The Cailleach (pronounced "kye-luhkh") is one of the more fascinating, more powerful, and sometimes more terrifying of the Celtic goddesses. The Cailleach is said to be ancient:

"I give you the branch", said the crow to the old woman; "you are as old as the old grandmother, long ago, who ate the apples. . ."

Her reign begins on Samhain known today as Halloween. She is a bringer of snows, death, and sharp storms. On Samhain the Cailleach leaves her mountians and walks the Land. The Cailleach then proceeds to "wash her plaid". Her plaid represents the Land. When the Cailleach is done the plaid is white and the Land is covered with snow. She is said to ride on the back of a wolf carrying a wand made of human skin, that She uses to strike down all signs of growth. Behind Her follows cold winds, blizzards, and ice.

The Cailleach is not just a goddess of destruction. Various mountains, lakes, and burial cairns in both Ireland and Scotland were said to have been created by Her and to be Her home. Cairns and mountains are said to have been created from stones dropped from Her apron as She wandered the Land. One story says that on one of Her outings a young man got below Her and tickled Her "where you would expect a young man to tickle Her", whereupon She dropped the rocks in Her apron and created a large group of boulders!

Another aspect of the Cailleach is as protector and steward of wild animals, particularly deer and wolves. It is said She looks after the deer and ensures a healthy herd. The Cailleach was said to speak to hunters telling them where the deer were grazing, and how many they were to kill and when. The old hunters would always keep to Her instructions knowing that something bad would happen if Her words were ignored.

There is a story of two young hunters that did NOT follow Her hunting advice. The Cailleach pointed them in the right direction to hunt and they were able to make a kill of a large Stag. The two then proceeded to drag the heavy Stag on the long journey home. After toiling all the way home they found that the Stag was gone. They told their father of what had happened. "Did you bless the meat as the Cailleach told you?" he asked. When they replied that they had not he said, "Well, if you dont bless the meat, then it's the fairies who get their share!"