She prowls around with her three equally evil sons Dub (darkness in Irish), Dother (evil), and Dain (violence), and their mission is always to cause destruction and devastation. Today, she is remembered yearly in a festival that marks the start of harvest in Leinster in Irelands Great East. Here are some of these Irish mythological creatures, and their origin stories that you may not have heard of. Dearg-due, an Irish name meaning red blood sucker, is a female demon that seduces men and then drains them of their blood. The Leanan Sidhe appear to these hapless souls, offer inspiration by asking them to be her lover. The Reading: Connect with your Spirit Guides, Akashic Records, Higher-Self, etc. This beast appears not only in the legends of King Arhtur, but also in Edmund Spensers epic tale The Faerie Queene, which in part, tackles the troubled relationship between England and Ireland in the 16th century. In the guide below, youll discover 32 Irish mythological creatures along with some snappy information on each one. Demonic one-eyed God of Death and evil King of the Fomorians. The Gods told us to do it. #oc #beckandkip #mermaid #merrow #sunset #ocean #aesthetic #digitalart #digitalillustration #illustration #art #artistsoninstagram #lgbtq, A post shared by Katie (@elentori) on Mar 11, 2020 at 8:26am PDT. Dad forced her into an arranged marriage with a rich man who treated her terribly, and eventually, she commits suicide. Banshees can also take the form of a crow, stoat or weasel which are known to be associated with witchcraft. They believed in a life after death, for they buried food, weapons, and ornaments with the dead. They say these mythical water horses are often spotted in Scotland, but they are part of Irish folklore as well. Hmm. This mischievous little fella is said to bring either good or bad fortune and it can appear in various animal forms, though he always wears a dark coat. These were a race of gigantic warriors who liked nothing better than to invade somewhere, pillage it and then gloat horribly. Dearg Due - the Irish vampire. The Dullahan rides a black horse with flaming eyes, while he carries his severed head under one arm. Hi, Im Christine a full-time traveler and career woman. I think the one I be most terrified in was The Dearg Due because I had been livin in that same village. Many of these myths were suppressed by Roman conquerors, with their first widespread recordings dating from the early medieval period. The original Dearg Due is said to have been a beautiful lords daughter who fell in love with a peasant. As with Dearg-due, to prevent the undead Leanan Sidhe from rising, one must put a cairn of stones over her resting place. As is the case with many tales from Irish folklore, the story behind some of these creatures differs, depending on whos telling it. The merrow is said to be half fish (from the waist down) and half beautiful woman (from the waist up) and, according to legend, is friendly and modest. and when the villagers forgot, I put the stones on her grave. These Celtic folklore creatures can be very protective and can appear in a form of either beautiful or grotesque creatures. In Irish folklore, these elf-like creatures are tricksters who cannot be trusted and will deceive you whenever possible. [5], Samuel Hibbert, an antiquarian of the early nineteenth century, considered the component nuck of the nuckelavee's name to be cognate with both the Nick in Old Nick, a name sometimes given to the Devil of Christian belief, and with the Latin necare, to kill. The Celtic deities are known from a variety of sources such as written Celtic mythology, ancient places of worship, statues, engravings, religious objects, as well as place and personal names. The God of Death would provide his Fomori with victims, but the evil race was left to their own devices when Balor was killed by his son Lug, who shot him with a slingshot. Ask away in the comments section. They can also take the form of a dark eagle, some boogeyman character, or goblin. Celtic. The Irish demon would sometimes transform into a handsome man to lure women to its trap, but a telltale sign that it was a kelpie was if that man had kelp in its hair. The tale of the Abhartach is one thats hard to debunk, and many believe that its real. In the section below, youll find Celtic creatures that have graced many a battlefield and that are known to be skilled warriors. These airborne shrieking demons may have had a goat-like appearance and were associated with violence and death. In Christian demonology, he is a Marquis of Hell and rules 40 infernal legions. Rather than directly suck the blood of her victims, Leanan Sidhe got creative, and collected their blood in a giant red cauldron, which was the source of her beauty and artistic inspiration. On This Day: Arthur Guinness, founder of the Dublin brewery, died in 1803. Sporting one eye and a single gigantic leg, the evil creature was King of the Fomori, demons who lived in the dark depths of lakes and seas. One of the most recognizable Celtic creatures, having made a guest appearance in Darby OGill and the Little People and all, the Banshee is a female spirit whose wail, if heard outside of a house, foretells the death of one of its inhabitants. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The demon slid down a mountain away from the saint, but Patrick spotted her, and chased her down upon the fastest horse in Ireland, which was brought to him. Celtic mythology is the collection of stories and folklore from various ancient Celtic cultures like the Irish, the Welsh, and the Gauls. Ladies, take note if meet a guy with seaweed on his head, dont go home with him! I think the one I'd be more afraid to see would have to be The Far Darrig,because of it seems that he like's to play his food be for he attacks his prey and finish him/her off and that why I feel afraid of The Far Darrig, also could you give facts about why it is a myth. Everybody sits in the jail of his own thoughts. The Leprechaun is arguably the best known of the many Celtic creatures mainly due to its association with Ireland and the quirky tale attached to it. The latest Core Spirit news, articles, and products, sent straight to your inbox. She would make the artist her lover, sharing with them her intelligence, creativity, and magic, but when she left, the men would be so depressed, they'd die. But he usually kept it closed to avoid tripping over dead . An omen of death, just like the banshee, the Dullahan is the Irish headless horseman. Ireland Travel Guides was born because of this passion and hopefully, in some little ways, this website will be able to help you on your next trip to Ireland. Sometimes they wear white, and other times they are adorned in grey or black. Cat sth This mythological creature is seen mainly in Scottish folklore, although does make an appearance in Irish. Often named Titanian or Mab, she is often described as both seductive and beautiful. The m. yeah I was a very tired lad. The Leanan Sidhe will then take their dead lover back into her lair, collect their blood into a cauldron, which is the source of her youth, beauty, and artistic inspiration. Fairies are easily the best known of the many Irish folklore creatures, and theyre presences has been seen in everything from Disney movies to video games. The Cwn Annwn are the hunting dogs of Arawn, Lord of the Otherworld and are associated with the Welsh form of the Wild Hunt. She has a wide range of interests ranging from ancient cultures and mythology to Harry Potter and gardening. The only way to stop him was to kill him again, and to bury him vertically and upside down. He used to own a cool bronze boat with a tin sail. The Abhartach, Balor of the Evil Eye, The Banshee and The Dearg Due. Were Irelands Viking invaders high on hallucinogenic herbal tea? The fearless Failinis was one of a number of Celtic mythology animals that could go toe-to-toe with the fiercest of warriors. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Several versions of the Banshee legend say the feared ghost rode alongside the Dullahan in a black cart drawn by six black horses. [14] It was often found in the vicinity of a beach, but would never come ashore if it was raining. Here are some notable demons from Celtic mythology: Cwn Annwn (Welsh hellhounds): Yes, they really do exist outside of the TV show, Supernatural (great show, by the way. Of course, you can also catch a glimpse of these Lucky Charm mascots and [], Ireland Bucket List: 50+ Top Things To Do In Ireland For 2021 - Ireland Travel Guides, [] is a nationwide celebration where people usually dress up as Leprechauns. Just like vampires, the Abhartach walked the land at night, killing folks and drinking their blood. Photo by Valery Sidelnykov (Shutterstock). [4] The same demon is called a mukkelevi in Shetland, where it was considered a nasty sea-trow or sea-devil. These spirits come from the west, flying in groups like flocks of birds, and try to enter a house where someone is dying to take away that persons soul. The Celtic variant of mermaids, merrows have human feet instead of tails but their feet are flat and have webbed fingers to help them swim better. Irelands most popular baby names of 2022 - by county! If a human finds and hides these items, the merrow must agree to be his wife. Some Irish families would keep their west-facing windows shut at all times to keep the Sluagh out of their homes. [2] Variant spellings, or readings, of the name Esus in the manuscripts of Lucan include Hesus, Aesus, and Haesus. The beasts constant cry was said to sound like the bark of 30 dogs. It could be a cap or a cape. Instead, they wander around, carrying their rotting flesh from village to village, asking strangers for food. The name Fomoire may mean demons from below (the sea), and their leader Balor had one huge deadly eye. A post shared by Alison Johnstun (@alisonjohnstun) on Mar 17, 2020 at 10:24pm PDT. She holds a Masters degree in Linguistics and Education, and has also studied Political Science, Ancient History and Literature. A well-known section in Lucan 's Bellum civile (61-65 CE) refers to gory sacrifices offered to a triad of Celtic deities: Teutates, Hesus (an aspirated form of Esus), and Taranis. He just keeps on riding, the horse keeps on running but when they stop a human dies. Like many Celtic creatures, the Merrow has incredible powers, and it is able to reside on land or at the depths of the ocean. These ancient Irish monsters and demons have been terrifying the public since the dawn of Celtic mythology, especially at Halloween. The evil fire-spitter drowned in the ocean, leaving a swell behind that created the famous Hawks Well. The interesting bit to this story is that the lovers of Leanan sdhe were said