Unsolved:List of Irish mythological figures

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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 a 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

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

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