Index to Celtic Deities

Abarta [Abartach, Abhartach]
[[Irish] "Son of the king of Tir Tairngire (Land of Promise) and the father of the unnamed beloved of the warrior Cael."] The Fenian cycle concerns the deeds of Finn Mac Cumaill as Abarta [one of the Tuatha de Danann], leads Finn and 14 members of the Fianna on a journey to the Otherworld on a wild gray horse. His name means "feat-performing one," or "doer of deeds."

Aine
[[Irish] "Goddess of love, fertility and agriculture, sometimes referred to as the "fire" aspect of Brighid."] Daughter of Eogabail, who was the foster son of the Manx sea god Manannan mac Lyr, Aine's main responsibility was to encourage human love. King Ailil Olom of Munster, one of Aine's mortal lovers, attempted to force himself on her, but was slain by her magick. Her festival is Alban Heruin, or "The Light of the Shore," which also is referred to as Litha or Midsummer's Day.

Amaethon
[[Wales] "God of agriculture and son of the goddess Don."] He is responsible for the war between Arawn, Lord of the Otherworld, and the Tuatha de Danaan. Amaethon stole a hound, a deer and a bird from Arawn, thus starting the Cad Goddeu (Battle of Trees). In this battle, Amaethon's brother, Gwydion, transformed trees into warriors.

Andraste - Andarta
[[Wales] "The Briton war-goddess invoked by the Iceni Queen Boudicca when she revolted against the Romans."] Her name meant "unconquerable," or possibly "victory." Boudicca's name also is said to mean "victory" and some believe she may the warrior aspect of this goddess.

Angus Mac Og - Angus of the Brugh - Oengus of the Bruig - Angus Mac Oc
[[Ireland] "Young son."] One of the Tuatha De Danann. He had a gold harp that made irresistibly sweet music. His kisses became birds carrying love messages. He had a brugh (fairy palace) on the banks of the Boyne. God of youth, love and beauty.

Anu - Anann - Dana - Dana-Ana
[[Ireland] Mother Earth; goddess of plenty, another aspect of the Morrigu; Great Goddess; greatest of all goddesses] The flowering fertility goddess, sometimes formed a trinity with Badb and Macha. Her priestesses comforted and taught the dying. Fires were lit for her at Midsummer. Two hills in Kerry are called the Paps of Anu. Maiden aspect of the Triple Goddess in Ireland. Guardian of cattle and health. Goddess of fertility, prosperity, comfort.

Arawn
[[Wales] King of underworld; god of Annwn, the Otherworld, a paradise of peace and plenty]
When Amaethon stole from him, it led to the Cad Goddeu. Later, the Dyfed chieftain Pwyll and he changed places, Pwyll agreeing to kill Arawn's rival, Hafgan. Arawn leads a pack of wild, white hounds with red-tipped ears. He is considered a powerful protector of dangerous places.

Arianrhod
[[Wales] "Silver Wheel"; "High Fruitful Mother"; star goddess; sky goddess; virgin; goddess of reincarnation; Full Moon goddess] She is the goddess of destiny, reincarnation and the wheel, and also the Mother aspect of the Triple Goddess. Her palace was called Caer Arianrhod (Aurora Borealis). Keeper of the circling Silver Wheel of Stars, a symbol of time or karma. This wheel was also known as the Oar Wheel, a ship which carried dead warriors to the Moonland (Emania). Arianrhod is the daughter of Don and Beli, and mother of Lleu Llaw Gyffes and Dylan by her brother Gwydion. Her original consort was Nwyvre (Sky or Firmament). Honored at the Full Moon. Beauty, fertility, reincarnation.

Badb - Badhbh - Badb Catha
[[Ireland] "Boiling"; "Battle Raven"; "Scald-crow"; the cauldron of ever-producing life; known in Gaul as Cauth Bodva] War goddess and wife of Net, a war god. Sister of Macha, the Morrigu and Anu. Mother aspect of the Triple Goddess in Ireland. Associated with the cauldron, crows, and reavens. Life, wisdom, inspiration enlightenment.

Balor
[[Ireland] "The one-eyed [cyclops] Fomorii god of death."] Husband of Cethlenn and son of Buarainech, a look from his one eye could kill, and the eyelid had to be held up by four servants. It was prophesied that he would be slain by his own grandson. Despite his tactics to avoid this, Balor was killed by the sun-god Lugh in the Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh. Lugh was son to Balor's daughter, Ethlinn, and the Danann Cian.

