List of Irish mythological figures
# List of Irish mythological figures

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
