Goddesses and women of ancient lore enjoyed a position of respect, dignity and reverence. Today, many women can find strength by attuning themselves to the very positive attributes of female figures from long ago. This page celebrates the feminine spirit and the brave, skilful, nurturing and passionate natures of the many intriguing goddesses and wise women mentioned in myth and legend.

On this page I have listed some extraordinary Celtic women and goddesses of times past.

Aibell (Irish)

Pronounced: Aw-bel or EE-bel

Aibell was a goddess of Munster, an Irish province and whose name means "most beautiful". A large rock in Killaloe, Ireland was, according to legend, her home which indicates that she was probably a mother earth goddess whose image was eradicated by the early monasteries.

Aine (Irish)

Pronounced: AW-nay or EE-nay

Aine is a fire, cattle and sun goddess who is still quite popular in her native Muenster. She is also known as Aine of Knockaine and is identified with Midsummer on which night torchlight processions are still held in her honor. In legend, she was raped by Ailill Olum, a Muenster king, but her magickal arts destroyed him for his violation of her. She is also credited for giving meadowsweet its delicate scent.

Banbha (Irish)

Pronounced: BAHN-na or BHAN-va

Banbha is a warrior goddess who in legend protected Ireland from invaders. According to oral legend she is the first woman to have discovered Ireland after the primordial flood.

Biddy Early (Irish)

Also known as the "White Witch of Claire", Biddy was an old wise woman who lived near the Echtaghe mountains in the nineteenth century. According to legend, before Biddy's death she threw a blue bottle into a lake near the hills where it still rests. This blue bottle is said to contain powerful magick and it awaits to be reclaimed.

Boadicea of the Inceni (Irish)

Boadicea was a famous, red-haired warrior queen of the Celts.She lead a rebellion against the Roman government for what she felt were injustices perpetrated in Southern England. Boadicea's name means "victorious".

Brid (Irish, Scottish)

Pronounced: Breed

Also known as: Bride, Bridget, Brigit, and Brighid. Brid's name comes from the old Irish brigh, which means "power". She was the great mother goddess of Ireland and at one time in history most of Ireland worshipped and praised her. In the fifth century her shrine was desecrated and adopted as a holy site by Christian missionaries. She was given sainthood by Christians and is now known as St. Bridget. The missionaries substituted her Sabbat, Imbolc, with the feast days of La Fheile Brid in Ireland and Laa'l Breeshey in the Isle of Man. *Bruce Robertson of Religious Tolerance was kind enough to point out: "The Roman Catholic church reviewed the status of St. Bridget some years ago and found out that she never existed as a Christian, but only as a Pagan Goddess, so they cancelled her sainthood."

Cailleach, The (Scottish, Irish, Manx)

Pronounced: Coy-luck or CALL-y'ach

In legend, Cailleach was said to have controlled the seasons and weather and she is also seen as the hag aspect of the Triple Goddess. The Cailleach's image has been distorted to represent what we now know as the Halloween witch. She has also been stripped of all of her powers and in folk lore she appears as the evil faery who often brings winter and death.

Cerridwen (Scottish, Welsh)

Pronounced: KARE-id-win

Cerridwen is famous for her great cauldron of knowledge. Her cauldron's name was Amen in which her potion of knowledge called greal was made. Today, her image is used for the cauldron-stirring witch that we associate with Halloween.

Coventina (Anglo-Celtic, Scottish)

Coventina is one of the most potent of Celtic river goddesses who is thought to be of Roman origin. She is closely associated with England's Caldew River and she is looked upon as the queen of the river goddesses. There is evidence that she was worshipped in Celtic Gaul where reliefs have been found depicting her reclining on a floating leaf.

Dana (Irish)

Pronounced: DAY-na

Also known as Danu, Dana was the first great mother goddess of Ireland, who was later renamed Brigid. The root "dan" means knowledge in Old Irish and some scholars believe she is the most ancient of the Celtic deities of whom we have extant knowledge. Many Pagans see Dana as the sovereign, great mother who has birthed all things into being.

Eire (Irish)

Pronounced: Air-uh

Eire's name has been the poetic name of Ireland for centuries. She has also been worshipped as the Goddess/protectress of Ireland by Irish Pagans. In legend it is said that Eire's magick was so potent that she could throw mud balls down on her enemies from which hundreds of fierce warriors would appear and fight.

Kele-De (Irish)

Pronounced: KAY-lee-day

Kele-De is an ancient goddess steeped in mystery. The early church allowed her all-female cult, known as the Kelles, to continue their worship for a time in remote areas of Ireland. Some scholars believe that Kele-De is a corruption of the Indian goddess Kali. An early sect of Scottish and Irish monks sought to adopt her name to eradicate her memory.

Maeve, Queen (Irish)

Pronounced: Mayv or maev

Maeve was the Queen of Connacht who personifies the heights of feminine power. In one of the most popular of Irish myths, The Cattle Raid of Cooley it is said that a war started in Ulster because of her coveting of the great Ulster bull. Maeve was not only a powerful leader, but also an expert huntress, horsewoman and warrior. Animals, particularly horses, are often pictured with her.

Munanna (Irish)

Munanna is said to have been a witch of incredible power. She left her husband for a Viking pirate but, afraid of her powers, the Viking pushed her overboard and she drowned. Today, she is said to be heard crying out for revenge as she flies in the shape of a crane over the cliffs of Inishkea, Ireland.

Rhiannon (Welsh, Cornish)

Pronounced: R'HEE-awn-on

Rhiannon's name translates as "divine" or "great queen". Rhiannon's original name is thought to be Rigatona (Gaulish) also meaning "great queen" indicating that she may have enjoyed a much higher status in the Celtic pantheon than she does today. Some scholars speculate that she was once a sun goddess.

Sheila-Na-Gig (Irish)

The pervasive image of this curious deity was found carved on many Irish doorways and stones, presumably for blessings or protection. Many of these carvings were used by nuns to adorn the doors of early Irish convents. However, churchmen, horrified by the image placed on the convents' doorways, broke off and destroyed the images. An archeologist found a pile of the Sheila-Na-gig images buried in a pile near the ruins of an old church one hundred years ago.

Stine Bhead O'Tarbat (Scottish)

A woman who lived near Tarbat Ness in Scotland, Stine Bhead O'Tarbat was said to be very powerful. As her story came into modern times she was reduced to a vindictive old hag or faery who used her powers for spite rather than assistance. She is thought to have been a Scottish Pagan leader, Druidess or even a local modern Goddess.