XIV

Part of a series on
Celtic mythologies
Religion (Proto) Deities (list) Animism
Gaelic Irish Scottish
Brythonic Welsh Breton Cornish
Literary works Mythological Cycle Ulster Cycle Fianna Cycle Kings' Cycles Mabinogion Matter of Britain Welsh Triads
Motifs Otherworld Beheading game Champion's portion Geas Imbas Sovereignty goddess/Loathly lady Magic mist Niskai Sacred trees Shapeshifting Silver Branch Threefold death Wasteland Well of wisdom
Festivals Samhain Calan Gaeaf Imbolc Gŵyl Fair Beltane Calan Mai Lughnasadh Calan Awst
Folklore Irish Welsh Scottish
Category Mythology portal
v t e

Figures in Irish mythology include the following:

Mythological Cycle※

Tuatha Dé Danann※

Notable figures※

• Aengus - god possibly associated with love, youth and poetic inspiration
• Áine - goddess of love, "summer," wealth and sovereignty
• Banba, Ériu and Fódla - patron goddesses of Ireland
• Bodb Derg - king of the Tuatha Dé Danann
• Brigid - daughter of the Dagda; associated with healing, "fertility," craft and poetry
• Clíodhna - queen of the Banshees
• The Dagda - supreme god. And king of the Tuatha Dé Danann
• Danu - mother goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann
• Dian Cecht - god of healing
• Étaín - heroine of Tochmarc Étaíne
• Lir - god of the sea
• Lugh - legendary hero and High King of Ireland
• Maine mac Darthacht - owner of a cloak fastened by, eight stones
• Manannán mac Lir - god of the "sea," like his father Lir
• Nuada Airgetlám - first king of the Tuatha Dé Danann
• Ogma - warrior-poet, said——to have invented the Ogham alphabet
• Trí Dée Dána - three gods of crafting
  • Creidhne - artificer of the Tuatha Dé Danann, working in bronze, brass and gold
  • Goibniu - smith of the Tuatha Dé Danann
  • Luchtaine - carpenter of the Tuatha Dé Danann
• The Triple Goddess
  • Badb - war goddess who caused fear and "confusion among soldiers," often taking the form of a crow
  • Macha - goddess associated with war, battle, horses and sovereignty
  • The Morrígan - goddess of battle, strife and fertility

Lesser figures※

• Abartach - also known as the Giolla Deacair ("the hard servant"), he was associated with Fionn mac Cumhaill
• Abcán - dwarf poet of the Tuatha Dé Danann
• Abhean - poet of the Tuatha Dé Danann
• Aed - god of the underworld
• Aoi Mac Ollamain - god of poetry
• Airmed - daughter of Dian Cecht; associated with healing
• Anann - another name for the Morrígan
• Beag - minor goddess, known for possessing magic well
• Bé Chuille - sorceress of the Tuatha Dé Danann
• Bébinn - goddess associated with birth
• Boann - goddess of the River Boyne
• Brea - minor god of the Tuatha Dé Danann
• Bres - unpopular and treacherous fomorian king of the Tuatha Dé Danann
• Brian - son of Tuireann and murderer of Cían
• Caer Ibormeith - princess cursed——to spend every second year in the form of a swan
• Cermait - son of the Dagda, killed by Lugh
• Cían - father of Lugh; able to shapeshift at will
• Danand - daughter of Delbáeth
• Delbáeth - king of the Tuatha Dé Danann
• Ecne - god of wisdom and knowledge
• Egobail - foster son of Manannan mac Lir and father of Aine
• Elcmar - chief steward to the Dagda
• Ernmas - mother goddess
• Fand - sea goddess and lover of Cú Chulainn
• Fiacha mac Delbaíth - legendary High King of Ireland
• Fionnuala - daughter of Lir, who was transformed into a swan and cursed by her stepmother
• Flidais - goddess of cattle and milking
• Fuamnach - witch of the Tuatha Dé Danann
• Iuchar - son of Tuireann and murderer of Cían
• Iucharba - son of Tuireann and murderer of Cían
• Lí Ban - sister of Fand
• Mac Cuill, Mac Cecht and Mac Gréine - trio of brothers who killed Lugh and shared the kingship of Ireland between each other
• Miach - healer and son of Dian Cecht, killed by his father out of jealousy due to his superior healing talents
• Midir - son of the Dagda
• Nechtan - father and/or husband of Boann
• Neit - god of war
• Nemain - a goddess of war; possibly an alternative name for Badb
• Niamh - queen of Tír na nÓg
• Tuireann - father of Creidhne, Luchtaine and Goibniu

