Or Eochaid-Ollathair: father of all. He was the ancestor, the wise or all-father. Another of his names was Ruad Ro-fhessa: lord of perfect knowledge.
He was the leader of the Tuatha dé Danann, the god of life and death, the sun, prosperity, thunder, fertility, war, abundance, regeneration, banquets and magic.
He was known as the Good God.
His role was to guard Ireland's prosperity. He was an Irish-Celtic god.
His partners were the Morrigan and Boann. His children were Brigit and Aonghus. His mother was Dan.
He had immortal strength and an enormous appetite. He had an enormous body with a big belly. He wore rawhide sandals.
His magical objects were a huge cauldron of plenty called Undry, the cauldron of regeneration, that never ran out of food and a large club.
He could kill many enemies with one blow of the very large club.
The club had to be transported by wheels because it was so heavy it would need eight men to carry it. He could also restore life with the other end.
He was always depicted with two pigs, one roasting and one growing.
He had a harp with which he could change the seasons for example for the harvest. When he called it would come to his hand.
He was very jovial and had a slightly short tunic. He is often portrayed in a comical manner.
His first union with the Morrigan was by the river Unius in Connacht on the first of November during the feast of Samain. His union with Boann was also on the first of November.
The Dagda was a skilled builder which he showed in the time of the domination by the Fomorians. He was constructing fortresses.
In this time he underwent a ritual on the first of November. He had to eat a big portion of porridge. After the feast he slept with one of the daughters of the Fomorians.
These rituals were held to increase fertility and the well-being of the people.
The Dagda was identified with the Gaelic-Celtic Sucellus and the Welsh Gwydion.