Banba
[[Ireland] Goddess; part of a triad with Fotia and Eriu]
They used magic to repel invaders.

Bel - Belenus - Belinus - Belenos - Beli Mawr
[Ireland] "Shining"; god of light and healing, "Bel" means "shining one," or in Irish Gaelic, the name "bile" translates to "sacred tree"; Great God].  Bel's festival is Beltane, one of two main Celtic fire festivals. The waters of Danu, the Irish All-Mother goddess, fed the oak and produced their son, The Dagda. As the Welsh Beli, he is the father of Arianhrod by Don. Cattle were driven through the bonfires for purification and fertility. Science, healing , hot springs, fire, success, prosperity, purification, crops, vegetation, fertility, cattle.

Blodeuwedd - Blodwin - Blancheflor
[[Wales] "Flower Face"; "White Flower"] Lily maid of Celtic initiation ceremonies. Also known as the Ninefold Goddess of the Western Isles of Paradise. Her name means "born of flowers," or "flower face," Blodeuedd was conjured from the blossoms of oak, broom and meadowsweet by Math and Gwydion for Llew Llaw Gyffes. She betrayed him with Gronw Pebyr (Goronwy), the lord of Penllyn, and planned his murder. When attacked, Llew changed into the form of an eagle and escaped. Gwydion changed her into an owl for her plotting Lleu's death. The Maiden for mof the Triple Goddess; her symbol was the owl; goddess of the Earth in bloom. Flowers, wisdom, lunar mysteries, intiations.

Boann - Boannan - Boyne
[Ireland] Goddess of the river Boyne; mother of Angus mac Og by the Dagda. Her name means "she who has white cows." Consdidered a fertility and sovereignty goddess, Boann was married to Nechtan or to Elcmar, depending on the myth. As the wife of Nechtan she misused the well that he served as guardian and the well poured over, drowing her and creating the River Boyne. The Dagda, chief god of the Tuatha de Danann, was Boann's lover and father of Aonghus.

Bran the Blessed - Benedigeidfran
[[Wales] A giant; "raven"; "the blessed"] Bendigeidfran was a god of the Otherworld, a British king and son of the sea god Llyr. Brother of the mighty Manawydan ap Llyr (Ireland, Manannan mac Lir) and Branwen; son of Llyr. He allowed his sister Branwen to marry the Irish king Matholwch, without the consent of her half-brother Efnisien. Hostility broke out between the Irish and the Britons as a result, but Bran avoided war by presenting Matholwch with a magic cauldron that would bring men back to life, but without restoring their speech. Branwen was made to work in the palace kitchens despite the fact that she had given Matholwch a son, Gwern. Bran raised an army and sailed to Ireland to save his sister and his army massacred the Irish, but he died in the process from a poisoned arrow. He told his followers to cut off his head (which is where the Celts believed the soul resides) ? which still talked and ate on the voyage home ? and bury it beneath White Hill in London facing Europe to ward off invaders. Associated with ravens. God of prophecy, the arts, leaders, war, the Sun, music, writing. Bran the Blessed (Bendigeidfran)

Branwen
[[Manx, Wales] Sister of Bran the Blessed and wife of the Irish king of Matholwch] Venus of the Northern Seas; daughter of Llyr (Lir); one of the three matriarchs of Britain; Lady of the Lake (cauldron). Goddess of love and beauty.

Bres
Demigod of fertility and agriculture, Bres was the son of Elatha, a Fomorian prince, and of Eriu, part of the triple Sovereignty goddess. He also was the husband of Brighid. After the First Battle of Mag Tuireadh, Bres became the tyrannical ruler of the Tuatha de Danaan. He was replaced by Nuadha when his lost hand was replaced with a silver one, which precipitated the Second Battle of Mag Tuireadh. To save his life Bres promised to instruct the Tuatha de Danann in agriculture and made Ireland a fertile land.

Brigit - Brid - Brig - Brigid - Brighid
[[Ireland, Wales, Spain, France] "Power"; "Renown"; "Fiery Arrow or Power" (Breo-saighead) Daughter of Dagda; called the poetess] Often called The Triple Brigids, Three Blessed Ladies of Britain, The Three Mothers - another aspect of Danu; associated with Imbolc. Brigid is Goddess of the Sacred Flame of Kildare (derived from "Cill Dara," which means "church of the oak"). The number of her priestesses were nineteen, representing the nineteen-year cycle of the Celtic "Great Year". Breo Saighead, or the "Fiery Arrow or Power," the daughter of The Dagdha and the wife of Bres. Known by many names, Brighid's three aspects are as patroness of poetry, as patroness of healing and fertility, and as patroness of smithcraft and martial arts. She is mother to the craftsmen Sons of Tuireann: Creidhne, Luchtaine and Giobhniu. Brighid's festival is Imbolc, when she ushers Spring to the land after the Cailleach's winter reign.

