Then she would leave them and make those men so depressed they would die. and when the villagers forgot, I put the stones on her grave. Now the Fomori have returned to their waters and transformed into sea monsters who prey on humans. This destructive witch roamed around with her three evil sons: Dub (darkness in Irish), Dother (evil) and Dain (violence), destroying anything or anyone in their path. Like all fairies, these dogs are more spectral hounds than demonic. Carman is the Celtic goddess of evil magic. The womans husband was terrible to her, so she ended up committing suicide out of sorrow. Balor is the demonic God of Death in Celtic mythology. The Morrigan in Irish/Celtic Mythology The Shapeshifting Goddess of War & Death. The leanan sidhe would seduce them and would offer to be their muse, fueling their creativity by using her magic. These frightening creatures would often fly from village to village, usually in packs, going from west to east. Copyright Symbol Sage 2022 All Rights Reserved. Guess this is one demon you can check off your list of scary creatures to worry about! You may have heard of leprechauns, fairies and banshees, and other folklore characters that tell intriguing stories and origins. Dont worry if you dont know exactly what kind of reading you need. Not to worry, though there is one way to defeat Dearg-due. 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. An evil cousin to the banshee or the bean sidhe, the leanan sidhe is said to be a malicious fairy or demon who seduces aspiring authors and musicians. It is said that the Abhartach was Bram Stokers inspiration for his novel, Dracula. She would share with them her creativity, intellect, and magic. Photo by Kiselev Andrey Valerevich/shutterstock.com. She stands in the shadows of the better-known Abhartach, but shes none the less terrifying, in our opinion. The Dullahan rides a headless black horse with flaming eyes, carrying his head under one arm. There are quite a few Irish clans that even today claim to be descendants from merrows who came to the land centuries ago. One monster, however, managed to escape Caorthannach, the fire-spitter. [3] Traill Dennison only describes a man's head with a "mouth projected like that of a pig". They are both a muse and demon, said to prey on artists, musicians, and writers looking for inspiration. Photo by Khomenko Maryna/shutterstock.com. Just like mermaids, merrows usually live in the water. The Pooka, The Leprechaun, The Fairy Queen and Glas Gaibhnenn. Today, the leprechaun has also become a mascot for St. Patricks Day, as well as a favorite design in Irish souvenirs. Leanan Sidhe the evil Irish fairy-muse. Whats worse, when a Far Farrig kidnaps a baby, they often replace the child with a changeling another horrible mythological creature well mention below. I could also sha. Posted on Published: July 19, 2020- Last updated: September 22, 2022, Drinking Age In Ireland: Drinking Laws And Tips, Dunguaire Castle History And All The Things You Need To Know, Irish Culture And Traditions - Ireland Travel Guides, [] Read more about creatures from Irish folklore here. The Irish word fordemon is "deamhan" and it is certainly well used because Celtic mythology has always feared an array of evil forces, monsters, demons, and ghosts. 2. The name Fomoire may mean demons from below (the sea), and their leader Balor had one huge deadly eye. I think the one I be most terrified in was The Dearg Due because I had been livin in that same village. The Gods told us to do it. Balor can kill someone just by staring at them with his evil eye, so he kept it closed most of the time, so as not to constantly be tripping over dead bodies. [13] Writer and folklorist Ernest Marwick considered it very similar to the Norwegian nkk, the nuggle of Shetland and the kelpie. The pair is said to whip the horses with a human spinal cord. Over the years, Ive heard many different tales about Leanan sdhe. Elln Trechend is known to emerge from a cave and embark on a rampage of destruction in a tale called the Cath Maige Mucrama. He used to own a cool bronze boat with a tin sail. 2. Celtic MythologyCeltic Mythology in ContextAdventure, heroism, romance, and magic are a few of the elements that make Celtic mythology one of the most entrancing mythologies of Europe. Dearg Due - the Irish vampire. Female merrows are very desirable brides as they are said to be stunningly beautiful, as well as rich because of all the treasures theyve collected from the bottom of the sea. According to legend, if you want to silence an Abhartach forever, one must find his crypt. This creature made its abode in Irish streams and rivers and any place where green life grew from water. 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. No, it wont kill her, but at least youll hold her off until next year! The first section of our guide is dedicated to Celtic mythological creatures that veer towards the terrifying side of things. He even calls himself God's messenger on earth. After all, mythology is storytelling at its finest. The Celts were doing alright until Christianity came along. Youve everything from scary Celtic monsters to more gentle, magical beings, below. The evil fire-spitter drowned in the ocean, leaving a swell behind that created the famous Hawks Well. The m. While typically good, the Daoine Maithe can become vengeful if they are mistreated by people. They have human-like legs and huge, flat feet and webbed fingers. