The Dagda was chief of the Tuatha dé Danann, the foremost of the Irish ancestral gods. Highly skilled and wise beyond measure, he was not only the god of life and death, but of seasons, agriculture, fertility, magic, and druidry as well. He wielded three sacred treasures: a cauldron of plenty, a club of life and death, and a harp that controlled men and seasons alike. His children were plentiful, as were his lovers. His dwelling place was Brú na Bóinne.
As the “great god,” the Dagda possessed immense skill that gave him dominion over a wide range of fields. He was not only the god of life and death, but of fertility and agriculture as well. The Dagda possessed many items that granted him further abilities. He could set the seasons to order with a strum of his harp, slay or resurrect a man with his club, or provide a generous feast with his cauldron. The Dagda was also a druid, and as such had mastery over all things magical and mystical.
The Lebor Gabála Érenn laid out the coming of the Tuatha dé Danann, the fifth group of settlers to arrive in mythical Ireland. This group hailed from four cities north of the Emerald Isle, where they had learned the arts and sciences of their time, including magic. At this time, the Dagda was their chief. Though he did not hold the title of king, he was consulted and respected by many as if he was one. Continue reading from Mythopedia
