Exploring the Myths of Ireland’s Legendary Creatures

Ireland is the birthplace of eerie legends and myths that are still told to this day. Irish folklore has its roots in Celtic mythology, which includes tales of mischievous spirits and terrifying monsters. These unforgettable stories have been passed down for generations. 

Today, we look back on the most chilling tales in Irish folklore. To learn more about haunted history and local lore, book a ghost tour with US Ghost Adventures.

What Is The Scariest Creature In Irish Folklore?

There’s some serious competition when it comes to the scariest creatures in Irish folklore. Take for example the Dullahan, the Irish equivalent of the headless horseman who terrifies weary travelers. 

Then there’s the banshee, a wailing woman who warns Irish families of impending doom. From fairies to goblins to vampires, the Irish have no shortage of terrifying tales that make up their rich history.

Banshee

Banshees are known in Irish folklore as being forewarnings of death. The banshee is a supernatural being who appears as a woman that wails, keens, screams, and moans. Some believe that every Irish family has their own banshee who appears before a family death.

In terms of appearance, the banshee typically has long hair that she will brush while wailing. She wears a green dress covered by a gray cloak. The height of banshees varies greatly. Some are only one to four feet tall, while others who have encountered a banshee claim they’re abnormally tall. 

In some forms of Irish folklore, banshees are a relative of the fae folk.

Selkie

The selkie is a shapeshifting creature that can turn itself from a seal into a human. Legends of selkies can be found in Celtic and Norse mythology, with many believing they lived on the Northern Isles of Scotland. The selkies are said to live as seals but shed their skin so they can walk as a human on land. 

There are tales of selkie women who have their skin stolen by human men and are forced to marry them. These selkie women become heartsick for their old life and will return to the sea once they reclaim their skin. In other versions of this lore, the selkie can seduce a human man and even procreate with them.  

Fae Folk

Also known as faerie, fay, and fairy, the fae folk are among Ireland’s most revered mythological creatures. Fae folk are described as being demoted angels, demons, or spirits of the dead. These supernatural beings usually appear to look like humans on a tiny scale.

Fae folk can be mischievous but they can also be dangerous. In olden times, people blamed the fae for death and illness. The fae folk were also known for using ghost lights called will-o’-the-wisps to lead weary travelers astray.

If you want to keep the fae away, consider keeping a four-leaf clover in your pocket or wearing your clothes inside out to ward them off. 

Leprechaun

Although prevalent in pop culture today, stories of leprechauns only started to appear in medieval times. Leprechauns are known as tricksters who are neither good nor evil. 

In the earliest tales of leprechauns, they would wreak havoc on humans only to be captured. The leprechaun would offer three wishes in exchange for their freedom.

The best time to capture a leprechaun is while they’re mending their shoes. Leprechauns are often depicted as shoemakers because they wear theirs out from running around Ireland causing mischief. 

Author William Butler Yeats wrote that the leprechaun’s wealth came from buried pots of gold, which is how that legend started.

Kelpie

The kelpie is a horselike shapeshifting creature that lives in bodies of water. Known in Irish folklore as “each-uisge,” kelpie is the widely used Scottish translation. The kelpie is said to live in rivers and lochs in Ireland and Scotland. 

Long ago, it was rumored that kelpies lived in Loch Ness where another notorious cryptid is said to lurk. Kelpies are not the friendliest creatures to encounter. 

There are legends of the kelpie appearing as a black horse that can extend itself to fit multiple humans on its back. The traditional story goes that the kelpie will trick children into climbing onto its back, and then gallop into the sea and drown them. The guts of the kelpie’s victims will later be found on the shore.

Dullahan

The Dullahan is the headless horseman of Irish folklore. The dullahan rides atop a black horse pulling a coach, using a human spine as a whip, and it is usually seen leaving a cemetery.

Sometimes the dullahan holds his severed head, which he uses to navigate his horse and coach. In an especially gruesome version of the story, the dullahan drives a coach with six headless black horses.

The dullahan appears as a warning of death or impending doom. If the dullahan knocks on your door, do not open it. If you do, he’ll throw a bucket of blood in your face.

Abhartach

As the Irish legend goes, Abhartach was a dwarf who terrorized the townsfolk of Londonderry. Abhartach was eventually slain by a chieftain named Fionn Mac Cumhail, but his story doesn’t end there. 

Abhartach was buried standing up and appeared very much alive the following night. The chieftain killed Abhartach again and buried him, but he rose from his grave a second time.

A druid told the chieftain to kill Abhartach a third time but bury him upside down. This finally brought Abhartach’s reign of terror to an end.

In some versions of this gruesome tale, Abhartach drinks human blood, making him a possible inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and a rare example of vampirism in Irish folklore.

Bánánach

The bánánach is a terrifying creature associated with war and death in Celtic mythology. The bánánach appears as a winged goatlike creature with horns. This preternatural being will let out a blood-curdling shriek as it descends on its enemies.

The bánánach is said to haunt the ancient battlefields of Ireland and act as a harbinger of death and destruction. They can also cause humans to feel immense fear and sadness, which seems reasonable given their appearance.

Thought to be related to goblins, the bánánach appears extensively in the epic Irish sage Táin Bó Cuailgne.

Púca

Púca are ghosts or spirits that are known for causing mischief. They are shapeshifting beings who can appear as horses, goats, cats, dogs, and rabbits. Depending on the púca you encounter, they can bring good luck or misfortune.

Púca were once seen as malevolent entities who would attack travelers. Children were warned not to eat overripe berries since they could become possessed by a púca. 

It’s also not advised to take a ride on a púca. When a human accepts this offer, they’re taken on a wild and dangerous ride. However, the púca can be controlled if the human remembers to wear their spurs, so be prepared.

Changeling

Changelings are found throughout European folklore but are generally tied to fairies in Irish legends. In these tales, changelings are left in place of a human child or adult. 

When fairies kidnap human children, the changeling left in its place might be a fairy child with some sort of abnormality or an elderly fairy who wants to be cared for by humans. The human child could simply be raised by the fairies or be forced into their servitude. 

Irish stories of changelings are unique in that they include the kidnapping of human adults. What makes these legends even more bizarre is the fact that the changeling is usually an enchanted log that other humans perceive as the person the fairies have kidnapped.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Irish folklore offers an array of creatures that range anywhere from delightful to horrific. With each creature being so unique and sometimes horrible, it’s no surprise that their lore has continued to be told for hundreds and thousands of years.

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Sources:

• https://www.britannica.com/topic/banshee
• https://books.google.com/books?id=eLaEAAAAIAAJ&q=selkie
• https://imaginingsofachild.wordpress.com/2018/10/04/a-brief-history-of-faeries/
• https://www.britannica.com/art/leprechaun
• https://wearfolklord.com/blogs/creature-feature/kelpie
• https://irishmyths.com/2021/09/22/headless-horseman-history/
• https://archive.org/details/originhistoryofi00joyc
• https://creatures-of-myth.fandom.com/wiki/B%C3%A1n%C3%A1nach
• https://www.wildernessireland.com/blog/irish-folklore-puca/
• https://www.irishpost.com/life-style/exploring-the-irish-mythology-changelings-170347