The Irish/Celtic Deities

Ancient Celtic religion, commonly known as Celtic paganism, comprises the religious beliefs and practices adhered to by the Iron Age people of Western Europe now known as the Celts, roughly between 500 BCE and 500 CE, spanning the La Tène period and the Roman era, and in the case of the Insular Celts the British and Irish Iron Age. Very little is known with any certainty about the subject, and apart from documented names that are thought to be of deities, the only detailed contemporary accounts are by hostile and probably not-well-informed Roman writers.

Celtic paganism was one of a larger group of Iron Age polytheistic religions of the Indo-European family. It comprised a large degree of variation both geographically and chronologically, although "behind this variety, broad structural similarities can be detected" allowing there to be "a basic religious homogeneity" among the Celtic peoples.

The Celtic pantheon consists of numerous recorded theonyms, both from Greco-Roman ethnography and from epigraphy. Among the most prominent ones are Teutatis, Taranis and Lugus. Figures from medieval Irish mythology have also been interpreted as iterations of earlier pre-Christian Insular deities in the study of comparative mythology.

Comparatively little is known about Celtic paganism because the evidence for it is fragmentary, due largely to the fact that the Celts who practiced it wrote nothing down about their religion. Therefore, all there is to study their religion from is the literature from the early Christian period, commentaries from classical Greek and Roman scholars, and archaeological evidence.

The archaeologist Barry Cunliffe summarised the sources for Celtic religion as "fertile chaos", borrowing the term from the Irish scholar Proinsias MacCana. Cunliffe went on to note that "there is more, varied, evidence for Celtic religion than for any other example of Celtic life. The only problem is to assemble it in a systematic form which does not too greatly oversimplify the intricate texture of its detail."

Now that we have a little background of where they come from, let's begin.

God of Love, Youth, and Poetry

Aengus

Animals: Cats, Deer, Doves, and Sparrows.
Colors: Green, Pink, and Red.
Festivals/Holidays:
Food: Cake, Chocolate, Honey, Strawberry, and Wine.
Herbs: Basil
Incense: Cinnamon, Jasmine, Lavender, Rose, and Sandalwood.
Magical Attributes: Healing, Love, Music, Poetic Inspiration, and Youth.
Metal: Copper
Musical Instrument: Golden Harp
Offerings: Red Roses and Strawberries.
Planet: Venus
Plants: Mistletoe, Rose, and Violet.
Sabbats:
Stones: Jasper, Peridot, Rose Quartz, Ruby, Sapphire, and Tourmaline.
Symbols: Swan
Trees: Birch, Cherry, Elder, and Sycamore.

Aengus was the Irish god of youth, love, and poetic inspiration. These attributes overlapped with one another, as youthful love often brought poetic inspiration to those within it. His cunning and poetic use of language often allowed him to get the better of his elders. Aengus’ youth granted him certain powers over life and death, including the ability to resurrect the dead. He would bestow those he wished to resurrect with his breath of life, though the effects were not always permanent. Aengus’ resurrection power was similar to that which resided in his father’s mighty club.

Aengus has the ability to shape-shift, another attribute inherited from his father, and used this ability to help him find a woman that had been transformed into a swan. His magic allowed him to transform kisses into birds—animals he favored above all others.

Aengus’ appearance was that of a young and beautiful man. He was often accompanied by birds that surrounded his head and acted as messengers and tormentors in equal measure. Aengus’ arsenal included four weapons: two swords and two spears. One sword, Moralltach (Great Fury), was a gift from the sea god Manannan mac Lir; the other was named Beagalltach (Little Fury). His two spears were Gáe Buide and Gáe Derg. Aengus made residence at Brú na Bóinne, in County Meath near Drogheda. He also lent his name to Dun Aengus, on the Aran Islands in County Galway.

Goddess of Love and Fertility

Áine

Animals: Cattle, Horses, Rabbits, Song Birds, and Swans.
Colors: Brown, Green, Orange, Red, and Yellow.
Festivals/Holidays:
Food: Milk
Herbs: Meadowsweet
Incense: Lavender and Orchid.
Magical Attributes:
Metal: Gold and Silver.
Musical Instrument:
Offerings: Fire
Planet: Sun
Plants: Moss
Sabbats: Litha and Lammas.
Stones: Garnet, Moonstone, Pearl, Quartz, and Sunstone.
Symbols: Cattle Horn, Horses, Moon, Red and Gold Candles, Sun, and Swans.
Trees: Oak and Yew

Áine (ON-ya) is an Irish Goddess of summer, love, protection, fertility, wealth and sovereignty. In her role of Moon Goddess, she guards livestock, crops, and cattle. In her role as Sun Goddess, she could take the form of ‘Lair Derg’, a red mare that no one could outrun, in order to walk among her people. Also known as a Faery Queen and Love Goddess, she has been known by other names such as the Lady of the Lake, the Goddess of the Earth and Nature, the Goddess of Luck and Magick, and Leanan Sidhe (“Sweetheart of the Sidhe”).

Áine is thought to mean “brightness, glow, joy, radiance, splendor, glory, fame”. She is associated with Midsummer (Litha, Summer Solstice), however also has sacred days following Lughnasadh. She is associated with the Sun and Moon, the element Air, the direction South West, and one of the sacred herbs of Druids, Meadowsweet. Her sacred animals are the red mare, rabbit, and swan. She is associated with the Irish Province of Munster, specifically County Limerick, where the hill of Knockainy (Cnoc Áine) is found.

Áine was also known as a Love Goddess, and people would worship her in the hope that she might bestow sexuality, fertility, abundance and prosperity upon them. Through her many relationships with human men, she is thought that she gave birth to a magical Faerie-Human race, which is how she gained her name as Queen of the Faeries. One of the myths surrounding Áine describes how she sat in her birthing chair on Lughnasadh and gave birth to a sheave of grain. It is believed that by performing that act, Áine gave the gift of grain to the people of Ireland.

