Aengus Óg

The Young God

Aengus Óg—the "Young Son" or "Youthful Strength"—is the Irish god of love, youth, and poetic inspiration. Forever young and beautiful, he represents the eternal renewal of passion and creativity. His four magical birds, said to be kisses transformed, fly above lovers' heads, inspiring tender words.

The Dream of Caer Ibormeith

The most famous tale of Aengus tells of his lovesickness for a woman he saw only in dreams. For a year he languished, growing pale and weak, until his mother Boann and father the Dagda searched all Ireland for this dream-maiden. She was Caer Ibormeith, daughter of a king of Connacht, who spent alternate years as a woman and as a swan. Aengus found her at the Lake of the Dragon's Mouth on Samhain, when she was in swan form among 150 other swans. He called to her, and she agreed to come with him if he took swan shape himself. Together they flew to Brú na Bóinne, their singing so beautiful it put all who heard it to sleep for three days and nights.

Master of Brú na Bóinne

Aengus won the great passage tomb of Newgrange (Brú na Bóinne) from his father through clever wordplay. When the Dagda divided the síd mounds among the gods, Aengus was away and received nothing. He asked his father if he might stay at Brú na Bóinne "a day and a night." The Dagda agreed—but in Irish, "lá agus oidhche" also means "all days and nights," and Aengus claimed the mound forever.

Protector of Lovers

Aengus intervenes in the affairs of mortal lovers, most notably Diarmuid and Gráinne. When Diarmuid eloped with Gráinne (betrothed to Fionn mac Cumhaill), Aengus sheltered them and gave Diarmuid his cloak of invisibility. He remained Diarmuid's protector until the hero's death by boar, after which Aengus took his foster-son's body to Brú na Bóinne and breathed life into it each day so they could converse.