to have lived inspired lives. Who is the Morrigan? The scariest monsters and demons from Celtic mythology. The Pooka is a different but equally terrifying mythological horse. No, it wont kill her, but at least youll hold her off until next year! Descriptions of her appearance vary, from an ugly old hag to a beautiful young woman, but all agree that the creatures blood curdling wail will be heard three times before someone dies. These replacement babies are said to cry all day and all night, to grow into ugly and deformed people, and to cause bad luck to the adopted family. The creature can take on multiple shapes, but usually, it appears in the form of a horse. The Celtic culture has always feared an array of evil forces. Specific dates are not given for exactly when Traill Dennison gathered the tales but his various transcripts were published between 1880 and 1894. The leanan sidhe would approach such people in their most desperate time when they are looking for inspiration. The Gancanagh was known to seduce both men and women with what were said to be addictive toxins that emitted a powerful, alluring scent. [15], No tales describe what form the nuckelavee takes when in the sea,[4] but its appearance on land has been recounted in graphic detail. These small faeries usually wear red caps and coats and, similar to the Clurichaun, love to play practical jokes on humans. Here, you'll find everything from hike and drive guides to funky places to stay and more! Ancient mythology about african gods and godesses, Quantum Physicists Prove Gods Existence. The Questing Beast, known to be quick, was hunted down by many a knight, and in Celtic myth was chased by King Pellinore, an Arthurian character. Dullahan the Irish headless horseman, 8. The Fear Gorta is a Celtic creature that takes the form of a tired and weather beating man, who begs for food. In essence, the Fear Gorta myth served to teach people to always be kind and generous, even to those who seem unappealing to them. Scholars have traced his origins back to various figures from the Celtic tradition, but he is most closely associated with the early Welsh Myrddin. Omissions? Unfortunately, that is not uncommon given how often people take them for Far Darrig or other malevolent creatures. Its like the Pooka, to an extent, in that it plays jokes on people, but thats where the similarities end. [14] Seaweed burning to create what was known at the time as kelp began on Stronsay in 1722. In Ireland, there are those who claim to be descendants of merrows who were caught by fishermen in their nets. Check out those lists here: Dani Rhys has worked as a writer and editor for over 15 years. The Gaels inhabited Ireland and parts of western Scotland. In a nutshell, this is one of a number of Irish folklore creatures that closely resemble people that youll find in towns and villages across the world. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. He collects gold and hides them in a pot at the end of the rainbow. As the demon approached, he jumped out from his hiding spot and banished her from Ireland with a single word. They can also speak the human tongue and use that skill to lure travelers or farmers in the night. There are stories that say the Dullahan throws blood at people he passes or announces the name of the person thats about to die. [], 30 Best Things To Do In Dublin, Ireland - Ireland Travel Guides, [] Museum, contrary to other museums, is specifically for those who are interested to know more about Irish folklore, mythology, and legends. The one sure-fire way to deal with a Far Darring is to say out loud You will not mock me! before they manage to trap you. We have created separate sub-sections for Irish Mythology, Welsh Mythology, Mythology of the Gauls and the Mythology of the Ancient Britons. Dearg-due, an Irish name meaning "red blood sucker," is a female demon that seduces men and then drains them of their blood. The nuckelavee is kept in confinement during the summer months by the Mither o' the Sea, an ancient Orcadian spirit, and the only one able to control it. A female spirit from Irish mythology, the Banshee can appear in many forms. [10] Dennison transcribed much of the information available about traditional tales told on Orkney, but to an extent romanticised and systematically altered certain elements of the stories in the process of transforming them into prose. She was then forced to marry a rich man. [11][b], The nuckelavee is a mythical sea-creature that appears as a horse-like demon when it ventures onto land. IrishCentral has hunted down the ten most frightening of these Celtic and Irish demons and monsters: Yes, Dracula himself is an Irish creation (Irishman Bram Stoker created the monster in his masterpiece novel), but theres also a vampire that resides right smack in the middle of Ireland. The sons were driven across the sea, while Carman was imprisoned and eventually died of grief. No, it wont kill her, but at least youll hold her off until next year! [4] The male torso has no legs, but its arms can reach the ground from its position on top of the equine body, the legs of which have fin like appendages. The Dullahan the Irish headless horseman, Another legendary Irish monster is the Dullahan, a name that can be translated to dark man.. Watch it at Netflix ). Some regions say its a red-feathered cap that gives them their water magic, while