Many stories exist regarding Áine and her mortal lovers. It is said that Gerald, Earl of Desmond, once stole Áine’s cloak while she swam in a river, and would not return it to her until she agreed to marry him. Their son was Geroid Iarla, known as The Magician. Áine made a deal with the Earl that he would never be surprised by anything her son did, however after performing a superhuman deed, the Earl was surprised, and Áine was free to return to the fairies (sidhe). In other stories, Áine is the unwilling wife of Geroid Iarla, and ends up turning him into a goose or killing him (or both). Another myth describes how Áine was raped by the King of Munster, Ailill Aulom, which led to Áine biting off his ear. By biting off his ear, Áine deemed Ailill unfit to be king due to his disfigurement. From all her aspects it is shown that Áine was not a deity to offend, if crossed she could have coined the phrase “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned”.

Psychological War Goddess

Badb

Animals: Crows, Ravens, and Scald Crows.
Colors: Black and Blood Red.
Festivals/Holidays:
Food: Apples, Walnuts, Port Wine, and Rabbit Stew.
Herbs:Belladonna, Garlic, and Mugwort.
Incense: Carnation, Opium, and Sandalwood.
Magical Attributes: Death, Divination, Past-Lives, Protection, Psychological War, Rebirth, and Spirit Contact.
Metal: Silver
Musical Instrument:
Offerings:
Planet:
Plants: Black Accord, Red and Yellow Carnations, and Tam Tam Dahlias.
Sabbats: Samhain
Stones: Bloodstone and Garnet.
Symbols: Crow, Scythe, Staff,
Trees: Juniper and Rowan.

Badbs literally means "crow", "scald crow" or "raven", but it also has the asses connotation of "witch". She is a mysterious spirit. Badbh may be a title, not a name. It is used as an epithet for other Irish warrior goddesses, like Macha, the Morrigan, and Nemain. The Badbh is very closely associated with the Morrigan; some perceive Morrigan and Badbh as tow names for the same spirit as the Gaulish deity, Cathobodua, in which case her veneration was widespread in the ancient Celtic world.

Her power on the battlefield is psychological:the Badbh doesn't actually fight on behalf of devotees. Instead, she terrifies, intimidates, and confuses their enemies with her presence. The Badbh apears in the wpic Ulster Cycle. She is closely associated with the hero, Cu Chulain, assisting and encouraging him on several occasions. In addition to her responsibilities on the battlefield, the Badbh is associated with death and the Otherworld.

The Patron Warrior Goddess of Ireland

Banba

Animals:
Colors:
Festivals/Holidays:
Food:
Herbs:
Incense:
Magical Attributes: Bless Earth Magic, Fertility, Leadership, and Spell-work.
Metal: Iron
Musical Instrument:
Offerings:
Planet: Earth
Plants:
Sabbats:
Stones: Olivine
Symbols: Magic, Protection, and War.
Trees:

In Irish mythology, Banba, daughter of Delbáeth and Ernmas of the Tuatha Dé Danann, is a patron goddess of Ireland. She was married to Mac Cuill, a grandson of the Dagda. She was part of an important triumvirate of patron goddesses, with her sisters, Ériu and Fódla. According to Seathrún Céitinn she worshipped Macha, who is also sometimes named as a daughter of Ernmas. The two goddesses may therefore be seen as equivalent. Céitinn also refers to a tradition that Banbha was the first person to set foot in Ireland before the flood, in a variation of the legend of Cessair.

In the Tochomlad mac Miledh a hEspain i nErind: no Cath Tailten, it is related that as the Milesians were journeying through Ireland, "they met victorious Banba among her troop of faerie magic hosts" on Senna Mountain, the stony mountain of Mes. A footnote identifies this site as Slieve Mish in Chorca Dhuibne, County Kerry. The soil of this region is a non-leptic podzol . If the character of Banba originated in an earth-goddess, non-leptic podzol may have been the particular earth-type of which she was the deification.

King of the Tuatha Dé Danann

Bodb Dearg

Animals: Pigs and White Bulls.
Colors: Red
Festivals/Holidays:
Food:
Herbs:
Incense:
Magical Attributes: Clairvoyant Prowess over Animals, Faerie Contact, General Magic, Unarmed Combat, and Warfare.
Metal:
Musical Instrument:
Offerings:
Planet:
Plants:
Sabbats:
Stones:
Symbols:
Trees:

In Irish mythology, Bodb Derg was a son of Eochaid Garb or the Dagda, and the Dagda's successor as King of the Tuatha Dé Danann.

Aengus asks for his brother Bodb's help in finding the woman of his dreams in "Aislinge Óenguso" (the Dream of Aengus). At the time, Bodb is king of the síde of Munster. Bodb successfully identifies the woman as Caer Ibormeith. Following the Tuatha Dé Danann's defeat in the battle of Tailtiu, Bodb is elected king of the Tuatha Dé Danann in the "Children of Lir", just as the Tuatha Dé are going underground to dwell in the sídhe. The principle justification given for Bodb's election is that he is the Dagda's eldest son. He subsequently fathered many deities. Bodb's election is recognised by all of his rivals, save only Lir, who refuses him homage. Bodb, however, counsels his followers to forbear from punishing Lir; later, Bodb will successively offer two of his own daughters in marriage to Lir to placate him. Both marriages, however, end unhappily.

In variants of the story, Manannan is named the high king over the Tuatha Dé along with Bodb Derg when the Tuatha Dé Danann descend into the sidhe; Manannan is called “chief of the kings” and owner of every sidhe and divides the sidhe mounds amongst the Tuatha Dé. As king of the Munster síde with Lén as his smith, Bodb Sída ar Femen ('of the Mound on Femen') plays a role in an important prefatory tale to Táin Bó Cuailnge, for it is his swineherd who quarrels with that of the king of the Connacht síde; the swineherds are later swallowed and reborn as the magical bulls Donn Cuailnge and Finnbennach, of which the former was the object of the great cattle-raid.

In one Fenian tale, Bodb leads the Tuatha Dé Danann to the aid of the Fianna at the Battle of Ventry.