The Cailleach
The Scottish Triple Crone or hag-goddess, the owl and the deer are sacred to The Cailleach. She sometimes is referred to as the hag-goddess who cares for the "fairy cattle," or female red deer. Her three aspects include:
Cailleach Mhor Nam Fiadh,
Cailleach Mhor A Chilibric (The Great Hag of Clibric),
Cailleach Beinn A Bhric.

Camulos
Camulos was the god of the Remi, a Celtic tribe from Belgium. Camulos was said to weild an invincible sword. He also was worshipped as a war-god in northern Britain.

Cernunnos - Cernowain - Cernenus - Herne the Hunter
[[Known to all Celtic areas in one form or another] The Horned God; God of Nature; god of the Underworld and the Astral Plane; Great Father; "the Horned One"] known as Hu Gadarn, the Horned God of fertility. He was portrayed sitting in a lotus position with horns or antlers on his head, long curling hair, a beard, naked except for a neck torque, and sometimes holding a spear and shield. His symbols were the stag, ram, bull, and horned serpent. Sometimes called Belatucadros and Vitiris. Cernunnos is the Gaelic version of the pan-Celtic "Horned God. " In Welsh mythology he is the Consort of the Great Goddess and god of the Underworld, nature, virility, fertility, animals, sex, reincarnation and shamanism. Sometimes called the Hunter God, he is the god of plenty, wild animals, and the forest. Virility, fertility, animals, physical love, Nature, woodlands, reincarnation, crossroads, wealth, commerce, warriors.

Cerridwen - Caridwen - Ceridwen
[[Wales] Moon Goddess; Great Mother; grain goddess; goddess of Nature]
Wife of the giant Tegid and mother of the beautiful girl Creirwy and an ugly boy Avagdu. Welsh Bards called themselves Cerddorion (sons of Cerridwen). The Bard Taliesin, founder of their craft, was said to be born of Cerridwen and to have tasted a potent brew from her magic cauldron of inspiration. This potion known as 'greal' (from which the word Grail probably came), was made from six plants for inspiration and knowledge. Gwion Bach (later called Taliesin) accidentally drank the remaining three drops of the liquid. Her symbol was a white sow. Death, fertility, regeneration, inspiration, magic, astrology, herbs, science, poetry, spells, knowledge.

Cliodhna
Cliodhna is the Irish Otherworld goddess of beauty. It is said her three magickal birds can sing those who listen to them to leep. At one point she fled to Glandore to live with her the mortal lover, Ciabhan. One day on the shore near Cork, after Ciabhan had gone hunting, Mannann Mac Lir, the sea-god, put Cliodhna into a magickal sleep and sent a wave to carry her home.

Creiddylad - Creudylad - Cordelia
[[Wales] Daughter of the sea god Llyr] Connected with Beltane and often called the May Queen. Goddess of summer Love and Flowers.

Creidhne
Demigod of metalworking, Creidhne is the goldsmith of the Tuatha de Dannan and the brother of Giobhniu, the smith god, and Luchtar, the carpenter. During the Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh, when the Dannans defeated the Fomorii, the three brothers were on the battlefield repairing spears with magickal speed, specifically forging weapons for Lugh.

The Crone
[[One aspect of the Triple Goddess] She represents old age or death, Winter, the end of all things, the waning Moon, post-menstrual phases of women's lives, all destruction that precedes regeneration through her cauldron of rebirth] Crows and Dogs often accompanied her and guarded the gates of her after-world, helping her receive the dead. In Celtic myth, the gatekeeper-dog was named Dormarth (Death's Door). The Irish Celts maintained that true curses could be cast with the aid of a dog. Therefore, they used the word cainte (dog) for a satiric Bard with the magic power to speak curses that came true.

