Danu

Danu (also called Anu, Dana, or Anann) was the great Earth Goddess who ruled over fertility, prosperity, cattle and health. At Midsummer, great balefires were lit in the hills in her honour. She was mother to other Gods as well as the Tuatha de Danann (whose name means "children of Danu"). To the Welsh, she was called Don and had strong connections with the sea. She represents motherhood, fertility, beginnings, and the cycles of all things.

Even though she had strong mothering qualities, she was considered to be the maiden aspect of the Irish triple Goddess, with Badb (the mother) and Macha (the crone). Danu was both mother and daughter to the Dagda, who was the great father God of the Celts. Her husband is sometimes recorded as Belenus, the God of fire and sun.

Among the Celtic lands, Danu was mainly worshipped in what is now Ireland. As a testament to her fertility, there are two hills still called today, the Breasts of Anu. The Don river and the Danube river in Europe may both have been named for Danu as well. She may also be connected with the Greek / Roman Goddess, Diana.

Though she was the great Mother Goddess, there have been no surviving myths involving her, leaving many gaps in the details about her personality.