Goddess of Herbalism, Midwifery, Healing, and The Stirring of Life

Brigit

Animals:Badgers, Bears, Bees, Boars, Cattle, Fish, Lambs, Owls, Sheep, Snakes, Swans, and Wolves.
Colors: Blue, Green, Red, White, and Yellow.
Festivals/Holidays: Imbolc
Food: Ale, Blackberries, Mead, and Milk.
Herbs: Chamomile, Dill, Red Clover, Rosemary, and Rowan.
Incense: Heather, Lavender, Lemon Verbena, and Wisteria.
Magical Attributes: Animal Magic, Crafting, Fertility, Fire, Healing, Poetry, Smithcraft, and The Spring Season.
Metal: Brass, Copper, Gold, Copper, and Silver.
Musical Instrument: Bagpipes and Lute.
Offerings: Art, Blackberries, Brigit’s Cross, Music, and Poetry.
Plants: Blackberry, Early Spring Flowers, Grain, Hazel and Hops.
Planet: Moon
Sabbats: Imbolc
Stone: Agate, Amethyst, Carnelian, Clear Quartz, Lapis Lazuli, and Red Jasper.
Symbols: Anvil, Brigit's Cross, Crescents, Fire, Forges, The Milky Way, Nine White Stones, Sunrise, and Wells.
Tree: Birch, Oak, and Willow.

The Goddess Brigit was thought to originally have been a Sun Goddess, who was born at sunrise. It is said that when she was born a tower of flame burst forth from her forehead from Earth to Heaven. It was likely she who inspired the line in the famous Song of Amergin: "I am a fire in the head." Brigit was one of the great Triple Goddesses of the Celtic people. She appeared as Brigit to the Irish, Brigantia in Northern England, Bride in Scotland, and Brigandu in Brittany. She has many other names and titles including Brigh which means 'Power', Bride the Beautiful, Brigit of the Green Mantle, Lady of the Shores, Flame of Ireland, Fiery Arrow, and Brigit of the Slim Fairy Folk. She is the daughter of the Dagda "the good God", one-time druid of the Tuatha Dé Danann and of Ireland, and keeper of the cauldron of plenty and a club which can not only take life but restore it.

Some say that there are three Brigits: one sister in charge of poetry and inspiration who invented the Ogham alphabet, one in charge of healing and midwifery, and the third in charge of the hearth fire, smithies and other crafts. This actually indicates the separate aspects of her Threefold nature. Her penchant for smithcraft led to her association by the Romans with Minerva/Athena. As a warrior Goddess, she favored the use of the spear or the arrow. As a Goddess of herbalism, midwifery, and healing, she was in charge of Water as well as Fire. There are a vast number of sacred wells and springs named after or dedicated to Brigit. Offerings to the watery Brigit were cast into the well in the form of coins or, even more ancient, brass, or gold rings. Brigit is said to have owned two royal oxen, called Fea and Men, and Torc Triath, the king of boars. Torc Triath is related to the supernatural boar Twrch Trwyth in Welsh mythology. Both swine and oxen are associated with the Otherworld.

Brigit’s Festival is on Feb 1st or 2nd and corresponds to Imbolc which celebrates the birthing and freshening of sheep. Her festival is also called Brigit. Brigit (the Goddess and the Festival) represents the stirring of life again after the dead months of the winter, and her special blessings are called forth at this time.

Goddess of Winter and Transformation

The Cailleach

Animals: Bats, Cattle, Deer, Fish, Goats, Mice, Owls, Ravens, Reindeer, Sheep, Spiders, Swine, and Wolves.
Colors: Black, Blue, Brown, Grey, Silver, White, and Yellow.
Festivals/Holidays:
Food: Apples, Hazelnuts, and Turnips.
Herbs: Clove, Lavender, Mugwort, Pansy, Patchouli, Poppy, Rose, Rue, St. John's Wart, Tansy, Witch Hazel, Woodruff, and Yarrow.
Incense: Benzoin Resin
Magical Attributes: Wisdom
Metal: None
Musical Instrument: None
Offerings: Pebbles, Hag Stones, Shells, Feathers, and Boiled Sweets.
Planet: Mercury
Plants: Gorse, Holly, Honeysuckle, Magnolia, and Snapdragon.
Sabbat: Samhain and Yule.
Stones: Blue Howlite, Grey Agate, Pebbles, Rough Stones, Sea Glass, Shells, and Turquoise.
Symbols: Blue, Deer, Falling Leaves, Hammers, Hills, Mountains, Rocks, Skulls, Snow, Spirals, Wands, Waning and Moon.
Trees: Elder, Elm, Hazel, Pine, and Yew.

The Cailleach (KAL-y-ach), is the Crone Goddess of winter and transformation. She arises on Samhain night using a slachdan to control the power of winter cold, winds, and storms. A slachdan is a Druidic white wand of power, which is made of birch, willow, bramble, or broom. Wherever The Cailleach goes she strikes the ground with the slachdan making the earth harden with frost. As autumn progresses into winter she scours the land with her cold breath, bringing snow and treacherous weather. At Imbolc, The Cailleach hurls her slachdan into the root of the holly and gorse plants and she turns into a grey boulder until the Wheel again turns to Samhain.

Her name means “Veiled One” and she is incredibly old. No one knows for certain where she came from when the Celts arrived in Ireland The Cailleach was already there. She has been called Old Wife, Old Woman, and the Blue Hag of Winter. In Celtic myth the Hag represented the spirit of the land, and held sovereign power over the earth and kings. For a Celtic king to retain power he was required to “marry” the Goddess of the earth. The Cailleach is said to be responsible for raising mountains and creating the ancient burial cairns and barrow mounds. She is a Goddess of the Underworld, associated with the ancestors and the realms of death and rebirth. The Cailleach is connected to the Bean Sidhe (Banshee), the wild women of the Faeries, she haunts the faerie mounds and entrances to the realm of the Fey. You may also find her near sacred standing stones, the “bones of the earth”. Her companion the Owl is also associated with death, the underworld, magic, and the ability to see spirits. As a Goddess of transformation and death, she oversees the culling of the old, and lets die all that is no longer needed.

