Irish and Celtic Myths, Legends & Folklore

Brigid by Mickie Mueller

Lugh by Mickie Mueller

Tales of heroes, romances, tragedies, battles and place names

Welcome to the mythology section, where you will find echoes of Ireland's spoken past. Ancient poetic verses from the Dindshenchas attempt to give the meanings and stories behind the names of some of Ireland's most cherished ancient places. Heroic tales are recounted in the Ulster Cycle, while the Tuatha Dé Danann, the powerful immortal gods of ancient eire, and dwellers in our ancient monuments, come to life once more in these pages.

An Táin Bó Cualnge – stories from the great "Iliad" of Irish literature. This material comes from the 'Ulster Cycle', a group of sagas and romantic tales dealing for the most part with the traditional heroes of what is now eastern Ulster, the chief stronghold of which was Emain Macha, which is identified with Navan Fort, a mound near Armagh.

The Fianna, Finn and Oisin - Stories of the mythical warrior band, the Fianna, and the heroes Finn Mac Cumhaill and Oisin. Two excerpts from the Finn cycle of mythology - the "Hunt of Slieve Gullion" and "The birth of Fin MacCumhail".

The Tuatha Dé Danann – This section deals with the ancient 'gods' of Ireland. The Tuatha Dé Danann were the Peoples of the Goddess Danu (or Anu), and were said to have come to Ireland from the north of Europe. They are large, strong and beautiful beings, superior to mortals.

The Dindshenchas – A collection of poetry from various sources which deals with the placenames of ancient Ireland and reveals a wealth of information about how different places, including prominent ancient sites like Dowth and Tara, got their names.

The Excellence of the ancient word: Druid Rhetorics from ancient Irish tales. Lengthy but fantastic article, including Amergin's Challenge.

Astronomical mythology: Read the ancient stories which reveal a great interest in astronomy and the sky during ancient times.

The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel: An English translation by Whitley Stokes (1910) of a very ancient Irish epic which was written down about 1100AD. 'The powers and achievements of the heroes are fantastic and extraordinary beyond description'. (Big file: 168k)

The Second Battle of Moytura: a translation by Elizabeth A. Gray. Nuadu Silver Arm leads the Tuatha Dé Danann in battle against the Fomorians.
Power and Landscape: An article looking at power and landscape in Ireland in the context of druidism.

Myth Concordance – A comprehensive dictionary of Irish mythology and legend based on 'Gods and Fighting Men' by Lady Augusta Gregory, first published in 1904 - the characters, deities and places of Irish myth. Now in three sections for easy downloading - A-C , D-L and M-Z .

Films and folklore: Were Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and other films influenced by Irish myths and legends?