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Classical Mythology Greek and Roman myths, gods, heroes, and epic tales Norse Mythology Vikings, Asgard, Ragnarok, and the nine realms Celtic Mythology Irish, Welsh, and Gaelic legends and folklore Arthurian Legends King Arthur, Camelot, the Round Table, and the Holy Grail Egyptian Mythology Pharaohs, pyramids, and ancient Nile deities Japanese Mythology Shinto gods, spirits, and legendary creatures Chinese Mythology Dragons, immortals, and celestial beings Aztec Mythology Mesoamerican gods, rituals, and creation myths Ancient Literature Classical texts, translations, and literary analysis
Greek Gods The Olympians, Titans, and primordial deities Roman Gods Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and the Roman pantheon Norse Gods Odin, Thor, Loki, and the Aesir and Vanir Egyptian Gods Ra, Osiris, Isis, Anubis, and more Celtic Gods The Tuatha Dé Danann and Celtic deities Aztec Gods Quetzalcoatl, Tezcatlipoca, and Aztec deities Japanese Gods Amaterasu, Susanoo, and Shinto kami Chinese Gods Jade Emperor, Dragon Kings, and celestial beings View All 150+ Deities Browse the complete collection of mythological deities View all gods & deities
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  1. Celtic Mythology
    Otherworld Warrior Society Celtic Cycles Facts & Figures Genealogy Bibliography About Celtic Myths
  2. Otherworld
    Gallic Deities Iberian Deities British Deities Tuatha Dé Danann Welsh Deities Faeries
  3. Tuatha Dé Danann
    Ernmas Danu (Ana) Morrígan Eriu, Banha and Fodla Brigit Boann Flidais Ainé Bilé Lir Manannán Mac Lir Dagda Nuada Ogma Dian Cécht Cian Goibhniu Credne Luchta Bres Lugh Angus Óg Bodb Derg Midir Neit Donn Crom Cruach Domnu Eochaid
  4. Manannán Mac Lir

Manannán Mac Lir

Sea god. Manannán (Manannan) was said to be the son of Lir, who was also a god of the sea. Manannán supplanted his father in his role as a sea god. However, in the Book of Invasions, Manannán was actually the son of Allod (I haven't figured out who Allod was). Allod was a son of Elada (Elatha), so that would make him (Allod) a brother of Dagda and Ogma.

Manannan MacLir

Manannan mac Lir riding
Enbarr
Illustration by JJP

Manannán also seemed to have control over the weather, but his powers were probably confined to the sea. Manannán was also a healer and a mighty sorcerer.

Manannán probably had a daughter named Tailtiu (Taillte) who became the foster mother of Lugh. Usually Tailtu was said to be the daughter of the King of the Great Plain and the wife of Firbolg king, Eochaidh Mac Erc. Manannán was also believed to be the father of Mongán, the reincarnation of Finn Mac Cumhaill.

Manannán married a beautiful Danann woman named Fand, who had affair with the Ulster hero, Cu Chulainn.

Manannán was also married to Aife (Aiofe), who had been transformed into a crane. Aife was killed and her skin was used to create a magic treasure bag, which would later belong to Finn and the Clan Bascna in the Fenian Cycle.

Manannán was either a lover or husband of Aine, the sun goddess of love.

Manannán lived in the "Land of Promise" or "Land of Youth". Manannán possessed the ship called "Wave-sweeper"; a vessel that could steer itself by his thoughts and move without the need of oars or wind. Manannán could also drive his chariot over water, drawn by two magical horses. Manannán sometimes wielded the "Answerer", the sword given to Lugh Lamfada.

Manannán was the patron god of the Tuatha Dé Danann. When the Dananns were defeated in battle against the Milesians, it was Manannán who led either led one to the "Land of Youth" (Otherworld or Sidhe). There lived the magic swine that Manannán owned, and which kept the Tuatha Dé Danann young. Each day the swine was killed and roasted for the Dananns to eat, and at the end of each day the swine returned to life, only to be killed and eaten again the next day.

