CELTIC
MYTHOLOGY
Diza, Adrian
Nuval, Jaypee
Batalla, Rogilyn
Celtic Mythology/Irish Mythology
→ Celtic Mythology also known as Irish
Mythology is central to the traditional
religion of the ancient Celts. Historically,
Celtic tribes were found throughout Western
Europe and within today’s Britain, Ireland,
Wales, France, Germany, and areas of the
Czech Republic.
→ Celtic mythology is split into 4 cycles, from
oldest to newest there is the Mythological
Cycle, the Ulster Cylce, the Fenian Cycle, and
the King Cycle. Each is characterized by
recurring themes in the stories from those
cycles.
→ the Celtic religion is POLYTHEISTIC.
CREATION
MYTH
In the beginning, there is no time. There were also no Gods and no man or
woman to walk the land. There was only the depths of the sea and its dark,
eternal quiet. A strain of melody moved across the endless waters. The music
was the Oran Mor (The Great Melody) and it grew into a great spiraling,
gathering sound and momentum, eventually exploding. Until, where the sea
met the land, a white mare made of sea-foam was born called Eiocha.
From the land, Eoicha sprouted an oak tree which gave birth to the first
God Cernunnos. They mated together then created more gods; Maponos the God
of Youth, Tauranis the God of Thunder, Teutates the Protector, and Epona the
Goddess of Fertility.
But when the gods were grown up, Eiocha left the land to return to her life
as a sea-mare and became known as Tethra the Goddess of the Deep.
The gods and goddesses then created a man, a woman, and the animals.
Oran Mor, in great delight, sang on, still sings today, filing creation for all those
whocan hear - with its divine harmony.
4 Cycles of
CELTIC
MYTHOLOGY
Mythological Cycle
It tells the stories of gods
and supernatural events and
the stories were written down
by Irish monks during the 10th
- 14th centuries. it tells the
story of the history of Ireland,
stories about successful
settlements of the early Celtic
gods like people in Ireland,
Tuatha De Danann, the FirBolg
and the Milesians.
It is a collection oftales and
Ulster Cycle legends centered around the
heroic exploits of the ancient
kingdom of Ulster. This cycle
features some of the most
iconic characters in Irish
mythology uch as, Cu
Chulainn, Conchobar Mac Nessa,
etc. The stories of the Ulster
Cycle are set during the
Heroic Age, a time of great
deeds, epic battles, and wars.
Fenian Cycle
The Fenian Cycle was a
collection of stories about the
warriors within a military
order called the “Fianna
Eireann”, during the reign of
Conn Cetchathach and Cormac
Airt. Finn Mac Comhaill (Finn
MacCool) is the main hero of
these stories.
King Cycle It is a mixture of
historical figures,
mythological settings and
adventures that were meant
to be examples of how to be
a good king. These stories
focused around kings and
the histories of great
kingdoms. These stories
were sang by Bards or
written by Poets.
Gods
and
Goddesses
1. Dagda
Dagda is the God of the Earth
and is often known as “The Good
God”. He is the leader of the “Tuatha
De Danann”.
He is the ruler of Life and Death,
and carries a huge club that can kill 9
men in one swing, or restore their
lives with the other end. He also
carries a harp and a couldron. It is
said that he can play the harp to call
on the seasons, an there’s an endless
supply of food in his couldron.
2. Aengus Og
Aengus Og was the God
of Youth, Beauty, and Love.
He is ofter pictured with
birds flying around him,
which are said to symbolize
kisses and love surrounding
him.
3. Aine of Knockaine
Aine of Knockaine is
known as the Goddess of
Youth, Beauty, and Love,
although her story is
different from Aengus Og.
She is recognized in stories
for her pleasant and timid
personality, which many of
her followers would find
comfort from.
4. Eostre
Eostre is the Goddess of
Dawn and Light and was
thought to be friendly with
rabbits and hares. She
would celebrate with them
every April with a feast,
which forms part of our
beliefs around Easter.
5. Macha
Macha is the Goddess of
War, Life and Death, but
she is also associated with
land and horses. She
regularly appears as a
hooded figure with a crow
or a hooded crow herself.
Legend says that she would
feed on the heads of her
slain enemies.
6. Cear Ibormeith
Caer Ibormeith is the
Goddess of Sleep and
Dreams. She is the wife
of Aengus Og. According
to legend, anyone who
heard her sing would
sleep for 3 days and 3
nights. This is why she is
known for being the
Goddess of Sleep and
Dreams.