The Dagda
[[Ireland] "The Good God"' "All-father"; Great God; Lord of the Heavens; Father of the gods and men; Lord of Life and Death; the Arch-; god of magic; Earth God]"> Danu's son by Bile, The Dagdha, or Good God, also is known as the All Father, Eochaid Ollathair (Father of All), and Ruadh Rofessa (The Red One). High King of the Tuatha De Danann. He had four great palaces in the depths of the earth and under the hollow hills. With many talents, The Dagda, chief of the Tuatha de Dannan, is master of the harp and possessor of a double-ended club. He also is the god of treaties, life and death, and the master of magic. He usually is depicted as a man in rustic clothes dragging a large club on wheels. With one end of his club The Dagda could slay his enemies and with the other restore the dead to life. He also is a lover of The Morrigan, the Irish war goddess. The Dagda often is associated with abundance and his inexhaustible cauldron.The Dagda had several children, the most important being Brigit, Angus, Midir, Ogma and Bodb the Red. God of death and rebirth; master of all trades; lord of perfect knowledge. He had a cauldron called The Undry which supplied unlimited food. He also had a living oak harp which caused the seasons to change in their order. He was pictured wearing a brown, low-necked tunic which just reached his hips and a hooded cape that barely covered his shoulders. On his feet were horse-hide boots. Behind him he pulled his massive 8-pronged warclub on a wheel. Protection, warriors, knowledge, magic, fire, prophecy, weather, reincarnation, the arts, initiation, patron of priests, the Sun, healing, regeneration, prosperity and plenty, music, the harp. First among magicians, warriors, artisans, all knowledge.

Danu - Danann - Dana
[[Ireland] Probably the same as Anu. Major Mother goddess; ancestress of the Tuatha De Danann; Mother of the gods; Great Mother; Moon goddess]
She gave her name to the Tuatha De Danann (People of the Goddess Danu). Another aspect of the Morrigu. Patroness of wizards, rivers, water, wells, prosperity and plenty, magic, wisdom.

Diancecht - Dian Cecht
[[Ireland] Physician-magician of the Tuatha]" Irish god of healing and physician of the Tuatha de Danaan, the Dian Cecht made the silver hand of Nuadha Airgetlamh. Diancecht had several children: sons Miach, Cian, Cethe and Cu, and a daughter Airmid. God of healing, medicine, regeneration, magic, silver-working. He was the father of Miach, who he slew, and grandfather of Lugh. With his daughter, Airmid, he had charge of a spring whose waters restored the dying gods to life. Once he destroyed a terrible baby of the Morrigu. When he cut open the child's heart, he found three serpents that could kill anything. He killed these, burned them and threw the ashes into the nearest river. The ashes were so deadly that they made the river boil and killed everything in it. The river today is called Barrow (boiling).

Don - Domnu - Donn
[[Ireland, Wales] "Deep sea"; "Abyss"] Queen of the Heavens; goddess of sea and air. The Irish god of death, Donn's name means "dark one." His home, the House of Donn, was thought to be an assembly point on the journey to the Otherworld. The equivalent of the Irish Danu. In Ireland, Don ruled over the Land of the Dead. Entrances to this Otherworld were always in a sidhe (shee) or burial mound. Control of the elements, eloquence. Danu (Ana, Anu, Dan, Dana, Dann, Don [Cymru])Also called the Red Mother of All, Danu is the major Irish Mother Goddess, mother of the Gods and patroness of wizards, rivers, water, wells, prosperity and plenty, magick and wisdom. Anu is especially associated with Munster, two hills in Co. Kerry are still known as Da Chich Anann, "The Paps of Anu." She also has given her name to the Tuatha De Danann, which means "Tribe of Dana." Danu also is known as Don, the Welsh Mother Goddess, and the daughter of Mathonwy, sister of Math ap Mathonwy, and the wife of Beli, the Welsh god of death. She had many children, including Amaethon, Arianrhod, The Dagda, Govannon, Gwydion, Gilvaethwy, Lugh, Nudd and Ogma. Lugh, The Dagda and Ogma sometimes are refered to as the Three Gods of Danann.

Dylan
[[Wales] Son of the Wave; god of the sea]" Son of Gwydion and Arianrhod. His symbol was a silver fish. Dylan was a sea-creature later slain by his uncle, Govannon.

Elaine
[Wales, Britain] Maiden aspect of the Goddess.

Epona
[[Britain, Gaul] Epona (similar to Macha, Mare [Eriu], Rhiannon, Edain [Cymru], Epona [Gaul]) "Divine Horse"; "The Great Mare"; goddess of horses; Mother Goddess]
Gaelic horse-goddess who also is associated with fertility, sovereigny, and agriculture. She is depicted as a woman riding a fast steed her cloak billowing behind her, or riding a mare with a foal, associating her with fertility. Her festival is December 18. Epona often is strongly connected to Rhiannon and Macha. Fertility, maternity, protectress of horses, horse- breeding, prosperity, dogs, healing springs, crops.

