The Irish Banshee

When we think of Irish folklore, images of leprechauns, faeries, and ancient myths often come to mind. But few figures are as chilling and iconic as the Banshee — a spectral woman whose mournful wail signals impending death.

In Irish tradition, the Banshee (from the Irish bean sí or bean sídhe, meaning “woman of the fairy mound”) is a female spirit or fairy linked to families of pure Irish descent. She’s often seen as a harbinger of death, her mournful cry foretelling the passing of a loved one. While some tales describe her as a beautiful young woman with flowing hair, others depict her as an aged, haggard crone, draped in grey or white with wild, streaming hair.

The Banshee doesn’t cause death — she merely warns of it. Her wail, called the keening (from the Irish caoineadh), is said to be an eerie, almost otherworldly lamentation. Families might hear her cry in the dark hours before a death, especially if they belong to ancient Irish clans like the O’Neills, O’Briens, O’Connors, and Macs. In some versions of the lore, her cry is a solitary wail, while in others, multiple banshees wail together for a particularly significant death.

The concept of the Banshee likely evolved from the professional keeners of old Ireland — women who were hired to wail at funerals. Over time, these real-life figures merged with the world of faeries and spirits, becoming the supernatural Banshee we know today. Her association with ancient Irish families and burial mounds ties her to the deep cultural roots of the island.

The Banshee remains a powerful symbol in Irish folklore — a mysterious, spectral figure whose mournful cry both chills and fascinates. Whether as a warning of loss or a glimpse into the otherworld, she continues to echo through the ages.