Alex Yelvington

A.P. Euro

4 th Hour

The Banshee

o The word Banshee derives from the Irish words Bean Sidhe (Woman of the Fairy Mounds. She is an ancestral spirit who is usually appointed Irish families to prophesize the death of a loved one. She was first seen in Irish Folklore with the most recent sightings since 1948.

o She is known to have three names and three guises, this is to represent the trinity of the Celtic goddess of War and Death. Her guises are that of a young woman, a stately matron, or an old hag. Her names which coincide with her guises are Badhbh, Macha, and Mor-Rioghain.

Derivation

While the Banshee originated from Irish and Scottish folklore, tales of her presence have reached as far as America, first being spotted in the late 1700s in North Carolina and the badlands of South Dakota.

In Scottish Folklore she is known as Bean Nighe, the little washerwoman, who washes the bloody clothes of the near departed.

The Hag of the Mist, is the Welsh equivalent of the Banshee, and is depicted as an ugly old hag seen during heavy mists.

International Status

The most well-known aspect of the Banshee, is her blood curdling wail, which has been reported to shatter glass. Her scream, is said to be usually heard at night, when someone is about to part from life. One of the most famous accounts of a Banshee sighting is that of King James I of Scotland in 1437. It was said that King James I was approached by the Banshee who warned him of his death at the abetment of the Earl of Atholl. She is also said to be appointed to the five major Irish families: O’Briens, O’Connors, O’Gradys, and the O’Neills.

The Wail

The Banshee has appeared in several movies in modern time such as: Darby O’Gill and the Little People(1959), Cry of the Banshee (1970), Banshee!!!(2008, and Scream of the Banshee (2011).

Modern Media

http://www.irelandseye.com/animation/explorer/banshee.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banshee#American

_folklore

http://www.yourirish.com/folklore/banshees/

Bibliography