The God of Druids
Searles

Mon Oct 12 12:35:54 1998
Who is the god of Druids?  To me this question can be answered by  undertsanding what was considered holy by Druids.  The sacred knowledge of the Druids held truth, skill and honor to be the triad most highly respected and taught among the Celts.  The deity that most closely represents thise three ideals to me  is An Dagda, the Good God, who was good at everything he did.*p*In the Irish tales there are two mentions of the God of the Druids (by*br*name).  The first mention is cited in the article, "The First Battle of*br*Moytura," edited by J. Fraser in E/riu 8, p.16 and the second mention is in*br*the article, "How the Dagda Got His Magic Staff," in "Medieval Studies in*br*Memory of Gertrude Schoepperle Loomis," by Osborn, Bergin, Geneva, 1927,*br*page 402.  The Dagda is called, "dagdia druidechta Tu/ath De/ Danann." This*br*is the God of Druids that Mogh Roith calls upon in his incantations as*br*well: An Dagda, God of Druids. *p*Here's some more information that supports the idea of The Dagda being the God of Druids:*p*On page 121 of _Cath Maige Tuired_, translation and notes by Elizabeth*br*Gray, he is characterized as," Master of druidic arts.."  On page 64, of*br*_Celtic Mythology_ by Proinsius Mac Cana:*p*"..credited with much wisdom, and another of his names or titles describes*br*him as Ruadh Rofhessa, 'The Might One of Great Knowledge'. It is fitting*br*therefore that he should also be qualified, as he is on several occasions,*br*as a god of druidism."*p*On page 104 of _The Metrical Dindshenchas, Vol. IV_, translation and notes*br*by Edward Gwynn, it was said of The Dagda:*p*"Cia ri/ bui/ for E/rinn uile gle/-binn glaine.*br*acht in Dagdae druinne? ni chluine nach n-amra n-aile."*p*"Who was king over all Erinn, sweet-sounding radiant?*br*Who but the skillful Dagda?*br*You hear of none other so famous."*p*That the Druids had a god is shown in _Forbhais Droma Damhgha/ire_ as*br*translated by Sea/n O/ Duinn, where the gret Druid Mogh Roith says:*p*"Dia na ndraoithe, mo dhi/a thar gach dia,*br*dia an tseandrua seo."*p*"God of druids, my god above every god, *br*he is god of the ancient druids."*p*From E/riu VII, 221.5:*p*"tri druid Dagda"*p*On page 86 under the heading "druid," in _Dictionary of Celtic Myth and*br*Mythology_, by Miranda Green (sources quoted are: O'Fa/olain, 1954; Bray*br*1987, 209-215; Watson 1981, 165-80; Cormier 1976-8, 303-15; Green 1986,*br*26-8; Pigott 1968; Le Roux & Guyonvarc'h 1974, 96-112; Nash 1976, 124;*br*Jackson 1964; Cunliffe 1979, 106-10):*p*"The Daghda was credited with being a god of druidism, which may refer to*br*magic or prophecy."*p*It is clear to me from these quotations that The Dagda was the chief god of the Irish Celts and that he was also the God of Druids.*p*Searles O'Dubhain