House of Guinness: Who are Ogma and Dagda? Details from the Netflix series explored

Steven Knight's House of Guinness is ruling Netflix's charts and for all the right reasons. Fans of Knight's Peaky Blinders will enjoy this latest period drama series, which follows the story of the real-life brewing dynasty, set against the backdrop of a tumultuous Ireland.

Set in the wake of Sir Benjamin Lee's death, Arthur and Edward become their family brewery's joint proprietors. Before they gather around to hear their father's will, Aunt Agnes eagerly hopes to inherit something. However, Arthur and Edward shun her, saying that it is unlikely that she will inherit anything from their father's will.

Disappointed, she makes a cheeky remark and questions whether it is already decided which brother will represent 'Ogma' and which brother will represent 'The Dagda'? While Arthur was completely clueless, Edward explained that Ogma and Dagda were two brothers in Irish folklore.

Read on to know more about Ogma and Dagda from House of Guinness.

House of Guinness: Exploring the Irish mythology behind Ogma and Dagda

Like Arthur, we were also baffled by Aunt Agnes' mention of 'Ogma' and 'Dagda' in House of Guinness. However, a history lesson in Irish mythology revealed that Ogma and Dagda were two brothers belonging to the Tuatha Dé Danann, a group of mystical people popular in Irish folklore. Both brothers are now considered deities in Irish and Scottish folklore and have specific roles in the mythology.

Ogma was the 'sun-faced' warrior who was gifted with oratory prowess and immense physical strength. In Scottish mythology, Ogma is revered as the god of poetry, eloquence and writing, who is credited with writing the Ogham script, the first written text in the Gaelic language, spoken by Highlanders in 18th-century Scotland. The honey-mouthed god was considered a champion of language and literature, blessed with highly intellectual powers. In addition to Ogma's literary prowess, he was also a powerful warrior and a formidable war chief.

The second mythical figure mentioned in House of Guinness is Ogma's brother, Dagda, also referred to as Ogma's father in many ancient Irish texts. Dagda is referred to as the chief god in Celtic folklore and is associated with fertility, abundance, wisdom and strength. In ancient texts, Dagda is represented with three things: a magical cauldron of plenty, a harp that controls seasons and a club that balances life and death. Colloquially called the Good God, Dagda was said to be the leader, protector and provider of his people.

How does the Irish mythology of Ogma and Dagda fit into House of Guinness?

While Aunt Agnes' cheeky mention of Ogma and Dagda in House of Guinness was a passing comment and a joke to hide her own disappointment over not inheriting anything, it is symbolic of Arthur and Edward's respective roles in their family.

Arthur Guinness, who was bequeathed half of his father's brewery after his death, eventually sold his shares to Edward and pivoted to a career in politics. In the parliamentary election, Arthur gave a public speech, displaying his impressive oratory and literary skills. Arthur Guinness channels Ogma from the Irish mythology, who used his oratory skills and power of speech to win over the people of Dublin and advance a successful career in politics, which even benefited the Guinness family.

On the other hand, Edward Guinness is the Dagda counterpart in House of Guinness, who is a born leader and provider for his family. Even before his father's death, Edward was involved in the workings of the brewery and took over the family provider's role after Benjamin's death. After buying his brother's shares, he worked hard to make Guinness an even bigger brand and eventually became the richest man in Ireland.

This suggests that the passing reference to Ogma and Dagda deeply mimics Arthur and Edward's respective roles in their family.

You can stream House of Guinness on Netflix.

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