With the passing of the winter months, the Cailleach finds and guards the seeds for the coming re-birth of Spring. She stands at the cusp of life and death, intimately connected to the witches of old, the wise women who presided as midwives over birthing and who prepared the dead for burial. As the “Veiled One” the Cailleach guides us through our inner realities and dreams. She teaches us to let go of (allow to die) all that no longer serves our higher purpose and guides us through the many deaths and rebirths of our life’s transitions. She is the final phase of the Triple Goddess who rules the wheel of reincarnation. She teaches us to embrace the transformative power of darkness and leads us into the light of re-birth.

Queen of the Banshees

Clíodhna

Animals: Sea Birds
Colors:
Festivals/Holidays:
Food:
Herbs:
Incense:
Magical Attributes:
Metal:
Musical Instrument: Appreciation for Life, Beauty, Lust, Spirit Contact, and Water Magic.
Offerings:
Planet: Earth
Plants:
Sabbats:
Stones:
Symbols:
Trees:

In Irish mythology, Clíodhna is a Queen of the Banshees of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Clíodna of Carrigcleena is the potent banshee that rules as queen over the sidheog (fairy women of the hills) of South Munster, or Desmond. In some Irish myths, Clíodhna is a goddess of love and beauty, and the patron of County Cork. She is said to have three brightly coloured birds who eat apples from an otherworldly tree and whose sweet song heals the sick people. She leaves the otherworldly island of Tir Tairngire ("the land of promise") to be with her mortal lover, Ciabhán, but is taken by a wave as she sleeps due to the music played by a minstrel of Manannan mac Lir in Glandore harbour in County Cork: the tide there is known as Tonn Chlíodhna, "Clíodhna's Wave". Whether she drowns or not depends on the version being told, along with many other details of the story. She had her palace in the heart of a pile of rocks, five miles from Mallow, which is still commonly known by the name of Carrig-Cleena, and numerous legends about her are told above the Munster peasantry.

The most traditional story of the famous Blarney Stone involves Clíodhna. Cormac Laidir MacCarthy, the builder of Blarney Castle, being involved in a lawsuit, appealed to Clíodhna for her assistance. She told him to kiss the first stone he found in the morning on his way to court, and he did so, with the result that he pleaded his case with great eloquence and won. Thus the Blarney Stone is said to impart "the ability to deceive without offending". He then incorporated it into the parapet of the castle. To be fair, Clíodhna does not take credit for all the blarney of the MacCarthys. Queen Elizabeth noted in frustration that she could not effect a negotiation with Cormac MacCarthy, whose seat was Blarney Castle, as everything he said was 'Blarney, as what he says he does not mean'.

The All-Father

The Dagda

Animals:
Colors:
Festivals/Holidays:
Food:
Herbs:
Incense:
Magical Attributes: Animals, Children, Creativity, Elemental Magic, Faerie Contact, Fertility, Knowledge, Mental Prowess, Music Spells, Protection, Sex, Warrior Skills, and Wisdom.
Metal:
Musical Instrument: Magical Harp
Offerings:
Planet: Sun
Plants:
Sabbats: All
Stones:
Symbols: Alchemical Symbols and The Sun Wheel
Trees: The Elder Tree

The Dagda (Irish: An Dagda) is an important god in Celtic mythology. One of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the Dagda is portrayed as a father-figure, king, and druid. He is associated with fertility, agriculture, manliness and strength, as well as magic, druidry and wisdom. He can control life and death, the weather and crops, as well as time and the seasons. He is often described as a large bearded man or giant wearing a hooded cloak. He owns a magic staff, club, or mace (the lorg mór or lorg anfaid) which kills with one end and brings to life with the other, a cauldron (the coire ansic) which never runs empty, and a magic harp (uaithne) which can control men's emotions and change the seasons. He is said to dwell in Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange). Other places associated with or named after him include Uisneach, Grianan of Aileach, and Lough Neagh. The Dagda is said to be husband of the Morrígan and lover of Boann. His children include Aengus, Brigit, Bodb Derg, Cermait, Aed, and Midir.

The Dagda's name is thought to mean "the good god" or "the great god". His other names include Eochu or Eochaid Ollathair ("horseman, great father" or "all-father"), Ruad Rofhessa ("mighty one/lord of great knowledge") and Dáire ("the fertile one"). The death and ancestral god Donn may originally have been a form of the Dagda, and he also has similarities with the later harvest figure Crom Dubh. Several tribal groupings saw the Dagda as an ancestor and were named after him, such as the Uí Echach and the Dáirine.

The Dagda has been likened to the Germanic god Odin, the Gaulish god Sucellos, and the Roman god Dīs Pater.

Goddess of Water

Danu

Animals: Mares, Salmon, Seagulls, and Snakes.
Colors: Blue, Green, Silver, and White.
Festivals/Holidays:
Food:
Herbs: Grains
Incense: Amber and Patchouli.
Magical Attributes: Abundance, Creativity, Cultivation, Fertility, Knowledge, Magic, Motherhood, Prosperity, Rivers, Sovereignty, Strength, Water, Wealth, Wells, and Wisdom.
Metal: Gold
Musical Instrument:
Offerings: Apple, Blood, Blossom, Cauldron Of Water, Keys, and Moon.
Planet: Moon and Venus.
Plants:
Sabbats: Beltane and Litha.
Stones: Amber, Hag Stones, and River Stones.
Symbols: Bodies Of Water, Cauldron Of Water, Crown, Earth, Holy Stones, Horses, Moon, Rivers, Sea, and Wind.
Trees: Apple, Hawthorn, Oak, and Rowan.

In Irish mythology, Danu is a hypothetical mother goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann (Old Irish: "The peoples of the goddess Danu"). Though primarily seen as an ancestral figure, some Victorian sources also associate her with the land.

Danu has no surviving myths or legends associated with her in any of the medieval Irish texts. She has possible parallels with the Welsh literary figure Dôn, whom most modern scholars regard as a mythological mother goddess in the medieval tales of the Mabinogion. However, Dôn's gender is never specified in the tales and was regarded as a man by some medieval Welsh antiquarians. The closest figure in Irish texts to a "Danu" would then be Danand, daughter of Delbáeth. In the Lebor Gabála Érenn: The Book of the Taking of Ireland, it is noted the Tuatha Dé Danann get their name from the three sons of Danand: Brian, Iuchar, and Iucharba. These three are known as the "Gods of Dannan." However, Cormac's Glossary, a text that predates the Lebor Gabala Erenn, names the goddess Anu as the mother of the gods.

