Description: Pagan Portals - Gods and Goddesses of Ireland by prolific writer Morgan Daimler allows us all to meet the Gods and Goddesses of pagan Ireland in myth and modern practice.

Verdict: This very concise guide to the Gods and Goddesses of pagan Ireland, their history, mythology, and symbols, is one of the best starter guides on the subject matter that I have personally read in quite a long time.

Rooted in the past but still active in the world today, the Gods and Goddesses of Ireland have always been powerful forces that can bless or challenge, but often the most difficult thing is to simply find information about them.

This short introductory text looks at a variety of different Irish deities, common and more obscure, from their ancient roots to the modern practices associated with honoring them in, an encyclopedia-style book with entries in easy-to-use sections.

Polytheism was the main belief system of the Celts. It was the most popular religion in society and meant that people worshiped many different Celtic Gods and Goddesses. Each god represented something important in society, such as life, death, the seasons, weather and wars.

Most Irish people have descended from the Celts, a central European group who invaded and took over Ireland during the Iron Age, estimated at around 500 BC. They thrived up until 400 AD when Christianity arrived in Ireland. During the many centuries that followed they occupied Ireland embedding their own religion, customs and art into what is now thought of as Gaelic culture.

When Christianity arrived in Ireland Celtic polytheism/paganism was replaced. It was Christian monks however who were the first to transcribe the mythology and record the history of Ireland. Some of the details and characters of the stories were altered to better suit Christian ideology.

This, along with the fact that stories have been passed from mouth to mouth for generations, resulted in many different versions of the same mythos. From different time periods to different endings, one thing that remains consistent is the many different Celtic pagan deities that feature.

Some of the deities worshiped were common between different cultures, but the Celts had unique gods of their own too. There is a lot to learn about polytheism and the way it affected the Celtic community culturally and traditionally.

Chock full of fascinating stories and histories for all the Celtic Gods and Goddesses and their roles in mythology (such as The Tuatha Dé Danann Gods/Goddesses and Other Gods of Ireland), Pagan Portals - Gods and Goddesses of Ireland: A Guide to Irish Deities is a highly accessible, impassioned and dutifully written compilation of information, whilst at the same time offering up suggestions for interacting with the deities in question.

About the Author - Morgan Daimler is a blogger, poet, teacher of esoteric subjects, witch, and priestess of the Daoine Maithe. Morgan is a prolific pagan writer, having published more than a dozen books under Moon Books alone, and she is one of the world’s foremost experts on all things Fairy. She lives in Connecticut, US.

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