Tuatha Dé Danann

Highly mystical figures, the Tuatha Dé Danann are gods, goddesses, magicians and druids from Irish Celtic mythology. Their name, Tuatha Dé Danann, means “People of the Goddess of Dana” or “Tribe of Dana”.

A group of Celtic Gods

By analogy, we can compare the Tuatha Dé Danann to the Greek gods living on Olympus. Each God has his own talents, and acts on the rest of the world according to his conscience. According to the writings, a hierarchy even existed between each God, dividing their mode of operation into 3 levels, including :

• a first priestly class in charge of the religious and sacred,
• a second warrior class for war and magic,
• a third class of craftsmen who would produce everything society needed.

The origin of these gods can be traced back to the 4 islands to the north of the world: when they arrived in Ireland, they gathered 5 magical artifacts: the Stone of Fal (found in Newgrange), the club of Dagda, the spear of Lug, the cauldron and the sword of Nuada.

List of Thuatha Dé Danann

• LugSamildanach (primordial god)
• Dagda(god-guide)
• Ogme(god of war magic)
• Nuada(royalty)
• Goibniu(blacksmith god)
• Credne(bronze god)
• Luchta(carpenter god)
• Diancecht(medicine-god) father of Airmed, Miach and Oirmiach
• Mac Ocou Oengus (youth)
• Brigit (goddess of poets, blacksmiths and physicians)
• Etainou Eithne (Queen of Ireland, mother of all the gods)
• Boand(another name for Brigit, eponymous goddess of the Boyne)
• Mórrígan(warrior goddess, or of sovereignty)

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