Dagda--(dag-da): "Good Father". A deity of the Tuatha De Dannan, the father of Brigit and other tutelary goddesses of Ireland. He has a "cauldron of plenty", and a club which destroys with one end and heals with the other. He is likely to have originated as a fertility god.
Dana or Danu: "Mother of the Gods". Danu is mentioned briefly in Celtic myth, then forgotten, unless she is also Anu or Aine, the solar goddess who is honored at many sites, especially the megalithic temples. She may also be the personification of the eternal spirit of the 'tuath' or tribe.
Diarmuid O'Duibhne--(dermuit o'duv-ne): Grandson of the love-god Angus Og, Diarmuid has a "love spot" which no woman can resist. Considered the best champion of the Fiana after Fionn and Oisin, Diarmuid is persuaded by Princess Grania to elope with her. Aided by Angus, they avoid their pursuers for sixteen years. Then Fionn offers peace and the couple settle down. Fionn fails to prevent Diarmuid from dying from a magical boar's goring. Angus takes the soul of Diarmuid to Bru na Boinne, but can only communicate with it once a year.
Deirdre--(d'er-druh): (1) When the Druid Cathbad fortellsl that Deirdre would become the most beautiful woman in Ireland, King Conchobor keeps her as his own. She falls in love with Noisiu and they flee to Alba (Scotland) with his two brothers. Conchobor kills Noisiu's brothers, thus betraying the honor of Fergus Mac Roth who
has them under his protection. Eventually, Deirdre kills herself. (2) Deirdre of the Black Mountain, the messenger of Fionn mac Cumhail. The myths imply she was so swift that she could fly. It is possible she was a Druid.
Druid--(current definition): A keeper of the wisdom, laws, history, stories, and values of the Celtic
branch of the Native European spiritual path. A practictioner of the Celtic cultural, spiritual, and magical tradition, who honors the land and all things in the animal, plant, and mineral worlds and the earth, sea, sky.
--(ancient definition): The class of people who presided at divinations and sacrifices of the Celts. They were natural philosophers, scholars, magicians, bards, judges, and political advisors to Celtic chieftains and nobles. |
