To get a good understanding of Irish mythology it is important to understand the series of ‘invasions’ which were thought to have taken place. The Book of the Takings of Ireland, a semi-fictional collection of medieval texts, goes to great lengths to explain the origins of the Irish people as it were believed at the time of writing. These texts are a complex mix of sagas and tales from our old Celtic pagan religion, blended with and heavily influenced by the new Christian beliefs of medieval Ireland.

In the texts, it was said that seven different waves of people came to Ireland, some of which likely have a sliver of truth in their origins and some of which are entirely fictional. These peoples were: the Cessair, Fomorians, Partholonians, Nemedians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha Dé Danann and finally the Milesians. The last two groups are of particular relevance. Tuatha Dé Danann, or their descendants the Aos Sídhe, are regarded as being the gods of old Ireland, while the Milesians are often considered to be the Celts.