The Wailing Woman
The Banshee haunts Irish folklore as a harbinger of death – a supernatural woman whose mournful cry announces that someone in the household will soon die. Her keening wail echoes through the night, striking terror into those who hear it while serving a strangely protective purpose.
Origins and Etymology
The name Banshee derives from the Irish bean sidhe, meaning woman of the fairy mound. These spirits belong to the aos si – the supernatural race inhabiting the ancient burial mounds of Ireland. Each old Irish family had its own Banshee, attached through generations.
Appearance
Descriptions vary widely. Some portray her as a beautiful young woman with long silver hair. Others describe a withered hag with a skeletal face and hollow eyes. She typically wears white or grey, sometimes appearing as a washerwoman scrubbing bloodstained clothes at a ford – the clothing of those about to die.
The Death Cry
The Banshees keening resembles traditional Irish funeral laments but carries supernatural power. Those who hear it know death approaches. The cry might come from outside windows, from the darkness beyond firelight, or seem to emanate from everywhere and nowhere at once.
Family Connections
Traditionally, Banshees attached to the oldest Gaelic families – the Os and Macs. Multiple Banshees might wail together for the death of a great personage. Some families considered their Banshee a protective ancestor spirit rather than an omen to fear.
Modern Interpretations
The Banshee remains central to Irish supernatural tradition and appears throughout modern horror media. She represents the thin boundary between life and death in Celtic spirituality.
