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An Dagda Also given as Daghdha (pr. Day-a), and Dagdae “The Good God”. Although the Irish Celts recognised no “supreme diety”, An Dagda is considered to be the Father of the Celtic Gods & Goddesses of the Irish pantheon of Celtic mythology. The “good” in “The Good God” doesn’t refer to morality, but to being good, or skilled at everything. He is associated with very basic, Earthy functions like eating, drinking, sex and generally having a good time. He is desribed very differently from the other dieties, as an ugly unkempt buffoon in the following excerpt from “Cath Maige Tuired” of Celtic mythology; “His belly was the size of a house cauldron… His appearance was unsightly; He had a cape to the hollow of His elbows and a grey-brown tunic around Him to the swelling of His rump. He trailed behind Him a wheeled fork which was the work of eight men to move… His long penis was uncovered. He had two shoes of horsehide with the hair outside”. The story goes on to desribe how the Fomoire fed him an enormous meal to mock Him for His gluttony, and laughed at His pathetic appearance after He fell asleep from the heavy meal. The Dagda, of couse, had the last laugh, as He had sex with the daughter of the Fomorian chief as she promised her magical assistance in the defeat of the Fomoire. The theme of the greatest of gods or the wisest of men appearing to be exactly the opposite, is a common one. There is a valuable lesson here - never accept things as they appear to be, for much more may hide below the surface. It was a distincly Celtic belief that everyone, regardless of how ugly or absurd they may appear, is equal to everyone else. An Dagda has a magical cauldron which feeds all who sit at it, without ever running out, except for cowards and liars. He had a giant club with one end that could kill nine men at a stroke, while the other end could bring them back to life. He has a harp on which he plays three strains of music; the sleeping strain, the laughing strain, and the weeping strain, and He used these strains of music to call forth the seasons. He is the Celtic God and master of Druidry, closely associated with the Oak tree, fertility of the land, and agriculture, things usually associated with goddesses. His purpose is to fertilize these Earth Goddesses, which is why the old stories recount His sexual prowess over and over again. His festival is the Feast of Samhain.

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