If you read our guide to Irish Mythology, youll know that theres plenty of Irish mythological creatures that were known to be fierce in battle. The Irish version of zombies, the Fear Gorta are not your typical, dumb, brain-eating monsters. The other story says that fairies are from the magical being called Tuatha D Danann. [14] The torso has a large head possibly as much as 3 feet (90 centimetres) in diameter that rolls back and forth. Scholars have traced his origins back to various figures from the Celtic tradition, but he is most closely associated with the early Welsh Myrddin. A famous Irish creature that some say teams up with the Dullahan is the Banshee. If a woman hopped on, the monster would then run into the water, drowning its victim, and then would take her to its lair to eat her. Such people would then usually take their own lives. Most Popular Superstitions, 5 Popular Halloween Symbols, Origins, and Traditions, 15 Powerful Symbols of Hope and What They Stand For. [21][22] The nuckelavee was said to have infected horses on Stronsay with the deadly disease known as mortasheen,[d] to demonstrate its fury and exact its revenge against the islanders for burning seaweed; the infection subsequently spread to all the other islands involved in the industry. These were a race of gigantic warriors who liked nothing better than to invade somewhere, pillage it and then gloat horribly. Both a muse and a demon, Leanan Sidhe is another one of Irelands mythological vampires. Carman put a blight on Irelands crops and terrorized the Irish until the Tuatha De Danann, the peoples of the goddess Danu, used their magic to fight and defeat her, and drove her sons across the sea. The origin of this creature is told in the Celtic legend about a woman who was known all over Ireland for her beauty. Photo by Kiselev Andrey Valerevich/shutterstock.com. Balor is the demonic God of Death in Celtic mythology. These small faeries usually wear red caps and coats and, similar to the Clurichaun, love to play practical jokes on humans. You must be wise in making these wishes though because he might trick you. The Morrigan frequently appears in the ornithological guise of a hooded crow. Corrections? Were Irelands Viking invaders high on hallucinogenic herbal tea? First up is arguably the scariest of the many Irish mythology creatures / Irish monsters the Abhartach. They can also speak the human tongue and use that skill to lure travelers or farmers in the night. Dont worry if you dont know exactly what kind of reading you need. 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. Everybody sits in the jail of his own thoughts. The leprechaun is often described to be a small, jolly elf-like creature with a ginger beard and green hat. These Celtic folklore creatures can be very protective and can appear in a form of either beautiful or grotesque creatures. 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. She represented the circle of life and was associated with both birth and death. Nevertheless, thanks to some archeological evidence, written Roman sources, and the still-surviving Celtic myths in Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and Britain, we know of quite a few beautiful Celtic myths, awesome gods, and many of the fascinating legendary creatures of Celtic mythology.
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. The scariest monsters and demons from Celtic mythology. [6], Stories of mythical Orcadian demons are recorded in the 16th-century Latin manuscripts of Jo Ben,[a] who may have been referring to the nuckelavee in his description of the Orkney island of Stronsay. Take a look inside Dublin's most stylish townhouse, Number 31. The Gancanagh was known to seduce both men and women with what were said to be addictive toxins that emitted a powerful, alluring scent. Celtic deities can belong to two categories: general and local. If a Merrow wants to walk on land, she must abandon her cap or cape. In fact, it was a 3-headed Celtic monster! How did he free himself? The kelpie is a monster right out of Celtic myth. Cat sth This mythological creature is seen mainly in Scottish folklore, although does make an appearance in Irish. Patrick eventually made it to the Hawks Rock, where he waited for Caorthannach. Celtic. 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! They take to the waters, jumps high then submerges, bringing the traveler along with them to drown. [5][24] The creature was also blamed for prolonged periods of abnormally low rainfall, leading to water shortages and poor harvests. Many of these myths were suppressed by Roman conquerors, with their first widespread recordings dating from the early medieval period. Celtic mythology is the body of myths belonging to the Celtic peoples. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Ladies, take note if meet a guy with seaweed on his head, dont go home with him! The scientific phenomenon known as Quantum Physics (Quantum Theory) has been discovered and is being widely embraced by many scientific leaders. Ancient mythology about african gods and godesses, Quantum Physicists Prove Gods Existence. Patrick eventually made it to the Hawks Rock, where he waited for Caorthannach. Dearg-due, an Irish name meaning red bloodsucker, is a female demon that seduces men and then drains them of their blood. The only way to stop him was to kill him again, and to bury him vertically and upside down. The banshee often appears as a young woman, a matron, or an old hag, that wears a white cloak. As with most evil forces, the Dullahan has a weakness gold. The Morrigan in Irish/Celtic Mythology The Shapeshifting Goddess of War & Death. 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.
