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Dive into the haunting world of the Banshee, the legendary harbinger of death in Irish folklore. In this video, we explore the eerie folktales surrounding th...
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- 263
- Mystic Chronicles
Dive into the chilling world of Irish folklore with this exploration of the Banshee, one of Ireland’s most feared and mysterious spirits.
- 6 min
- Tales of Myth and Magic
Explore the intriguing world of Irish folklore and get acquainted with the enigmatic figure known as the Banshee. This video goes into the age-old myths and ...
- 13 min
- 702
- Gods, Myths & Legends
- So, What Exactly Is A Banshee?
- Etymology
- The Roots of The Legend of The Banshee
- Origins of The Banshee Spirit
- A Quick Overview of Fairies
- Sin and Superstition Surrounding The Banshee Ghost
- The Many Faces and Forms of The Banshee
- Banshees Around The World – Fireside Stories of The Banshee Fairy
- Scottish Bean Nighe
- Somewhere Between Past and Present – The Legend of The Banshee
The Banshee fairy is a female spirit who lives by the river. They can appear as an old hag or a young and beautiful woman. The Banshee was seen as the omen of death and only cried for certain ancient Irish families (with names such as O’Neil, O’Connor, and O’Donnell), often staying near the home of a particular lineage for generations. In Ireland a...
Banshee is derived from the Irish language and is known as Gaelic. She is also called Banshie, Bean Si, Bean Sidhe, and Ban Side, among other name variations. Banshee is comprised of two words in Irish, ‘bean’ and ‘sídhe’, which translates to ‘female fairy’ or ‘woman of the otherworld’. However, some surviving tales and lore of the Banshee come fro...
The Otherworld of Irish mythology can be interchangeable in specific texts as either the realm of the fairyfolk, the land of youth (known as Tír na nÓg), or the afterlife (land of the dead). Because of this, the origin of the Banshees is hard to determine. However, the belief that they were women who died prematurely, tragically or unjustly is wide...
Irish history is full of legends of leprechauns and fearsome warrior kings. These days, the Irish are more well-known for shamrocks, St. Patrick’s Day and our love of brewing Guinness, but that is only the tip of the iceberg regarding our Irish traditions and culture. While it isn’t known for sure, there is evidence that the origin of the Banshee f...
A fairy (fey or fae, collectively known as the wee folk, good folk and people of peace, among other names) is a spirit or supernatural being based on the fae of medieval Western Europeanfolklore and romance. Even in folklore that uses the term “fairy,” there are many definitions of what constitutes a fairy. Sometimes, the term is used to describe a...
In the Middle Ages, some Irish peoplebelieved in the presence of such creatures, who were thought to watch over the noble families of the Emerald Isle. A Banshee fairy would stay close to each family until all of its members passed away and were safely buried. It was believed the Banshee protected the descendants of the original Milesian families, ...
The deeply rooted superstitions surrounding her role in death and mourning kept the legend of the Banshee alive throughout the centuries. As the myth of the Banshee took hold, more contradicting details about the appearance of this ghostly apparition were revealed. Some would see the Banshee as a fearsome old hag, frightful to behold, while others ...
An Eerie Memoir
One of the oldest and best-known stories of the banshee is told in the Memoirs of Lady Fanshaw (Scott’s – Lady of the Lake). As the story goes, in 1642, Sir Richard and his wife, Lady Fanshaw, decided to visit a friend in a baronial castle. A dreadful and piercing cry awoke the regal lady. “Then she beheld in the moonlight a female face and part of her figure hovering at the window.” The apparition continued to exhibit itself for some time and then vanished with two shrieks similar to that wh...
The Mysterious Castle
Set on the northeastern shore of Lough Neagh, Shane’s Castle was a commanding presence for many centuries. Known initially as Eden-duff-carrick, the castle was reinstated to the O’Neill clan by King James in 1607. After this, it became known as Shane’s Castle. In her 1913 book The Story of Belfast and its Surroundings, Mary Lowry cites Shane McBrien O’Neill as the owner who changed the name to Shane’s Castle and gives 1722 as the change date. The O’Neills were, at that time, in possession of...
Since the Scottish name Bean Nighe is derived from the Old Irish language, the fairy washerwoman of Scotland may well be related to the Irish banshee fairy. Yet, the two creatures are different in several details. John Gregorson Campbell was a folklorist who worked in Scotlandin the latter half of the nineteenth century; his work was published post...
Today, the best places to find stories of Banshees are within the Irish and Scottish lore anthologies. Some contemporary authors, such as Terry Pratchett in the novel Reaper Man, use Banshees, but on the whole, the Banshee fairy is not used frequently in modern literature or art. Specific forms of media, however, such as role-playing and video game...
Oct 30, 2023 · “Screaming like a banshee,” MaryMon describes it, and I can almost hear it. A sound like currents of shivers down spines. Cracking silence to shards of sound that slither down eardrums near and far. That’s what the banshee, the wailing woman of Irish folktale, is known for: the sound of her cry.
Mar 2, 2023 · While the origins of the Banshee are shrouded in mystery, her eerie presence has captivated and terrified people for centuries. In this article, we’ll explore the legend of the Banshee, her history, and her enduring legacy in Irish folklore.
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Sep 20, 2024 · A banshee is a supernatural being from Gaelic (a.k.a. Goidelic) Celtic folklore that takes the form of a shrieking—or sometimes singing—woman. Often associated with particular families, banshees warn of the impending death of someone in a household.
