Editing Irish mythology (section)

== Figures ==

=== Tuatha Dé Danann ===
The main supernatural beings in Irish mythology are the Tuatha Dé Danann ("the folk of the goddess Danu"), also known by the earlier name Tuath Dé ("god folk" or "tribe of the gods").<ref name="Carey tuath de">{{cite encyclopedia |year=2006 |title=Tuath Dé |encyclopedia=Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia |publisher=ABC-CLIO |last=Carey |first=John |author-link=John Carey (Celticist) |editor=[[John T. Koch]] |pages=1693–1697}}</ref> Early medieval Irish writers also called them the ''fir dé'' (god-men) and ''cenéla dé'' (god-kindreds), possibly to avoid calling them simply 'gods'.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Williams |first=M. A. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/951724639 |title=Ireland's Immortals: A history of the gods of Irish myth |date=2016 |isbn=978-0-691-15731-3 |location=Princeton, New Jersey |oclc=951724639 |page=82}}</ref> They are often depicted as kings, queens, bards, warriors, heroes, healers and craftsmen who have supernatural powers and are immortal. Prominent members include [[The Dagda]] ("the great god"); [[The Morrígan]] ("the great queen" or "phantom queen"); [[Lugh]]; [[Nuada Airgetlám|Nuada]]; [[Aengus]]; [[Brigid]]; [[Manannán mac Lir|Manannán]]; [[Dian Cécht]] the healer; and [[Goibniu]] the smith. They are also said to control the fertility of the land; the tale ''De Gabáil in t-Sída'' says the first Gaels had to establish friendship with the Tuath Dé before they could raise crops and herds.<ref name="Carey tuath de"/>

They dwell in the [[Celtic Otherworld|Otherworld]] but interact with humans and the human world. Many are associated with specific places in the landscape, especially the ''sídhe'': prominent ancient [[burial mound]]s such as [[Brú na Bóinne]], which are entrances to Otherworld realms.<ref name="Carey tuath de"/><ref name="Ohogain tuath de">{{cite book |last=Ó hÓgáin |first=Dáithí |author-link=Dáithí Ó hÓgáin |title=Myth, Legend & Romance: An encyclopaedia of the Irish folk tradition |publisher=Prentice Hall Press |year=1991 |pages=312–315, 407–409}}</ref> The Tuath Dé can hide themselves with a ''[[féth fíada]]'' ('magic mist').<ref name="Ohogain tuath de"/> They are said to have travelled from the north of the world, but then were forced to live underground in the ''sídhe'' after the coming of the Irish.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Retzlaff |first=Kay |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/37457923 |title=Ireland : its myths and legends |date=1998 |publisher=Metro Books |isbn=1-56799-564-0 |location=New York |oclc=37457923}}</ref>

In some tales, such as ''[[Baile in Scáil]]'', kings receive affirmation of their legitimacy from one of the Tuath Dé, or a king's right to rule is affirmed by an encounter with an otherworldly woman (see [[sovereignty goddess]]).<ref name="Carey tuath de"/> The Tuath Dé can also bring doom to unrightful kings.<ref name="Carey tuath de"/>

The medieval writers who wrote about the Tuath Dé were Christians. Sometimes they explained the Tuath Dé as [[fallen angel]]s; neutral angels who sided neither with God nor [[Lucifer]] and were punished by being forced to dwell on the Earth; or ancient humans who had become highly skilled in magic.<ref name="Carey tuath de"/> However, several writers acknowledged that at least some of them had been gods.<ref name="Carey tuath de"/>

