The Irish pagan gods are an integral part of Irish mythology and folklore. They represent a rich and complex pantheon of deities worshipped by the ancient Celts in Ireland. These gods played various roles in the lives of the ancient Irish people, ranging from rulers and guardians of nature to embodiments of specific qualities and phenomena. One of the most prominent Irish pagan gods is Lugh, often associated with the sun, light, and skillful crafts. Lugh was revered as a hero and considered the patron of arts, crafts, and warriors. In Irish mythology, Lugh played a crucial role in several important battles and was considered the master of all skills.
Epona is a Celtic horse goddess associated with fertility, a cornucopia, horses, asses, mules, and oxen who accompanied the soul on its final journey. Uniquely for the Celtic goddesses, the Romans adopted her and erected a temple to her in Rome.
He is the husband of the Mórrígan, and the Dagda s Tools his other tools include the cauldron which never runs empty, and a magic harp which can control human emotions and change the seasons. He owns a boat named Scuabtuinne wave sweeper , a chariot that is drawn across the top of the waves as if on land by the horse Aonbharr one mane , or possibly, water foam.
In Irish mythology, Lugh played a crucial role in several important battles and was considered the master of all skills. Another significant deity is the Morrigan, who is often depicted as a goddess of war, fate, and sovereignty. The Morrigan, sometimes appearing as a crow or raven, was believed to possess the ability to shape-shift and would often appear on battlefields to inspire warriors or foretell their fate.
Irish Gods – Pagan Celtic Mythology
The Gods and Goddesses of the Irish were/are a little different from others in Celtic Mythology from Britain and Europe, and it is important to differentiate and understand what we mean by Irish Gods, specifically.
The term ‘Celtic’ is just a scholarly descriptor, when used correctly, to talk about Indo-European tribes in Europe who were grouped together (by outside observers) based on ethnolinguistic similarities – so, mainly their language, art, and other cultural indicators.
Basically what that means is that ‘the Celts’ doesn’t describe a single cohesive group of people, and it’s certainly not interchangeable with ‘the Irish’. Or even, ‘people who lived on the island we now call Ireland’!
Irish Gods, therefore, are their own unique thing. And that’s what we’ll be talking about here. This is just an intro article, so I’ll have to be brief, but you can also find a Pronunciation Guide for the Irish Gods on my YouTube Channel >>> Click Here.
An Mórrígan – The Morrígan or Mórrígan, also known as Morrígu, or Mór-Ríoghain in Modern Irish. Her name can be translated as ‘Great Queen’, or ‘Phantom Queen’. This Irish Goddess is mainly associated with prophecy, battle and sovereignty. She can appear as a crow, who we call the Badbh (who is another of the Irish Gods, at the same time as being a form of the Great Queen). In Neo Pagan terms she is often reduced to a ‘war goddess’, and misunderstood as a ‘Goddess of Sex and Battle’. Her primary function though, in my experience, is as a bringer of change, and a Guardian of Ireland – both in this world and the Irish Otherworld.
Áine – An Irish Goddess of the seasons, wealth/prosperity, and sovereignty, Aíne’s name could mean any of the following – ‘brightness, glow, joy, radiance; splendour, glory, fame’. She has a strong association with Samhraidh (Grianstad an tSamhraidh – Midsummer) and the sun in general, and can be represented by a red mare (McKillop, 1998). Some folk talk of her in terms of love and fertility, and she is definitely in the running as one of Ireland’s primary ‘Fairy Queens’. The hill of Knockainey (Cnoc Áine in Irish) is named for her, and up to as recently as 1879, it was recorded that local people were conducting rites involving fire, the blessing of land, animals and crops, in her honour.
Brighid – As Brigit, Brigid, Brighid, or Bríg, this Irish Goddess has been with the Irish Gods from pre-historic Ireland as one of the Tuatha Dé Danann, right through to modern Christian tradition in the form of our primary Catholic Saint. Her name is generally translated as ‘exalted one’, and she is a daughter of the Dagda. As one of the Irish Gods, she is associated with the Earraigh, the Spring (and particularly the Pagan Festival of Imbolg or Imbolc), and with fertility, and through her fire she brings healing, poetry and smithcraft. As Saint Brigid she shares many of the goddess’s associations, with a specific continuity of her sacred flame.
