Gods and Goddesses of Ireland: A Guide to Irish Deities

by Morgan Daimler

A concise guide to the Gods and Goddesses of pagan Ireland, their history, mythology, and symbols. Rooted in the past but still active in the world today, the Gods and Goddesses of Ireland have always been powerful forces that can bless or challenge, but often the most difficult thing is to simply find information about them. This short introductory text looks at a variety of different Irish deities, common and more obscure, from their ancient roots to the modern practices associated with honoring them in, an encyclopedia-style book with entries in easy-to-use sections.

Genres: Paganism, Mythology, Nonfiction, Ireland, Religion, Witchcraft, Occult

104 pages, Paperback

Published December 9, 2016

About the author

My name is Morgan Daimler. I have had my poetry and prose published in different places including various anthologies, Circle magazine, Witches and Pagans magazine and Pagan Dawn magazine. I am the author of the urban fantasy series Between the Worlds and (through Cosmic Egg Books) the high fantasy novel Into Shadow. I've written more than a dozen non-fiction works through Moon Books including Fairy Witchcraft, Pagan Portals: the Morrigan, Fairies: A Guide to the Celtic Fair Folk, A New Dictionary of Fairies, and Pagan Portals Aos Sidhe

Reviews

[Rabbit {Paint me like one of your 19th century gothic heroines!} · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book and her other non-fiction books have been recommended to me over and over again. Her non-fiction is excellent. A great starting source for those researching Gaelic polytheism.

[Layla, the Witch next door · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has been on my list for awhile and maybe I should have done a little more research before I grabbed it. That being said, I really enjoy Pagan Portals but this one left me a little disappointed. First, there is great information in here, factual, and to the point. Unfortunately, this is really a truncated version of several of the author’s other books, Brigid, Lugh, the Morrigan and the Dagda. Alongside these there are a few other Gods and Goddesses, some lesser known ones, which was interesting but I was expecting there to be more Goddesses. Although, the books Lugh and the Dagda were published afterwards. In addition, at the end of the book, the author brings up the fact that if one really wants to understand and connect with Irish deities they need to go to Ireland. I’ve heard that statement before from someone the author thanks in the beginning of the book. I’m not a fan of that. Not everyone will be able to make it there in their lives and that should not downplay a spiritual connection to whomever they choose to connect with. If you have never read any of the author’s other Pagan Portals, or anything on Gods or Goddesses of Ireland, I would say give it a read but this one left me feeling, meh.

[Cassi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this intro to Irish God and Goddesses. It was a nice mix of belief, myth and history. It gave me a good grounding in the history of the Celts and the transition to christianity when combined with A History of Ireland in 250 Episodes. The Morrigans were my favorite - female Goddesses uncorrupted by male dominated religions that demand women sit still and be quiet and uncomplicated. Perhaps if mono-theistic religions hadn't trivialized women, men wouldn't find them so hard to understand. lol

Reading this while in Ireland, gave deeper context to the locations we visited, and drew us to interesting places like Bridged's Garden, which was beautiful and inspiring even in winter.

[Edric Unsane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good place, in my opinion, to begin researching the Irish gods of old. The only gripe I have pertaining to the wealth of information contained within the text was that there was nothing in the way of how to pronounce the plethora of names of the deities themselves. With this being said, the book is split into male deities, female deities, primordial/chaotic deities, where to begin learning to work with deities, and recommended reading sections. This book was well put together, but was no means definitive.
It's a great book to begin you research into the Irish deities; if you feel the call, this book is of note.

[Remy Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice reference to Irish Dieties that gives a solid, basic layout with references for further study. I'd highly recommend this book.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great introduction to the Irish deities. No frills, just the facts - such as are known, anyway! The author gives fair view to all the different interpretations and includes suggestions for what to offer to the various gods and goddesses. Great little book to refer back to again and again.

[Bob King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been looking for this!

This is a great , concise introduction to the Gods of old Ireland, and their worship today. Morgan Daimler writes in a very approachable manner, and makes the subject real for us. This is not the first book of hers that I have read, nor will it be the last. Get this!

[Amber Araneae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent concise introduction to many gods and goddesses of Ireland with terrific references and bibliography for continued learning.
I'm a bit sad at how short this book was because I enjoy the author's writing style, but as a quick guide, it is great!

[Rachel Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly Enlightening

This is the most enlightening book on the Irish Gods and Goddesses that I have read to date. It was also very enjoyable and easy to understand. I only wish there was a way to learn how to properly pronounce the names.

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please read my review at Celtic Scholar's Reviews and Opinions

[Mica · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're pagan and interested in Irish/Gaelic Polytheism, then this book will help a lot. Giving a rundown of the many deities of the Irish Pantheon, it will serve as a guide and as a small encyclopedia.

The length of each deity's section depends a lot on how well known or obscure said deity is, but still a nice addition, also because one might decide to find out more or reach out to them to do so.

