For centuries, Irish mythology was preserved orally by the druids, the learned class among the Celts. These oral traditions kept alive the stories of goddesses like Brigid and Morrigan, ensuring their place in cultural memory.
Kate Whiteman brings these legendary women into the present day with her Banlaoch Collection of paintings -Banlaoch" translates as "female warrior" or "heroine."Which of these warrior women can you identify with?
One of the most prominent Irish goddesses, Brigid is a triple goddess associated with healing, poetry, and smithcraft. She was a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann, a mythical race in Ireland. She is celebrated as a prominent Ulster goddess. Her holiday, Imbolc, held on February 1st (now an annual bank holiday in Ireland), marks the midpoint of winter. Brigid's influence was so significant that she was later Christianised as Saint Brigid, and many of Ireland's wells and waterways are devoted to her.
A complex figure often depicted as a trio of sisters Macha,Badh & Nemain (sometimes referred to as a single deity), the Morrigan is associated with war, fate, and death. Known for her shapeshifting abilities, she often takes forms such as a crow or raven. The Morrigan also possesses the power of prophecy and divination, enabling her to foresee and influence the outcomes of battles and other events.
A goddess of summer, wealth, and sovereignty, Aine is associated with the sun and the harvest. Primroses and meadowsweet are believed to be connected to her symbolising love, fertility, and the abundant blessings of nature..Linked to the festival of Midsummer, she is strongly connection to the land,water and healing. One of her symbols is the white swan.
Particularly linked to the sea, Cliodhna is depicted as having three magical birds whose songs can heal the sick. She embodies the ideals of beauty and love in Irish folklore. The daughter of a The sea goddess ,every ninth wave is sacred to her and if a wish spoken as a small pearl is placed in a double shell, tied with seaweed, cast on the ninth wave and reaches the shore, the goddess Cliodna will grant it.The banshee has also been known to appear as a beautiful young woman, however the banshee is the harbinger of death
The comparison between Celtic goddesses and modern women highlights enduring themes of strength, versatility, and the quest for respect and equality. While the contexts differ significantly—mythological reverence versus real-world challenges—the essence of female empowerment, complexity, and significance remains a constant thread through time.