What We Know About The Morrigan From Irish Myth

 Continuing my series on what we know about various Irish gods just from the older mythology, today we're tackling a complicated, but popular, one: The Morrigan. This will be a list of some things we know about her based on various manuscripts, not modern belief or folklore, which will offer a base to understand the older views on Herself. 

                                                 Sketch of the Morrigan by me circa 2016(ish)

Things we know about the Morrigan from Irish myth:

• She is always referred to with 'the' before her name
• Her other name may be Anann, although this is uncertain (LGE)
• She was a shapeshifter who could assume many forms, including: eel, heifer, wolf, raven, crow, 'black bird', young woman, old woman (TBR, TBC, CMR)
• The only time she appears in a human shape that isn't explicitly called a disguised form, she is described as a redhaired woman (TBR)
• She is married to the Dagda (CMT, D)
• She has at least two children, Meiche with an unknown father, and Adair by the Dagda (D, AE)
• She was said to have 26 sons and 26 daughters, in context likely followers or dedicants (SG)
• She was one of three sisters grouped together which included Macha and Badb; this group is referred to as the 'three Morrigans' (LG, B, CMT1, SC)
• Her mother was Ernmas and her father was Dealbaeth (LGE)
• She is a magic worker among the Tuatha De Danann (B, CMT1, CMT)
• Her magic is oriented to battle, success, and weakening enemies (CMT1, CMT, TBC)
• She prophecies (CMT)
• She engages directly with enemies, possibly martially and definitely magically (CMT1, CMT, LGE)
• She accompanied warriors to the front lines (CMT1)
• She incites kings and warriors to fight against oppression (CMT)
• She arranges situations to disrupt the status quo when necessary (B, TBC, TBR)
• She was prayed to for success in a cattle raid (D)
• Uaimh na gCait at Cruachan in Roscommon is her particular home (TBR, D)

Sources:

CMT1 - Cét-Cath Maige Tuired

CMT - Cath Maige Tuired

LGE - Lebor Gabala Erenn

TBR - Táin Bó Regamna

TBC - Táin Bó Cúailgne

CMR - Cath Maige Rath

D - Dindshenchas

B - Banshenchus

AE - Apraid a éolchu Elga

SG - Silva Gadelica

SC - Sanas Cormaic