The Irish culture is a superstitious culture full of legends and mysticism.  Fairies, brownies or banshees are found to a part of almost every Irish legend.  The Irish banshee or bean-sidhe as she is called in Gaelic is a mythological feminine creature known for her soulful wailing that may be heard throughout the Irish countryside.  Her long, mourning cry is often heard only at night. Irishmen who have heard a banshee’s cry say that it is hard to forget her eerie, hynotic sound.  Her wailing has been compared to the sound of wild winds as they pass through hollow trees rising and falling like the waves of the sea.  Her wailing can be heard at remarkable distances.  In Ireland a banshee’s cries and wails are also known as “keen”.  

The Irish banshee is a mythological creature exclusive to the Celtic race.  She bonds herself to one family, offering them no ill will but instead she acts as a guardian of sorts.  She comes to her adopted family during a time of transition.  Her family will hear her eerie cry echoing throughout the Irish countryside when one of their loved ones is about to pass away.   Tragically, the death of the family member is often unexpected and sudden.  A banshee will often let out her mournful wailing in the vicinity of the birthplace of the soon to be deceased.  According to Irish legend, banshees forewarn members of ancient Irish families with names like O’Neill, O’Brien, O’Connor, O’Grady and the O’Kavanagh of their impending deaths.    These ancient Gaelic names are considered to be pure Irish.   There is an old Irish folk song referring to these ancient Irish names.

 Mac and O
You will always know
True Irishmen they say.

But if they lack
The O and Mac
No Irishmen are they.

 Irish families with names that begin with an O or Mac are believed to be the only families that have banshees watching over them.  Intermarriage has complicated and greatly expanded the banshee’s job. No one really knows why banshees choose to visit only these families.  Some people believe that a banshee won’t leave her family until every member of that family dies.  It is then that her job on this Earth is completed.  She will never again attach herself to another family.  And her cries will never again be heard throughout the Irish countryside.  

 Some Irishmen speculate that the banshee belongs to a mystical race of fairies called Tuatha De Dannan from whence all fairy folk are descended.   No one really knows what a banshee looks like for she is elusive and doesn’t want to be seen by humans.   Therefore there is much speculation as to a banshee’s appearance. Some say that a banshee may be able to transform into three different characters depending on how she feels.  Her appearance may be that of a beautiful young woman or a siren with flowing white, blonde or auburn hair that cascades down her back in ringlets. She may be able to change her appearance to resemble a matron, more mature than the young siren, in a motherly way.  As a matron a banshee is still quite beautiful.  However; when most people think of a banshee it is the appearance of an old hag that most people imagine. The old hag often wears a gray, hooded cloak or robe of death.  She has stringy hair and pointy, decaying teeth. 

The Irish culture is full of legends and folklore and the legend of the banshee is only of course a legend, equivalent to American tall tales or legends such as the legend of Sleepy Hollow.  These legends are passed down from generation to generation throughout the centuries and are recited for amusement only.  However; the next time you visit Ireland and if your last name starts with O or Mac you may want to listen for a banshee’s cry.  Or maybe not. . .

Sources:

 http://www.movilleinishowen.com/history/mythology/legend_of_the_banshee.htm

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