Danu and Anu are occasionally described as being the same figure, but their associations indicate that they are probably not the same deity at all. Anu is most commonly associated with the earth (ref: Paps of Anu) whereas Danu is typically associated with rivers and flowing water. Danu has also incorrectly been linked as one of the aspects of The Morrigan.

God of Healing and Medicine

Dian Cecht

Animals: Serpents
Colors: Purple
Festivals/Holidays:
Food: All Healthy and non Processed Foods.
Herbs: All
Incense:
Magical Attributes: Animals, Craftsmen, Healing, Herbal Knowledge, and Medicine.
Metal: Silver
Musical Instrument:
Offerings:
Planet:
Plants:
Sabbats:
Stones:
Symbols: Wells
Trees:

Dian Cécht was the god of healing, the healer for the Tuatha Dé Danann, and son of the Dagda according to the Dindsenchas. He was the father of Cu, Cethen and Cian. His other children were Miach, Airmed, Étan the poet and Ochtriullach (Octriuil). Through Cian, he is also Lugh's paternal grandfather.

Dian Cécht ministered to the injured by soaking them in "Slainge's Well" (Old Irish: Tiprait Slainge) or rather the "well of healing" (Tipra Sláíne) when the Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh (Cath Maige Tuired) was fought. The well was located at Achad Abla ('Field of the Apple Tree'), northwest of Magh Tuireadh (Moytura). He also ground medicinal herbs nearby on Lusmag "Herb-plain", or else, he chanted spells over the well together with his two sons Miach and Octriuil and daughter Airmed. Dian Cécht, when questioned on his ability, boasted to be able mend anyone but those who have been decapitated (or whose brain or spinal cord have been severely damaged); this he presumably accomplished using the Tipra Sláíne.

It was Dian Cecht who once saved Ireland, and was indirectly the cause of the name of the River Barrow. The Morrígú, the Dagda's fierce wife, had borne a son of such terrible aspect that the physician of the gods, foreseeing danger, counselled that he should be destroyed in his infancy. When this was done, Dian Cecht opened the infant's heart, and found within it three serpents, capable, when they grew to full size, of depopulating Ireland. He lost no time in destroying these serpents also, and burning them into ashes, to avoid the evil which even their dead bodies might do. More than this, he flung the ashes into the nearest river, for he feared that there might be danger even in them. So venomous were they that the river boiled up and slew every living creature in it, and therefore it has been called the River Barrow, the ‘Boiling’ ever since.

Goddess of the Horse

Epona

Animals: Birds, Donkeys, Geese, Horses, Mules, and Ravens.
Colors: Black and White.
Festivals/Holidays:
Food: Apples, Carrots, Purslane, and Wine.
Herbs: Oats, Valerian, and Vervain.
Incense: Rose
Magical Attributes: Banish Children's Nightmares, Divination, Dream Work, Fertility, Sex Magic, Sovereign, and War.
Mineral:
Musical Instrument:
Offerings: Cakes, Fruit, and something for her Horses.
Planet:
Plants:
Sabbats:
Stones: Azurite
Symbols: Cauldron, Cornucopia, Ears of Grain, Patera, and The White Horse.
Trees:

Epona is one of the most well-known of all the Goddesses within the Celtic Pantheon, and was granted such titles as "The Great Mare," the "Divine Mare," and the "Mare Goddess.” Her name derives from the Celtic words “epos” meaning “horse” and the suffix “-ona” meaning “on. Her worship began in Gaul (Celtic France) and spread to Britain and Rome. She was especially revered by those whose job or livelihood depended on horses. Epona was also a Goddess of fertility and is often shown with a cornucopia, ears of grain and the presence of foals in sculptures. Epona is also depicted with keys, which together with Her horses as messengers, link Her to the Underworld and the dream world.

She was beloved of Roman soldiers who encountered Her in Gaul and brought Her to Rome where She was enshrined and given Her own feast day. The Roman Calvary adopted Her as their guardian Goddess and the Roman legions carried Her worship throughout the Roman Empire from Britain to as far away as North Africa. Epona was worshipped in domestic and workplace shrines as well as special shrines that were set up in stables to protect the horses that lived there.

In Great Britain, the traditional hobby-horse riders parading on May Day at Padstow, Cornwall and Minehead, Somerset may have deep roots in the veneration of Epona, as may the British aversion to eating horse meat. Though some people believe that the Uffington White Horse, created around 1400 BCE that is carved into the chalk hill in Southern England is directly associated with Epona, it was created before Epona came to the British Isles.

The Matron Goddess of Ireland

Ériu

Animals:
Colors: Green
Festivals/Holidays:
Food:
Herbs:
Incense:
Magical Attributes: Creativity, Leadership, Magic, and Memories.
Metal:
Musical Instrument: The Harp
Offerings:
Planet:
Plants: Shamrock
Sabbats:
Stones:
Symbols: The Harp and Shamrock.
Trees:

In Irish mythology, Ériu, daughter of Delbáeth and Ernmas of the Tuatha Dé Danann, was the eponymous matron goddess of Ireland. The English name for Ireland comes from the name Ériu and the Germanic (Old Norse or Old English) word land. Since Ériu is represented as goddess of Ireland, she is often interpreted as a modern-day personification of Ireland, although since the name "Ériu" is the older Irish form of the word Ireland, her modern name is often modified to "Éire" or "Erin" to suit a modern form.

With her sisters, Banba and Fódla, she was part of a triumvirate of goddesses. When the Milesians arrived from Galicia, each of the three sisters asked that their name be given to the country. This was granted to them, although Ériu (Éire) became the chief name in use. (Banba and Fódla are still sometimes used as poetic names for Ireland, much as Albion is used as a poetic name for Great Britain.) Ériu was said to have been the wife of Mac Gréine, a grandson of Dagda. Ériu, Banba and Fódla are interpreted as goddesses of sovereignty. According to the 17th-century Irish historian Geoffrey Keating (Seathrún Céitinn), the three sovereignty goddesses associated with Éire, Banbha and Fódla were Badb, Macha and The Morrígan.

