In Hollywood movies and TV shows, the Banshee appears out of nowhere screaming a high-pitched shriek that drives her victims to insanity, and ultimately death.  An old woman with long white hair and a wrinkled face, her eyes demon red, she terrorizes anyone who crosses her path, instills fear in the living and wreaks havoc on families.

Irish and Scottish lore paints a different picture, that of the spirit of a woman appearing at night, a ghostly waif of a woman with long hair and her mouth perpetually open in the cry of the Banshee.  She appears suddenly to family members who will soon lose a loved one, to bring them comfort and warn them of the impending death in their family, mourning the loss herself… or sometimes crying with glee if the family is an enemy of hers.

Banshee comes from the Gaelic “bean-sidhe”, meaning “woman of the fairy” or “washer woman”.  The banshee appers in one of three guises – a young woman, an elegant middle-aged woman, or a crone or old hag – though each of these has its own variations.  These three represent the three aspects of the Celtic goddess, Mor-Rioghain, triplicity being a common theme in Celtic and pagan mythology.  The banshee is said to only cry for five families, though the names of those families varies according to the source.  One source says she cries for the O’Neills, O’Briens, O’Connors, O’Gradys, and Kavanaghs, and another says she wails for the MacCarthys, O’Flahertys, Magraths, O’Rileys,O’Sullivans and O’Reardons.

The banshee’s identity remains a mystery.  Several legends speak of her origin.  The first portrays her as the spirit of a woman who was killed and died a agonizing death.  Her spirit is left to wander the world watching her family and loved ones, warning them when a violent death is imminent.  A different story is recounted by D.R. McAnally in his book Irish Wonders (1888): 

“It appears that a noble family, whose name is still familiar in Mayo, is attended by a Banshee of this description – the spirit of a young girl deceived, and afterwards murdered by a former head of the family.  With her dying breath she cursed her murderer, and promised she would attend him and his forever.  After many years the chieftain reformed his ways, and his youthful crime was almost forgotten even by himself, when one night, as he and his family were seated by the fire, the most terrible shrieks were suddenly heard outside the castle walls.  All ran out, but saw nothing.  During the night the screams continued as though the castle were besieged by demons, and the unhappy man recognized in the cry of the Banshee the voice of the young girl he had murdered.  The next night he was assassinated by one of his followers, when again the wild unearthly screams were heard exulting over his fate.  Since that night the ‘hateful Banshee’ has, it is said, never failed to notify the family, with shrill cries of revengeful gladness, when the time of one of their number has arrived.”

Another story says she died in childbirth, and yet another claims she was a “keener” during life and continued her occupation after death.  In traditional Irish funerals in pre-Christian days, “keeners” were hired by the deceased’s family to wail and mourn at the funeral.  The families mentioned earlier were said to have fairy keeners who were prophets and could portend the death, any where in the world, before news arrived to the family.

The Banshee does not always appear to the people who hear her.  At times the only evidence of the Banshee’s presence is her wail.  When she does appear, she comes in many guises, though usually a young beautiful woman or an old woman with gray hair.  Both normally wear white and have long hair.  Alternately, sometimes the Banshee is seen by a river washing the blood from the clothing of the person who will die.  For this reason she is known in Scottish lore as “bean-nighe” or “little-washer-by-the-ford”. 

Though the Banshee is legend there are accounts of families who have seen her.  In 1437, King James I was approached by a seer (some say a Banshee) who foretold his murder at the hands of the Earl of Atholl.  In 1807 a banshee apparently scared two sentries in James Park.   Various similar stories have been recounted over the years, bringing to reality a myth stretching back to the 8th century.

The Banshee, for all of her association with death, is a benevolent spirit, usually caring and well-meaning in her attempt to prepare the family for death and guide the deceased to the afterlife.  Though she may appear to the family only or to the deceased only, she does not bring death to the family but only portends its coming.

 Sources:

Ireland’s Eye

Your Irish

Occultopedia

Timeless Myths