List of Irish mythological figures

The following is a list of Irish mythological figures.

Mythological Cycle

Tuatha Dé Danann

Notable figures

• Aengus - a 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 - a 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 - the supreme god and king of the Tuatha Dé Danann
• Danu - the mother goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann
• Dian Cecht - god of healing
• Étaín - the heroine of Tochmarc Étaíne
• Lir - god of the sea
• Lugh - legendary hero and High King of Ireland
• Manannán mac Lir - god of the sea, like his father Lir
• The Morrígan - a trio of war goddesses
  • Badb - a war goddess who caused fear and confusion among soldiers, often taking the form of a crow
  • Macha - a goddess associated with war, battle, horses and sovereignty
  • The Morrígan - a goddess of battle, strife and fertility
• Nuada Airgetlám - first king of the Tuatha Dé Danann
• Ogma - a warrior-poet, said to have invented the Ogham alphabet
• Trí Dée Dána - the three gods of crafting
  • Creidhne - the artificer of the Tuatha Dé Danann, working in bronze, brass and gold
  • Goibniu - the smith of the Tuatha Dé Danann
  • Luchtaine - the carpenter of the Tuatha Dé Danann

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 - a poet of the Tuatha Dé Danann
• Aed - a god of the underworld
• Aoi Mac Ollamain - a god of poetry
• Airmed - daughter of Dian Cecht; associated with healing
• Anann - another name for the Morrígan
• Beag - a minor goddess, known for possessing a magic well
• Bé Chuille - a sorceress of the Tuatha Dé Danann
• Bébinn - a goddess associated with birth
• Boann - goddess of the River Boyne
• Brea - a minor god of the Tuatha Dé Danann
• Bres - an unpopular and treacherous king of the Tuatha Dé Danann
• Brian - a son of Tuireann and murderer of Cían
• Caer Ibormeith - a princess cursed to spend every second year in the form of a swan
• Cermait - a son of the Dagda, killed by Lugh
• Cían - the father of Lugh; able to turn into a pig at will
• Danand - daughter of Delbáeth
• Delbáeth - a 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 - a mother goddess
• Fand - a sea goddess and lover of Cú Chulainn
• Fiacha mac Delbaíth - a legendary High King of Ireland
• Fionnuala - a daughter of Lir, who was transformed into a swan and cursed by her stepmother
• Flidais - goddess of the forest, hunting and wild beasts
• Fuamnach a witch of the Tuatha Dé Danann
• Iuchar - a son of Tuireann and murderer of Cían
• Iucharba - a son of Tuireann and murderer of Cían
• Lí Ban - sister of Fand
• Mac Cuill, Mac Cecht and Mac Gréine - a trio of brothers who killed Lugh and shared the kingship of Ireland between each other
• Miach - a healer and son of Dian Cecht, killed by his father out of jealousy due to his superior healing talents
• Midir - a son of the Dagda
• Nechtan - father and/or husband of Boann
• Neit - a god of war
• Nemain - a goddess of war; possibly an alternative name for Badb
• Niamh - a queen of Tír na nÓg
• Tuireann - father of Creidhne, Luchtaine and Goibniu

Fir Bolg

• Eochaid mac Eirc - a High King of Ireland, the last Fir Bolg king and the first king to establish a system of justice
• Fiacha Cennfinnán - a High King of Ireland
• Fodbgen - a High King of Ireland
• Gaillimh inion Breasail - the mythical woman from whom the river and city of Galway derive their name
• Gann and Genann - joint High Kings of Ireland
• Rinnal - a High King of Ireland and the first king to use spearheads
• Rudraige mac Dela - the second High King of Ireland
• Sengann mac Dela - a High King of Ireland
• Sláine mac Dela - the 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 - an 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 - a druid, bard and judge
• Eber Finn - a High King of Ireland
• Érimón - a 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 - the Brown Bull of Cooley, an extremely fertile stud bull over whom 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 - an Ulster warrior with a geis which requires him to sleep with any woman who stays at his hostel unaccompanied
• Bricriu - a hospitaller, troublemaker and poet
• Cathbad - chief druid in the court of Conchobar mac Nessa
• Celtchar - hero of the Ulaid
• Cethern mac Fintain - an Ulster warrior who assists Cú Chulainn
• Conall Cernach - hero of the Ulaid
• Cruinniuc - a wealthy cattle owner who marries a mysterious woman, later revealed to be the goddess Macha
• Cúscraid - a son of Conchobar mac Nessa
• Dáire mac Fiachna - an 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
• Findchóem - the sister of Conchobar mac Nessa and wet nurse of Cú Chulainn
• Furbaide Ferbend - a son of Conchobar mac Nessa
• Láeg - charioteer of Cú Chulainn
• Lóegaire Búadach - a hapless Ulster warrior who functions largely as comic relief
• Mugain - wife of Conchobar mac Nessa
• Naoise - lover of Deidre
• 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 - a warrior of the Fianna who could run at remarkable speed and communicate with animals, and was a great storyteller
• Conán mac Morna - a warrior of the Fianna, often portrayed as a troublemaker and a comic figure
• Cumhall - a leader of the Fianna and father of Fionn mac Cumhaill
• Diarmuid Ua Duibhne a warrior of the Fianna and lover of Fionn's betrothed, Gráinne
• Goll mac Morna - a warrior of the Fianna and uneasy ally of Fionn mac Cumhaill
• Liath Luachra - a tall, hideous warrior of the Fianna
• Oisín - son of Fionn mac Cumhaill, a warrior of the Fianna and a great poet
• Oscar - the warrior son of Oisín and Niamh

Other characters

• Aillen - a monstrous being killed by Fionn mac Cumhaill
• Bodhmall - a 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 - a powerful blind druid
• Plor na mBan - daughter of Oisín and Niamh
• Sadhbh - mother of Oisín by Fionn mac Cumhaill

Other

• Aibell - the fairy queen of Thomond
• Amadan Dubh - a trickster fairy known as the "dark fool"
• Cailleach - a divine hag
• Canola - mythical inventor of the harp
• Crobh Dearg - a harvest goddess
• Medb Lethderg - goddess of sovereignty associated with Tara
• Tlachtga - a powerful druidess