The Banshee The Lady of Death

Article by Angelica Danton

Picture this! A group of soldiers in Medieval Ireland are involved in a tense battle with an enemy. Suddenly they hear an unearthly piercing cry like none they have ever heard. Some see a glowing light in the distance within which a woman with long hair and red eyes is screaming so powerfully they have to cover their ears.

They turn and bolt deserting forever the field. No one will stay and face this creature, she visits to prophesies their end is near!

Few figures of Celtic Myth or Folklore evoke the same chilling fear of that of the Lady of the Mound from association with the Fairy Gods of Tuatha De Danann (Mounds being where these beings were said to inhabit in Ireland in sites dated back to Neolithic times) “Bean Sidhe” or the “Woman from the Hills” famously known as the Banshee. She has also been named “The Lady of Death”, The “Angel of Death ” and the “White Lady of Sorrow” (D R McAnally in” Irish Wonders “1888). Although her real origin is shrouded in mystery, there are centuries old beliefs around her appearance and meaning.

Believed by some to be a ghost figure, and yet others to be a fairy being sent by the Tuatha de Danann related to the Goddess of strife battle and war Morrigan hence her name Lady of the Mound as stated. Or yet by others to be attached as a supernatural guide to the other world to their family ancestry the Banshee is one of the most powerful symbols of feminine power and supernatural meaning in Irish Folklore and its history.

The appearances of the Banshee can vary as she embodies the triple headed goddess energy of Maiden Mother and Crone. Sometimes she comes as an older woman with red eyes sometimes as a young beauty with enticing ways and the charm of a siren or as a mature mother figure but always she has very long hair and lets out a bone chilling shriek known as the “keening” or in some cases moans the name of the one who will depart. This death cry is a special form of sound that denotes the otherworld. She has also been known to appear to some varyingly as a washer woman, a stoat, a weasel and a hare in her shapeshifting form.

The association with the fairy Kingdom lends a special mystery to the appearance of the Banshee and carries with it a thrilling and unpredictable element with it. The legendary Tuatha De Danann were believed in ancient myth to have been the Gods of ancient Ireland before the coming of the Milesians a Warrior race that invaded Ireland. The Tuatha were said to have had the power to control the weather fertility and the crops. Ageless and Immortal they are said to live in the “OtherWorld” a land beyond the Earth. With the coming of the Milesians from Iberia legend has it. The land of Ireland was divided into the earth world ruled by the Milesians and the Otherworld ruled by the Tuatha. Some see the Banshee as coming between the worlds of Mortal and Fairy with her foreboding warnings while she roams the lonely countryside waiting for her next engagement!

The Banshee’s legend includes her appearances to only some of the Irish clans(or those who intermarry with)the O’Neills, the O’Briens, O’Connors O’Grady’s and the Kavanaghs. Countless individuals have their own family history of the appearances of the Banshee some of which have been recorded. Her appearance can also predict death as when she is seen washing the clothes of the departed eg. Traditionally, her call is only heard at night and can be so powerful it can shatter windows! The sound of her cry has been likened to the eerie shrieks of owls.

It is said that in 1437,King James 1 of Scotland had his death foretold by a human Banshee or Seer and her appearance was recorded at the courts of Celtic Kings over the centuries. The last great High King of Ireland Brian Boru had a Banshee visit him that wailed three times. The next day he was killed as he prayed in his Tent. His family saw the Banshee as warning him of his fate.

D.R MaAnally Jnr wrote in his book Irish Wonders (1888) “Folklore dictates banshees will only attach to old families. She never leaves until the very last member has been gathered to the Father”. Her appearance is usually made to the family of the person who dies and their community where they lived even if they are far away (Koch John T Celtic Culture An Historical Encyclopedia) rather than the person themselves. Nor is the banshee’s appearance and warning only seen or witnessed in Celtic lands. She is said to follow the Clan to where they migrate as physical distance does not limit her!

In addition in some clans she is regarded more as a spirit attached to their particular clan or group that is tied to their mortal family and clan as long as they live on earth or their descendants do.

Belief in the Banshee has been widespread in Ireland. In County Clare for eg Thomas Johnson Westropp wrote it is “popular belief that each leading Irish family has a banshee”.

Similarly, certain clans are said to have special animals in addition or instead of the Banshee who visit families as messengers of the otherworld most commonly a bird such as the owl. Westropp also mentions this in his work(see below).

In my mothers’ clan owls are said to appear just before a passing and this has been passed down in their history. I myself witnessed the highly unusual appearance of a large owl visiting just before the passing of a great uncle from the Clan. (At the time we did not even know he was ill nor that one of the family special messengers was reputedly owls until another relative related the stories). Later I had many people tell me of their own similar experiences with owls.

Whatever the real history of the Banshee or the meanings given to it, this folklore remains a fascinating part of Irish culture and family history. One asks can it really only be a myth alone if so many families have stories of her appearance before the points of crossing over. She has certainly left her mark and her wail in legendary history?

What do you think?! I leave this to you to consider!

A Folklore Survey of County Clare by Thomas Johnson Westropp has been published online by County Clare Library Ireland(www.clarelibrary.ie.).

Jane Wilde (1887)Ancient Legends Mystic Charms and Superstitions of Ireland (Vol 1 )Boston and Tickner.

Women of Myth Jenny Williamson and Glenn McMenemy 2023 Simon and Schuster.