Sources of Irish Mythology
Green (1996), Stewart (1990), and Condren (1989) all refer to three main tales of mythical traditions which contain the material that is most useful for studying the Celtic paganism: The Mythological Cycle, the Ulster Cycle and the Fionn Cycle. Of these sources the Mythological Cycle and Ulster Cycle will be relevant to this study of goddess in Celtic religion and spirituality, regarding the attitudes held toward women. The Mythological Cycle, pertains to the mythical invasions of Ireland from before the Flood to the arrival of the Celts or Gauls (the name used by Romans in references to Celts) (Green M. , 1996). A main portion of this mythology refers to the ‘invasion’ myth of Tuatha Dè Danann, the ‘People of the Goddess Danu,’ a race of gods and goddesses. The Ulster Cycle describes a world where the humans and divinities were closely interlinked, and where the powerful goddesses of Ireland are encountered. Examining these texts of mythological tales, through a feminist perspective, the fundamental belief in goddess, whose roles were as prominent as those of male deities, demonstrate the dominate role they played in the religion of the Celtic world.