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To discuss Celtic mythology, lore, and religions, we must first sort through some of the terms, and carify what might be confusing to many. 'Celt' (pronouced Kelt, not the same as the basketball Celtics) or 'Celtic' refers to a people who ranged across Western Europe before the arrival of the Romans. They were in Ireland, Britain, Gaul (France), Galatia, etc. Their religion was what we now call "paganism", "polythieism", or "Druidism". It can become confusing since not all Druids were Celts and not all Celts were Irish and not all lore is accurate.

We do find, however, more of the Celtic influence in modern Ireland than other areas, since their island isolation allowed them to continue their connection to Celtic lore more easily then areas closer to the Roman influence. It seems a bit incongruous that the Irish became so Roman Catholic as to fight over their religion for so long, and hold their Celtic legends in such high regard, both.

Celtic paganism as practiced by the Druids was very much about maternity and fertility, making women's roles in the religion a highly esteemed one. The men were represented by the Dagda, and the gods and goddesses were similar to the Greek, who could never be described as the god of any one thing.

Morrigan was a tripartite (there are many uses of groups of three) battle goddess acredited with both helping and hindering in the battle recorded in writing as "Tain Bo Cuailnge" even before the writing of "Beowolf".

The wily wit of the leprechauns lives on, drawn from the subeterfuge of Celtic lore. Where the Norse and Roman gods were warriors, Celtic heroes were more devious, tricksters, and won with inteligence, making women more honored than men, often.

Wales is another area where Celtic influences are still found. The Mabinogion is a collection of prose from medieval Welsh manuscripts. They draw on pre-Christian Celtic mythology, international folktale motifs, and on early medieval historical traditions. (wikipedia) The Welch Godess, Rhiannon, and Modron ("divine mother") are revered. Modron bore Mabon, who became synonymous with the British god, Manopos, and the Irish god, Aengus Mac Og, blending Scots, Irish, British and Welch lore into a confusing but interesting history, not well documented in writing, but passed on through generations, morphing and adapting as legends grew and were infiltrated by Roman and Catholic influences.

When one reads of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, there is much Celtic lore and adapted name references intermingled with Catholic religion and concepts. The battles of Morgana and Merlin represented the old Celtic mythology, while the knights fought for Catholic ideologies.

Learn more about this author, Will Kester.
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