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. In Scottish folklore, she is said to be one with the immense ability to influence the weather. Such people would then usually take their own lives. The Daoine Maithe are said to have originated either from fallen angels or they are the descendants of the Tuatha D Danann. Ask away in the comments section. One of the popular spirit names. It is believed that whoever listened to her play would die rather sooner than later. Pca - the Irish Ghost. To stop the Sluagh from invading ones home, people usually kept their westward windows shut. Watch it at Netflix ). The other story says that fairies are from the magical being called Tuatha D Danann. The first of our Celtic mythology creatures is the mighty Abcn. 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. Aos S translates to people of the mound. Take a look inside Dublin's most stylish townhouse, Number 31. It is said that when a banshee is seen or if anyone hears her wails, it means someone is about to die. Photo left: R. de Moraine, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. She lived on Craig Liath and played a magic harp. Alp-Luachra. If youre looking for stories about Irish mythical creatures to tell your kids, then this one is more than suitable! demon Fomoire, also spelled Fomhoire, in Irish myth, a race of demonic beings who posed a threat to the inhabitants of Ireland until they were defeated by the god-race, the Tuatha D Danann. This rich man treated her terribly and she eventually committed suicide. A post shared by Alison Johnstun (@alisonjohnstun) on Mar 17, 2020 at 10:24pm PDT. The Abhartach should then be bound and buried upside down when pierced with a sword of yew. Mythology Bestiary - The incredible Creatures of Celtic Mythology and Folklore - Balor - Kelps - Leprechaun - Selkie - Leanan Sidhe - Banshee - Spriggan - Sl. The only way to stop him was to kill him again, and to bury him vertically and upside down. The Leanan Sidhe is another Irish folklore creature that resembles a vampire. Photo by Shvaygert Ekaterina/shutterstock. 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 druids, the early Celtic priesthood, taught the doctrine of transmigration of souls and discussed the nature and power of the gods. In fact, it was a 3-headed Celtic monster! In Celtic mythology, Balor is the name of the evil version of the god of death. The pursuit was a long one, and Caorthannach knew St. Patrick would need water to quench his thirst along the way, so she spitfire as she fled, and poisoned every well she passed. The Bodach, The Man-Wolves of Ossory, The Sluagh and Bnnach. 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. Caorthannach the Celtic fire-spitter. The beasts constant cry was said to sound like the bark of 30 dogs. The Far Darrig are just as short and also sport some stylish beards. While he was spying on his fathers druids, the noisome vapours of a spell entered his eye. 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. 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. Unlike leprechauns, who just chill in the woods near their pots of gold, the Far Darrig roam around with giant burlap sacks, looking to kidnap people. However, not long after falling in love with Leanan sdhe, its lovers passed away. Merrow-men, on the other hand, are said to be hideous and ugly. If a Merrow wants to walk on land, she must abandon her cap or cape. A country that had been a part of my life since I was 14 because of my love for Irish music and bands. 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. Considered as an omen of death and the fear of every child, the banshee is one of the scariest creatures in Irish folklore. He whipped out an instrument and played soothing music until C Chulainn fell asleep. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Registered individuals enjoy all the possibilities of Core Spirit. You must be wise in making these wishes though because he might trick you. The fairy was a beautiful woman who was said to give inspiration to poets and musicians but at the price of their lives. Some Irish mythology creatures, like the Pooka, have a nice, fun tale tied to them while others, like the Abhartach, are nothing short of terrifying! The ancient Celts had hundreds of deities, but as with most cultures, they had their demons as well. After Celtic lands became Christianised, there were attempts by Christian writers to euhemerize or even demonize most of the pre-Christian deities, while a few others became Saints in the church. If ever you see a soaking wet horse during a hike, best to avoid them and keep walking. Some are normal and beautiful, and those the fairies keep for themselves. 