An Dagda – One of the Tuatha Dé Danann, whose name means ‘the Good God’, the Dagda is the ‘Great Father’ (Ollathair), chieftain, and druid of the tribe (Koch, 2006). He controls life and death through his magical club/staff (an Lorg Mór), and can manage the weather, crops, the seasons, and time itself. In general, his associations are the earthly ones of fertility, agriculture, strength, as well as the Otherworldly ones of magic, druidry and wisdom. He is the husband of the Mórrígan, and the Dagda’s Tools his other tools include the cauldron which never runs empty, and a magic harp which can control human emotions and change the seasons.
Manannán Mac Lír – This deity now, is not specifically Irish, I’ll admit, and definitely crosses the boundaries with the Celtic Gods of other nations. He does however, appear often in Irish mythology, and so has definitely earned his place amongst the Irish Gods. Manannán or Manann, also known as Manannán Mac Lir (‘son of the sea’) is, as you may have guessed, a God associated with the sea… but he also has very strong connections to the Otherworld as a guardian and guide, and so with Adventures or Journeys (Eachtraí nó Immrama) there. He owns a boat named Scuabtuinne (‘wave sweeper’), a chariot that is drawn across the top of the waves as if on land by the horse Aonbharr (‘one mane’, or possibly, ‘water foam’). He also carries – and sometimes loans out – a sword named Fragarach (‘the answerer’), and a cloak of invisibility (an féth fíada).
The Druid priests of the Celts did not write down the stories of their gods and goddesses but instead transmitted them orally, so our knowledge of the early Celtic deities is limited. Romans of the first century BCE recorded the Celtic myths and then later, after the introduction of Christianity to the British Isles, the Irish monks of the 6th century and Welsh writers later wrote down their traditional stories.
The god Dagda, known as the father figure of the Irish gods, was associated with fertility, agriculture, and abundance. He was often depicted as a wise and powerful figure, carrying a large cauldron that symbolized plenty and along with it, a club known for its incredible strength. Brigid, another important goddess, was associated with healing, poetry, and smithing. She was highly revered and her feast day, Imbolc, marked the beginning of spring and was celebrated with the lighting of fires. Apart from these prominent deities, there were numerous other Irish pagan gods worshipped by the ancient Celts. These included Aengus, the god of love and youth; Manannan mac Lir, associated with the sea and navigation; and Danu, the mother goddess and creator of the gods. The worship of these pagan gods played a fundamental role in the lives of the ancient Irish people, shaping their beliefs, customs, and rituals. Today, their stories and legends continue to be an essential part of Irish folklore and cultural identity..
Reviews for "Unearthing the Ancient Wisdom: Insights from Irish Pagan Gods"
1. John - 2/5: I was really excited to learn more about Irish pagan gods, but this book turned out to be a disappointment for me. The information provided was very basic and did not delve into the complexities of the subject. Additionally, I felt that the writing style was quite dry and lacked any sense of excitement or engagement. Overall, I found this book to be a missed opportunity to explore the fascinating world of Irish pagan gods in depth.
2. Sarah - 1/5: As someone who is deeply interested in learning about different mythologies, I picked up this book hoping to gain insights into the Irish pagan gods. However, I was sorely disappointed. The author provided very little context or background information in this book, assuming the reader already had a solid foundation in the subject. This made it incredibly difficult for a beginner like me to understand and fully appreciate the content. Moreover, the lack of illustrations or visual aids made the reading experience even more tedious. I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking an introduction to Irish pagan gods.
3. Michael - 2/5: I found this book on Irish pagan gods to be quite repetitive and shallow. It felt like the author kept rehashing the same information without presenting any new insights or perspectives. I was hoping for a more nuanced exploration of the topic, but I was left disappointed. Additionally, there were a few instances where the author made sweeping generalizations without providing proper evidence or sources to support their claims. Overall, I found this book to be lacking substance and would not recommend it to those seeking in-depth knowledge on Irish pagan gods.