Celtic Deities: A List of Celtic Gods and Goddesses

Deep in the misty folds of Celtic mythology, a pantheon of Celtic gods and goddesses wove their power into every corner of life.

These Celtic deities, with their realms spanning from storm-lashed seas to sun-dappled forests, were revered as protectors, warriors, and creators.

From the wisdom of Brigid to the ferocity of Morrigan, the Celtic Gods and goddesses command a legacy of mystery and awe, their stories etched into the hills and rivers of Ireland and beyond.

The Celtic Deities

It all started with the Celts – a pre-Christian people who practiced a Polytheistic religion, sometimes referred to as ‘Celtic Paganism’.

This means that they worshipped more than one God. Evidence of this can be found in statues, engravings and in place names (for example, Ireland’s County Louth is named after one of the Celtic deities, Lugh).

Below, you’ll get an insight into the main Celtic deities, what we know about them and, of course, legends from the Celtic mythology tied to them.

A list of the Celtic Gods

The Celtic Gods stand as guardians of nature’s raw power and human fate, each embodying unique strengths and mysteries.

From the life-giving touch of Dagda to the tempestuous might of Lugh, their stories reveal a world alive with divine influence.

1. The Dagda

The Dagda is the Celtic god of strength. He was described in the 11th-century ‘Lebor Gabála Érenn‘ as ‘the great good God.’

A leader of the Tuatha Dé Danann, he ruled Ireland for 80 years and was seen as a father-figure with control over the weather and seasons.

The Dagda wielded a cauldron that never left any hungry and a magic staff that granted life or death.

His harp could command emotions, and legend places his home in the ancient tomb of Brú na Bóinne, where he is depicted as a bearded giant.

2. Lúgh

Lúgh is one of the Celtic Gods and goddesses with several written accounts, including Geoffrey Keating’s ‘History of Ireland’ (1634).

Keating describes Lúgh as the grandson of Dian Cecht, the Celtic god of healing, and the son of Easar Breac, daughter of Balor, leader of the Fomorians.

A member of the Tuatha Dé Danann, Lúgh was the Irish god of nobility, deeply tied to law and oaths. He was a skilled warrior and fathered Cú Chulainn.

Lúgh wielded a magical spear and sling-stone and owned an ancient greyhound named Failinis.

3. Cú Chulainn

The son of one of the Irish gods, Lúgh, Cú Chulainn was originally called Sétanta.

He earned his name after slaying a vicious hound with a sliotar and hurl. In ‘The Wooing of Emer by Cú Chulainn‘, the women of Ulster were captivated by his looks, but he only desired Emer.

Her father opposed the match and sent him to train with a warrior-woman in Scotland. Returning as a formidable warrior, Cú Chulainn found the marriage still forbidden.

So, he stormed the castle, knocked Emer’s father over the ramparts, and claimed his bride.

4. Balor

Balor, the Celtic sun God, was the leader of the monstrous Fomorians in Celtic mythology and one of the best-known Celtic mythological creatures.

Said to dwell on Tory Island in Donegal, Balor was a giant feared for his Piercing Eye, which could unleash destruction—but only when lifted open by four men.

A prophecy foretold his grandson would bring his downfall. To prevent this, Balor ordered his daughter’s newborn sons drowned, but one survived—the Celtic god Lugh.

During the Second Battle of Mag, Lugh used a sling-stone to strike Balor down before he could unleash his deadly gaze.

5. Dian Cecht

Dian Cecht, the Celtic god of healing, is mentioned in Charles Squire’s ‘Celtic Myth and Legend‘ (1905).

A son of the Dagda, he served as the Tuatha Dé Danann’s physician and was called the ‘lord of spells’ in ‘The Metrical Dindshenchas’.

He used a magic well to heal the wounded and was said to know every herb in Ireland. Dian Cecht once saved Ireland from destruction when the Celtic goddess Morrigan gave birth to a son carrying three deadly snakes.

He destroyed them and cast them into a river, but their evil was so potent it boiled the waters. That river has been known as the River Barrow ever since.

6. Cernunnos

Cernunnos is one of the more unusual Celtic deities, always depicted with large antlers and linked to animals like bulls, stags, and dogs.

Unlike many Celtic Gods, no written legends exist about him—we rely on ancient artefacts instead. One of the most famous is the Pillar of the Boatmen, a Roman column found beneath Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Often shown alongside animals, Cernunnos is sometimes depicted holding a bag of grain or coins, suggesting ties to wealth and prosperity.

7. Aengus

Aengus, one of the Celtic Gods of youth and love, is described in Donald Alexander Mackenzie’s ‘Wonder Tales From Scottish Myth & Legend’ (1917) as a young, fair, blue-eyed god with golden hair.

A son of the Dagda and a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann, Aengus falls for a girl from his dreams in ‘The Dream of Oengus’.

His mother searches Ireland for her in vain, followed by his father a year later. Another year passes before she is found—Caer, a girl cursed to become a swan every Samhain alongside 150 others.

To marry her, Aengus must identify her in swan form. He transforms into a swan himself, finds Caer, and they fly away together. Today, Aengus remains a popular Irish boys’ name.

8. Donn

Donn, the Celtic god of Death, means ‘The Dark One’ and is said to gather souls in his home, Tech Duinn.

He is often depicted as a phantom horseman riding a powerful white horse. In some parts of Ireland, people believed thunder and lightning were caused by Donn galloping overhead.