There is strong evidence that many of the Tuath Dé represent the gods of Irish [[paganism]].<ref name="Carey tuath de"/><ref name="Ohogain tuath de"/> The name itself means "tribe of gods", and the ninth-century ''Scél Tuain meic Cairill'' (Tale of [[Tuan mac Cairill]]) speaks of the ''Tuath Dé ocus Andé'', "tribe of gods and un-gods".<ref name="Carey tuath de"/> Goibniu, [[Credne]] and [[Luchta]] are called the ''trí dé dáno'', "three gods of craft".<ref name="Carey tuath de"/> In ''[[Sanas Cormaic]]'' ([[Cormac mac Cuilennáin|Cormac's]] Glossary), [[Anu (Irish goddess)|Anu]] is called "mother of the Irish gods", [[Nét]] a "god of war", and Brigid a "goddess of poets".<ref name="Carey tuath de"/> Writing in the seventh century, [[Tírechán]] explained the ''sídh'' folk as "earthly gods" (Latin ''dei terreni''),<ref name="Carey tuath de"/> while ''Fiacc's Hymn'' says the Irish adored the ''sídh'' before the coming of [[Saint Patrick]].<ref name="Carey tuath de"/> Several of the Tuath Dé are [[cognate]] with [[Ancient Celtic religion|ancient Celtic]] deities: Lugh with [[Lugus]], Brigid with [[Brigantia (goddess)|Brigantia]], Nuada with [[Nodons]], and [[Ogma]] with [[Ogmios]].<ref name="Carey tuath de"/>

Nevertheless, [[John Carey (Celticist)|John Carey]] notes that it is not wholly accurate to describe all of them as gods in the medieval literature itself. He argues that the literary Tuath Dé are ''[[sui generis]]'', and suggests "immortals" might be a more neutral term.<ref name="Carey tuath de"/>

Many of the Tuath Dé are not defined by singular qualities, but are more of the nature of well-rounded humans, who have areas of special interests or skills like the druidic arts they learned before traveling to Ireland.<ref name=":1" /> In this way, they do not correspond directly to other pantheons such as those of the [[Greeks]] or [[Roman Empire|Romans]].<ref name=HGT-1949-rvw/>

Irish goddesses or Otherworldly women are usually connected to the land, the waters, and sovereignty, and are often seen as the oldest ancestors of the people in the region or nation. They are maternal figures caring for the earth itself as well as their descendants, but also fierce defenders, teachers and warriors. The goddess [[Brigid]] is linked with poetry, healing, and smithing.<ref name=Monaghan-2004/> Another is the [[Cailleach]], said to have lived many lives that begin and end with her in stone formation. She is still celebrated at [[Ballycrovane Ogham Stone]] with offerings and the retelling of her life's stories. The tales of the Cailleach connect her to both land and sea.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Wyeth, Adam |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/857525147 |title=The hidden world of poetry : unravelling Celtic mythology in contemporary Irish poetry |year=2013 |publisher=Salmon Poetry |isbn=978-1-908836-56-4 |oclc=857525147}}</ref> Several Otherworldly women are associated with sacred sites where seasonal festivals are held. They include [[Macha]] of [[Eamhain Mhacha]], [[Carman]], and [[Tailtiu]], among others.<ref name=HGT-1949-rvw/>

Warrior goddesses are often depicted as a triad and connected with sovereignty and sacred animals. They guard the battlefield and those who do battle, and according to the stories in the ''[[Táin Bó Cúailnge]]'', some of them may instigate and direct war themselves.<ref name=Kinsella-1970/> The main goddesses of battle are The Morrígan, Macha, and [[Badb]].<ref name=Dillon-1972/> Other warrior women are seen in the role of training warriors in the Fianna bands, such as [[Liath Luachra]], one of the women who trained the hero [[Fionn mac Cumhaill]].<ref name=Nagy-1985/>{{page needed|date=September 2021}} [[Zoomorphism]] is an important feature. Badb Catha, for instance, is "the Raven of Battle",<ref name=Powell-1989-Celts/> and in the ''Táin Bó Cúailnge'', The Morrígan shapeshifts into an eel, a wolf, and a cow.<ref name=Kinsella-1970/>

Irish gods are divided into four main groups.<ref>{{Cite web |last=OR 97219 |first=Overseas and Off-Campus ProgramsLewis & Clark615 S. Palatine Hill Road MSC 11Portland |title=Once Upon a Time, Irish Mythology Crash Course |url=https://college.lclark.edu/live/blogs/68-once-upon-a-time-irish-mythology-crash-course |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=college.lclark.edu |language=en}}</ref> Group one encompasses the older gods of [[Gaul]] and Britain. The second group is the main focus of much of the mythology and surrounds the native Irish gods with their homes in burial mounds. The third group are the gods that dwell in the sea and the fourth group includes stories of the Otherworld.<ref name=Dillon-1972/> The gods that appear most often are the Dagda and Lugh. Some scholars have argued that the stories of these gods align with Greek stories and gods.<ref name=Dillon-1972/>

=== Fomorians ===
[[File:The Fomorians, Duncan 1912.jpg|thumb|250px|The Fomorians, as depicted by John Duncan (1912)]]
The [[Fomorians]] or Fomori ({{langx|sga|Fomóire}})<ref name="Ohogain fomori">{{cite book |last=Ó hÓgáin |first=Dáithí |author-link=Dáithí Ó hÓgáin |title=Myth, Legend & Romance: An encyclopaedia of the Irish folk tradition |publisher=Prentice Hall Press |year=1991 |pages=232–233}}</ref> are a supernatural race, who are often portrayed as hostile and monstrous beings. Originally, they were said to come from under the sea or the earth.<ref name="Ohogain fomori"/> Later, they were portrayed as sea raiders, which was probably influenced by the [[History of Ireland (800–1169)|Viking raids on Ireland]] around that time.<ref name="Ohogain fomori"/> Later still they were portrayed as giants. They are enemies of Ireland's [[Lebor Gabála Érenn|first settlers]] and opponents of the Tuatha Dé Danann,<ref name="Carey fomori">{{cite encyclopedia |title=Fomoiri |encyclopedia=Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia |year=2006 |last=Carey |first=John |author-link=John Carey (Celticist) |editor=[[John T. Koch]] |publisher=ABC-CLIO |page=762}}</ref> although some members of the two races have offspring. The Fomorians were viewed as the alter-egos to the Tuath Dé<ref name=":1" />{{request quotation|date=November 2022}} The Tuath Dé defeat the Fomorians in the ''[[Cath Maige Tuired|Battle of Mag Tuired]]''.<ref name=":1" /> This has been likened to other [[Proto-Indo-European mythology|Indo-European myths]] of a war between gods, such as the [[Æsir–Vanir War|Æsir and Vanir]] in [[Norse mythology]] and the [[Titanomachy|Olympians and Titans]] in [[Greek mythology]].<ref name="Ohogain myth cycle">{{cite book |last=Ó hÓgáin |first=Dáithí |author-link=Dáithí Ó hÓgáin |title=Myth, Legend & Romance: An encyclopaedia of the Irish folk tradition |publisher=Prentice Hall Press |year=1991 |pages=312–315}}</ref>

=== Heroes ===
Heroes in Irish mythology can be found in two distinct groups. There is the lawful hero who exists within the boundaries of the community, protecting their people from outsiders.<ref name=Nagy-1985/> Within the kin-group or ''[[tuath]]'', heroes are human and gods are not.<ref name=HGT-1949-rvw/>

The [[Fianna]] warrior bands are seen as outsiders, connected with the wilderness, youth, and liminal states.<ref name=Nagy-1985/> Their leader was called Fionn mac Cumhaill, and the first stories of him are told in fourth century. They are considered aristocrats and outsiders who protect the community from other outsiders; though they may winter with a settled community, they spend the summers living wild, training adolescents and providing a space for war-damaged veterans. The time of vagrancy for these youths is designated as a transition in life post puberty but pre-manhood. Manhood being identified as owning or inheriting property. They live under the authority of their own leaders, or may be somewhat anarchic, and may follow other deities or spirits than the settled communities.<ref name=Nagy-1985/><ref name=HGT-1949-rvw/>

The church refused to recognize this group as an institution and referred to them as "sons of death".<ref name=":0" />

=== Legendary creatures ===
The [[Oilliphéist]] is a sea-serpent-like monster in Irish mythology and folklore. These monsters were believed to inhabit many lakes and rivers in Ireland and there are legends of saints, especially St. Patrick, and heroes fighting them.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100247615;jsessionid=A63CCC73C2E4397C92726419D92EC0B6 | title=Oilliphéist }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://emeraldisle.ie/the-great-wyrms-of-ireland | title=The Great Wyrms of Ireland &#124; Folklore and fairy tales from the Emerald Isle }}</ref>