Different texts have attributed different personal relationships to Ériu. Her husband has been named as Mac Gréine (‘Son of the Sun’). She has also been portrayed as the lover of Elatha, a prince of the Fomorians, with whom she had a son Bres, and as the mistress of the hero Lugh. Both Elatha and Ériu are described in some sources as the children of Delbaeth, indicating they may be half-siblings. Her foster-father in the Rennes Dindsenchas was Codal the Roundbreasted, whose feeding Eriu caused the land in Ireland to heave toward the sky.

Queen of the Tuatha De Danann

Étaín

Animals: Butterflies, Serpents, and Swans.
Colors:
Festivals/Holidays:
Food:
Herbs: Apple Blossoms
Incense: Lilac Oil
Magical Attributes: Beauty, Dawn, Enhance Personal Appearance, Eternal Cycle of Reincarnation, Past or Future life Explorations, Rain, The Sea, and Water.
Metal:
Musical Instrument:
Offerings:
Planet: Sun
Plants:
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Stones:
Symbols: The Butterfly
Trees:

Étaín or Édaín is best known as the heroine of Tochmarc Étaíne (The Wooing Of Étaín), one of the oldest and richest stories of the Mythological Cycle. She also figures in the Middle Irish Togail Bruidne Dá Derga (The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel). T. F. O'Rahilly identified her as a sun goddess.

The Giantesses of Ireland

Fódla

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In Irish mythology, Fódla or Fótla, daughter of Delbáeth and Ernmas of the Tuatha Dé Danann, was one of the tutelary giantesses of Ireland. Her husband was Mac Cecht. With her sisters, Banba and Ériu, she was part of an important triumvirate of goddesses. When the Milesians arrived from Spain, each of the three sisters asked the bard Amergin that her name be given to the country. Ériu (Éire, and in the dative 'Éirinn', giving English 'Erin') seems to have won the argument, but the poets hold that all three were granted their wish, and thus 'Fódhla' is sometimes used as a literary name for Ireland, as is 'Banba'. This is similar in some ways to the use of the poetic name 'Albion' for Great Britain.

In the Tochomlad mac Miledh a hEspain i nErind, Fótla is described as the wife of Mac Cecht, reigning as Queen of Ireland in any year in which Mac Cecht ruled as king. The text goes on to relate that as the Milesians were journeying through Ireland, Fótla met them ‘with her swift fairy hosts around her’ on Naini Mountain, also called the mountain of Ebliu. A footnote identifies the Naini Mountain of Ebliu as the Slieve Felim Mountains in County Limerick. The soil of this region is peaty luvisol. According to Seathrún Céitinn she worshipped the Mórrígan, who is also sometimes named as a daughter of Ernmas.

God of the Sea

Lir

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Magical Attributes: Contacting Sea Fae and Water Magic.
Metal: Aluminum
Musical Instrument:
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Sabbats:
Stones: Aquamarine, Beryl, Emerald, and Sea Shells.
Symbols: The Conch Shell and The Trident.
Trees:

Lir or Ler is a sea god in Irish mythology. His name suggests that he is a personification of the sea, rather than a distinct deity. He is named Allód in early genealogies, and corresponds to the Llŷr of Welsh mythology. Lir is chiefly an ancestor figure, and is the father of the god Manannán mac Lir, who appears frequently in medieval Irish literature. Lir appears as the titular king in the tale The Children of Lir.

Lir is a key character in the mythological story The Children of Lir; however, it is not definitely established whether this is the same person as Manannán's father or a different Lir. The Lir in this story was the rival of Bodb Dearg for the kingship of the Tuatha Dé Danann after their retreat into the fairy mounds. In order to appease Lir, Bodb gave one of his daughters to marry him, Aeb. She bore him four children, one girl, Fionnuala, and three sons, Aed and twins, Fiachra and Conn. Aebh died and, not wanting the children to remain motherless, Bodb sent another of his daughters, Aoife, to marry Lir. Aoife grew jealous of the children and cursed them to live as swans for 900 years.

Another surviving myth describes Lir’s displeasure at not being chosen King of the Tuatha Dé Danaan.

God of Druids and the Sun

Lugh

Animals: Horses, Lions, Lynx, and Ravens.
Colors:
Festivals/Holidays:
Food: Breads, Cookies, and Wheat Cakes.
Herbs:
Incense:
Magical Attributes: The Arts, Business, Carpentry, Druids, Energy, Fire, Light, Magic, Masons, Money, Physicians, Protection, Strength, and Warriors.
Metal: Gold
Musical Instrument: Harp
Offerings: Grains and Honored at Lughnasadh.
Planet: Sun
Plants:
Sabbats: Lughnasadh
Stones: Obsidian, Sapphire, and Topaz.
Symbols: Magical Spear, Slingshot, and Sling-stone.
Trees:

Lugh was known as a god of both skill and the distribution of talent. There are countless inscriptions and statues dedicated to Lugh, and Julius Caesar himself commented on this god's importance to the Celtic people. Although he was not a war god in the same sense as the Roman Mars, Lugh was considered a warrior because to the Celts, skill on the battlefield was a highly valued ability. In Ireland, which was never invaded by Roman troops, Lugh is called sam ildanach, meaning he was skilled in many arts simultaneously.

In one famous legend, Lugh arrives at Tara, the hall of the high kings of Ireland. The guard at the door tells him that only one person will be admitted with a particular skill–one blacksmith, one wheelwright, one bard, etc. Lugh enumerates all the great things he can do, and each time the guard says, "Sorry, we've already got someone here who can do that." Finally Lugh asks, "Ah, but do you have anyone here who can do them ALL?" At last, Lugh was allowed entrance to Tara.

Although not specifically a war god, Lugh was known as a skilled warrior. His weapons included a mighty magic spear, which was so bloodthirsty that it often tried to fight without its owner. According to Irish myth, in battle, the spear flashed fire and tore through the enemy ranks unchecked. In parts of Ireland, when a thunderstorm rolls in, the locals say that Lugh and Balor are sparring–thus giving Lugh one more role, as a god of storms.

