I live on the outskirts of a city in Ireland called Kilkenny. Irish people are not as superstitious as the entire globe seems to think we are but we do have some legends, some are site specific and some are not, and usually they are no longer believed by the current generation.

I think everyone has at least heard a mention of a Banshee; the word Banshee is an English interpretation of the title Bean Sidhe; 'bean' is Irish for woman and 'sidhe' is the Irish term to describe the 'good people' who are descended form the 'Tuaithe de Dannan', or in other words they are fairies. Therefore the basic translation of Bean Sidhe would be woman of the fairies, this is apparently because when the Bean Sidhe was first seen she was assumed to be just another of the fairy people.

Many people argue over whether there is one Bean Sidhe or many. In my area any tales of the Bean Sidhe always implied that their was just one. Regardless, the Bean Sidhe is regularly said to appear at the lake, also known as 'the Fen', which is about a ten-minute walk from my home. In the centre of the Fen there is a large tree stump jutting out of the murky water, local legends say that this is where the Bean Sidhe stands. She is usually described as wearing grey or dark green robes, with a hood pulled so its shadow obscures her face.

Many people claim that she appears there often, although most people I know will never venture there after dark. There is also quiet a few tales of the Bean Side's hair-raising scream, which indicated the death of either the person who hears her cry or someone close to them. The Bean Sidhe's wail is often referred to as 'keening'; this is again another interpretation of the Irish verb 'caoineadh', which can either mean 'to cry/weep' or 'to lament'. This verb was usually used in conjunction with the Bean Sidhe because her cry was always associated with death.

For those who run from the cry of the Bean Sidhe, or refuse to acknowledge that she is signalling them, she is said to leave a little gift for them the next time they are travelling by foot; many have claimed to have found her comb on a roadside after hearing her cry.

As far as actually seeing the Bean Sidhe, she herself is not seen as evil or malevolent, she is simply a fairy creature trying to warn you of oncoming events. Most will agree that seeing the Bean Sidhe without her wailing, although it is a lot rarer, is a sign of good luck.

As to whether the legend is true or not I cannot say, I would advise you to find out for yourself but if you do, it seems it may already be too late.

Learn more about this author, Lynda Mc Donald.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about The wailing spirit: The Banshee of Irish lore ?
We want to hear your view. Write now!