Celtic Deities from
Ireland and Wales
Mari Adkins
The following is a listing of the major Irish Gods and Goddesses:
Danu, Dagdha, Nuada, Lugh, Angus Og, Len, Midir, Lir, Manannan, Ogma, Anu, Brigid,
Morrighan, Aine, Sinend, Macha, Diancecht, Gobnui, Medb, Scathach, the Cailleach.
The following is a listing of the major Welsh Gods and Goddesses:
The House
of Don
Manogan, Beli, Don, Math, Mathonwy, Gwydion, Arianrhod, Llew, Dylan, Nwyvre, Amaethon,
Govannan(the smith), Nudd, Gwynn, Penardun, Nynniaw.
The House
of Llyr
Iweriadd, Llyr, Penardun, Euroswydd, Bran, Branwen, Matholwch, Gwern, Mananwyddan,
Rhiannon, Nissyen, Evinissyen, Pwyll, Pryderi, Kicva
These two groups seem to relate to one another but sometimes the correspondences
can get vary confusing. I include the deities that most closely resonate with my
own Inner Being when working with the Sky World and the Underworld. My pantheon
of Gods and Goddesses is both Welsh and Irish I include a more detailed description
of them here:
Danu
The Red Mother of All, Major Mother Goddess of Ireland, Mother of the Gods and Patroness
of wizards, rivers, water, wells, prosperity and plenty, Magick and wisdom.
direction:
All but usually East or South.
Dagdha
The All Father, Eochaid Ollathair ( Father of All), Ruadh Rofessa (The Red One,
Lord of Occult Knowledge), Dagdha (the Good God) Many talented and powerful, Master
of the harp and possessor of a dread double ended club. The Chief of the Tuatha
de Dannan.
direction:
All but usually North or West.
The Goddess
of Sovereignty (Banbha, Fodla, Eriu)
The Land and the King were wed through many ceremonies. Essentually the fate of
the King and the fate of the land were One and vice versa. The Favor of the Goddess
could be granted by some heroic act or bu being Magickally chosen (The Lia Fail
could do this, more later). Women who held the Sovereignty of the land were often
referred to as the Goddess (Such as Medb, Boudicca and Macha-Red Mane).
direction:
Center
Nuada
The King and battle leader of the
Tuatha de Dannan, Possessor of the Magick Sword of Findias, Lost his sword hand
in the First Battle of Moytura, against the Fir Bolgs, stepped down from the Kingship
(because the King could nave no blemish) even though he was outfitted with a Magickal
hand of silver. He eventually had his hand Magickally restored to lead the Tuatha
de Dannans against the Fomors in the second Battle of Moy Tura. In this battle
he was physically killed so he returned the Lands of the Sidhe.
direction:
East.
Brigid
Breo saighead (Fiery Arrow or Power) Often called the Triple Brigid or the Triple
Mother. Also Associated with Danu at times. The daughter of the Dagdha. Goddess
of the Sacred Flame of Kildare. Goddess of poets, feminine crafts, the hearth, martial
arts, healing and inspiration. The White Maiden aspect of the Triple Goddess. Her
Feast is the Major Celtic Festival of Imbolc. She who gives hope and new beginnings.
The Celtic Church could not replace her, so they absorbed her as the "foster-mother"
of Christ and as St. Brigit, the daughter of the Druid Dougal the Brown. Brigid
is very like the Greek Goddess Athena.
direction:
North-east, East or South.
Lugh
Sam ildanach (many skilled). This is the Celtic Mercury. The grandson of Balor (leader
of the Fomorians and the son of Cian and Ethniu, a Sidhe princess. His feast is
Lughnasadh, a celebration of the death of his "foster mother", Tailtiu.
He is the combination of the Tuatha de Dannans and the Fomors. He replaces Nuada
as the King and battle leader of the Tuatha de Dannan and leads them to ultimate
victory in the second Battle of Moytura. He is sometimes called the "Shining
One" and/or Lugh Lamhfada (of the "long arm"). He also has attributes
of a carpenter, mason, poet, Druid, physician and a goldsmith. He can be considered
the Irish God of just about everything. He was also the father of the great Irish
hero, Cuchulain.
direction:
East, South or South-west.
Mannan mac
Lyr
Chief Irish God of the sea. Not a member of the Tuatha de Dannan. A happy-go-lucky
gypsy type. Always carried "the Crane Bag", a kind of Magick "horn
of plenty". He gave the last 5 Oghams to the Druids (also called the "Crane
Bag"). He preferred to roam among the people in disguise and aid their exploits.
He could change his shape at will. Despite his antics, he was an extremely powerful
God and was usually associated with fertility, rebirth, weather, sailing and Magick.
He also had a Magickal ship that moved without sails and was directed by the mind.
Linked to the Isle of Man.
direction:
East or West (towards the sea).
Gwynn ap
Nudd
The Master of the Wild Hunt, The Welsh Guardian of the Dark Portals of the Underworld.
He rode the Night in a flowing grey cloak upon a pale horse following his Hounds
called Cwn Annwn. (very large, white with red tipped ears). They would seek out
and collect souls.
direction:
West or North.
Arianrhod
"of the Silver Wheel", A star goddess of Wales, Her palace was called
Caer Arianrhod (Aurora Borealis), Goddess of time and karma. Mother aspect of the
Triple Goddess in Wales. Goddess of beauty, the Moon, fertility and reincarnation.Also
associated with the sea.
direction:
West or North.
Cerridwen
Welsh Goddess of Nature, associated with the Sacred Cauldron of Wisdom that allowed
Taliesin to become enlightened. When she discovered that Gwion had tasted of her
cauldron, she chased him through a variety of mutaual shape changes until at last
she caught and consummed him as a grain of wheat. This caused her to give birth
to Taliesin.
direction:
West or South
Cernunnos
Known to all Celts as the "Horned God ". God of nature, virility, fertility,
animals, sex, reincarnation and shamanism. Known to the Druids as Hu Gadarn. God
of the Underworld and Astral Planes. The Consort of the Great Goddess.
direction:
North or North-West
Amergin/Taliesin
The two greatest Celtic Bards that ever lived. Amergin was the Chief Bard of the
Mileseans and aided them in overcoming the Magicks of the Tuatha de Dannans to become
the heirs to the land of Ireland. Taliesin was the great Bard of the Welsh, whose
poetry and songs, Including the Cad Goddieu, tell us most of what we know about
Druidry in Wales. He gained his knowledge from the Cauldron of Cerridwen. They are
both patrons of Bards, music, Magick and poetry.
direction:
South or South-East.
Morrighan
The Dark aspect of the Celtic Triple Goddess. The "Washer at the Ford"
(seem washing bloody laundry prior to battle by those destined to die). The Battle
Goddess, also Queen of the Witches and Goddess of Magick. Could appear as a Raven,
a beautiful Maiden or an ugly Hag. Marries the Dagdha at Samhain. The Goddess of
Death.
direction:
North or North-west.
Ogma
The "Sun Faced" One, so called because he was a God of Wisdom and of speech.
He invented the Oghams and was also a great Warrior. Sometimes associated with the
Greek Herakles. Also Irish God of music, spells, the arts and eloquence.
direction:
East.
Scathach
"She Who Strikes Fear". The Irish/Scottish Goddess of martial arts. The
Destroyer aspect of the Dark Goddess. A great sword warrior and instructor. Native
to the Isle of Skye. Teacher of Cuchulain. Patroness of martial arts, prophecy,
blacksmiths and magic.
direction:
East.
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