuits of love. Perhaps he might be seen as the rebellious son, the outsider who never quite fitted in with the rest of Dagda’s family. 

Aengus is also associated with Dún Aonghasa, a prehistoric ring fort on the Aran Islands off the West coast of Ireland. The fort lies at the edge of a 100 ft cliff. It is unknown exactly when it was constructed, however construction is believed to date from 1100 B.C.

Dún Aonghasa 

He is never far from couples in love, blowing kisses in the form of birds that bring his messages to lovers who ask for help. 

Following is a portion of the Tuatha Dé Danann Family Tree to show where Aengus fits in. 

Dagda (God of Earth) (Father of the Gods) (King of Ireland)(Or Eochaid Garb)

o   Husband to Danu with children:       

§  Bridgit (Goddess of Poetry, Arts & Crafts) (Arrival of Spring - Imbolc)

·         Wife to Bres (God of Agriculture) with child: 

o   Rúadan

§  Bodh Derg (King of Tuatha Dé Danann when they and moved to the Sídhe)

§  Néith (God of War)

·         Husband to Badb? (Daughter of Goddess Ernmas)

§  Midir

·         Husband to Fúmnach

·         Husband to Étaín (The Wooing of Étaín)

§  Áine

§  Cermait

·         Husband to (Unknown) with children: 

o   Mac Cuil (Last Danann King of Ireland)

§  Husband to Banda (Last Danann Queen)

o   Mac Cecht (Last Danann King of Ireland)

§  Husband to Fohla (Last Danann Queen)

o   Mac Grené (Last Danann King of Ireland)

§  Husband to Ériu (Last Danann Queen)

o   An affair with Bóann with Child:

§  Aengus Óg (God of Love & Youth)

·         Husband to Caer Iborméith

o   Husband to Morrígan  (Daughter of Goddess Ernmas) with Child:     

§  A child that was killed after birth by Dian Cécht for how it looked. 

Images: Wikipedia.