Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art
The Dinner Party: Heritage Floor: Tags

Brigid
Mythic, worshipped in Celtic Ireland, beginning circa 600 B.C.Brigid, which means "exalted one," was a Celtic goddess born of the all-powerful god Dagda and wife to one of the mythological Celtic kings. She was a goddess of many... Read more

Cartismandua
Flourished circa A.D. 43–69, northern EnglandCartismandua (Cartimandua) was queen of the Brigantes nation, a tribe of Celtic people in northern England, during the Roman occupation between circa A.D. 43 and 69. Ruling with her husband... Read more

Danu
Mythic, worshipped in Celtic Ireland, beginning circa 600 B.C.The Celtic earth goddess of fertility, health, and prosperity, Danu was the mother of the Tuatha de Danann, the "children of Danu," a people who inhabited Ireland in the second... Read more

Dervorguilla
b. circa 1210, Galloway, Scotland; d. 1290, ScotlandDervorguilla was one of the wealthiest women in Scotland during the thirteenth century, born to the lord of Galloway and married to John, baron of Balliol. In 1263, John was... Read more

Ebba
Date of birth unknown; d. 879, Coldingham, ScotlandEbba the Younger was abbess of the monastery of Coldingham in Scotland. During her tenure, in the late ninth century, the area was continually under seige by the Danes. Legend... Read more

Failge
Date of birth unknown; d. 1451, Killeigh, IrelandThe correct name of this person is MÁIRGRÉAG NÍ CHEARBHAILL. Máirgréag Ní Chearbhaill (Margaret O'Carroll) was an Irish noblewoman and patron of literature and the arts. She was married... Read more

Gormlaith
b. circa 960, County Kildare, Ireland; d. 1030, IrelandGormlaith (Gormflaith) became the third wife of Brian Boru, the High King of Ireland. When he later divorced her, she sought revenge. She encouraged her son from a previous marriage... Read more

Liadain
Reputedly flourished circa 650, IrelandThe ninth-century Irish tale Liadain and Cuirithir recounts the ill-fated romance of two poets. The woman in the tale is Liadain, who meets Cuirithir while traveling around the country on... Read more

Macha
Mythic, worshipped in Celtic Ireland, beginning circa 600 B.C.Macha is the Celtic goddess of war, thought to be one aspect of the tripartite goddess of war and death, Morrigan. Many characters in Celtic mythology carry the name... Read more

Macha of the Red Tresses
Legendary, reputedly flourished circa 300 B.C., Celtic IrelandMacha Mong Ruad ("red tresses" in Gaelic) married the High King of Ireland, Cimbaeth, and then became the sole ruler upon his death, the only woman named in Ireland's list... Read more

Meave
The correct spelling of this name is MAEVE. Maeve is another name for Queen Medb of Connacht. Medb was the legendary Queen of Connacht, a western... Read more

Medb of Connacht
Legendary, Celtic Ireland, exact dates uncertainMedb was the legendary Queen of Connacht, a western Irish province, and daughter of the High King of Ireland, who placed her on the throne. Throughout her life, she had... Read more

Morrigan
Mythic, worshipped in Celtic Ireland, beginning circa 600 B.C.The Celtic goddess of war and death, Morrigan is similar to Alecto of the Furies. Literally "great queen," she is a tripartite goddess with multiple identities. Sometimes she is... Read more

Finola O'Donnel
Flourished late 15th century, IrelandReliable data on Finola (Fionnghuala) O'Donnel is difficult to find. According to the Annals of the Four Masters, an epic chronicle of Irish history, she founded a Franciscan monastery in... Read more

Lady Uallach
Date of birth unknown; d. circa 932/934, IrelandUallach was a famous poet in Ireland. Her death is recorded in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of medieval Irish history written by the monks of Inisfallen Abbey, near... Read more