31 Irish Mythological Creatures (Tales Told By An Irishman) The saint is said to have stood on the mountain now known as Croagh Patrick and expelled all the serpents and demons out of the Emerald Isle into the sea to drown. Merrow-men, on the other hand, are said to be hideous and ugly. 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. [7] As the demon approached, he jumped out from his hiding spot and banished her from Ireland with a single word.
Demons of the Ancient World - Sarah Woodbury The Fairy Hounds of Celtic Mythology The celts were known for their rich culture, and in their folklore, there is the presence of hellhounds in the form of fairy dogs. Several versions of the Banshee legend say the feared ghost rode alongside the Dullahan in a black cart drawn by six black horses. Banshee - the Irish wailing ghost Liscorn37 These fine fellows, ancient Irish monsters and demons, have been terrifying the public since the dawn of Celtic mythology, especially at Halloween. Researchers believe they originated from a branch of the great Celtic race, which passed through Europe, rounded the continent's shores, and finally, made Ireland their resting place. According to Irish folklore, Sluagh is dead sinners that come back as malicious spirits. The Clurichaun takes on the appearance of an old man thats too fond of alcohol and that likes to play tricks on people. But the strange thing about this pony is that its mane would always be dripping with water. The fiercest and the largest bull in Irish mythology, Donn Cailnge used to roam the vast forests of the Cooley Peninsula. There is another legend that says Carman cursed Irelands crops and terrorized the Irish. The interesting bit to this story is that the lovers of Leanan sdhe were said to have lived inspired lives. 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. Instead, they are the children of fairies, such as the Far Darrig or often even adult fairies that look like babies. We have created separate sub-sections for Irish Mythology, Welsh Mythology, Mythology of the Gauls and the Mythology of the Ancient Britons. According to legend, if a human did something to offend them, they wouldnt hesitate in seeking painful revenge. Mythology Bestiary - The incredible Creatures of Celtic Mythology and Folklore - Balor - Kelps - Leprechaun - Selkie - Leanan Sidhe - Banshee - Spriggan - Sl. 1. A post shared by Emlyn Boyle Artist (@emlyn_artist76) on Jan 24, 2018 at 1:50pm PST. Those who chased the Fear Gorta away, however, were cursed with bad luck. In fact, their name translates as Red Man from Gaelic. 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. The womans husband was terrible to her, so she ended up committing suicide out of sorrow. But the strange thing about this pony is that its mane would always be dripping with water. 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. A particularly gruesome detail is that the nuckelavee has no skin;[19] black blood courses through yellow veins, and the pale sinews and powerful muscles are visible as a pulsating mass. 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. However, theyre also said to be drawn toward musical instruments and to have excellent musical skill logical, given that they are fairies. 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. She stands in the shadows of the better-known Abhartach, but shes none the less terrifying, in our opinion. She fell in love with a peasant, which was frowned upon by her father. The fairy was a beautiful woman who was said to give inspiration to poets and musicians but at the price of their lives. Guess this is one demon you can check off your list of scary creatures to worry about this Halloween. 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. Others, in Scottish folklore, say he used to capture bold children (a story used to scare kids into behaving). The local deities from Celtic nature worship were the spirits of a particular feature of the landscape, such as mountains, trees, or rivers, and thus were generally only known by the locals in the surrounding areas. The Abhartach should then be bound and buried upside down when pierced with a sword of yew. The Sluagh - Celtic monster. Although similar to the boogeyman in appearance, the Bodach is one of a number of Celtic mythological creatures who, according to legend, was completely harmless.