King of Death and the Otherworld

Mabon

Animals: Cattle, Horses, and Hunting Hounds.
Colors:
Festivals/Holidays:
Food: Grapes, Wild Game Meat, and Wine.
Herbs:
Incense:
Magical Attributes: Darkness, Death, Fertility, Harvest, Hunting, Spirit Contact, Storms, Strength, Vitality, and Youth.
Metal:
Musical Instrument:
Offerings: Grapes, Wild Game, and Wine.
Planet:
Plants: Vines
Sabbats: Mabon
Stones:
Symbols: The Equilateral Cross.
Trees:

Mabon means "great son", the child of Modred whose name means "great mother". He was stolen from Modron at three years old and later rescued by King Arthur. Mabon's myths overlap those of Gwyn Ap Nuad, and they may have once been the same deity. Mabon rode wild horses, had prized guardian hunting hounds, and he may have been an actual ruler of Wales who later came into myth.

He is also a minor sun god, yet he represents the power of darkness. His images transcend all the life stages of other gods. He is a king of death and the Otherworld, a deity of the harvest and fertility, and was once called "The Devine Youth" by his followers. He represents innocent youth, strength, and virility as a young man, and the sacrificial god when elderly. His image is linked to hierarchies of sacred animals, and he may have once figured heavily in long lost Celtic creation myths since he is equated with the expelling of and control of the darkness and the storms.

Some Celtic traditions see him as the original being, the first god, the first life carved out of the primal void of the divine womb.

Goddess of War

Macha

Animals: Crows, Horses, and Serpents.
Colors: Dark Brown and Red.
Festivals/Holidays:
Food: Apples
Herbs: Belladonna and Vervain.
Incense:
Magical Attributes: Abundance, Childbirth, Death, Destruction, Fertility, Fighting, Horses, Land, Past Lives, Sovereignty, Strength, War, and Wisdom.
Metal:
Musical Instrument:
Offerings: Dark Ale/Beer, Apples, and Grain.
Planet: Mars and Sun.
Plants: Coltsfoot
Sabbats: Litha, Lammas, and Mabon.
Stones: Clear Quartz, Citrine, and Garnet.
Symbols:
Trees:

Along with Badbh and the Morrigan, Macha is among a group of goddesses concerned with Ireland's prosperity, welfare, and safety.

Macha is simultaneously on of three mythic figures:

Wife of Nemedh, leader of the Third Invasion of Ireland. She Died of a broken heart after foreseeing Ireland's destruction.
Ireland's warrior queen, who established Ulster's pre-Christian political center, Emhain Macha, which means "Macha's Twin".
The divine bride of the mortal Ulster widower, Crunnchu.

As a goddess of death and destruction, she was the guardian of the Mered Machae, the pillared fortress gate on which the heads of conquered warriors were displayed. She is also associated with a County Armagh stronghold known as Ard Macha (for which the county was named) which became a Christian center during the reign of England's James I. At this site she had an eternal flame dedicated to her which was attended by the temple maidens. The task was later taken over by nuns who created a shrine to a local saint at her holy site.

When she was heavily pregnant, she was forced to race against the fastest horse in Ireland. She completed the course, but died at the end post while giving birth to twins. As her life ended, she cursed all the men of Ulster to have great labor pains whenever danger threatened so that they would be unable to fight. Only the famous warrior Cuchulain was immune to the curse, but the rest of his warriors fell under the spell and were subsequently defeated by Connacht.

Macha has three husbands credited to her, Nemed, Nuada, and Crunnchu. Each time she remarried was after a profound self-transformation, which archetypally links her to reincarnation.

God of the Headland

Manannán MacLir

Animals: Horses, Pigs, and Seahorses.
Colors: Red and Yellow.
Festivals/Holidays:
Food: Apples and Beer.
Herbs:
Incense:
Magical Attributes: Astral Projection, Environment or Element Magic, Erase someone from your Memory, Protection, Sailors, and Water Magic.
Metal:
Musical Instrument:
Offerings: Bundles of Reeds, Flowers, and Wheat Beer.
Planet:
Plants: Irish Moss
Sabbats: Lammas
Stones:
Symbols: Conch Shell, The Trident, and The Triskelion (the three-legged wheel of the Isle of Man).
Trees:

Manannan, son of the sea god Lir, is a sea spirit. Ocean waves are his horses and the sea is his cloak, He is a trickster, a master of true magic, illusion, and sleight of hand. He controls the weather. Manannan presides over an Otherworld realm named Mag Mell, a joyous paradise populated by dead souls and other members of the Tuatha De Danaan. He serves as a psychopomp, ferrying souls to his realm. Although Manannan is classified among the Tuatha De Danaan, it is widely acknowledged that he is older that that family of spirits. He may be among the primordial spirits of Earth.

It was Manannan who decreed that the world of Faeries and the world of Humans should forever remain separated when his wife (one of many in succession), Fand, fell in love with the hero Cuchulain.

Some sources say he once ruled Elysium, a mythical kingdom beneath the sea, now thought of as a home for faeries and for the banished Formorians who became sea monsters. He was not a popular god until Celts, largely a herding people, went to the sea in equal numbers. The sea power of the Celts was destroyed by the Romans, and therefore Manannan became associated with Irish and Welsh waters rather than all the oceans like the Roman's Neptune. Once the Celts latched onto his archetype, he became a frequently mentioned deity in mythology with many stories attributed to him, several of them contradictory.

Unlike other deities, he did not leave the sea to fight the Tuatha De Danaan's land battles with the other gods.

Manannan possesses a magical crane-bag filled with treasures:

A boat that requires no sail of oars but obeys the thoughts of its captain. It was called the "Wind Sweeper".
A horse that rides equally well on land or sea.
A magical sword named Fragarach, "The Answer", that penetrates and armor.
Pigs that are slaughtered and consumed but are then reborn, fully grown the next day so that they can be eaten over and over again.