The book is divided in roughly 3 important sections (the ones with the deities themselves): Gods of the Thuata de Dannan, Goddesses of the Thuata de Dannan and other gods which aren't part of the Thuata de. Each section explains their folklore and why would someone want to reach out to them, as well as a few ideas for offerings to them.

[Ann Beej · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure who this book was written for. Anyone who already understands all the references and undefined terms wouldn't need this book, and those who don't will come away unsatisfied. Daimler clearly knows her way around this topic and I wish she had advocated to her editors to increase the length of the publication. In particular I believe it needs a longer introduction to the Tuatha De Dannan and their mythos as a whole, as well as a brief description of the Irish cultures who worshipped them. I personally would also have appreciated a chapter on Irish folk figures who interacted with the gods but were not necessarily gods themselves, such as Cu Chulainn and Conchobar.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, but neat run down of the various mythologies of the deities in Ireland. It covers where they may have originated from, how they evolved over time, and potential connections/similarities to the more well known deities in Greek mythology. It was neat to read about and a shame that so many of the stories were broken or lost overtime particularly with the forced influence of Christianity. Definitely a good beginner/intro read to the mythology to give you a quick idea of these beliefs and legends.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have about zero knowledge regarding Irish deities, but I've been interested in connecting with my ancestors lately and wanting to read the names and stories that might've been relevant to them.

This book did a great job at being concise, organized, and touching on how complicated the study is, without being super overwhelming. It's definitely a good starting point. The author is also clearly a good resource. I wish it had a pronunciation guide and more on location. A map, if possible! I don't know if that was beyond the capabilites of the publisher though!

[Lucile · Rating 5 out of 5]

J'ai adoré la façon dont les sources sont présentées. C'est clair, précis. Le style et la rigueur de Morgan Daimler ne sont plus à prouver. L'auteur va à l'essentiel, l'ouvrage se lit à vitesse grand V et regorge d'informations précieuses, que l'on sent sélectionnées avec soin. Le livre est en anglais, et bien que je l'aie trouvé facile d'accès, c'est dommage qu'il ne soit pas traduit, c'est vraiment un indispensable compact (moins de cent pages) pour qui veut en apprendre plus sur le panthéon irlandais avec des informations sourcées.

[Emmett Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is, as stated by the author, "by no means exhaustive" when it comes to the Gods and Goddesses of Ireland, but it does an amazing job at being a strong overview and sign post for other literary works with which you can dive deeper.

I highly recommend it as a "beginners guide" to Irish Gods and Goddesses, without it being categorised as such (due to the negative connotations that label brings). It will definitely get the ball rolling

[Autumn Kearney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is educational and enjoyable. Most of these deities I had never heard of before now. The book contained footnotes and references, which I found helpful. It showed that the author knew what she was talking about and didn't make it up as she went along, like some people do. I wish that this book were more meaty and detailed. Like American Chinese food, it was satisfying for a little while, but not long after, I wanted more.

[Pseudonym Phoebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Mini Encyclopedia

As always, well-researched. This gives a brief overview of the gods and goddesses of Ireland with their most popular stories and suggestions for offerings. A good, basic introduction.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, an amazing little book that far exceeded my expectations. well-researched information on the Irish Celtic deities and straightforward advice for those who wish to go beyond research into spiritual matters.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful little book, Daimler manages to fit in most all the important details within the page limit. I found the bibliography and citations to be incredibly helpful and have referred to it multiple times when looking into further reading.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am just beginning my journey into Gaelic Polytheism and this book gives a good overview of gods, goddesses, and other folk. I didn’t find I got enough of their stories but I will likely pull from her suggested reading list for a more in depth dive into their stories and histories.

[David Pederson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great Primer

It’s always hard when studying mythology to get to the core without wading through deep waters. With Morgan’s book it’s possible to sale and the surface is enjoyably clear.

[Kayla Zabcia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't realize Celtic mythology was so complex! The Irish are very lucky to have enough records survive history to allow for this depth of folk tale. This book (and any like it, really) would greatly benefit from a chart to help visualize everyone's relationship to one another

[Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-researched, scholarly overview of the Gods and Goddesses of Ireland.
It makes an excellent reference!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent resource. A good introduction & overview of the Irish Gods & Goddesses. A great starting point for anyone interested in Irish mythology.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great overview of Irish deities backed with scholarly resources and research. A fantastic starting place for those who are interested in Irish lore, myth, and spirituality.

[George Noland II · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in the style of encyclopedia. It was fine, but didn't give me the depth of the stories I wanted. (2020)

[Jes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice quick read chock full of information on the Irish pantheon.

[Liam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction to Irish Pagan deities, what they represented, and how to honor them in today's world.

[Jubatron · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful resource that does not try to oversimplify the complexity but shares the changes overtime.