20 Irish Myths About Famous Heroes & Characters in Celtic Folklore

PDF download Download Article
Plus, learn about mythic Irish creatures like the banshees
PDF download Download Article

Irish myths are full of vibrant, adventurous tales of Celtic warriors, heroes, and mythical creatures. If you’re interested in finding out more about these tales from ancient Ireland, read on as we delve into 20 well-known Irish myths , including the legend of Finn McCool, the Tales of Cuchulainn, and the Children of Lir. You’ll also learn more about the 4 cycles of Irish mythology , and the origins of ancient Celtic folklore .

Popular Irish Mythology Stories

  • Finn McCool and the Giant’s Causeway: The tale of an Irish giant who helped build the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland.
  • The Tales of Cuchulainn: Several stories about the warrior hero Cuchulainn, the son of the Celtic sun god Lugh.
  • The Children of Lir: A tale about the 4 children of King Lir who were turned into swans for 900 years by their stepmother.
  • The Banshee: A legend about a creature known to scream whenever a family member dies.
  • The Cattle Raid of Cooley: A tale about a cattle raid initiated by Queen Maeve (Medb) against the northern Irish Ulster province.
Section 1 of 3:

20 Famous Irish Myths & Legends

PDF download Download Article
  1. Finn McCool was an Irish giant who “helped” construct the Giant’s Causeway, an area in Northern Ireland made up of huge columns formed from volcanic rock. He did so to confront his ancient rival, the Scottish giant named Benandonner. When Finn saw how big a giant Benandonner was, he decided to flee. Once Finn fled home, he had his wife disguise him as a baby to hide him from Benandonner. When Benandonner came to confront Finn at his home and saw this “giant baby,” Benandonner assumed that the baby’s father (Finn) was even larger, so Benandonner retreated across the bridge that Finn had built. [1]
    • Finn McCool was the son of Cumhall, one of the Fianna, a band of traveling hunter-warriors.
  2. 2
    The Banshee ( Bean Sí ) The Irish banshee was a scary mythological creature traditionally depicted as an old woman. It was said that she would let out a blood-curdling scream whenever a family member died. Hearing her scream told other members of the family that their loved one had passed away. In addition to looking like an old woman in rags, she sometimes appeared as a beautiful young woman, a weasel, a hare, or a hooded crow. [2]
    • The word “banshee” derives from the Irish “Bean Sí,” meaning “the fairy woman.”
    • Banshees were linked to real-life Irish keeners, female mourners who sang a lament at a funeral.
    Advertisement
  3. 3
    The Salmon of Knowledge ( An Bradán Feasa ) Another famous Irish legend involving Finn McCool tells how the Salmon of Knowledge gave Finn all the knowledge in the world. The Salmon of Knowledge was a magical figure in Irish myth that symbolized wisdom and enlightenment. In the story, Finn plucked the magical salmon out of the River Boyne to cook it for Finnegus the sage (and to gain the knowledge that the salmon had to offer). Finnegus instructed Finn to cook the salmon but not eat any of it himself. While cooking the salmon, he touched it and burnt his finger. Finn then placed his finger to his lips to cool the burn, which accidentally gave him knowledge of the past, present, and future. [3]
    • The Salmon of Knowledge was said to have gained its wisdom by eating nuts from 9 hazel trees that grew around the Well of Wisdom.
    • The story appears in the Fenian cycle of Irish mythology.
  4. 4
    The Cattle Raid of Cooley ( Táin Bó Cúailnge ) The Cattle Raid of Cooley was an epic story about a giant cattle raid initiated by Queen Maeve (Medb) of Connaught against the northern Irish province of Ulster. In the story, Queen Maeve first attempted to steal the prized brown bull of Cooley when she became angered by her husband Ailill’s superior wealth (and the white bull he owned). After Maeve captured the brown bull, a conflict ensued between Connaught and Ulster, one in which the hero Cuchulainn defended Ulster against the Connaught army. [4]
    • The Connaught army was struck down by a curse that rendered them unable to fight—this curse didn’t affect Cuchulainn.
    • The story culminated with a fight between the white bull and the brown bull. The brown bull killed the white bull, but then died from a broken heart after the battle.
    • The Cattle Raid of Cooley is part of the Ulster cycle of Irish mythology and is considered the national epic of Ireland.