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. Truthfully, he was much less a king than a vengeful protector spirit . Usually black, these mythic horses ride across the fields of Ireland at night, stampede over crops, fences, and peoples properties, they scare farm animals from producing milk or eggs for weeks, and they cause a lot of other mischief along the way. 10. Balor- Celtic Demon King. She controlled the weather and the winds and was popular among many Irish poets. The Leanan sdhe was known to spark up relationships with humans. Another interesting point about them is that if you catch a leprechaun, they can grant you three wishes to let them free just like a genie or many other mythological creatures across different religions. Some versions of this legend say that the Dullahan throws buckets of blood at people he passes, while others say he simply calls out the name of the mortal that will soon die. #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. The kelpie galloped around Ireland, looking like a lost pony, attempting to trick women and children into riding on it. Some of the Celtic monsters were originally gods but were later demonized as pagan creatures when many of the Celts became Christians. yeah I was a very tired lad. Not to be confused with a mermaid or merman, a merrow is an intriguing creature from Irish folklores that are said to live underwater. In this article we will explore Irish monsters and Celtic folklore creatures including: The Leprechaun Creatures similar to the Leprechaun The Banshee The Dullahan - The origin of the headless horseman Changelings The Pca / Pooka - The trickster spirit Failnis - Wolves in Irish folklore Fear Gorta - The Hungry man According to legend, the Sluaghs were angry about their fate and would snatch the soul of anyone with who they cross paths. Right Eye. Hi, Im Christine a full-time traveler and career woman. The Fear Gorta is one of a number of Celtic folklore creatures that emerged during the time of the famine in Ireland. Some myths say that they are the descendants of fallen angels and others that they are the children of the Tuatha De Danann, the peoples of the goddess Danu who first came to Ireland. The Abhartach, Balor of the Evil Eye, The Banshee and The Dearg Due. 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. The pursuit was a long one, and Caorthannach knew St. Patrick would need water to quench his thirst along the way, so she spit fire as she fled, and poisoned every well she passed. But he usually kept it closed to avoid tripping over dead . More often than not they would try to invade peoples homes and attack older, dying people as they were an easier score. The scariest monsters and demons from Celtic mythology | Core Spirit Read Books Error 403: unknown fetch error Back Home 403 Home Booking Appointments Relieve Stress Cope with Anxiety Eat Healthier Talk to a Psychologist Change Your Life with Coaching Look Into the Future Try Energy Healing Origin: Celtic Role: Goddess Symbol: Crow Husband: Dadga, possibly Children: Possibly Adair Other Names: Morrigu, Morgane, Morrighan Who Is The Morrigan? 8. Marrow-men are horribly ugly male sea-creatures, while the females or the Merrows are absolutely beautiful. Said to be the scariest type of fairy in Irish folklore, the Pooka are primarily creatures of the night. Some stories represent the creature with the form of a vulture, while others describe it as a fire-breathing dragon. A person is a piece of the entire called by us Universe, a section restricted in existence. The Banshee is one of the better-known of the many Irish mythological creatures / Irish monsters, mainly due to the popularity of storytelling in Irish culture. In common with many other sea-monsters, it is unable to tolerate fresh water, therefore, those it is pursuing have only to cross a river or stream to be rid of it. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The product soda ash was an alkali mainly used to treat acidic soil,[5][14] although as time went on its commercial importance in soap and glass manufacture increased. Balor - Celtic demon king. My program Nelum: The First Step Toward Wellness will re-launch on September 6! These evil creatures are said to appear to weary travelers, enticing them for a ride. And you cant mention the fairies without first introducing the fairy queen. 1. In exchange, the Fear Gorta (also often referred to as man of hunger) offers fortunes to those that offer assistance or kindness. Banshees can also take the form of a crow, stoat or weasel which are known to be associated with witchcraft. A race of supernatural giants, Fomorians are often described as hideous-looking monsters who came from the sea/underworld. Elln Trechend was a true Celtic monster. These airborne shrieking demons may have had a goat-like appearance and were associated with violence and death. Omissions? 10. Another legendary Irish monster is the Dullahan, a name that can be translated to dark man.. In Irish folklore, Bnnach are a supernatural race that were known to haunt battlefields. People tend to view faeries as happy little Irish mythological creatures that possess a variety of magical powers. Photo by Ververidis Vasilis/shutterstock.com. The Irish symbol of luck, leprechauns are probably the most famous Celtic mythological creature. The Gaels inhabited Ireland and parts of western Scotland. Her name literally translates as "Red Bloodsucker" and she's said to lure men by seducing them in the night before biting them and sucking away their blood. I see nothing about Beag- also called Bec, the keeper of a magical well. He just keeps on riding, the horse keeps on running but when they stop a human dies. British folklorist Katharine Briggs called it "the nastiest" of all the demons of Scotland's Northern Isles.The nuckelavee's breath was thought to wilt crops and sicken livestock, and the creature was held responsible for droughts and epidemics on land . 