Eriu - Erin
[Ireland] One of the three queens of the Tuatha De Danann and a daughter of the Dagda.

Flidais
[[Ireland] Goddess of forests, woodlands, and wild things; ruler of wild beasts]" She rode in a chariot drawn by deer. Shape-shifter.

Goibniu - Gofannon - Govannon - Goibniu (Govannon [Cymru])
[[Ireland, Wales] "Great Smith"; one of a triad of craftsmen with Luchtaine the wright and Credne the brazier] He forged all the Tuatha's weapons; these weapons always hit their mark and every wound inflicted by them was fatal. His ale gave the Tuatha invulnerability. He was said to preside over an Otherworld feast called Fled Goibnenn, for which he brewed the ale. God of blacksmiths, makers of weapons, jewelry making, brewing fire, metalworking.

Great Father
[The Horned God; The Lord] Lord of the Winter, harvest, land of the dead, the sky, animals, mountains, lust powers of destruction and regeneration; the male principle of creation.

Great Mother
[The Lady; female principal of creation] Goddess of feritlity, the Moon, Summer, flowers, love, healing, the seas, water. The index finger was condidered the "mother finger, " the most magical which guided, beckoned, blessed and cursed.

The Green Man
[Horned deity of trees and green growing things of Earth; god of the woodlands]In Old Welsh his name is Arddhu (The Dark One), Atho, or the Horned God. Ihe symbol of the qualities of godhood within the male, as well as being an expression of the life/death/rebirth cycle and its relationship with the transcendent life-force, the Goddess, the female expression of godhood.

Gwydion
[[Wales] of the mainland gods; son of Don; brother of Govannon, Arianrhod, and Amaethon] Gwydion was the nephew of Math, lord of Gwynedd. Wizard and Bard of North Wales. a many-skilled deity like Lugh. Prince of the Powers of Air; a shape-shifter. His symbol was a white horse. Greatest of the enchanters; warrior-magician. Illusion, changes. magic, the sky, healing.

Gwynn Ap Nudd
[[Wales] King of the Fairies and the underworld] Master of the Wild Hunt, Gwynn ap Nudd rode the night in a flowing grey cloak upon a pale horse following his Hounds called Cwn Annwn who would seek out and collect souls. He lives at Glastonbury Tor. Later he bacame king of the Plant Annwn, or subterranean fairies.

Gwythyr
[[Wales] Opposite of Gwynn ap Nudd]" King of the Upper World.

Herne The Hunter
[also known as Cernunnos and the Horned God]" Herne the Hunter has come to be associated with Windsor Forest and has taken on attributes of Gwynn ap Nudd with his Wild Hunt.

The Horned God
[Opener of the Gates of Life and Death; Herne the Hunter; Cernunnos; Green Man; Lord of the Wild Hunt]" The masculine, active side of Nature; Earth Father. His sacred animals were the stag, bull, goat, bear. Growing things, the forest, Nature, wild animals, alertness, annihilation, fertility, panic, desire, terror, flocks, agriculture, beer and ale.

Llyr - Lear - Lir
[[Ireland, Wales] God of the sea and water, possibly of the underworld] Celtic and Manx sea god, father of Bran, Branwen, and Manawydan. Magician and god of healing.

Luchtaine (Luchtar)
Demigod of carpentry and wheel-making, Luchtaine was the brother of Creidhne and Goibniu.

Lugh - Luga - Lamhfada(lavada-of the Long Arm) - Llew - Lug - Lugus - Lug Samildanach (many skilled) - Lleu Llaw Gyffes("bright one of the skillful hand") - Lleu - Lugos
[[Ireland, Wales] The Shining One; Sun god; god of war; "many-skilled"; "fair-haired one"; "Shining One"; a hero god. His feast is Lughnassadh, a harvest festival] Associated with ravens. His symbol was a white stag in Wales. He is the son of the Danann Cian and Ethniu (or Ethlinn), daughter of Balor, leader of the Fomorians. The Fomorii were often described as having only a single hand, foot, or eye, thus the source of Lugh's name. He declared the feast of Lughnasadh in honor of Tailtu [his foster mother]. Lugh had a magic spear and rod-sling, one of his magic hounds was obtained from the sons of Tuirenn as part of the blood-fine for killing his father Cian. Lugh is often called Samildanach, "many skilled." He was a carpenter, mason, smith, harper, poet, , physician, and goldsmith. He replaced Nuadha Airgetlamh as king and as battle leader led the Danaans into victory in the Second Battle of Turieadh.

