The Wailing Spirit of the Otherworld
The Banshee (Irish: Bean-Sídhe, Scottish Gaelic: Bean-Shìth) is a legendary female spirit from Irish and Scottish folklore, known as an omen of death and a messenger from the Otherworld. Deeply tied to ancient Gaelic traditions, she is believed to be a guardian spirit that mourns the passing of a family member with her chilling wail, known as the caoineadh (keen).
Origins and the Aos Sí
The Banshee belongs to the Aos Sí, the mystical beings of Irish mythology who are sometimes considered:
- The remnants of pre-Christian deities,
- Nature spirits bound to sacred places,
- The spirits of ancestors, connected to old Gaelic families.
Some interpretations, including Theosophical and Celtic Christian beliefs, describe the Aos Sí as fallen angels, neither entirely benevolent nor malevolent.
Appearance and Variations
The Banshee’s appearance varies widely in folklore. She is often described as:
- A pale woman with long, flowing hair, either bloodstained or draped in white, her eyes red from weeping.
- A ghostly figure in a grey cloak with a green robe, sometimes appearing wet as if emerging from a bog or river.
- A haggard crone with straggly black hair, one nostril, protruding teeth, and an air of pure sorrow.
- A young and beautiful woman, seen walking aimlessly at night in a misty, ethereal form.
Despite these differences, her presence is always accompanied by an unearthly, heart-wrenching wail.
The Cry of the Banshee
The wail of the Banshee is a sound unlike any other – described as a mixture of:
- The howl of a wolfhound,
- The cry of wild geese,
- The screams of a grieving mother,
- The moaning of the wind before a storm.
Theis haunting lament is said to forewarn of death, carrying across moors, lakes, and ancestral homes. It is an inescapable sign that someone from the family will soon pass away.
Family Spirits and Death Omens
The Banshee is often associated with certain ancient Gaelic families, particularly those whose surnames begin with O´ or Mac (e.g., O´Brien, O´Neill, MacCarthy, MacDonnell). Each family is believed to have its own Banshee, who mourns only for their kin.
- If a Banshee is heard crying, it signals that a family member will soon die.
- If multiple Banshees are heard together, it foretells the death of a great or holy person.
- If a Banshee is seen washing bloody clothes in a stream, it signifies an upcoming tragedy or battle.
Even if a person is far from home, their Banshee may still wail at their ancestral home, ensuring the family is warned of their passing.
The Washer at the Ford and Other Banshee Legends
The Banshee is sometimes linked to the Washer at the Ford (Bean-Nighe in Scottish folklore), a ghostly woman seen washing bloodstained garments by a river. Anyone who sees her washing their own clothes is doomed to die.
Other supernatural omens associated with the Banshee include:
- The Coiste Bodhar (Death Coach)
A black coach drawn by headless horses, driven by a Dullahan, an ominous headless rider. Seeing this coach is said to mean imminent death.
- The Cyhraeth (Welsh) and Cyoerraeth (Cornish)
Similar spirits in Welsh and Cornish traditions, known for their mournful cries and warnings of death.
Historical Accounts of the Banshee
Ireland | The Banshee as a Family Spirit
The Banshee has long been tied to certain Irish families, particularly noble and ancient lineages. Many historical accounts describe the Banshee as a spirit that warns of a family member’s impending death, sometimes appearing to multiple witnesses at once.
The O’Donnell Banshee | 17th Century
One of the most well-known accounts of a family Banshee comes from the O’Donnell clan of Donegal.
In 1601, during the Nine Year’s War, Red Hugh O’Donnell, the famous Irish chieftain, was preparing for battle against the English. On the eve of the Battle of Kinsale, his family’s Banshee was heard wailing through the night outside their castle. The following day, O’Donnell suffered a devastating defeat, marking a turning point in Irish history. He later traveled to Spain, where he was poisoned and died – many believed the Banshee’s wail had foreseen his fate far from home.
The Bunworth Banshee | 1770s, County Cork
One of the most detailed firsthand accounts of the Banshee was recorded by Thomas Crofton Croker, a 19th-century Irish folklorist.
The story revolves around Rev. Charles Bunworth, a respected Protestant clergyman in County Cork. Before his death, several members of his household reported hearing the Banshee’s eerie crying and wailing around their home. One servant, terrified, claimed to have seen a spectral woman combing her hair, a common Banshee trait. Bunworth’s illness worsened, and he soon died – just as the Banshee had foretold.
The Rossmore Banshee | 1801, County Monaghan
Lord Rossmore, a British official in Ireland, was said to have had a personal encounter with a Banshee.
One night, he was awoken by a strange, sorrowful sound outside his window. His servants later reported seeing a woman in white mourning robes wailing near his residence. The next morning, he was found dead – confirming the Banshee’s warning.
