As you can see female characters appear throughout Irish mythology and fulfill a multitude of different roles. They appear as vessels for good and evil, as domestic and warrior figures, and as human women and all-powerful goddesses (Bhrolcháin 1980,13). In each of the stories presented here we can see individual characteristics as well as certain shared qualities.

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In the goddess Morrígan we see an all-powerful being full of vengeful energy with a particular interest in war and battle (Dunlop). However, within the same being we also see the face of Macha, who, although powerful and at times vengeful, is tied most closely to the land. For this reason Macha was a widely revered figure who commanded deep respect. It often happened that when a king took power he would have a ceremonial marriage to the goddess of the land to ensure her favor, and in turn the prosperity of his lands and people. In this example of both tradition and ritual we can see how the values of the people are reflected in figures such as the Morrígan.

 

In Deirdre and Emer we see a significantly different example of female characters and their role in the broader mythology. Both women are renowned mostly for their beauty and other characteristics that recommend them as domestic partners (Ardagh 1998). However, there is a notable emphasis on the intelligence of these characters in each of their stories (Dunlop). This is an important detail and one that prevents them from being valued purely for their sexuality or agreeableness. These two women provide valuable insight both into the more traditional qualities that highly valued women were expected to possess, and also the independence and individuality that they were allowed without being cast aside. 

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Deichtre represents yet another important role, that of a mother (Dunlop). However, the story of Deichtre centers more around her independence and dismissal of societal norms and expectations than anything else. She seems to possess considerable power in her ability to turn herself and her companions into birds, and the fact that she is chosen by a god to bear his child. There is also an interesting dichotomy that arises between her role as a mother, and hence a bringer of life, and the desolation that she brought when she moved with her flock of birds across the land. 

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The final character we have discussed is Scáthach, the fierce warrior woman who lived alone on an isolated island and trained young men in the art of war and battle (Riley 2019). She represents yet another distinct and complex role in the stories. Although she is a mother, this is not a prominent aspect of her identity. She is depicted as a ruthless warrior, unafraid to sacrifice her mentees to fight her battles. Despite her apparent lack of warmth and connection with others, she is still widely respected (Donahue 1941). 

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Although these are only a few characters taken from a rich history of mythological beings and individuals, they represent a wide variety of roles fulfilled by women (O'Connor 1988, 283). We can see in this brief overview those whose stories revolve around their husbands, lovers, or children. However, it is notable that these things don't seem to entirely define them. Even those like Emer, the wife of Cuchulain, and Deichtre, the mother of Cuchulain, have strong and independent personalities as well as a distinct level of autonomy. These things are important in understanding the values and beliefs of the people who created and relayed these stories throughout Ireland's history, as folklore tends to represent the people who practice it (Simms and Stephens 2011).