Morrígan

Goddess of war and fertility. Her name, Morrígan (Morrigan), means the "Queen of Demons" or the "Phantom Queen".

Morrígan was the daughter of Delbáeth and Ernmas. Morrígan was the sister of Badb, Macha, and possibly of Nemain.

Morrígan was one of the wives of Dagda. During the festival of Samhain, held on November 1, she would sleep with Dagda to renew the future prosperity of Ireland. In this role, she was seen as the Sovereignty of Ireland.

Morrígan was also the godddess of divination and prophecy.

In Cath Mag Tuired, she was washing clothes at the ford in Unshin in Corann, near Dagda's house at Glen Edin, when Dagda encountered her on eve of the festival of Samhain. One foot was at Allod Echae (water in the south) and the other foot at Lisconny (north of the water). Nine loosened tresses of hair were on her head. After Dagda slept with her, she advised him of where the Fomorians were gathered and what she would do in battle. It was from Morrígan that other Celtic folklore derived the Washer at the Ford. The Washer was sort of like a banshee who was able to predict who would die.

In several sources, Morrígan had children, some by Dagda and sometimes the father or fathers of her children were never named.

Morrígan has also been identified with the goddess Danu or Anu, or that Danu was Morrígan's proper name, since both were named as the daughter of Delbáeth and Ernmas, and both were the mothers of Brian, Iuchar and Iurbarba, through incest with their own father.

Morrígan was one of the strangest deities in Irish myths. She was tripartite goddess of war: a goddess with three separate personalities or aspects. The three morrigans were Morrígan, Macha and Badb. Some say that there were three separate goddesses (morrígans) with the same name, or that her three aspects were combined into a single goddess.

In the Second Battle of Mag Tuired (Moytura), Morrígan helped the Tuatha Dé Danann, causing fear and confusion in the Fomorian ranks. With the single combat between Ogma and Indech (one of the Fomorian kings), Morrígan drained the strength from Indech.

At the end of the book, she proclaimed that the Tuatha Dé Danann won a great victory over the Fomorians.

In the tale of the Destruction of Da Derga, Morrígan caused Conaire Mor to break his last geis. Morrígan was also in love with Cú Chulainn and appeared as a young, beautiful maiden to the hero. However, Cú Chulainn rejected Morrígan's love. In the Cattle Raid of Cooley, Morrígan was one of the opponents who attacked Cú Chulainn at the ford but each time, Cú Chulainn subdued or defeated her.

Though she had become Cú Chulainn's enemy, in the end she tried to save the hero. She sent a warning to Cú Chulainn that the hero had been lured away to a death trap set by his enemies, by breaking the pole of his chariot. When Cú Chulainn tied himself to a rock, dying from his wound, Morrígan, in the form of raven, sat perched on his shoulder, which kept the enemies at bay. Only when his life slipped away did Morrígan fly away.

Macha

She was known as Macha, the goddess of fertility – a mother goddess. Macha appeared several times in Irish myths. In her first appearance, she was the wife of Nemed, leader of the Nemedians.

Macha also appeared as the wife of Nuada of the Silver Hand, king of Ireland and leader of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Here, Macha was the daughter of Delbáeth and Ernmas, and sister of Badb, Morrígan, and possibly of Nemain. As a tripartite goddess of war, Macha was one of the three aspects of the Morrígans. Macha died with her husband in the Second Battle of Mag Tuired (Moytura); they were killed by Balor's destructive eye.

However, Macha was most popular and active in her roles in the northern province of Ulster (Ulaid). Macha appeared twice in the Ulaid Cycle.

She was once known as Macha, the red war-goddess. Macha was the daughter of Áed Ruad. Macha married her uncle Cimbáeth and became queen of Ulaid (Ulster). It was she who founded the city that was named after her: Emain Macha. The name Emain Macha means the "Brooch of Macha", because she marked the boundary of hill-fortresses with her brooch.

In the second story of Ulster, Macha appeared again, this time as the second wife of the wealthy farmer Crunnchu. This Macha placed a curse upon the men of Ulaid for their mistreatment of her during her pregnancy. The curse was that during Ulster's hours of greatest need, the men of Ulster would suffer pangs like those of a woman giving birth. In this story, she was the goddess of horses (See Curse of Macha).

Badb and Other Aspects

Badb was the daughter of Delbáeth and Ernmas, and sister of Macha, Morrígan, and possibly of Nemain. Badb was the wife of Neit. As a tripartite goddess of war, Badb was one of the three aspects of the Morrígans.

As Badb, Morrígan was the goddess of war, and was often referred to as Badb Catha, which means "Battle Raven". She had the ability to shape-change to a young, beautiful girl or an old hag, as well a raven or crow. She was also called Banbha and Fodla.

Finally, as Nemain, Morrígan was the goddess of strife and panic. Her name means "Panic". Nemain was also said to be the wife of Neit, like Badb. Nemain was associated with the British goddess Nemetona, the goddess of the sacred grove.

Badb and Nemain appeared in Táin Bó Cuailnge on the eve of the final battle between Ulster and Connacht. They entered the camp of Connacht and her allies where a hundred warriors died in fright. The goddesses inspired terror in the night.

Eriu was possibly another aspect of Morrigan. Again, Eriu appeared as the goddess of fertility. Eriu was the sovereignty of Ireland wedded to a mortal king. Like all her previous aspects mentioned, Eriu was also a war goddess and had the ability to change her shape from a girl to a hag, or to bird or animal. Eriu was the patron goddess of the province Meath. Ireland was probably named after her (Eire). (See Eriu.)

Morrígan was also associated with Medb or Maeve, queen of Connacht, married to a mortal king Ailill.

In later medieval period, Morrígan was associated with Morgan le Fay, a sorceress and goddess of Avalon, in the Arthurian legends.