The Dagda
The Dagda is the leader of the Tuatha de Danann (children of the goddess Danu) and has a wife with three names, Breng (lie), Meng (guile) and Meabel (disgrace). She bore him three daughters. all called Brigit. The Dagda has many other children including Angus, Ogma, Midir and Bodb.
The Dagda posesseses the Undry, the cauldron of plenty. He controls the seasons by playing a harp. He is a master of all trades and his names include, Ruad Rofhessa (red one of great knowledge) and Eochaid Ollathair (Eochaid the great Father).
He is both a dealer of death and a healer and posesses a huge club with which he can kil 9 men with a single blow, and then restore their lives with a touch of the other end of the club.
The Dagda has a huge appetite for food, wine and sex. He mates with the Morrigan (it is said that she straddles a river for this occasion) on the 1st of November (New Year). On this day he also mates with Boannan (the goddess of the Boyne).
It was also on the 1st of november that the Formorians (sea monsters) tried to incapacitate the Dagda by forcing him to eat great amounts of porridge. The ladled it from a huge hole in the ground, but the Dagda ate all and then finished his feast by having sexual intercourse with a Formorian maiden.
Adapted from 'A guide to the Gods' by Richard Carlyon
