The Paps of Anu (Dá Chích Anann) are twin hills in County Kerry, Ireland, standing at around 694 meters (2,277 feet) and 690 meters (2,264 feet). They are among the most striking sacred landscapes in Ireland, deeply tied to goddess worship, fertility, and ancient rituals.

 

Connection to the Goddess Anu and Danu

 

The name of the hills links them to Anu (Anann), a mother goddess associated with fertility, prosperity, and the land itself. Some traditions equate Anu with Danu, suggesting they are different names or aspects of the same primordial goddess. If you’re working with Danu, the Paps of Anu might be seen as a sacred space connected to her nurturing and life-giving energies.

 

Ancient Rituals and Cairns

 

Atop each hill sits a Neolithic or Bronze Age cairn, possibly ancient burial sites or ceremonial centers. These cairns align with other prehistoric sites, indicating they were part of a sacred landscape used for worship, seasonal observances, or astronomical alignments.

 

Some scholars believe that the Paps of Anu were associated with:

 

Fertility rites, honoring the land’s abundance and the goddess’s life-giving power.

 

Initiatory or spiritual ceremonies, where seekers connected with the divine feminine.

 

Lunar and solar alignments, possibly marking key points in the year like Beltaine and Samhain.

 

 

The Paps and the Sacred Feminine

 

Because of their breast-like shape, the Paps of Anu symbolize the nourishment and protection of the land, much like Danu, who is seen as the mother of the Tuatha Dé Danann (the mythic people of Ireland). If you feel drawn to Danu’s energy, meditating on the imagery of these hills, working with symbols of fertility, or even visiting the site (if possible) could deepen your connection.