Priestess of the Old Ways, The Phantom Queen, and Goddess of War

Morgana (The Morrigan)

Animals: Black Dogs, Crows, Eels, Ravens, and Rooks.
Colors: Red
Festivals/Holidays:
Food:
Herbs: Henbane and Nightshade.
Incense:
Magical Attributes: Death, Fate, Fertility, Ravens, and War.
Metal:
Musical Instrument:
Offerings:
Planet: Mars
Plants:
Sabbats: Samhain
Stones: Mother of Pearl, Obsidian, Onyx, and Ruby.
Symbols: Blood mixed with Brine, Crow or Raven Feathers, and Red Ribbon to Represent the Washer at the Ford.
Trees: Yew

The Goddess Morgana is a Priestess of the Old Ways, a healer with knowledge of herbal medicines. She is a shapeshifter and sorceress as well as a Priestess of the enchanted Isle of Avalon where she presides over a sisterhood of nine healers. Morgana is a triple Goddess, the Maiden aspect of Morgana is Mache, the Mother aspect is Babd and the Crone aspect is Nemain. She is a Goddess of battle, fertility, and sexuality. The Goddess Morgana has also incarnated as Morgan le Fay the Celtic Queen of the Fairies. Le Fay translates to “the Fate” or “the Fairy” and represents healing magic.

She was a half-sister to Arthur whom she hated from the day of his birth. There are many legends telling of her attempts to bring his downfall. Like Arthur, she was also a student of Merlin and an accomplished sorceress. Before Morgana, Morgan le Fay, and Fata Morgana there was the Morrigan. She is a Goddess whose origins seem to reach directly back to the megalithic cult of the Mothers. The Mothers usually appeared as triple goddesses and their cult was expressed through battle ecstasy and regenerative ecstasy. They used magic and incantation in warfare rather than physical strength. To the Irish Celts, she was Morrigan the Phantom Queen. If a warrior saw her before a battle, he knew that he would be killed that day. Another guise of the Morrigan is “the Washer at the Ford”. The Washer is usually found washing the clothes of men about to die in battle. In effect, she is choosing who will die.

God of War

Nuada Argetlám

Animals: Chameleons and Lizards.
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Magical Attributes: Healing, Health, Leadership, Overcoming Obstacles, and Perseverance.
Metal: Silver
Musical Instrument:
Offerings:
Planet: Moon and Sun.
Plants:
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Also spelled Nuad Argetlam, meaning "The Silver-handed". He was the last king of the Tuatha De Danaan, a god of war who owned a sword from which no enemy could escape alive once it was trained on them. He was also a minor sun or moon deity.

He was forced to abdicate his throne to the Milesian incaders after a lengthy battle in which he lost his hand (the First Battle of Mag Tuireadh). Unfortunately for him, Irish kings had to be physically prefect to rule. The great healers Airmid and Miach fashioned him one of silver so that he could rule. Nuada eventually abdicated in favor of Lugh during the Tuatha's battles with the Fomorians.

He was one of three men married to Macha.

God of Communication and Writing

Oghma

Animals:
Colors:
Festivals/Holidays:
Food:
Herbs:
Incense:
Magical Attributes: Aiding Communication, Creative Inspiration, Overcoming Writers Block, Passover Rituals, Poetry, Spirit Contact, Wisdom, and Writing.
Metal:
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Offerings:
Planet: Mercury and Sun.
Plants:
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Symbols: Feathers and Quills.
Trees:

Oghma, Lord of Eloquence and Literature, is credited with inventing Ogham Script, a system of writing incorporating notches and strokes traditionally cut into wood or stone. It may also be used for divination and to communicate with Oghma. He is a poet, a warrior, and is skilled in witchcraft. His name appears on curse tables intended to provide justice or to enforce curses. Aside from Oghma's literary association, he was a warrior of Tara who fought with Lugh against the Formorians. He was also given a role in Myth of helping to escort the recently dead to the Otherworld.

Oghma had two nicknames which tell much about his character. One was Cermait, which means "the Honey-Mouthed", relating him to the Irish gift of glib gab known as blarney; and the other is Grianainech, "the Sunny-Faced", believed to come from his great wisdom.

Writing was considered a very sacred and holy act by many early people including the Celts. It is for this reason the Celts has a strong oral tradition, even among their magical folk, as very little was believed safe to commit to paper. This explains the little surviving information on many Celtic deities.

Divine Queen of Faeries

Rhiannon

Animals: Badgers, Dogs, Dragons, Frogs, Hummingbirds, Mares, Puppies, and Songbirds.
Colors: Black, Brown, Dark Green, Gold, Grey, Maroon, Red, Silver, and White.
Festivals/Holidays:
Food:
Herbs: Sage and Rosemary.
Incense: Bergamot, Geranium, Jasmine, Lavender, Narcissus, Neroli, and Sandalwood.
Magical Attributes: Artistic Inspiration, Beauty, Dream Work, Fertility, Magic, Moon Rituals, Overcome Enemies, Poetry, Rebirth, Transformation, and Wisdom.
Metal: Gold and Silver.
Musical Instrument:
Offerings: Blood and Music.
Planet: Moon
Plants: All White Flowers, Daffodils, Narcissus, and Pansies.
Sabbats:
Stones: Amethyst, Bloodstone, Cat’s Eye, Crystal Quartz, Garnet, Moonstone, Ruby, and Turquoise.
Symbols: Gates, Horseshoes, The Moon, and The Wind.
Trees: Cedar and Pine.

The Celtic Moon Goddess Rhiannon was born at the first Moon Rise and is known as the Divine Queen of Faeries. She is the Goddess of fertility, rebirth, wisdom, magic, transformation, beauty, artistic inspiration, and poetry. Rhiannon manifests as a beautiful young woman dressed in gold, riding a pale horse, with singing birds flying around her head. The singing birds can wake spirits or grant sleep to mortals.

Much of what we know of her comes from the ancient Welsh folklore book The Mabinogion by Lady Charlotte Guest. The story of Rhiannon teaches us that with truth, patience, and love we can create change no matter how bleak life seems at the moment. Ideally, Rhiannon would be worshipped at night with Moon high in the sky, within a grove of trees, upon an Altar made from forest materials. In the real world, we can create an Altar to her made of wood or stone, adorned with images of horses, birds, golden or white candles, and a bouquet of daffodils, pansies, or pure white flowers. Soft music playing in the background would be a perfect offering to her.