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. Leanan Sidhe would then take her dead lovers back to her lair. Abbadon, (Christian Origin) comes from Christian demonology. Celtic. Balor can kill someone just by staring at them with his evil eye, so he kept it closed most of the time, so as not to constantly be tripping over dead bodies. They were pastoral people of Greek or Eastern origin. 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. The final section of our guide to Irish mythological creatures is a bit of a mixed bag. If a human emerges, he will be dragged outside and killed. 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. [14] Marwick also only mentions one head with a single red eye, and he borrows some of Tammas's characterisation by recording the creature's mouth as "like a whale's". Just like vampires, the Abhartach walked the land at night, killing folks and drinking their blood. Hmm. This destructive witch roamed around with her three evil sons: Dub (darkness in Irish), Dother (evil) and Dain (violence), destroying anything or anyone in their path. Like the evilest creatures in Irish folklore though, the Dullahan has a weakness and it is gold. Though the saint was desperately thirsty, he refused to drink from the poisoned wells and prayed for guidance. As with similar malevolent entities such as the kelpie, it possibly offered an explanation for incidents that islanders in ancient times could not otherwise understand. The pungent smoke emitted during the process was believed to enrage the nuckelavee,[5] resulting in a wild rampage of plague, the deaths of cattle and the destruction of crops. Celtic gods and goddesses like Dagda, Danu, the Morrigan, Lugh, and Brigid are the ones whose names may come up more than any others. According to some myths they are witches, according to others these female beings are ghosts. [14] The torso has a large head possibly as much as 3 feet (90 centimetres) in diameter that rolls back and forth. Now, like many Irish mythological creatures, the form of Elln Trechend changes depending on the tale. The Irish demon would sometimes transform into a handsome man to lure women into its trap, but a telltale sign that it was a kelpie was if that man had kelp in its hair. The scientific phenomenon known as Quantum Physics (Quantum Theory) has been discovered and is being widely embraced by many scientific leaders. Their names and attributes varied between languages and locations, with some deities worshipped by all tribes while others were specific to a particular region or people. 12 Fascinating(and Scary) Irish Mythological Creatures, 12 Best Irish BeersThat You Must Try In Ireland, 6. Below is a list of demons and demoness names from theology, mythology, and demonology worldwide. These evil fairies take the shape in black horses, who stampede through fences, crops, and properties, causing damage and destruction. Morrigan, sometimes known as Morrigu, was an Irish goddess of death on the battlefield who help the Tuatha De Danann at . Those that fell victim to his seductive charm ended up passing away not long after. Read More. IrishCentral Staff. IrishCentral has hunted down the 10 most frightening of these Celtic and Irish demons and monsters. Like many Celtic creatures, the Merrow has incredible powers, and it is able to reside on land or at the depths of the ocean. Not to worry, though there is one way to defeat Dearg-due. 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. Whatever the case, a merrow can choose to abandon his or her magical clothes and live on land with humans. On This Day: Arthur Guinness, founder of the Dublin brewery, died in 1803. 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. Ghosts, fairies, goblins - Irish old timers share Halloween memories, The most haunted spots in Ireland to visit this Halloween, How File Na Marbh or 'Feast of the Dead' became Halloween, The scariest Irish spirits and monsters for Halloween, International Irish Coffee Day: The history and recipe of Irish coffee. In Ireland, there are those who claim to be descendants of merrows who were caught by fishermen in their nets. These manuscripts include the Ulster Cycle, the Mythological Cycle, the Fenian Cycle, and the Cycle of the Kings. She was then forced to marry a rich man. Both a muse and a demon, Leanan Sidhe is another one of Irelands mythological vampires. Many of these myths were suppressed by Roman conquerors, with their first widespread recordings dating from the early medieval period. In one story, Abcan gets captured by the great Irish warrior C Chulainn. Another vampire myth in Celtic culture, the Dearg Due is a female demon. [5], The nuckelavee is the most malevolent of the demons in and around the Scottish islands, without any redeeming characteristics. 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. 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 original Dearg Due is said to have been a beautiful lords daughter who fell in love with a peasant.