In the Irish sagas there were three great festivals: Féis Temrach (Tara), Féis Cruachan (Croghan), and Féis Emna (Emain Macha). The gatherings at Tailltenn, Tlachtga, and Uisneach were fairs rather than festivals. The Irish also differentiated between the religious festivals, those of Imbolg or Brigid (February 1), Beltaine (May 1), Lughnasadh (August 1), and Samhain (November 1).

Female Champions

In early Celtic society women had an equality of rights with men, being able to be elected to any office, inherit wealth, and hold full rights of ownership under law. Many prominent female warriors or champions are to be found in the myths and sagas, from the grotesque Coinchend to the more attractive Scáthach and her sister Aoife. Credne was the female champion of the Fianna, while in another tale there emerge two female warriors named Bec and Lithben. Famous was Medb of Connacht, who led her armies in the Táin war. She was no mere symbolic leader, for she slew the hero Cethren with her spear. Scáthach ran a martial arts academy and taught many of the champions of Ireland, including the most famous of them all, Cúchulainn. The deities of death and battles—such as Mórrígán, the triune goddess—are invariably female.

In ancient history warrior queens appear among the Celts, including Cartimandua, the “sleek pony,” queen of the Brigantes in Britain. Most famous of all was Boudicca (Boadicea to the Romans) of the Iceni, who rose against Roman rule in a.d. 60 and came close to driving them back into the sea. Her name means Victorious (in Irish buadach, in Welsh buddogal). Irish history abounds in such leaders as Ébha Ruadh Ní Murchú, Máire Ní Ciaragáin, and the famous Gráinne Ní Maillie.

Fenian Cycle

[I] Also known as the Ossianic Cycle. The tales are thought to date stylistically to the third century a.d. and concern the deeds of Fionn Mac Cumhail and his Fianna. The first bold synthesis of the eight major parts of the cycle into a cohesive whole appeared in the twelfth century tract Acallamh na Senórach (Colloquy of the Ancients). The Fenian Cycle, next to the Red Branch Cycle, is one of the longest compositions and became very popular with the ordinary people in Ireland during the medieval period. It is argued that the Arthurian sagas derived their themes and embellishments from these tales.