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Dragons Of Ireland
^Celts^
The Celtic people existed in one form or another throughout Europe from the 9th century B.C.E. to the 5th and 6th centuries A.D. Though they would not have known themselves as 'Celts', their language was almost the same, as was their druidic belief structure throughout the area. This gave rise to the generalization of their name.
It is well established that serpents played a great role in the lives of the Celtic people. They stood for healing as well as other mysterious magical abilities. We are not, however, talking about serpents here, but dragons. What then did the Celts believe about these fantastic creatures? What were they to them?
To quote The Encyclopaedia of the Celts:
"The Celtic dragon represents sovereignty, power or a chief, such as 'Pendragon', the Celtic word meaning 'chief'."
It would appear that Celtic dragons were dragons of Earth and Water. Oftentimes they did not have legs but were more serpentine. They could have ram's horns instead of the straight horns of later European depictions, and were clearly associated with the protection of great wealth or knowledge. It was also said that they were attracted to the color of red, much as a bull is. At least one that we know of was slain because of this.
It would seem that although dragons were considered by some to be simply a much larger version of the serpent in this belief structure, there is obviously much more to it. Read on and find out why I feel this way.
Cernunnos ("The Horned One", Hu Gadarn)
As the god of fertility, life, animals, wealth, and the underworld, Cernunnos had worshippers throughout Gaul and into Britain itself. He was known by another name too. The Celts called him "Hu Gadarn", and in this manifestation he was the god of the underworld and astral planes. He was often seen in the company of multiple animals including a ram-headed serpent. From what I have studied thus far, it is the only instance where the dragon's horns resemble a ram's.
In nearly every picture of this popular diety this peculiar horned serpent is with him. Cernunnos either wears it as a belt, or we can see it gliding along beside him. Occasionally he is seen feeding two such creatures fruit from his lap, or even having two horned serpents for legs. It is widely accepted that the horned serpent represents virility and renewal. This creature is obviously an Earth Spirit, as it is so closely connected to a god of the Earth. It should also be underlined that Cernunnos is, among other things, a god of wealth.
Celtic Knotwork is an artform that has continued to thrive no matter what the fashion of the day may be. This is because it's lines are beautiful, classic, and timeless. The most amazing pieces involve the convoluted contortions of dragons.
Although the dragon shows up frequently in their art and architecture, it is curious to note that it does not show up as often in what we know of their mythology...at least as far as ancient history is concerned. Their descendants have more than made up for it, however.
^Ireland^
Although most people associate Ireland with leprechauns and faeries, there is still a large amount of dragon information one can find if you look hard enough. Irish dragons were as diverse and eclectic as most fairy beings were. It is tough to point to one and say, "Yes! That's an Irish Dragon."
Some had legs, others had none. Some breathed fire, some didn't. Some lived in lakes or the ocean, others in caves or castles. They were all greatly feared, however, and also greatly admired...at least for their treasure.
Dragon of Connacht
A dragon that guarded a magical rowan tree which grew on an island in the center of a large lake. Though there is little to describe it, it was known to be scaled. It lived in the deep water and only attacked if humans or other seekers of it's magical tree swam into it's waters. It was killed by a Prince named Froech who had been sent after a branch of the tree it was guarding. Froech was apparently unaware of the danger in the lake, but fully aware that he would die in, or near water one day and knew that Queen Maeve, the mother of his lover, wanted him dead. He did die of the wounds from the battle with the dragon, and his young love Findabair grieved for all time. In some renditions, she died with him. This, then, is the myth of how man gained the knowledge of the rowan tree's magic.
Water Dragons
These dragons seem to be the most predominant of the bunch, so I will start with them. In a book entitled, 'Visions and Beliefs in the West of Ireland' written by a wonderful lady named Lady Gregory in 1920, there are numerous accounts of people who either had encounters with dragons or knew someone who did. Rather than try to fathom what they might have meant, or try to put her own spin on these stories, she just wrote down exactly what they told her in their own words. I thank her for her wonderful contribution.
Stories of "wyrms"... - "The lake down there (Lough Graney) is an enchanted place, and old people told me that one time they were swimming there, and a man had gone out into the middle and they saw something like a great big 'eel' making for him, and they called out, "If ever you were a great swimmer show us now how you can swim to the shore," for they wouldn't frighten him by saying what was behind him. So he swam to the shore, and he only got there when the thing behind him was in the place where he was. For there are queer things in lakes."
- "And as for the monster, I never saw it in Coole Lake, but one day I was coming home with my two brothers from Tirneevan school, and there as we passed Dhulough we heard a great splashing, and we saw some creature put up its head, with a head and a mane like a horse. And we didn't stop but ran."
From - "Visions and Beliefs in the West of Ireland" : Collected and Arranged by Lady Gregory; with Two Essays and Notes by W.B. Yeats Circa - 1920
Of course there are hundreds of lakes throughout Ireland that are host to some notorious beasts. Perhaps not quite so popular as Scotland's 'Loch Ness Monster', but locally well known nonetheless. Lake monsters seem to be most prevalent throughout these 'Celtic' places, and Ireland apparently has it's share. I will do more on the sea serpents and water monsters on a seperate page, as they are far too numerous to list here.
Witchcraft and Dragons
Occasionally one will come across a story in Ireland about people who have turned themselves into dragons for their own ends. Usually this would involve the use of witchcraft, and it is almost always a female who does it. This does not always mean that the person doing it is evil either. Sometimes they are just curious, or desperately in need of a dragon's supernatural aid.
Witchy Dragon Tale...
"There was a woman at Glenlough when I was young could change herself into an 'eel'. It was in Galway Workhouse Hospital she got the knowledge. A woman that had the knowledge of doing it by witchcraft asked her would she like to learn, and she said that she would, for she didn't know what it would bring on her. For every time she did it, she'd be in bed a fortnight after with all she'd go through. Sir Martin O'Neill when he was a young lad heard of it, and he got her into a room, and made her do it for him, and when he saw her change to an 'eel' he got frightened and tried to get away, but she got between him and the door, and showed her teeth at him and growled. She wasn't the better of that for a fortnight after."
From - "Visions and Beliefs in the West of Ireland" : Collected and Arranged by Lady Gregory; with Two Essays and Notes by W.B. Yeats Circa - 1920
Some people even believe cats are dragons who were changed by some great upheaval in the world! They say that this is because cats are hard to kill, they are dangerous, and that if it clawed or bit you it could be poisonous. They believe that this is proof of the 'serpent's tooth'.
Ollipeist
This dragon fled Ireland when St. Patrick rid the island of snakes and dragons. As he ran, he created a furrow in the earth that is now known as the Shannon Valley.
Attacking Dragons
Ireland also harbors tales of dragons who will attack without provocation. One such story from an Irishman told how he and a friend of his were walking home one night only to see something rise up before them, roar loudly, ascend into the air 'like a goose', and fall back to the ground. They ran away, but not before the mysterious creature had 'laid hold' of his friend's trousers, effectively giving them both a restless night's sleep.
Another story says that a woman near Clough had been out milking her cow. When she completed her task, she got up to go do something else and was shocked to see a 'worm' coming straight for her! It was described as being at least eight feet long and was able to jump about eight yards trying to reach her. Apparently the woman escaped because that's all there was to that story.
Whatever the tale or story, the dragons of Ireland live still in the beliefs of the people of her lands. It is not hard to imagine that in the swirling mists over the moors that great beasts sleep their silent slumbers and fill the dreams of man.
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