There were 3 Irish sisters: Ériu, Banbha & Fódla. According to 8th C manuscript now lost, they were some of 1st 'people' to set foot in #Ireland before flood! Each asked the Milesians that their name be given to Ireland & Ériu was chosen! @jimfitzpatrick #FolkloreThursday

Representation of goddess Ériu @UisneachFire, Co #Westmeath (left), where she is believed to be buried under the cat stone (right)! Each of sisters Ériu, Banba & Fódla asked their name be given to country; Ériu chosen. She is personification of Éire, #Ireland! #FolkloreThursday

Irish goddess of death, the Morrigan, is one crafty female! In The Cattle Raid of Cooley (Táin Bó Cúailnge), Cú Chulainn visited by her under guise of being a beautiful young woman! She turns into different animals to attack him-eel, wolf & heifer then old hag! #FolkloreThursday

Brigit, Brigid or Bríg ('exalted one') was a goddess of pre-Christian Ireland. 3 sisters (daughters of the Dagda) all called Brigid. Together they were responsible for the spring season, fertility, healing, poetry & smithcraft. Feast day Imbolc: 1 Feb. #FolkloreThursday

Queen Medb of Connacht was 1 nasty female! She wanted to steal the stud bull Donn Cúailnge but Cú Chulainn invoked right of single combat at fords & defeated everyone! Thankfully she was killed off by a piece of cheese launched at her! J C Leyendecker #Ireland #FolkloreThursday

Here's my thread on Macha! This brave super powered lady had twins & was no ordinary Ulster farmer's wife! : statue of Macha outside Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry, N #Ireland. #FolkloreThursday https://twitter.com/lorraineelizab6/status/1022500400400883712?s=20

Thread on St Brigid (d. 525), 1 of 3 patron saints of Ireland! My favourite story is about her cloak. When she wanted land for her convent the king would only allow her the land her cloak covered but it amazingly grew out to cover miles! #FolkloreThursday https://twitter.com/lorraineelizab6/status/958988559729463296?s=20

One of the bravest Irish females has got to be Sadhbh, Fionn mac Cumhaill's wife! Turned into doe for refusing love of druid until told if she set foot in the dún (fort/castle) of the Fianna of #Ireland, he would no longer have any power over her! : sloegenie #FolkloreThursday

SO many brave Irish females who've been turned into swans: Fionnghuala, daughter of Lir; Caer Irish goddess of dreams & prophecy only human 1 day/yr! Étaín cursed into becoming water, worm, butterfly. Fell into wine, drunk & reborn 1012 yrs later, then swan! #FolkloreThursday

You might have heard of Fionn mac Cumhaill, but have you heard of Liath Luachra?! She was a badass fighting woman who brought him up in secret in the forest of Slieve Bloom Mountains, along with his druidess Aunt Bodhmall, teaching him the arts of war & hunting! #FolkloreThursday