Also called Crom Cruach, Cenn Cruach, Domhnach Chrom Dubh.
Their story
Crom Dubh, the dark crooked one, is remembered in Irish folklore around the start of the harvest; the last Sunday of July was called Domhnach Chrom Dubh. Local tales tell that he was a pagan chief who gave Saint Patrick a bull, expecting it to be his ruin, and then saw it restored to life. The Dindshenchas tells of a golden idol called Crom Cruach on Mag Slécht in County Cavan, served with terrible offerings until Patrick struck it down.
Best times to give to them
- Domhnach Chrom Dubh, the last Sunday of July
- Lughnasadh
What they like being given
- the first sheaf or first loaf of the harvest
- bilberries gathered from a hillside
- flowers placed on a hilltop
How to honour them
- Climb a hill at the end of July, as people still do on Reek Sunday, and give thanks for the harvest.
- Bake a loaf from new flour and share it.
How they can help you
- gratitude for the harvest
- turning hardship into plenty
- endurance
Symbols
- the bull
- the sheaf
- Croagh Patrick
- standing stones
Whether Crom Dubh of folklore and the idol Crom Cruach are the same figure is debated; the account of sacrifice to Crom Cruach is a monkish story and not to be imitated.
Sources
- The Metrical Dindshenchas
- MacNeill, The Festival of Lughnasa
More Celtic gods
- The Dagda The good god, father of all
- Lugh Master of all the arts
- Cernunnos The antlered one of the wild
- Manannán mac Lir Lord of the sea and the Otherworld
- Aengus The young god of love
- Nuada The king with the silver hand
- Dian Cécht Physician of the Tuatha Dé Danann
- Goibniu Smith of the gods and brewer of the feast