Scotland | The Bean-Shìth and Washer at the Ford
In Scotland, the Banshee is known as the Bean-Shìth, and a closely related spirit is the Bean-Nighe (Washer at the Ford). Unlike the Irish Banshee, the Bean-Nighe is sometimes seen by the doomed person themselves, rather than their family members.
The Washer at the Ford: The Death of King James IV | 1513
One of the most famous Scottish banshee-like legends is linked to the Battle of Flodden Field in 1513.
On the night before battle, King James IV of Scotland allegedly saw a woman washing bloody armor in a river – a classic sign of the Bean-Nighe. The next day, James IV was killed in battle, fulfilling the grim prophecy. Many soldiers reported seeing an eerie figure wailing near the battlefield, suggesting the Banshee’s presence was felt beyond noble families.
The Banshee of Clan MacLean | 18th Century, Isle of Mull
The MacLean clan of the Isle of Mull had their own Banshee, said to appear whenever the clan chief was near death.
According to records from the mid-1700s, a MacLean chieftain was gravely ill when his family heard an otherwordly cry echo across the hills. The next morning, his body was found lifeless in his bed.
The Keening Woman of the Highlands | 19th century
In the Scottish Highlands, there were reports of a wailing spirit that was heard before the death of elders and clan leaders. In one case, recorded by folklorist J.G. Campbell, a Highland woman was said to have heard a piercing cry outside her window. She told neighbors that she had seen the Bean-Shìth, and within days, a respected elder from the village had passed away.
Medieval References to the Banshee
The Banshee (Irish Bean Sídhe) and her Scottish counterpart (Bean-Nighe or Bean-Shìth) appear in early medieval texts, bardic poetry, and historical chronicles. While some references remain mythological, others were taken seriously by medieval historians and chroniclers.
The Banshee in Early Irish Literature
The Death of King Conchobhar mac Nessa | 1st Century AD, Ulster Cycle
One of the earliest literary references to a Banshee-like figure appears in The Death of Conchobhar, part of the Ulster Cycle (1st-4th century AD).
King Conchobhar mac Nessa, ruler of Ulster, is told of the death of Christ. Upon hearing the news, he is struck by grief, and a spirit woman appears wailing over his fate. Soon after, his skull bursts, and he dies, fulfilling the Banshee’s lament. This suggest that keening women and supernatural mourners were already part of Irish tradition.
The Washer at the Ford in the Boyhood Deeds of Finn | 8th-10th Century
In early medieval Irish tales, the Bean-Nighe (Washer at the Ford) was often encountered by heroes before battle.
In The Boyhood Deeds of Finn, Fionn mac Cumhaill meets a mysterious old woman washing bloody clothes in a river. She warns him of upcoming danger, a classic Banshee motif. This medieval connection between warriors and wailing spirits is common in early Gaelic literature.
The Banshee in Medieval Chronicles
Annals of the Four Masters | 1632-1636, compiling earlier records
The Annals of the Four Masters – a chronicle of Irish history compiled in the 17th century from older medieval records – mentions banshee-like warnings:
- Several Gaelic kings and chieftains are said to have been foretold of their deaths by wailing spirits.
- In 1014, before the Battle of Clontarf, banshees were said to have been heard keeing over Dublin, predicting the fall of High King Brian Boru.
Giraldus Cambrensis | Gerald of Wales, 12th Century
The Norman chronicler Giraldus Cambrensis (Topographia Hibernica, c. 1188) wrote about Irish supernatural beliefs, including spirits who foretold death.
He described an old woman who sang mournful laments outside noble houses. Some Norman settlers in Ireland reported hearing eerie cries before battle. He dismissed these superstitions but acknowledged their prevalence in Gaelic culture.
The Scottish Bean-Nighe in Medieval Records
The Bean-Nighe in the Prophecies of the Brahan Seer | 16th century
The Brahan Seer, a Scottish prophetic figure, reportedly encountered a Bean-Nighe washing bloody clothes at a Highland stream. She foretold the massacre of the MacKenzies, a powerful Highland clan. Years later, the Battle of Druim-nan-Coup (17th century) saw the clan nearly wiped out.
Banshees in the 14th-Century Scottish Chronicles
In the 14th-century manuscript detailing the wars between the Scottish clans, a “fairy woman of death” was recorded as appearing before the fall of Duncan of Argyll (1320s). The night before his murder, a ghostly woman in grey mourning robes was seen near his stronghold. The next morning, he was killed in battle.
The Banshee in Myth and Modern Culture
The Banshee has remained a powerful and enduring figure in Irish folklore, often appearing in:
- Poetry and literature, such as the works of W.B. Yeats.
- Horror stories, where her wail is associated with doom and despair.
- Modern fantasy, where she is depicted as a tragic ghost or a vengeful spirit.
Despite her terrifying reputation, the Banshee is not inherently evil – she does not cause death but merely foretell is, serving as a mourner between worlds.