A 9th-century poem tells that before passing to the next world, Donn wished for all his descendants to join him in Tech Duinn after death.

While some modern depictions show him adorned with Celtic Symbols like the Celtic Knot and Celtic Cross, no ancient texts confirm this connection.

9. Lir

King Lir, one of the Celtic deities of the sea, is described in the 9th-century glossary ‘Sanas Cormaic‘ as ‘the best pilot in the west of Europe’ with the ability to predict ‘fair weather and foul weather’.

His most famous tale, ‘The Children of Lir‘, tells of his jealous wife turning his children into swans for 900 years.

The spell would only break when a bell rang to signal the arrival of St. Patrick.

10. Nuada Airgetlám

Nuada Airgetlám, a prominent Celtic mythology god, was the first king of the Tuatha Dé Danann, ruling for seven years before they arrived in Ireland.

There, they encountered the Fir Bolg, the island’s rulers. When the Tuatha Dé Danann requested half of Ireland, the Fir Bolg refused, leading to war.

Nuada lost an arm in battle and, as a result, his kingship. However, Dian Cecht, the Irish god of healing, crafted him a new hand, allowing him to reclaim his throne.

According to ‘Cath Maige Tuired‘, Nuada wielded a sword from which “no one ever escaped once it was drawn, and no one could resist it.”

A list of the Celtic Goddesses

The Celtic goddesses embody the essence of life, death, and rebirth, weaving their influence into the fabric of existence.

From Brigid’s nurturing flame to Morrigan’s haunting call of destiny, their stories evoke the enduring power of the divine feminine.

1. The goddess Morrigan

Few Irish goddesses spark interest like the Morrigan, the Celtic goddess of war and fate. First mentioned in ancient Latin manuscripts, she appears in both the Ulster and Mythological Cycles of Irish mythology.

A shape-shifter, the Morrigan takes the form of a monstrous woman, an eel, and most notably, a crow.

According to W. M. Hennessy’s ‘The Ancient Irish goddess of War‘ (1870), she had the power to decide the outcome of battle.

One tale tells of her appearing to Cú Chulainn, though he failed to recognize her. He soon fell in battle, and as he died, the Morrigan perched on his shoulder in crow form.

2. The goddess Brigid

Brigid, the Celtic goddess of knowledge, healing, poetry, agriculture, and protection, was the daughter of the Dagda and wife of Bres, a king of the Tuatha Dé Danann.

According to Sanas Chormaic (1868), she was known for her “protecting care,” described as a “woman of wisdom” and “goddess of poets.”

Brigid had two sisters of the same name, suggesting she may have been a Triple Deity—one divine being with three aspects. The Irish goddess Brigid and St. Brigid are often linked, sharing strong connections to spring and protection.

3. The Cailleach

The Cailleach is a Celtic goddess linked to winter and storms. Her connection to Ireland’s Beara Peninsula earned her the title “The Hag of Béara.”

Her name comes from the Old Irish “Caillech,” meaning “Veiled One.” In Scotland, she is known as “Beira,” the “Queen of Winter.”

The Cailleach is tied to shaping the land, with several Irish landmarks, like Hag’s Head at the Cliffs of Moher and Loughcrew’s megalithic tombs, linked to her.

Some believe she is a seasonal Celtic Goddess, ruling from Samhain to Bealtaine.

4. Queen Medb of Connacht

Queen Medb of Connacht is one of the most famous figures from Irish folklore. She appears in The Metrical Dindshenchas (“Lore of Places”) and is described as “great and glorious” with “pure beauty.”

Medb, the Irish goddess of sovereignty, was cunning and ambitious, able to summon all the men of Connacht in a day. She had several husbands, including Ailill mac Máta.

Her most famous tale, Táin Bó Cúailnge, sees her battle Cú Chulainn for a prized bull. She is said to be buried in a cairn atop Knocknarea in Sligo.

5. Badb

Badb, the Irish goddess of war and death, was part of a trio of Celtic goddesses alongside Macha and the Morrigan.

She was known for inciting conflict and could prophesy which side would lose a battle. Like the Banshee, her cries were seen as a bad omen.

In Cath Maige Tuired, Badb foretold the world’s end, warning of famine, disease, and the downfall of Celtic deities. A constant presence on the battlefield, she had the power to sow chaos among her enemies.

6. Ériu

Ériu is one of the most notable Celtic deities, the goddess of Ireland and daughter of Ernmas and Delbáed of the Tuatha Dé Danann.

It is thanks to Ériu that the Emerald Isle became known as Ireland. According to Lebor Gabála Érenn, she met the Milesians, the last settlers of Ireland, as they battled the Tuatha Dé Danann.

At the Hill of Uisneach, Ériu promised them good fortune if they named the land after her—securing her place in Irish history.

7. Danu

Danu is the most ancient of the Celtic goddesses, from whom the Tuatha Dé Danann take their name—“Folk of the goddess Danu.”

Despite the many tales of those who bear her name, little is written about Danu herself. She is associated with wisdom and fertility and revered as the Celtic mother Goddess.

Her influence is reflected in the power of Tuatha Dé Danann figures like Lugh and the Dagda, hinting at the immense status she once held.

FAQs about the Irish gods

You should have a good sense of the Celtic gods and goddesses after reading the guide above.

However, I’ll include some of the most FAQs that we receive about Irish deities below, just in case: