The Morrigan is the “great queen” of war and fate in Gaelic mythology. She appears as a crow inciting warriors to battle, helping bring about victory over their enemies. The Morrigan encourages warriors to be brave and strikes fear in their enemies. She would appear before great battles and circle the battlefield. As mentioned previously, she would appear […]
Brigid, the exalted one. She was a highly revered feminine personality venerated by both pre-Christian and Christian Gaels. The Gaels saw her as one who had an influence and association with wisdom, poetry, healing, protection, blacksmithing and domesticating animals. Pagan Ireland Brigid was the daughter of the Dagda. She was a woman of wisdom and possessed mastery of […]
“The club-wielding chief of the Irish Tuatha dé Danann.”. The Dagda was considered to have power over both life and death and was associated with fertility, agriculture, magic and Druidry. The Dagda was a highly skilled personality and wise beyond measure. He is associated with life, death, the changing of the seasons, agriculture, fertility, magic and druidry as […]
Thunor, a commanding personality venerated by the Anglo Saxons. The epitome of masculinity, the fiercest character of the Germanic pantheon. Known as Thor contemporarily, Thunor is an important figure in the history of the Anglo Saxons. Much of all the traditions that have survived regarding the red haired, red bearded hero are known from literature produced in […]
The story of two brothers, Hengist and Horsa hailing from the continent, who would lead the Germanic people’s migration to the Island of Britain. However, historians have speculated on the authenticity of Hengist and Horsa as historical figures. Though there is significant written, recorded evidence to suggest otherwise. There are five attestations to the two brothers […]
The High King of Ireland Cormac MacAirt, also referred to as Cormac Ulfada (long beard) is probably the most famous of the ancient Gaelic High Kings. He reigned over the Island of Ireland at some point between the 2nd century and 4th century CE. Some versions of the Lebor Gabála Érenn synchronise his reign with that of the Roman emperor Marcus […]
A Gaelic cultural hero. Lugh was celebrated for his justice, nobility, and as a ruler of the Tuatha dé Danann. Lugh was seen as patron of craftmanship and a valiant warrior. We can observe how the Irish revered Lugh of the Long Arm. He was both Ollamh Érenn (Highest Rank in Gaelic Ireland) and King of the otherworld. Equipped with the Spear […]
Wōđanaz, the Lord of Frenzy, leader of the possessed. The Anglo Saxons knew him as Woden and the Scandinavian tribes knew him as Odin. However, I will use these terms interchangeably. The similarities and crossovers historically observed seem to confirm that when people use any of these names they are referring to the same personality. For […]
The original story of forbidden love. Tristan and Iseult. A British Prince and Irish Princess Tristan is the prince of the British Kingdom of Cornwall, nephew of King Mark. Tristan was raised to be a gifted swordsman and an accomplished harp-player. While across the sea. Iseult, the beautiful widely admired princess, lived with her father the King of […]
The Gaelic people past would speak and tell stories to eachother about a beautiful land off the west coast of Ireland called Tír na nÓg. Everyone was young and beautiful. No one fell ill and joy filled the air. The Tuatha de Dannan resided there, living happily away from the trials and tribulations of the mortal realm. This […]