Mabon Maponos
[Gaelic]
Mabon is the son of the Welsh and Gaelic divine mother, Modron. He was abducted when he was three nights old and imprisoned in Gloucester, however, since Mabon was the only one who could control the hound which Culhwch needed to win the hand of Olwen, he was released. He is often associated with the Gaelic Maponos, a god of youth.

Mac Cecht
Mac Cecht was the Irish god of eloquence, the son of Ogma, and was married to Fodla, one of the aspects of the triple Soveriegnty goddess. After the Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh, he and his two brothers could not decide how to split the land between them, so they consulted a stranger named Ith. Suspecting Ith had designs of his own on the island, they killed him, and provoked the invastion of the sons of Milesius.

Macha (associated with Rhiannon, Edain [Cymru] and Epona [Gaelic]
[[Ireland] "Crow"; "Battle"; "Great Queen of Phantoms"; Mother of Life and Death; a war goddess; Mother Death; originally a Mother Goddess; one of the aspects of the triple Morrigan]Also called Mania, Mana, Mene, Minne. Macha is a war-goddess with aspects of sovereignty as her name means "plain," or "field." Associated with ravens and crows Macha's transformation into a hideous form links her to the crone aspect of the ultimate mother-goddess. This ability to take on the crone aspect and her appearances as a crow have sometimes linked Macha erroneously with The Morrighna, the dark goddess of sovereignty. She was honored at Lughnassadh. After battle, the Irish cut off the heads of the losers and called them Macha's acorn crop. Protectress in war as in peace; goddess of war and death. Cunning, sheer physical force, sexuality, fertility, and dominance over males. Her three-fold sovereignty/horse goddess whose aspects are:

Seer-Prophecy, In her Seer aspect she is the wife of Nemedh, a Scythian ruler and leader of the Third Invasion of Ireland who defeated the Fomorii. Nemed gives his name to the word "nemed," or "nemeton," a sacred grove. She prophesied the Táin Bo Cuailnge (Cattle Raid of Cooley) from the Leabhar na h-Uidhre (Book of the Dun Cow), and died of a broken heart on Emhain Macha, the fortress of the kings of Ulster.

Warrior/Rulership, In her Warrior aspect, she is Macha Mong Ruadh (Macha of the Red Hair), the 67th monarch of Ireland who ruled from 377 to 331 b.c. The daughter of Aed Ruadh, she established Emain Macha, now known as Navan Fort. She fought the five sons of Dithorba for her right to rule by visiting each as a leper. Despite her disease, each man wished to sleep with her and through their desire she enslaved each one. They were forced to build Emhain Macha. In this aspect she is referred to as Mesrad Machae, or Macha's Mast, and she waits for the end of a battle to collect the severed heads of the slain and convey them to the Otherworld. Macha Mong Ruadh also is credited with instituting the first Irish hospital, Bron-Bherg (House of Sorrow).

Matriarch/Fertility, In her Matriarch aspect, Macha laid a curse on Ulster after her boastful husband, Crunnchua mac Agnoman, said that, though heavy in pregnancy, she could outrun all the king's horses and chariots. When the king of Ulster threatened to execute Crunnchua if she did not race, Macha ran and won, but died as she gave birth to twins. As she died, Macha cursed all Ulstermen with the ces noiden. This curse caused the men to suffer the pain of childbirth for five days and five nights whenever the kingdom was in danger. Her curse came to pass in the Táin Bo Cuailnge during the conflict between Ulster and Connacht. The warrior CuChulainn single-handedly defended Ulster against Queen Medb of Connacht as he was the only non-native Ulsterman in the army. The rest of the Ulster warriors were inficted with labor pains and unable to fight for five days and nights.  

Manannan Mac Lir - Manawydan Ap Llyr - Manawydden
[[Ireland, Wales] Dressed in a green cloak and a gold headband, a shape-shifter] Chief Irish sea god, eauivalent of the Welsh Llyr. Son of the sea god Lir. Older than the Tuatha de Dannan, Mannan always carried "the Crane Bag", a magick "horn of plenty. He gave the last five letters of the Ogham alphabet to the s and could change his shape at will. The Isle of Man and Isle of Arran in Firth and Clyde were under his protection. At Arran he had a palace called Emhain of the Apple Trees. His swine, which constantly renewed themselves, were the chief food of the Tuatha De Danann and kept them from aging. He had many famous weapons: two spears called Yellow Shaft and Red Javelin; swords called The Retaliator, Great Fury, and Little Fury. His boat was called Wave Sweeper, and his horse Splendid Mane. He had magic armor that prevented wounds and could make the Tuatha invisible at will. God of the sea, navigators, storms, weather at sea, fertility, sailing, weather-forecasting, magic, arts, merchants and commerce, rebirth. "Also associated with fertility, rebirth, weather, sailing and magick, Mannan also had a ship that moved without sails and was directed by the mind. He often is linked to the Isle of Man and with Tethra of the Fomorii, rules Mag Mell, the "Plain of Joy," an idyllic island where the deceased live.

