Women

Written by EltonJ

Titania sleeping in the moonlight protected by her fairies by John Simmons

Women in Celtic society were the equals of men. There wasn't a divide for Celtic women, they were considered to be equals. There was certainly different jobs for men and women. Also, being the wife of a warrior Celt meant that she stayed home to look after the children. But even such a man would take counsel from his wife.
In the Celtic cycles, there were stories of women who were strong. This included Queen Maeve of Connachta and Riannon of Dyfed. There are also examples from history. Such as Boudicea and Cartimandua, who were real Celtic warrior women. They were queens who led their people against the Romans. On the other hand, there were plenty of women who did what their families would tell them to do.  Like in the story of King Lear, where he had two daughters who would do what he told them.
However, there are stories of Queens in the Irish cycles that wielded power.  Queen Maeve absolutely ruled the kingdom of Connachta.  While her husband was king, everyone knew who actually was the ruler.  Although her daughter, Finavir, had no objection to marry anyone who could defeat Cu Chulainn.
There were female bards, however.  Some females even could have become druids in their own right.  Like Birog, who saved Lugh's life.  Although the most impressive were fighting women. Skya was the best woman fighter in all of Eriu and Cymru, and she retired to set up a fighting school on the Isle of Skye in order to train the next generation.  Buannan was another woman martial artist that retired to set up a school to train new warriors. Cu Chulainn's mother, Deichtira, was a charioteer for King Connor of Ulster before Cu Chulainn's birth.  Also, there was Ayfa who was the sister of Skya, who was nearly the equal of Cu Chulainn's warrior might.
Despite the mythic cycles, there was no evidence on how many women were trained to fight, to be bards, or were druids. Warrior women were not disapproved of, or indeed not seen as out of the ordinary.  As reports came in on how many women would fight, the Roman historians were surprised to say the least.  After all, there were Irish records of women who were fighting alongside men in the Dark Ages.