5 Irish legends
The Banshees
The Banshee is one of the most striking figures in Irish folklore. A messenger from the world of the dead, she is said to herald an imminent death with her bloodcurdling scream, similar to a heart-rending wail.
Her appearance varies depending on the story: sometimes she is a ghostly old woman with long white hair and an empty gaze, dressed in rags that seem to float in the air; sometimes she is a woman of bewitching beauty, disturbing in her mystery; or even a nocturnal animal, like a raven.
What is most frightening about the Banshee is her cry. More than just a scream, it is a supernatural lament, a blood-curdling moan of pain. Legend has it that hearing it is enough to turn the hair of those who encounter it white. But above all, this cry is an omen: it heralds the imminent death of a loved one.
The vampire Abhartach
Ireland also has its own vampire figure: Abhartach, a clan chief who was as cruel as he was feared. Tyrannical and violent, he spread terror among his subjects.
One day, a warrior named Cathain arrived in the village. The desperate villagers begged him to free them from Abhartach's oppression. Cathain took up the challenge, confronted the bloodthirsty chieftain, and pierced him with his sword before burying him. But what should have been a deliverance turned into a nightmare: Abhartach returned from the dead, driven by an insatiable thirst... for blood.
Cathain killed him again, but each time, the vampire chieftain was resurrected. Powerless, the people turned to a druid, who revealed the only way to get rid of him: pierce Abhartach with a sword made of yew wood, then bury him upside down to prevent him from rising from his grave.
This dark legend, deeply rooted in Irish folklore, is said to have inspired Bram Stoker to create his mythical character: Dracula.
Jack O’Lantern
This is the story of a man condemned to wander for eternity, lost between the world of the dead and the world of the living.
He was called Stingy Jack, a cruel and miserly drunkard, known as much for his wickedness as for his love of alcohol. His reputation became so dark that even the Devil heard about him and decided to come and get him. One night, he found him staggering down an alley. Jack, clever and cunning, refused to follow him immediately. He suggested that the Devil join him for one last drink. The Devil agreed, but when it came time to pay, Jack pretended he had no change. The Devil then transformed himself into a sixpence coin to pay the bill. Jack immediately slipped the coin into his pocket, next to a small silver cross. Trapped by this sacred contact, the Devil could no longer return to his original form. Jack only released him in exchange for a promise: not to bother him for ten years.
Ten years later, the Devil returned to keep his word. Jack, still as cunning as ever, asked for one last favor: to pick an apple for him. When the Devil climbed the tree, Jack drew crosses all around it, preventing him from climbing down. Cornered, the Devil had to give in once again: he would never again try to take Jack's soul.
But when Jack died, his soul was rejected at the gates of Heaven, unworthy of entry. Rejected also by Hell, where the Devil, resentful, refused to welcome him, Jack found himself condemned to wander forever in darkness. Before chasing him away, the Devil threw him a burning ember from the flames of Hell. Jack placed it in a hollowed-out turnip to light his way.
Since then, it is said that he roams the night without rest, having become Jack of the Lantern, or Jack-o'-Lantern, condemned to wander between two worlds.
The Dullahan
The Dullahan is a mischievous and terrifying spirit, known for his taste for macabre games. He removes his own head and uses it as a trophy or a sinister toy. His mouth forms a twisted and frightening smile; He usually travels on horseback, whipping his mount with a whip made of human vertebrae, and sometimes he arrives pulling a cart riddled with bones.
To take a life, he simply stops his horse and whispers the name of his victim, who immediately collapses, struck down by a supernatural force. The Dullahan detests being looked at, so if you dare to observe him, he may spray you with blood or throw his bone whip in your face.
However, he has a surprising weakness: gold. A precious and costly offering, but effective in keeping him away.
The Merrow
Merrows can be male or female, and their appearance differs greatly depending on their gender. Females are captivatingly beautiful, while males are hideous and terrifying. They are easily recognizable by their red feathered hats, which allow them to live underwater like real mermaids.
If this hat is removed, the Merrow is doomed to wander the earth and, according to some legends, to turn into a cow. These creatures are also considered to be bringers of misfortune: encountering a Merrow can cause violent storms for fishermen, herald imminent death, or bring a curse upon those who meet them.
Article written by Clervie P.
