Also called Tlachtgha.
Their story
Tlachtga was the daughter of the druid Mug Ruith. The Dindshenchas says she travelled with her father to learn magic, and was raped by the three sons of Simon Magus, her father's teacher. She returned to Ireland, bore three sons and died on the hill that took her name. The Hill of Tlachtga, now the Hill of Ward in County Meath, was the place of a great fire festival at Samhain in medieval tradition.
Best times to give to them
- Samhain
- Samhain eve
What they like being given
- a safely kept candle or bonfire
- bread
- a moment of silence for those who have suffered
How to honour them
- Light a candle on Samhain eve and let it stand for the great fire lit on her hill.
- Visit the Hill of Ward near Athboy, County Meath, if you can.
How they can help you
- courage after trauma
- Samhain rituals
- finding strength
Symbols
- the Hill of Ward
- the Samhain fire
- the fiery stone
Much of the detail about Samhain fires at Tlachtga comes from Keating's seventeenth-century history rather than earlier texts.
Sources
- The Metrical Dindshenchas
- Keating, Foras Feasa ar Éirinn
More Celtic goddesses
- Brigid Keeper of the sacred flame
- The Morrígan Great Queen of battle and prophecy
- Danu Mother of the Tuatha Dé Danann
- Rhiannon The queen on the white horse
- Cerridwen Keeper of the cauldron of inspiration
- Epona Great Mare, protector of horses
- Arianrhod Lady of the silver wheel
- Airmed Keeper of the healing herbs