Definition

Proper noun * Race of Celtic gods or demigods; ruled Ireland in the Golden Age: The Tuatha Dé Danann are a supernatural race in Irish mythology, often described as gods, goddesses, or beings of great power and skill. They are said to have ruled Ireland during a mythical period of prosperity and magic before the arrival of the Milesians (the ancestors of the modern Irish people).

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • In the mythological cycle, the Tuatha Dé Danann defeated the Fir Bolg to claim the kingship of Ireland.
  • Many important Irish deities, such as The Dagda and Brigid, are counted among the Tuatha Dé Danann.
  • Legends say the Tuatha Dé Danann retreated into the fairy mounds after their defeat, becoming the Aos Sí or people of the otherworld.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in scholarly contexts to refer to the pantheon of pre-Christian Irish deities as a collective.
• In modern fantasy literature and media, the are frequently adapted or referenced as a race of magical beings or elves.

Variants and Related Words

• Tuatha Dé (Proper noun): A common shortened form of the name, meaning "Tribe of the Gods."
• Aos Sí (Proper noun): Meaning "People of the Mounds," this is the name for the supernatural race in later folklore, often considered the descendants or later manifestation of the Tuatha Dé Danann.

Synonyms

• The Irish gods
• The Celtic pantheon (in an Irish context)

Notes on Meaning

• The name "Tuatha Dé Danann" is typically translated as "the peoples of the goddess Danu" or "the tribes of the goddess Danu," indicating their descent from a mother goddess figure.
• While often called "gods," their portrayal in mythology is complex; they are mortal, can be wounded or killed, and interact directly with humans, blurring the line between deities and heroic magical beings.

Noun

1. race of Celtic gods or demigods; ruled Ireland in the Golden Age