Celtic Gods And Goddesses | Irish Mythology | Celtic Titles (2024)

Celtic gods and goddesses, by their powers

As you can see, the Celtic gods and goddesses each have specific powers or associations, from being responsible for war to controlling the seasons. Here you can find a list of Celtic god names, grouped by their powers.

Celtic war gods

The main Celtic gods of war are:

• Morrigan
• Neit
• Badb
• Macha

Celtic water gods

There are several Celtic gods and goddesses of the sea, including:

• Brigid
• Boann, the goddess of the River Boyne
• Danu
• Manannán mac Lir, the Irish sea god
• Lí Ban, water goddess
• Lir, another Celtic god of the sea
• Sinann, goddess of the River Shannon

Celtic gods of death and healing

Dian Cécht and Nodens are gods of healing, and Airmid is a Celtic goddess of healing, while Morrigan is a Celtic death goddess and Don and Arawn are Irish gods of death.

Celtic fertility goddess

Most of the deities associated with fertility are goddesses, but there is one notable exception in Cernunnos, the horned god associated with fertility, animals and nature. Celtic fertility goddesses include:

• Brigid
• Damara
• Damona
• Epona
• Nantosuelta
• Onuava
• Rosmerta

Celtic moon deities

The main Celtic moon goddess is Cerridwen, while Elatha is sometimes thought of as a Celtic moon god.

Celtic sun god

Lugh is the main Celtic sun god, representing the sun and light, while Áine is the goddess of summer, often associated with the sun so she could also be considered a Celtic sun goddess.

Celtic winter deities

The main deity associated with winter is Cailleach, goddess of the winter months who is said to control the weather.

Celtic forest god

Cernunnos, also known as the lord of the wild things, is the Celtic god of the forest.

Celtic god of fire

There are several Celtic gods and goddesses associated with fire, including:

• Brigid, goddess of fire, arts, crafts and poetry
• Aed, whose name translates as ‘fire’
• Grannus, Celtic god of fire and health
• Nantosuelta, goddess of fire, nature and fertility

Celtic god of lightning

Taranis is the god of lightning in Irish mythology.

Celtic horse goddess

There is no Celtic horse god in Irish mythology, but Epona is well-known as the Celtic goddess of horses.

Celtic cat goddess

There is no specific Celtic cat goddess, but the goddess Ceridwen was accompanied by white cats who carried out her orders on earth.

Celtic god of archery

The main Celtic archer goddess is Flidais, also a goddess of cattle and fertility, who was known for her beautiful hair.

Celtic gods of the hunt

There are several Celtic gods associated with hunting, including:

• Arawn, a Welsh Celtic deity associated with hunting, dogs and stags
• Cernunnos, the horned god associated with both hunting and fertility
• Nodens, linked to hunting, the sea, dogs and healing

Celtic god of the underworld

There are several gods and goddesses associated with the underworld in Celtic mythology, including the Welsh deity Arawn; Aed, the prince of the Daoine Sidhe; and Cerridwen, the goddess of the underworld, as well as the goddess of rebirth and transformation.

Celtic goddess of protection

Macha, alongside being the goddess of death, war and sovereignty, is also associated with protection in times of both war and peace.

Who were the Tuath Dé Danan?

Several of the Celtic deities on this list have been mentioned as members of the Tuath Dé Danan. But who were they? A supernatural race in Irish mythology, most of the clan were gods or goddesses possessing magical powers.

It’s said that they were banished from heaven because of their extensive knowledge, and they arrived in Ireland in a cloud of mist. They lived in the Otherworld, but often interacted with humans in the human realm.

The Tuath Dé Danan included kings, queens, warriors, healers, heroes, craftsmen, bards and poets, all of whom were extremely skilled and knowledgeable, and their members included some of the most important Celtic gods and goddesses. Notable members of the group include Dagda, also known as ‘the great god’; Morrigan, known as the ‘great queen’ or ‘phantom queen’; and Danu, mother of the gods.