others claim that its a sealskin cape. Another snake-like evil Celtic creature is the Questing Beast, a monster with the head of a snake, the body of a leopard, the backside of a lion and the hooves of a deer. Take a look inside Dublin's most stylish townhouse, Number 31. She chased the Cu Chulainn one day but lost her footing while crossing the sea stacks [], 10 Best Museums in Dublin, Ireland - Ireland Travel Guides, [] to its smallest and most detailed gardens, these museums will not only showcase Dublin and Irelands hidden folklore and history but also inspire people to love and preserve the untold beauty of the emerald []. This rich man treated her terribly and she eventually committed suicide. Last updated in October 2022. Merrow-men, on the other hand, are said to be hideous and ugly. Though theyre not so much demons, Sluagh are scary creatures that hunt down souls. In old Irish folk tales, Glas Gaibhnenn was a magical cow with green spots that could produce endless supplies of milk for its owners. Years later, she rose from the grave and started wandering across Ireland, punishing men by taking their life force away. The Daoine Maithe are the fairy folk in Irish mythology. [5] Islanders were terrified of the creature and would not speak its name without immediately saying a prayer. on her? We usually associate vampires with Romania, as the inspiration of Bram Stokers Dracula was likely Vlad the Impaler. Dearg-due means "red bloodsucker," and in Irish folklore, it refers to a female demon that seduces men and then sucks and drains them of their blood. Those who werent repulsed by the protruding bones and blueish skin of the walking dead and gave them food, were rewarded with prosperity and wealth. In this guide, we tell the story of this Celtic mythological creature, and offer insight into where in Ireland it roamed (and where its now buried). The demon slid down a mountain away from the saint, but Patrick spotted her and chased her down upon the fastest horse in Ireland, which was brought to him. Dearg-due, an Irish name meaning "red blood sucker," is a female demon that seduces men and then drains them of their blood. My program Nelum: The First Step Toward Wellness will re-launch on September 6! The druids, the early Celtic priesthood, taught the doctrine of transmigration of souls and discussed the nature and power of the gods. Updates? A post shared by Tami Wicinas (@twicinas) on Oct 10, 2019 at 11:59pm PDT. ; Branwen, Welsh goddess of love and beauty; Cliodhna, Irish goddess, sometimes identified as a goddess of love and beauty. The faeries are a huge part of Irish folklore and are split into two categories. They occupied Ireland before the current inhabitants, the Milesians, or the final race to settle in Ireland. The Leanan sdhe was known to spark up relationships with humans. One of the most common questions we get in relation to Irish mythology revolves around Irish Mythological Creatures (or Celtic mythological creatures). The malevolent monster had only one eye and a single huge leg, yet it held the title of . The Irish version of zombies, the Fear Gorta are not your typical, dumb, brain-eating monsters. The Muckie was a mysterious Irish mythical creature thats said to inhabit the Lakes of Killarney in Ireland, earning it comparisons with Scotlands Lough Ness Monster. Many view them as a type of fairy, which is logical in a sense as the word banshee comes bean sidhe or fairy woman in Gaelic. Below is a list of demons and demoness names from theology, mythology, and demonology worldwide. British folklorist Katharine Briggs called it "the nastiest"[1] of all the demons of Scotland's Northern Isles. Dad forced her into an arranged marriage with a rich man who treated her terribly, and eventually she commit suicide. The most famous myths about leprechauns claim that they have pots of gold hidden at the end of rainbows. Some say the Sluagh is the Irish version of the Wild Hunt, a European folktale about ghostly hounds or spirits traveling around in packs foretelling of death and disaster. The pair is said to whip the horses with a human spinal cord. This beast appears not only in the legends of King Arthur but also in Edmund Spensers epic tale The Faerie Queene, which in part, tackles the troubled relationship between England and Ireland in the 16th century. They spoke Hispano-Celtic languages. I could also sha. All in one Mobile App. Aibell is one of a number of Irish mythology creatures that uses music to defeat their enemies. Riding a black horse and covered with a black cape, the Dullahan roams the fields at night. Morrigan is a demon in the series. However, when a merrow finds her cap or cape again, she is overtaken by the desire to return to the water and leave her husband and children. Failinis was a dog who fought in many battles. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Photo by Ververidis Vasilis/shutterstock.com. A supernatural being with long snouts and skinny tails, the Far Darrig are actually closely related to leprechauns in Irish mythology. Our next creature, the Dullahan, is a faerie that youd struggle to describe as happy, as it takes the form of a headless rider on a black horse. We are your one-stop travel website for all things Ireland. You may have heard of leprechauns, fairies and banshees, and other folklore characters that tell intriguing stories and origins.