Margawse
[Wales, Britain]" Mother aspect of the Goddess.

Math Mathonwy
[Wales]" In the Welsh tradition, Math ap Mathonwy, lord of Gwynedd, was the uncle of Gwydion. In order to help his brother, Gilvaethwy, sleep with Gowein, the young woman who was Math's footholder, Gwydion stirred up a quarrel between Math and Pryderi, son of Rhiannon. This meant that Math was away at war. When he returned and discovered the deception, Math turned his nephews into a staf and a hind for one year, into a boar and a sow the next and into a pair of wolves the third. Later, Gwydion took charge of his sister Arianrhod's son Lleu.God of sorcery, magic, enchantment.

Medb
Medb is the queen-goddess of Connacht who is a humanized war aspect of the sovereignty-goddess. She took nine consorts and through ritual union made them kings. Her name means "she who intoxicates," which is most likely a reference to the cup of sovereignty she would have given to a king. Her first husband was the Ulster champion Fergus, a fertility-god. Second was Conchobar, but their marriage was short-lived as it would have signified a unification of Ireland. Conchobar then raped Medb, only to die when all the kings of Ireland went against him as a result at the Battle of the Boyne. Her third husband was Ailill. Medb not only fought for the supremacy of Connacht, but relished in war and destruction, even using her daughter Finnebair to this end. She is noted mostly during her marriage to Ailill and their fight with Ulster and CuChulainn. She died at the hand of her nephew Furbaidhe who used his sling-shot and a piece of hard cheese as revenge for the murder of his mother Clothra.

The Morrigna (Cathobodua [Gaul])
As Mor Righ Anu, her name means "great queen," and she is the destroyer aspect of the All-Mother Danu. In her triple form she is called The Morrigna, and sometimes appears as the battle-furies Badbh Catha, Nemhain and Morrighan. These aspects combine destruction, sexuality and prophecy. They appeared in numerous animal forms, such as carrion birds, or as one aspect of the ultimate three-fold goddess: crone, maiden or mother. She also sometimes is erroneously linked to Macha.

One of the Tuatha de Danaan who helped in both battles of Mag Tuireadh, The Morrighna's aspects have the ability to influence the outcome of conflict by inspiring fear or courage. As Badbh Catha, whose name means "battle-crow," she often takes the form of a crow or battle-raven. Badbh also is connected to the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, where she was said to appear over the heads of the soldiers of High King Bran when he defeated Viking invaders.  

The Morrighan sometimes appears as the "Washer at the Ford," a maiden who is seen prior to battle washing the armor and weapons of those destined to die. She marries The Dagdha at Samhain and carries the Divine Child throughout her pregnancy in the Underworld during the dark half of the year.
As Nemhain, whose name means "frenzy," she is the wife of Nuadha Airgetlamh, a leader of the Tuatha de Danaan. Nemhain also appears in the Ulster Cycle when she shrieks on behalf of CuChulainn at the Connacht army and 100 soldiers drop dead with fright.

Nantosuelta
Gaelic goddess depicted with Sucellus in at least one relief. Her name means "winding river." 

Nemglan
An Irish bird god, who fell in love with Mess Buachalla, the betrothed to Eterscel, High King of Ireland. On the eve of Mess's wedding, Nemglan came to her in his bird form and seduced her, resulting in their son Conaire Mor. He was passed off as Eterscel's son, but Mess warned him never to kill a bird.

Nuadha Airgetlamh (Nudd [Cymru], Llud Llawereint and Nodens [Briton])
Also known as Nuadha Airgetlamh, "Nuadha of the Silver Hand," he is the Irish god of healing, the Sun, youth, beauty, poetry, and writing.Nuadha possesses the invincible Sword of Nuadha (or Findias), one of the great treasures of the Tuatha de Danaan brought to Ireland upon their invasion of the island. Nuadha lost his sword hand in the first battle of Mag Tuireadh against the Fir Bolgs, and had to step down as king because the king could nave no blemish despite the fact that Dian Cecht fashioned him one of silver. Nuadha led the Dannans against the Fomors in the second battle of Mag Tuireadh in which he was killed and taken to the Lands of the Sidhe.