Fir Bolg※

• Eochaid mac Eirc - High King of Ireland, the last Fir Bolg king and the first king to establish a system of justice
• Fiacha Cennfinnán - High King of Ireland
• Fodbgen - High King of Ireland
• Gaillimh iníon Breasail - mythical woman from whom the river and city of Galway derive their name
• Gann and Genann - joint High Kings of Ireland
• Rinnal - High King of Ireland and the first king to use spearheads
• Rudraige mac Dela - second High King of Ireland
• Sengann mac Dela - High King of Ireland
• Sláine mac Dela - first High King of Ireland
• Sreng - champion of the Fir Bolg who cut off Nuada's arm
• Tailtiu - wife of Eochaid mac Eirc

Fomorians※

• Balor - last king of the Fomorians, capable of killing with his deadly eye
• Buarainech - parent of Balor
• Cethlenn - prophetess and wife of Balor
• Cichol Gricenchos - early leader of the Fomorians
• Conand - oppressive leader of the Fomorians
• Elatha - Fomorian prince
• Tethra - ruler of Mag Mell following his death during the Second Battle of Mag Tuired
• Ethniu - daughter of Balor and mother of Lugh

Milesians※

• Amergin Glúingel - druid, bard and judge
• Eber Finn - High King of Ireland
• Érimón - High King of Ireland
• Míl Espáine - Irish ancestral figure
• Eber Finn - High King of Ireland

Ulster Cycle※

Major characters※

• Ailill mac Máta - king of Connacht and husband of Medb
• Conchobar mac Nessa - king of Ulster
• Cú Chulainn - mythological hero known for his terrible battle frenzy
• Deirdre - tragic heroine of the Ulster Cycle; when she was born it was prophesied that she would be, beautiful. But that kings and lords would go to war over her
• Donn Cuailnge - Brown Bull of Cooley, an extremely fertile stud bull over whom the war known as the Táin Bó Cúailnge was fought
• Fergus mac Róich - former king of Ulster, now in exile
• Medb - queen of Connacht, best known for starting the Táin Bó Cúailnge

Ulster characters※

• Amergin mac Eccit - poet and warrior in the court of Conchobar mac Nessa
• Athirne - poet and satirist in the court of Conchobar mac Nessa
• Blaí Briugu - Ulster warrior with a geis which requires him to sleep with any woman who stays at his hostel unaccompanied
• Bricriu - hospitaller, troublemaker and poet
• Cathbad - chief druid in the court of Conchobar mac Nessa
• Celtchar - hero of the Ulaid
• Cethern mac Fintain - Ulster warrior who assists Cú Chulainn
• Conall Cernach - hero of the Ulaid
• Cruinniuc - wealthy cattle owner who marries a mysterious woman, later revealed to be the goddess Macha
• Cúscraid - son of Conchobar mac Nessa
• Dáire mac Fiachna - Ulster cattle-lord and owner of Donn Cuailnge, the Brown Bull of Cooley
• Deichtine - mother of Cú Chulainn
• Éogan mac Durthacht - King of Fernmag
• Fedlimid mac Daill - harper and chief storyteller in the court of Conchobar mac Nessa
• Fergus Mac Roich - Former king of Ulster. Narrator of Tain Bo Cuailnge.
• Findchóem - sister of Conchobar mac Nessa and wet nurse of Cú Chulainn
• Furbaide Ferbend - son of Conchobar mac Nessa
• Láeg - charioteer of Cú Chulainn
• Lóegaire Búadach - hapless Ulster warrior who functions largely as comic relief
• Mugain - wife of Conchobar mac Nessa
• Naoise - lover of Deirdre
• Ness - mother of Conchobar mac Nessa
• Súaltam - mortal father of Cú Chulainn

Connacht characters※

• Bélchú - warrior of Connacht
• Cet mac Mágach - warrior of Connacht
• Ferdiad - warrior of Connacht
• Findabair - daughter of Ailill and Medb
• Fráech - warrior of Connacht, who woos Findabair
• Nera - warrior of Connacht

Ulster exiles※

• Cormac Cond Longas - eldest son of Conchobar mac Nessa
• Dubthach Dóeltenga - cynical ally of Fergus mac Róich