Manannán was also called Manawyddan by the Welsh. In the Welsh myths, he was the son of Llyr (Irish Lir) and the brother of the god Brân.

Related Information

Name

Manannan, Manandan (Irish).
Manawyddan (Welsh).

Related Articles

Lir, Danu.
Lugh, Dagda. Finn Mac Cumhaill.

Manawyddan, Brân.

Book of Invasions.

Jimmy Joe Timeless Myths

By Jimmy Joe

Tuatha Dé Danann:

  • • Ernmas
  • • Danu (Ana)
  • • Morrígan
  • • Eriu, Banha and Fodla
  • • Brigit
  • • Boann
  • • Flidais
  • • Ainé
  • • Bilé
  • • Lir
  • • Manannán Mac Lir
  • • Dagda
  • • Nuada
  • • Ogma
  • • Dian Cécht
  • • Cian
  • • Goibhniu
  • • Credne
  • • Luchta
  • • Bres
  • • Lugh
  • • Angus Óg
  • • Bodb Derg
  • • Midir
  • • Neit
  • • Donn
  • • Crom Cruach
  • • Domnu
  • • Eochaid
Lir

Lir

God of the sea. Lir was the father of Manannán (Manannan) and Lodan. Lir was known to the Welsh sea-god as Llyr. Unlike his son, Lir was merely a personification of the sea. Manannán appeared as a more real character than he did. His role in Celti...

November 3rd, 1999 • Jimmy Joe
Manawyddan

Manawyddan

Manawyddan was often identified with the Irish god Manannan, though the Irish and Welsh stories were different and unrelated to one another. Manawyddan was the son of Llyr and Penarddun, daughter of Beli son of Mynogan, who was the ruler of Britai...

May 13th, 2000 • Jimmy Joe
Llyr

Llyr

Welsh god of the sea. Llyr was the Welsh equivalent of Lir, the old Irish god of the sea. Llyr was also the god of magic and healing. Llyr was married to Penarddun, daughter of Beli son of Mynogan, who was the ruler of Britain. Llyr was the father...

May 13th, 2000 • Jimmy Joe
Mongán

Mongán

Poet and leader of the Dál nAraide. Mongán (Mongan) was said to be a historical figure, who died in c. AD 624. Mongán (Mongan) was said to be the son the sea god Manannán Mac Lir and Caíntigern. Caíntigern was the wife of Fiachna Mac Báetáin. Fiac...

August 16th, 2003 • Jimmy Joe
Nuada

Nuada

King of Erin (Ireland) and leader of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Nuada has been called the son of the goddess Danu. Usually Nuada had also been called the son of Echtach and the grandson of Etarlaim. He has also been named as one of the seven sons of Et...

November 3rd, 1999 • Jimmy Joe
Dagda

Dagda

Dagda: Magic of the Good God Dagda, god of gods, went by Dagda or The Dagda. He was the chief and foremost god of the Irish group of gods, the Tuatha dé Danann. He was very wise, very skilled, and had many domains such as fertility, agriculture, a...

April 2nd, 2002 • Timeless Myths
Fomorians

Fomorians

For Bres, see the Tuatha de Danann page.Related pages Tuatha Dé Danann

November 3rd, 1999 • Jimmy Joe
Celtic Gods

Celtic Gods

This pantheon is a mixture of Celtic gods and goddesses taken from Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. Their myths were taken from ancient writings and collections of stories. The group of Irish gods was called the Tuatha Dé Danann. Together, the storie...

April 2nd, 2002 • Timeless Myths
Danu

Danu

Danu: Mysteries of the Mother Goddess Danu, goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann, was the original mother goddess in Celtic mythology. The very name Tuatha Dé Danann means “Children of Danu,” and it is believed that she was the beginning of the existen...

April 2nd, 2002 • Timeless Myths
Lugh

Lugh

Lugh: Tales of the Trickster God Lugh, god of mischief, was a trickster god in Celtic mythology. He was also called Lugh of the Long Arm, and he was also the god of kings, justice, and rulership. He was also a cunning and skilled warrior and was i...

April 2nd, 2002 • Timeless Myths
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