    • The tale is one of many Irish myths focused on the famous hero Cuchulainn.
  5. 5
    The Children of Lir ( Oidheadh Chlainne Lir ) The Children of Lir is a story about 4 siblings: the eldest son Aodh, daughter Fionnuala, and twin sons Fiachra and Conn, who are the children of King Lir. When their mother Aobh died, their father soon remarried his wife’s sister Aoife. Out of jealousy, Aoife cursed the children by transforming them into swans for 900 years, consisting of 300 years spent on a lake, 300 years spent on the sea, and 300 years spent on an island. Eventually, the sound of distant church bells managed to break the curse, which led them to transform back into human beings. By then, the children were very old and close to death. Saint Mochaomhóg baptized them before they died, which reunited them with their father in the afterlife. [5]
    • The ringing of the bell in the story was said to represent the coming of Christianity to Ireland.
    • The Children of Lir is part of the Irish Mythological cycle of stories.
  6. 6
    The Hound of Cuchulainn ( Cú Chulainn ) The most famous Irish mythological hero was Cuchulainn, the son of the Celtic sun god Lugh. He appeared in many Irish myths, but was most famously known as the “Hound of Culann,” after killing the blacksmith Culann’s dog. Once he killed the hound in self-defense, Cuchulainn vowed to take the dog’s place as the guardian of the blacksmith’s forge until a new hound could be raised. [6]
    • Cuchulainn is the main figure of the Ulster cycle of Irish mythology.
    • He was known as Sétanta when he was first born.
    • Other tales involving Cuchulainn include his heroic birth, his training with the female warrior Scathach, his involvement in The Cattle Raid of Cooley, and his death by a magical spear.
    • Cuchulainn was known for his frenzy during battle, called “ríastrad”; he was also famous for carrying the Gáe Bolga, his powerful spear.
  7. 7
    King Conchobar ( Conchobar mac Nessa ) Conchobar was the mythical King of Ulster who ruled from Navan fort; he was also the leader of the warrior band called the Red Branch, which included his nephew Cuchulainn. Conchobar became king at 7 years old, when his mother made a deal with King Fergus Mac Róich to abdicate the throne for 1 year. He impressed the nobles so much as king that he managed to remain in power permanently, though he was given to shrewdness and ambition. He also fought against Queen Medb during the Cattle Raid of Cooley. [7]
    • Conchobar appears in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology.
    • Conchobar mac Nessa means “Conchobar, son of Ness” in Gaelic.
    • He was raised by a woman called Ness and Cathbad the Druid after they saved him from drowning in the River Conchobar.
    • In the Deidre tragedy, Conchobar became infatuated with a woman called Deidre and tried to force her to marry him. This resulted in the death of Deidre’s love, Naoise (also Conchobar’s nephew), which brought sorrow and bad fortune to Ulster.
  8. 8
    The Selkie The selkie myth (consisting of several stories) is one of many Irish myths about mystical creatures—in this case, selkies were mythical half-human/half-seals who could shed their skin to become fully human for a time (and live on dry land). The Selkie Bride was the most famous of the selkie stories. In it, a chieftain named Thady Rua O’Dowd discovered a woman named Eve sitting alone on the beach. He guessed that she was a selkie (seal), so he stole the cloak that allowed her to transform into a seal. Trapped on dry land without her skin, she was forced to marry him. [8]
    • Eve lived as a human for many years and had many children with Thady Rua O’Dowd. Because she still missed the ocean, one day Eve convinced one of her children to bring her the selkie cloak.
    • She couldn’t take all her children back to the sea with her, though, so she transformed some of them into stone while taking the others with her to the sea.
  9. 9
    The Púca The Irish púca was a shape-shifting creature known to cause chaos during its nighttime rides in Irish maritime and farming communities. The púca could appear in many different forms, which included a black horse with glowing eyes, a man, a woman, a goat, or a hare. It was known for causing mischief by putting people on its back and taking them to distant locations (while terrifying them along the way). The púca was also associated with good fortune, especially on Púca's Day (November 1st), when the púca was said to bless the land if given gifts like grain or milk. [9]