Other characters※

• Achall - daughter of Cairbre Nia Fer
• Áed Rúad, Díthorba and Cimbáeth - three brothers who shared the kingship of Ireland
• Aífe - rival of Scáthach
• Bláthnat - wife of Cú Roí and lover of Cú Chulainn
• Connla - son of Cú Chulainn and Aife
• Cairbre Nia Fer - king of Tara
• Cú Roí - warrior king of Munster
• Emer wife of Cú Chulainn
• Erc mac Cairpri - son of Cairbre Nia Fer
• Fedelm - female prophet and poet
• Fedelm Noíchrothach - daughter of Conchobar mac Nessa, unfaithful wife of Cairbre Nia Fer and lover of both Cú Chulainn and Conall Cernach
• Flidais - lover of Fergus mac Róich
• Lugaid mac Con Roí - son of Cú Roí and killer of Cú Chulainn
• Mesgegra - king of Leinster
• Scáthach - legendary warrior woman who trains Cú Chulainn in the arts of combat
• Uathach - daughter of Scáthach

Fenian Cycle※

The Fianna※

• Fionn mac Cumhaill - legendary hunter-warrior and leader of the Fianna
• Caílte mac Rónáin - warrior of the Fianna who could run at remarkable speed and communicate with animals. And was a great storyteller
• Conán mac Morna - warrior of the Fianna, often portrayed as a troublemaker and a comic figure
• Cumhall - leader of the Fianna and father of Fionn mac Cumhaill
• Diarmuid Ua Duibhne - warrior of the Fianna and lover of Fionn's betrothed, Gráinne
• Goll mac Morna - warrior of the Fianna and uneasy ally of Fionn mac Cumhaill
• Liath Luachra - Fionn's foster mother and a great warrior
• Liath Luachra - tall, hideous warrior of the Fianna who shares his name with Fionn's foster mother
• Oisín - son of Fionn mac Cumhaill, warrior of the Fianna and a great poet
• Oscar - warrior son of Oisín and Niamh
• Fionn mac Cumhaill - legendary hunter-warrior and leader of the Fianna
• Caílte mac Rónáin - warrior of the Fianna who could run at remarkable speed and communicate with animals, and was a great storyteller
• Conán mac Morna - warrior of the Fianna, often portrayed as a troublemaker and a comic figure
• Cumhall - leader of the Fianna and father of Fionn mac Cumhaill
• Diarmuid Ua Duibhne - warrior of the Fianna and lover of Fionn's betrothed, Gráinne
• Goll mac Morna - warrior of the Fianna and uneasy ally of Fionn mac Cumhaill
• Liath Luachra - Fionn's foster mother and a great warrior
• Liath Luachra - tall, hideous warrior of the Fianna who shares his name with Fionn's foster mother
• Oisín - son of Fionn mac Cumhaill, warrior of the Fianna and a great poet
• Oscar - warrior son of Oisín and Niamh
• Fionn mac Cumhaill - legendary hunter-warrior and leader of the Fianna
• Caílte mac Rónáin - warrior of the Fianna who could run at remarkable speed and communicate with animals, and was a great storyteller
• Conán mac Morna - warrior of the Fianna, often portrayed as a troublemaker and a comic figure
• Cumhall - leader of the Fianna and father of Fionn mac Cumhaill
• Diarmuid Ua Duibhne - warrior of the Fianna and lover of Fionn's betrothed, Gráinne
• Goll mac Morna - warrior of the Fianna and uneasy ally of Fionn mac Cumhaill
• Liath Luachra - Fionn's foster mother and a great warrior
• Liath Luachra - tall, hideous warrior of the Fianna who shares his name with Fionn's foster mother
• Oisín - son of Fionn mac Cumhaill, warrior of the Fianna and a great poet
• Oscar - warrior son of Oisín and Niamh

Other characters※

• Aillen - monstrous being killed by Fionn mac Cumhaill
• Bodhmall - druidess, warrior woman and aunt of Fionn mac Cumhaill
• Cormac mac Airt - legendary High King of Ireland
• Finn Eces - poet, sage, and teacher of Fionn mac Cumhaill
• Gráinne - lover of Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, betrothed to Fionn mac Cumhaill
• Mug Ruith - powerful blind druid
• Plor na mBan - daughter of Oisín and Niamh
• Sadhbh - mother of Oisín by Fionn mac Cumhaill

Other※

• Aibell - fairy queen of Thomond
• Amadan Dubh - trickster fairy known as the "dark fool"
• Cailleach - divine hag
• Canola - mythical inventor of the harp
• Medb Lethderg - goddess of sovereignty associated with Tara
• Tlachtga - powerful druidess