Irish Mythology
Goddesses in Irish tradition
pre-12th century — present. Old Irish | Modern Irish, folklore.
Goddesses occur with great frequency in Irish mythology.
The greatest of the Danaan goddesses was Dana, 'mother of the Irish gods,' as she is called in an early text. She was daughter of the Dagda and, like him, associated with ideas of fertility and blessing.
There was also an extraordinary goddess named the Morrigan, who appears to embody all that is perverse and horrible among supernatural powers… Another topical goddess was Ainé, the patroness of Munster, who is still venerated by the people of that county.
A goddess it was who appeared to Bran when he found a silver bough of apple blossom outside his fortress one day; she appeared inside his home as if by magic and invited him to travel to an Island of Women, across a sea very like that which Maeldun rowed his craft. And it was a daughter of the god Manannan who came for Oisin, to lead him across the waves to the island of her abode. When he returned to Ireland, seemingly a short while later, many hundreds of years had passed since his departure.
Goddesses occur with great frequency in Irish mythology and are associated with the Irish south-western province of Munster more than anywhere else.