As part of my running series looking at what we know about specific Irish deities from the older mythology, today I'd like to take a look at the Dagda. A great deal can be said about him, so here I am only going to offer some of the 'greatest hits' so to speak. Nonetheless this will hopefully clarify some points.
I will also note up front because of the rampant misinformation: Danu is not his mother, he didn't help create the world nor was he one of the first created beings, Brighid is his daughter not his wife, and he isn't actually a huge oafish slob.
Now onto the myths:
- The Dagda was one of the kings of the Tuatha De Danann, following Lugh and followed by Delbaeth. He ruled for 80 years (Lebor Gabala Erenn).
- The Dagda was the warrior who saved Nauda's life after his hand was lost in battle to the Fir Bolg, by helping drive off the warrior fighting the king and by calling warriors and physicians to help him (Cét Cath Maige Tuired)
- He was king when the Gaels came to Ireland and the Tuatha De Danann retreated into the sidhe; it was the Dagda who made a compact with the humans to ensure their crops and cows flourished in exchange for a tithe of the harvest of both grain and milk (De Gabail in t-Sida)
- Although different versions credit Manannán mac Lir with this, some sources say it was the Dagda who assigned each of the Tuatha De a particular sidhe to live in (De Gabail in t-Sida)
- He is referred to as the king of all the sidhe in the Aisligne Oengusso
- He had 9 children in various sources (although some of this is contradicted in other places): Bodb Dearg, Ainge, Oengus, Finnbheara, Midhir, Aed, Cermait, Brighid, and Adair
- His wife was the Morrigan; she is listed as the mother of only 1 of his children, although most* of the others we don't know who their mother was (Dindshenchas, Cath Maige Tuired, Banshenchus)
- He obtained his magical staff or club while on a quest to revive his son Cermait who had been killed by Lugh. The staff can give life at one end and take it at the other (How The Dagda Got His Magic Staff)
- He possessed one of the 4 treasures of the Tuatha De Danann, a cauldron from which no one went away unsatisfied (Tuatha De Danand na set soim)
- Dagda is from dag dia meaning good/excellent god. He earned this name/title by promising to do everything that all the other Tuatha De had pledged in the war against the Fomorians (Cath Maige Tuired)
- As with a few other Irish deities 'the' is always used when referring to the Dagda, except in direct addresses
- He had a variety of other names including Ruad Ro-fessa [red man of great-knowledge] and Eochaid Ollathair [horseman great-father] (Coir Anmann). In the Cath Maige Tuired he offers a long list of nearly a dozen names for himself, with a range of meanings.
- He owned a harp which could influence the seasons. When it was stolen by the Fomorians he had to go with Lugh and Ogma to recover it. The harp flew to his hand when he called it in the Fomorian hall and he played three magical strains of music to subdue them (Cath Maige Tuired)