    • It often became a tradition to set aside a small portion of the crops for the púca, called “the púca’s share.”
    • The púca usually appeared at night, when the border between the physical and spiritual worlds was thought to disappear.
  10. 10
    The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Grainne This myth tells the tragic love story between Diarmuid, a warrior in the Fianna army (headed by Finn McCool), and Grainne, Finn McCool’s bride. Diarmuid and Grainne fell in love at Finn and Grainne’s wedding feast and decided to run off together. Finn McCool pursued the pair, who were only able to stay in one place for a night or 2. The story ended at Ben Bulben Mountain in County Sligo. Finn invited Diarmuid to a boar hunt, which fulfilled the prophecy that Diarmuid could only be killed by a wild boar. When a boar tried to attack the pregnant Grainne, Diarmuid sacrificed himself to save his love. [10]
    • Grainne pleaded with Finn to save Diarmuid with water that could heal when passed through Finn’s hands; instead, he let the water run to the ground instead of bringing Diarmuid back to life.
    • Diarmuid was cursed with a “love spot” that made him irresistible to women.
    • Several groups of Neolithic monuments and sites across Ireland were said to be temporary resting places for Diarmuid and Grainne. The sites are known as Leaba Dhiarmada agus Gráinne ("Bed of Diarmuid and Gráinne") and are located in counties Sligo, Clare, Galway, and Mayo.
  11. 11
    Morrigan Goddess ( An Mór-Ríoghan ) The Morrigan goddess was a shapeshifter associated with war and prophecy; she was also seen as a symbol of fate and was called the “great queen” or the “phantom queen.” The Morrigan goddess was famous for her ability to transform from a beautiful woman with black hair into a raven, as well as a crow, a wolf, or an eel. In one such Irish myth, Morrigan sought revenge on Cuchulainn, who rejected her advances. First, she turned into an eel to try and drown him; then, she became a wolf to trample him. Morrigan also appeared in his dream as an old woman to warn him of his death. [11]
    • The Morrigan also appeared in the Battle of Mag Tuired myth, where she used magic to help the Tuatha Dé Danann to fight successfully.
    • She was known to influence great battles; it was a bad omen to see the Morrigan, because it prophesied death.
    • The Morrigan was also depicted as a triple goddess figure, which was common in Irish mythology.
    • She was associated with the following 2 Irish symbols : the raven and triskelion.
  12. 12
    Land of the Young ( Tír na nÓg ) In the tale of Tír na nÓg, the warrior Oisín was invited by the fairy princess Niamh to this land of eternal youth. After 300 years of living in the magical land (and not aging), Oisín returned to Ireland, only to find his loved ones dead and gone. Naimh had warned Oisín never to touch the ground in Ireland upon his return. When he then tried to help some men move a large stone, Oisín accidentally touched the ground, which transformed him into an old man and took away the magical youth he once had. Oisín’s story was a lesson in how the idea of immortality has its consequences. [12]
  13. 13
    Dagda’s Harp Dagda was the high king of the Tuatha dé Danann, considered the gods of pre-Christian Ireland. In the story, Dagda’s harp was named Uaithne (pronounced OO-en-Ya). Dagda played this harp for his soldiers until it was stolen during a battle. Dagda and his men pursued the captors to an abandoned castle, where he then called out to his harp. Once the harp floated back to him, he played 3 tunes—the 1st was known as “the laughing tune,” which made them laugh uncontrollably, the 2nd was called the “crying tune,” which brought tears to the enemy soldier’s eyes, and the 3rd was called “the sleeping tune,” which made them fall asleep. [13]
    • The Tuatha dé Danann were known for defeating the monstrous race of Fomorians at the Second Battle of Mag Tuired.
  14. 14
    Fergus Mac Leda ( Fergus Mac Léti ) Fergus Mac Leda was an Irish king of Ulster who came in contact with “lúchorpáin,” leprechaun-like water sprites known as "little bodies." In the story, they attempted to drag Fergus into the water while he slept; when the cold water woke him up, he was able to capture them. The leprechauns offered him 3 wishes so he’d let them go, including the ability to breathe underwater. Eventually, Fergus fought a sea monster called Muirdris in the Dundrum Bay, which happened to be the one place he couldn’t breathe underwater—this resulted in his being permanently disfigured. [14]