Oenghus (Aonghus, Angus Og)
The god of fatal love, Oenghus was the love-child of the Dagda and Boann. Four birds always hovered above his head which were said to represent kisses. Birds also feature in his courtship of Caer, a faerie maiden whose father was the Danann Ethal. Oenghus and Caer lived together as swans, as Oeghus won her hand after recognizing her from several other swans. He saved his foster-son Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, and his lover Grainne, a princess who had been promised to the High King Finn Maccool. Oenghus could not save Diarmuid from his fate, that of being slain by a magic boar and brought Diarmuid back to his palace at New Grange on the River Boyne, where he breathed a new sould into Diarmuid's body so that he could speak to his foster-son.

Oghma (Ogma, Ogmios)
The Irish god of eloquence, Oghma also is called the "Sun-Faced" One. He invented Ogham, the earliest form of writing in Ireland. Also an Irish god of music, spells, and the arts. Followed by many bards, Ogma Sun-Face is the son of The Dagda and was responsible for conveying souls to the Otherworld, a peaceful resting place for the sould prior to its next rebirth into the world. Oghma was married to Etain, the daughter of the healing god Dian Cecht. At the Second Battle of Mag Tuirreadh, Oghma slew Indech, son of the Fomorii goddess Domnu. He claimed his prize as a magickal sword that was capable of recounting all the deeds it had performed.

Rhiannon (Rigantona [Gaul], linked to Epona [Gaul], Macha, Mare [Eriu], Edain [Cymru])
Her name means "Maid of Annwn," or it's older Gaelic version means "great queen." In Welsh mythology, Rhiannon is the daughter of Hereydd, wife of Pwyll, a chieftain of Dyfed and mother of Pryderi. Her spurned betrothed, Gwawl, put a curse on her household. After years of barrenness she gave birth to a son, only to be falsely accused of his murder. As punishment she was made to carry visitors on herback. Pyrderi was later found and retured by his foster-father Teirnon. Rhiannon often is associated with birds and horses and so sometimes is linked to the Gaelic horse goddess Epona.

Sovereignty (Banbha, Fodla, Eriu)
These three sisters are known as the Queens of the Tuatha de Danaan of whom combined in their aspects are the Irish Goddess of Sovereignty. She has three aspects:

Banbha, whose name means "woman of the cows." She is the mother of Cessair, leader of the first invasion of Ireland and often is associated with livestock.

Fodla (or Fotla), whose name means "under earth," and is associated with agriculture.

Eriu, "one who is elevated."
Ireland bears the names and title of the three sisters who married the three sons of Ogma: Eriu married Mac Greine, Banbha married Mac Cuill, and Fodla married Mac Cecht - honored by milesian rulership, specifically Amairgen, who promised Banbha and Fodla that their names would be a name for the island, but to Eriu, he promised that her name would last forever.

Sucellus
Gaelic god who carried a hammer in his left hand. Sucellus is depicted on a relief found near Metz with Nantosuelta. His name means "he who strikes with good effect," and thus fits into The Good God archetype much like The Dagda.

Tailtu
Tailtu was the daughter of the Firbolg ruler and wife of Eochaidh Mac Erc, another Firbolg king. She cleared the forest of Breg so that it became a great plain, a task which killed her. She was the foster mother to Lugh, who declared the feast of Lughnasadh in her honor.

Taliesin
Gwion Bach (later called Taliesin) accidentally drank three drops of the liquid of the cauldron of Cerridwen which gave him the gifts of beauty, inspiration, and shapeshifting. In her anger Cerridwen hunted him down - both changing shapes, the hunter and the hunted until finally she as a bird and he as a kernel of corn, devoured him. She soon discovered she had not destroyed him and was pregnant instead, when he was born she found him so beautiful that she could not slay him and instead cast him adrift on a lake where he was later found and grew to be Founder of the Bardic Tradition!

Taranis (Taran [Cymru], cognate to Etherun & Etirun [Briton])
His name means "thunder," the Welsh word for this phenonmenon is "taran" and as a rain god implies aspects of "battle and a fertility !"

Tiernon (Tigernonos [Gaelic])
"The Great King" with supernatural powers and deep wisdom, often depicted as the consort of Rhiannon or Rigantona.

 

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