7. Diancecht
Diancecht is thought to be
the God of Healing and
Medicine, since he was the
physician of the ‘Tuatha De
Danann’. There is a legend thet
he blessed a well, called the
well of Slane. Those who were
injured would be able to bathe
in the water of the well to heal
their wounds.
8. Cailleach
Cailleach is said to be
the Goddess of Disease and
Plague and is often
depicted as an old woman
with teeth of a wild bear.
She was often referred to as
the ‘Mother of All Disease’
and was one of the great
sorcerers.
9. Goibhniu
Goibhniu is the God of
Blacksmiths and Weapon-
making, and was the maker
of weapons of the ‘Tuatha
De Danann’. He was also
known as a legendary
brewmaster who made
eternal mead and tears of
life. It is said that the beer he
brewed could grant the
drinker immortality.
10. Badb Catha
Badb Catha is the
Goddess of War. Badb
would partake in battles
and assure that it went in
her favour, by confusing the
enemy with her magic. She
was so skillful in battle that
a battlefield would often be
referred to as “the
battlefield of Badb”.
HEROES
1. Cu Chulainn (coo-cull-ann)
Cu Chulainn is an Irish warrior, hero
and a demigod in Celtic mythology,
specially in the Ulster Cycle. He is
believed to be an incarnation of the Irish
God Lugh and is known for his bravery,
and skill in battle. Cu Chulainn defended
Ulster from various threats and was
associated with the Gae Bolga, a legendary
spear that inflicted multiple wounds with
a single strike. His stories are filled with
passion, sorrow, and awe-inspiring feats.
2. Finn Mac Comhaill
(Finn MacCool)
He is a legendary hero in
medieval Irish, particularly in the
Ulster Cycle. He was the Leader of
the Knights of the Red Branch and
was reputedly the king of Ulaids of
northeast Irelind. Fin Mac Comhaill
was known for his strength,
bravery, and intelligence.
3. King Ailill Mac Mata (Alil-
mac-mata)
He is the king of the
Connachta and the husband of
Queen Medb of Connacht. Ailill
ruled from Cruachan in County
Roscommon. He played a
significant role in the epic tale of
the ‘Tain Bo Cuailnge’ (Cattle Raid
of Cooley) and was known for his
strategic prowess and leadership.
4. Findabair (fin-dah-behr)
She was the daughter of Ailill
and Queen Medb of Connacht in
Irish mythology. Her name
means “white phantom” and is
etymologically related to
Gwenhwyfar, the original Welsh
form of Guinevere. Findabair
played a role in the ‘Cattle Raid
of Cooley’ and other tales of the
Ulster Cycle.
5. Ard ri Erenn (ard-ri-arenn)
Ard ri Erenn, or High King of
Ireland, refers to the kings who ruled
over the entire Kingdom of Irelind
during the Irish Middle Ages. They
were considered supreme kings and
were responsible for the four
provincial kings. The title ‘Ard ri
Erenn’ was held by historical kings
and was also attributed to legendary
figures.
CREATURES
• Banshee is said to be a fairy in Irish
BANSHEE (ban-shi)
legend and her screams is believed to
be an omen of death. The scream is
also called “Caoine” which means
“keening” and is a warning that
there will be an imminent death in
the family
•Banshee’s don’t cause death; they
only serve as a warning to it.
•A pale white woman, an old woman
with frightening red eyes, or an old
lady with a black veil covering her
face.
WEREWOLF (wehr-wulf)
• They are said to be able to
shape-shift into wolves at will,
usually during the full moon.
Unlike any other werewolves
from folklore, Irish werewolves
were not considered evil but
were seen as protectors. It is
believed that they would use
their powers to defend their
families and loved ones from
harm.
FAIRY (feh-ree)
• In Irish folklore, faries are
divided into two groups: seelie
fairy and unseelie fairy. Seelie
fairies have a friendly
demeanour and are helful to
humans. Unseelie faries are evil
and tend to terrorise humans.
DULLAHAN (doo-luh-han)
• Also known as the “headless
horseman”. The head of the
Dullahan is carried under one
arm as he rides a headless black
horse with burning eyes.
Dullahan is said to attack those
he passes by hurling buckets of
blood at them, while in others, it
is said that if he yells a name of a
person, that person is about to
die.
LEPRECHAUN
(leh-pruh-kaan)
• A small and incredibly agile male
faries or goblins, they must often
guard a pot of gold. Leprechauns
live solitary lives and can be a
sourced of mischief for the unwary,
and can sometimes bring people
good fortune.
Thank You!!
