HIST & MYTH: A Collection of Irish Deities

Written by Ben Kesp. 

There are many gods/goddesses of old Ireland.  Some more important than others, and a few that have transcended from the old customs and have found themselves filtered through the cross over to Christianity. 

However, there is one major goddess whom I have not written about as I feel I would not do her justice due to her complexity and that is the Morrígan. From researching and studying what I can on Irish mythology, it could appear that the Morrígan is an older or origin deity than the Tuatha Dé Danann and a possible Sovereign Goddess of Ireland. Perhaps she is the same as the Cailleach Bhéara or the Hag of Beare, an old crone worshipped and long associated with the landscape. Comparisons have been drawn between her and the Irish Goddess Morrígan (War, Death & Rebirth) - perhaps they all encompass each other, shape shifting as the yearly seasons move over the landscape. In spring she is represented as the young maiden and as the cycles of the year complete she transforms to the old crone, only to be reborn again as the young maiden for the beginning of the New Year. Brigit is associated with the arrival of spring so perhaps there are attributes or connection here as well. Whoever were the worshippers of the Morrígan, Christianity ensured the goddess lost her place and had no part to play in the crossover to Christianity; perhaps this is what makes her dark and mysterious today. 

The Dagda – Father God/Earth God 

What I found interesting on my research of the Dagda is his role when it came to the introduction of Christianity. Ireland’s culture and belief systems have been very insular due to its isolation from mainland Europe and its strong ties with its former pagan culture. The development of the Irish church intertwined and fused the old pagan beliefs into the new religion with many crossovers with the gods of old. Read More

Cailleach Bhéara

She was a Sovereign Goddess, an Earth Mother, a Supernatural Creator and who presides over the Irish landscape. She has also been noted for forming islands, transforming lakes into mountains and placing boulders in rivers. An Cailleach Bhéara was known to have a long life span, passing through seven periods of youth. Read More

Aengus Óg – God of Love, Youth and Poetry 

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. Read More

Lugh – God of many roles

Lugh is certainly a powerful deity in Irish mythology and has earned his name as the god of skill, talent and later became known more as the God of Light or Solar God similar to the Greco-Roman God Apollo. Storm God is another of his roles and it’s often mentioned in Ireland in County Mayo that during a thunderstorm Read More

Lir – Sea God 

The Sea God Lir is a god we associate more with the beautiful tale, The Children of Lir. Lir is more of an ancestor figure in Irish myth and is better known as the father of the Irish Sea God Manannán mac Lir who frequently appears in Irish literature as a powerful figure. Read More

Bres – God of Agriculture 

Some might say an unlikely candidate to be enthroned as the God of Agriculture but the Tuatha Dé Danann (Irish Gods), saw the worth in someone rather than their actions. Despite his oppressive rule against the Danann, following the Second Battle of Moytura (Mag Tuired) Bres was captured but his life was spared by Lugh (Sun God) if he shared his knowledge of when the Danann should plant the harvest. Read More

Dian Cécht – God of Healing

Dian Cécht (God of Healing) of the Tuatha Dé Danann can be said to have been the brother to Dagda (Father of the Gods and God of Earth), Lir (Sea God), Nuada (King of the Danann) and Ogma (Champion of the Danann). He had four children: Miach, Airmed, Étan and Cian. Read More

Tlachtga 

Tlachtga or the “Hill of the Ward” is located near Athboy in Co. Meath, Ireland, twelve miles from the Hill of Tara. This is an ancient archaeological site which saw a big excavation dig in the summer of 2014 and like Tara the earthen works are most impressive by air however a great experience is to be on the hill on the 31st of October each year to celebrate an ancient festival by fire light. Read More

Images: Taken from previous posts