    • This story is the earliest known mention of leprechauns. Leprechauns were said to be the descendants of the Tuatha Dé Danann, and were depicted as cobblers or shoemakers to the fairies. [15]
  15. 15
    The Hag of Beara ( An Cailleach Bhéara ) The Hag of Beara was an ancient Celtic goddess who created the landscape, controlled the weather and seasons, and personified the land itself. She was known to appear as either a beautiful young woman or an old crone. She was believed to have formed much of the Irish landscape by throwing rocks and turned herself into a prominent rock on the Beara peninsula. [16]
    • The Hag of Beara was a symbol of many cycles, including life and death, along with the cycle of the seasons.
    • She was also known as the goddess of winter, as well as the goddess of sovereignty; she also signified the wisdom of letting go and new beginnings.
    • She is the subject of an ancient poem called The Lament of the Old Woman of Beare .
  16. 16
    Grace O’Malley ( Grainne Ni Mhaile ) Grace O’Malley was 16th-century Ireland’s most famous pirate queen. She was known to sail and fish in Clew Bay and became famous for refusing to follow the English law that forced women to hand over their property to their husbands. After 2 of her sons were kidnapped for ransom, she petitioned the Queen of England to help get her sons back. She promised the Queen that she would follow English law if the Queen helped her, so the Queen promised to get her children back. Neither woman kept their promise, so Grace continued to plunder boats until her death. [17]
    • Unlike other Irish myths, the story of Grace O’Malley is rooted in actual history; she was born around 1530 in County Mayo, Ireland.
    • Her Gaelic name, “Gráinne Mhaol,” means "Bald Grace,” which alludes to her cutting her hair very short to look like a boy.
  17. 17
    Warrior Queen Maeve ( Mebd ) The warrior Queen Maeve’s most famous story involved the Cattle Raid of Cooley, but she was also known for her strong control over Connacht, along with having numerous husbands and lovers. Queen Maeve was a symbol of sovereignty, independence, and feminine power. She was sometimes referred to as the queen of the faeries, known as the “fae” in Irish mythology. [18]
    • Her name sometimes means “intoxicated,” which is why mead, an alcoholic drink made from fermented honey, was named after Maeve (Mebd in Gaelic). Both the alcoholic beverage and Queen Maeve herself were said to have a powerful influence over men.
  18. 18
    St. Brigid Though recognized as the Catholic St. Bridget of Kildare, Brigid was also first the pagan goddess of sunlight, poetry, healing, fertility, and metal work. Because she was linked with the metal work, it was said that, when she was born, a tower of flame reached from her head to the heavens. Brigid’s feast day occurred on February 1st, known as the ancient spring festival of Imbolc. Brigid was also a daughter of the Tuatha Dé Danann gods and associated with the triple goddess. [19]
    • Many Irish pagan deities associated with nature were transformed into Christian concepts.
    • Brigid is also linked with a Druid symbol called Brigid’s Cross, a cross shape made of straw.
  19. 19
    Eiru the Goddess ( Ériu ) Eiru the goddess was the personification of Ireland itself. She appeared in the mythical text Lebor Gabála Érenn ( The Book of the Taking of Ireland ); in the story, the first humans to arrive on the Irish island (called the Milesians) encountered Eiru and her sisters. The Milesians agreed to name the land after Eiru, which is why Ireland is known as Eire. [20]
    • The naming ceremony was believed to have taken place at the Hill of Uisneach, an ancient site in County Westmeath, Ireland.
    • Along with her sisters Banba and Fódla, Eiru represented the triple goddess figure, which is well-known in Irish mythology.
    • Eiru was also a symbol of fertility that symbolized the richness of the land.
  20. 20
    The Abhartach This ancient Irish folktale was about a chieftain who was known for using black magic to gain power. After his death, he became an undead vampire, only to kill others to drink their blood. Eventually, the abhartach was killed by Cathan, who used a yew sword to pierce his heart. Cathan buried the abhartach upside down using thorns and a stone to trap him inside the earth. [21]
    • This story is considered a direct ancestor to Dracula , written by Irishman Bram Stoker.
    21. Advertisement
Section 2 of 3:

The 4 Cycles of Celtic Mythology

PDF download Download Article
  1. The 4 cycles of Irish mythology categorize ancient Irish oral traditions. Each one contains myths, stories, and legends that explore specific themes and eras of Celtic mythology. Here are the four cycles and their basic themes: [22]
    • The Mythological Cycle: The oldest cycle that tells tales of the god-like Tuatha Dé Danann. It also includes tales about other pagan mythological peoples, like the Fir Bolg (“men of bags”) and the Fomorians, a race of monstrous sea-dwelling giants.
    • The Ulster Cycle: A cycle of tales about the Ulaid people in the Northern Irish province of Ulster. Many of the tales focus on the Irish warrior hero Cuchulainn, including the Cattle Raid of Cooley.
    • The Fenian Cycle : These stories concern the Fianna, a band of traveling warriors, especially legends about the Fianna warrior Finn McCool, like The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne.
    • The Historical Cycle: Called the “Cycle of the Kings,” these stories combine ancient mythological tales with historical accounts of Irish kings and are influenced by the arrival of Christianity.
Section 3 of 3:

What are the origins of Irish mythology?

PDF download Download Article
  1. The Celts were a collection of tribes that inhabited Ireland approximately 2,000 years ago. The stories were eventually written down because of 8th-century Christian monks and scribes who recorded the ancient myths in medieval manuscripts. This sometimes resulted in their meaning changing slightly to suit Christian philosophy. [23]
    • Many of the pagan stories and themes became part of the Irish Christian tradition, including leprechauns and fairies.
    2. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      39 Intriguing Creatures & Monsters from Celtic Mythology
      A Guide to the Celtic Goddesses: Legends and Lore
      What Are Selkies in Mythology?
      40 Native American Myths, Their Meanings, & Common Themes
      Everything You Need to Know About Kelpie Myths & Their Origins
      65 Mythological Dogs from Folklore & Legends
      30+ Greek Mythical Creatures: A Complete List with Pictures
      15 Popular Chinese Myths, Gods, Legends, and Folktales
      Irish Name Generator
      37 Irish Symbols: What They Mean & Their Rich History
      400 Irish Baby Boy Names to Fall in Love With
      What Does a White Horse Symbolize?
      The Legend of Sedna, Inuit Sea Goddess & Mother of Marine Animals
      20 Famous Legends & Stories from African Mythology
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/irish-mythology-stories-figures
      2. ↑ https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/irish-mythology-stories-figures
      3. ↑ https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/irish-mythology-stories-figures
      4. ↑ https://www.irelandsmythsandlegends.com/the-cattle-raid-of-cooley
      5. ↑ https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/irish-mythology-stories-figures
      6. ↑ https://www.atlanticlanguage.com/irish-myths-legends-stories/
      7. ↑ https://brehonacademy.org/heroic-biography-king-conor-mac-nessa-ulster-cycle-irish-mythology/
      8. ↑ https://www.atlanticlanguage.com/irish-myths-legends-stories/
      9. ↑ https://www.irelandsmythsandlegends.com/the-cattle-raid-of-cooley
      1. ↑ https://www.atlanticlanguage.com/irish-myths-legends-stories/
      2. ↑ https://historycooperative.org/morrigan/
      3. ↑ https://www.irelandsmythsandlegends.com/oisin-and-tir-na-nog
      4. ↑ https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/irish-mythology-stories-figures
      5. ↑ https://www.ucd.ie/tlh/text/dab.eriu.16.001.text.html
      6. ↑ https://www.irelandsmythsandlegends.com/leprechauns
      7. ↑ https://www.thewildatlanticway.com/sight/hag-of-beara/
      8. ↑ https://www.atlanticlanguage.com/irish-myths-legends-stories/
      9. ↑ https://brehonacademy.org/heroic-biography-maeve-of-connacht-the-intoxicating-warrior-queen/
      10. ↑ https://www.ucc.ie/en/ace/news/brigids-legacy-from-folklore-to-feminism-and-fire.html
      11. ↑ https://uisneach.ie/mythology/
      12. ↑ https://allthatsinteresting.com/irish-folklore-creatures/10
      13. ↑ https://bardmythologies.com/irishmythintro/
      14. ↑ https://college.lclark.edu/live/blogs/68-once-upon-a-time-irish-mythology-crash-course

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 291 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement