Characters You Should Know from Irish Folklore

However, for those of us who grew up in America and haven’t had a lot of contact with our Irish family history, it can be hard to get a grasp on Irish culture, values, and the context for so many pieces of media we encounter, while trying to connect with our Irish heritage.

He was a giant who had super strength, and he was a warrior and hunter. He is the “giant” behind the legend of the origin of the Giant’s Causeway.

There are so many stories that tie back to him all throughout Celtic mythology.

If you’re looking to understand the Fenian mythological cycle, he’s a great character to start with.

His original name was Setanta. He defended himself against the vicious hound of Culainn, and killed the dog with his sliothar (pronounced shlih-thur) or hurling ball.

He became Cú Chulainn or the Hound of Culainn to replace the guard dog he killed.

His war stories are super popular, and he is known for his weapon, the Gae Bulga, a spear that wounds 30 times with one strike.

She is the queen in the legend called “the Children of Lir,” where she turns her step-children into swans because she is jealous of their father's love for them.

Her spell binds them to live as swans for nine hundred years.

When their time as swans eventually ends, Saint Patrick has arrived in Ireland. When they return to human form, the four Children of Lir are old. They are baptized before they pass on to the next life.

As the years went by, she rejected every potential suitor, still enamored by Diarmuid. When it came time for Finn MacCool to choose a bride, he selected Gráinne, and she hesitantly obliged.

Little did she know, Diarmuid would show up at her engagement party, and they would fall in love with each other for real. Grainne left Finn to pursue her love, and Finn was outraged, and followed them all over Ireland in pursuit of Diarmuid to get revenge. This is a fascinating story for romance lovers! The drama of a love triangle is a welcome break for those who are less interested in war stories.

She is also said to represent things like fertility, prophecy, and protection. She was three sisters (Celtic gods) who could combine into one.

The Morrigan is said to have been a shape shifter, often taking the form of a crow. When Cú Chulainn died, tied to a standing stone in County Louth, a crow landed on his shoulder

She was one of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the magical folk who roamed Ireland before the arrival of the Celts.

It’s said that when St. Patrick came to Ireland and tried to explain Christianity to the people of Ireland, it was easy to explain the Trinity using a shamrock to the Celts, because they already understood the concept of the Morrigan being a three-part deity.

He was son of Sadhbh (pronounced Sive), which makes him a demigod.

He fell in love with Niamh Cinn Oir (pronounced Neeve Keen Ore) or Niamh of the golden hair.

She rode a magical horse and was a member of the Tuath Dé Danann. She took him away to Tír na nÓg (pronounced teer nah nogue) or the land of youth.

This magical land is also called Hy-Brasil, a mystical island that was thought to lie somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Ireland.

There are several legends where he drives the snakes out of Ireland, wards off demonic birds, and creates magical fire.

Each person who studies his story in modern times can sift through and decide what they think is history, and what is legend.

He could call his harp from anywhere and it would arrive, and he could play such powerful music on it, people would weep, laugh, or sing. The Dagda had control of the people around him due to the harp’s magical powers.

When going into battle the Dagda would soothe his men with the music of his harp, helping them to forget their fears and to focus on defeating the enemy.

On returning from battle his harp music would help his men forget their wounds and grief over lost friends, but instead to focus on the glory of their victory.

Old Irish superstitions say that Brighid leans over every cradle. She was also a patron of war and her soldiers where known as brigands.

Her legacy is intertwined with the history of Ireland's beloved St. Brigid. Many of the gifts of the goddess Brigid were bestowed upon the saint of the same name.

Her legend is as strong today as ever, and she is the patroness of farm and cattle, and protector of homes from fire and disaster.

This story also features Cú Chulainn and his good friend Ferdia, who fought on behalf of Queen Maeve.

Maeve is a complicated character in Irish mythology, and one whose legacy is still acknowledged to this very day.

The Irish pound note featured her image before the transfer over to the use of Euros in Ireland.

She is depicted in Irish legends as a leader, an independent thinker, and a strong, lustful, vengeful, ruthless and beautiful woman.

But Deirdre fell in love with Naoise (pronounced Nee-sha) one of the warriors of the Red Branch Knight. They fled to Scotland with Naoise and his two brothers, known as the Sons of Uisneach.

Conor Mac Neassa duped them into returning to Ireland where they met their fate at the hands of a jealous king.

This is a tale of beauty, love, lust, jealousy and death dating back to ancient Ireland.

It most often appears as a dark black horse, with a long, sleek mane, and shining bright red or golden eyes.

No matter which form the Pooka chooses for its worldly appearances, it always has the power of human speech.

The Púca, as it is named in the Irish language, is the most feared of all the faeries. This is beacuase it loves to create mayhem and mischief wherever it goes.