A post shared by Tami Wicinas (@twicinas) on Oct 10, 2019 at 11:59pm PDT. The Dearg Due is one of several Irish mythical creatures / Irish monsters whose characteristics resemble that of a vampire. Irish mythological Creatures: An A-Z guide - Ireland Before You Die Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. She would make the artist her lover, sharing with them her intelligence, creativity and magic, but when she left, the men would be so depressed, theyd die. Here are some notable demons from Celtic mythology: Cwn Annwn (Welsh hellhounds): Yes, they really do exist outside of the TV show, Supernatural (great show, by the way. When he stops riding, a human dies. Scholars have traced his origins back to various figures from the Celtic tradition, but he is most closely associated with the early Welsh Myrddin. A guardian of the Dl gCais (an Irish clan), Aibell is the Fairy Queen of Thomond. Little is known about the religious beliefs of the Celts of Gaul. Oct 28, 2022 . [2] Variant spellings, or readings, of the name Esus in the manuscripts of Lucan include Hesus, Aesus, and Haesus. She was then forced to marry a rich man. A particularly gruesome detail is that the nuckelavee has no skin;[19] black blood courses through yellow veins, and the pale sinews and powerful muscles are visible as a pulsating mass. Celtic | Mythology Explained Leprechauns are not the only magical little people in Celtic mythology. Ireland Travel Guides was born because of this passion and hopefully, in some little ways, this website will be able to help you on your next trip to Ireland. Another vampire myth in Celtic culture, the Dearg Due is a female demon. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). However, its not Dracula that were referring to, here. [5] Islanders were terrified of the creature and would not speak its name without immediately saying a prayer. These frightening creatures would often fly from village to village, usually in packs, going from west to east. [18], Malevolent creatures possibly served to provide explanations for incidents that islanders were otherwise unable to account for; many ancient myths were based upon the natural elements of the turbulent and ever changing sea around Orkney. The nuckelavee ( /nklvi/) or nuckalavee is a horse-like demon from Orcadian folklore that combines equine and human elements. Corrections? This destructive witch roamed around with her three evil sons: Dub (darkness in Irish), Dother (evil) and Dain (violence), destroying anything or anyone in their path. In Ireland, there are those who claim to be descendants of merrows who were caught by fishermen in their nets. Not all fairy children are changelings. Guess this is one demon you can check off your list of scary creatures to worry about this Halloween. According to Irish folklore, Sluagh are dead sinners that come back as malicious spirits. The God of Death would provide his Fomori with victims, but the evil race was left to their own devices when Balor was killed by his son Lug, who shot him with a slingshot. He used to own a cool bronze boat with a tin sail. Aamon, (Christian Origin) comes from Christian demonology. 10. Top 10 Scary Irish Mythological Creatures - Celtic Creatures Her father frowned upon their relationship, however, and forced his daughter to marry a rich man instead. While he was spying on his fathers druids, the noisome vapours of a spell entered his eye. [25] In common with other mythical sea-monsters, with the possible exception of kelpies and the nuggle of Shetland, it is unable to wade through fresh flowing water,[19] therefore it can be escaped by crossing a stream. Legendary Creatures Of Celtic Mythology - A List - Symbol Sage [5], Samuel Hibbert, an antiquarian of the early nineteenth century, considered the component nuck of the nuckelavee's name to be cognate with both the Nick in Old Nick, a name sometimes given to the Devil of Christian belief, and with the Latin necare, to kill. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. They spoke the Brythonic languages. Morrigan, sometimes known as Morrigu, was an Irish goddess of death on the battlefield who help the Tuatha De Danann at . Since publishing a large number of Irish folklore and Irish mythology guides, weve received countless emails about Irish folklore creatures. These evil fairies take the shape in black horses, who stampede through fences, crops, and properties, causing damage and destruction. For these reasons, the cat was often believed to be a spy for evil beings lurking outside the home. The leader of supernatural creatures called the Fomorians, Balor of the Evil Eye, one of many Irish demons, was, unsurprisingly enough, a giant with a large eye. The Dullahan rides a headless black horse with flaming eyes, carrying his head under one arm. Balor had one huge leg and, with his one evil eye, could kill someone just by peering at them. Orcadian folklore had a strong Scandinavian influence, and it may be that the nuckelavee is a composite of a water horse from Celtic mythology and a creature imported by the Norsemen. Irelands most popular baby names of 2022 - by county! This Celtic mythological creature is best described as a mermaid in appearance, however, this is where the similarities. Some versions of this legend say that the Dullahan throws buckets of blood at people he passes, while others say he simply calls out the name of the mortal that will soon die. ; Asmodeus, Demon of Lust from the Ars Goetia and Medieval Demonology. But the strange thing about this pony is that its mane would always be dripping with water. They go to houses where someone is about to die or dying to steal that persons soul. In Christian demonology, he is a Marquis of Hell and rules 40 infernal legions. After Celtic lands became Christianised, there were attempts by Christian writers to euhemerize or even demonize most of the pre-Christian deities, while a few others became Saints in the church. There, she would drain their blood and use it to fuel her own immortality. Perhaps itd be a good idea to stay away from any bodies of water! The saint is said to have stood on the mountain now known as Croagh Patrick and expelled all the serpents and demons out of the Emerald Isle into the sea to drown. Ancient kings of Ireland used to seek their assistance during war times when they were going up against a fierce opponent. Specific dates are not given for exactly when Traill Dennison gathered the tales but his various transcripts were published between 1880 and 1894. [5], The nuckelavee is the most malevolent of the demons in and around the Scottish islands, without any redeeming characteristics. Photo by Volodymyr Burdiak/shutterstock.com. Balor - Celtic demon king. Most Popular Superstitions, 5 Popular Halloween Symbols, Origins, and Traditions, 15 Powerful Symbols of Hope and What They Stand For. Celtic deities can belong to two categories: general and local. Rather than directly suck the blood of her victims, Leanan Sidhe got creative, and collected their blood in a giant red cauldron, which was the source of her beauty and artistic inspiration. Merrow - Sea fairy. A Guide To 12 Infamous Celtic Gods And Goddesses - The Irish Jewelry The Fairy Hounds of Celtic Mythology The celts were known for their rich culture, and in their folklore, there is the presence of hellhounds in the form of fairy dogs. This term actually has offensive origins. The leprechaun is often described to be a small, jolly elf-like creature with a ginger beard and green hat. The Pooka is a different but equally terrifying mythological horse. A post shared by Emlyn Boyle Artist (@emlyn_artist76) on Jan 24, 2018 at 1:50pm PST. If you read our guide to the Cattle Raid of Cooley, one of the most famous battles in Irish Folklore, you may be familiar with this fella. This beast appears not only in the legends of King Arthur but also in Edmund Spensers epic tale The Faerie Queene, which in part, tackles the troubled relationship between England and Ireland in the 16th century. Once a powerful people who dominated much of Europe, the Celts were reduced to a few small groups after the Roman invasions. In fact, their name translates as Red Man from Gaelic. If a human finds and hides these items, the merrow must agree to be his wife. According to legend, the Sluaghs were angry about their fate and would snatch the soul of anyone with who they cross paths. A country that had been a part of my life since I was 14 because of my love for Irish music and bands. Descriptions of her appearance vary, from an ugly old hag to a beautiful young woman, but all agree that the creatures blood curdling wail will be heard three times before someone dies. A general term for most fairy folk, the Daoine Maithe are usually human-like, have supernatural abilities, and are usually good and kind-hearted. The Bodach, The Man-Wolves of Ossory, The Sluagh and Bnnach. In the section below, youll find Celtic creatures that have graced many a battlefield and that are known to be skilled warriors. Leanan Sidhe the evil Irish fairy-muse. There was also a fairy cat that was known as the King of the Cats. Ah, the Dearg Due. The Kelpie myth is very common in Scotland but it also exists in Ireland. IrishCentral has hunted down the 10 most frightening of these Celtic and Irish demons and monsters. Of course, you can also catch a glimpse of these Lucky Charm mascots and [], Ireland Bucket List: 50+ Top Things To Do In Ireland For 2021 - Ireland Travel Guides, [] is a nationwide celebration where people usually dress up as Leprechauns. Not to be confused with a mermaid or merman, a merrow is an intriguing creature from Irish folklores that are said to live underwater. Sign up now for weekly facts, the latest blogs, and interesting features. Portrayed as a little person but in green, the leprechaun sports a glorious orange beard and a big green hat, usually adorned with a four-leaf clover. The motif of Man-Wolves of Ossory is quite strong in Irish mythology and many old tales revolved around these tribes of wolf-men. Some of the Celtic monsters were originally gods but were later demonized as pagan creatures when many of the Celts became Christians. The original Dearg Due is said to have been a beautiful lords daughter who fell in love with a peasant. The Morrigan - Phantom Queen in Irish Mythology | Mythology.net The Celts were doing alright until Christianity came along. Irish tales tell many tales of these creatures who were one of the earliest races to settle in Ireland, along with the mighty Tuatha D Danann. Both a muse and a demon, Leanan Sidhe is another one of Irelands mythological vampires. 18 Celtic Gods and Goddesses: Ancient Celtic Pantheon According to legend, if you want to silence an Abhartach forever, one must find his crypt. How did he free himself? The Abhartach, Balor of the Evil Eye, The Banshee and The Dearg Due. They can also speak the human tongue and use that skill to lure travelers or farmers in the night. The Celtic variant of mermaids, merrows have human feet instead of tails but their feet are flat and have webbed fingers to help them swim better. Morrigan is a demon in the series. They take to the waters, jumps high then submerges, bringing the traveler along with them to drown. To prevent the undead from rising from the grave, simply build a pile of stones over her grave. Balor is the demonic God of Death in Celtic mythology. Here, you'll find everything from hike and drive guides to funky places to stay and more! He whipped out an instrument and played soothing music until C Chulainn fell asleep. If a woman hopped on, the monster would then run into the water, drowning its victim, and then would take her to its lair to eat her. As with similar malevolent entities such as the kelpie, it possibly offered an explanation for incidents that islanders in ancient times could not otherwise understand. Dad forced her into an arranged marriage with a rich man who treated her terribly, and eventually she commit suicide. One monster, however, managed to escape Caorthannach, the fire-spitter. As with most evil forces, the Dullahan has a weakness gold. IrishCentral has hunted down the ten most frightening of these Celtic and Irish demons and monsters: Yes, Dracula himself is an Irish creation (Irishman Bram Stoker created the monster in his masterpiece novel), but theres also a vampire that resides right smack in the middle of Ireland. The kelpie is a monster right out of Celtic myth. Read more in our guide here. According to some myths they are witches, according to others these female beings are ghosts. The Celtic deities are known from a variety of sources such as written Celtic mythology, ancient places of worship, statues, engravings, religious objects, as well as place and personal names. Nevertheless, thanks to some archeological evidence, written Roman sources, and the still-surviving Celtic myths in Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and Britain, we know of quite a few beautiful Celtic myths, awesome gods, and many of the fascinating legendary creatures of Celtic mythology. The origin of this creature is told in the Celtic legend about a woman who was known all over Ireland for her beauty. Celtic mythology is so rich that even though we have access to just a fraction that has survived through the ages, that fraction still contains dozens of different unique and fantastic myths and mythological creatures. In one story, Abcan gets captured by the great Irish warrior C Chulainn. In the guide below, youll discover 32 Irish mythological creatures along with some snappy information on each one. Celtic mythology is the collection of stories and folklore from various ancient Celtic cultures like the Irish, the Welsh, and the Gauls. We are your one-stop travel website for all things Ireland. Privacy Policy. After all, mythology is storytelling at its finest. Also known as The Dwarf King, the Abhartach was a magical Irish dwarf tyrant who rose from his grave after he was killed by the people. Last updated in October 2022. According to the Celtic legend, an Irish woman who was known throughout the country for her beauty, fell in love with a local peasant, which was unacceptable to her father. The scariest monsters and demons from Celtic mythology | Core Spirit Read Books Error 403: unknown fetch error Back Home 403 Home Booking Appointments Relieve Stress Cope with Anxiety Eat Healthier Talk to a Psychologist Change Your Life with Coaching Look Into the Future Try Energy Healing Like many Celtic creatures, the Merrow has incredible powers, and it is able to reside on land or at the depths of the ocean. Her name literally translates as "Red Bloodsucker" and she's said to lure men by seducing them in the night before biting them and sucking away their blood. All Rights Reserved. @IrishCentral. To prevent the Sluaghs from entering their houses, Irish families would keep their west-facing windows shut. Going through all of them would take a whole book, so here weve listed the 14 most well-known and interesting legendary creatures in Celtic mythology. The ancient Celtic texts which give the most insight into their mythology and folklore are largely transcriptions of oral histories dating from the middle ages. This beast appears not only in the legends of King Arhtur, but also in Edmund Spensers epic tale The Faerie Queene, which in part, tackles the troubled relationship between England and Ireland in the 16th century. [15] The monster described by Tammas has two heads;[18] the equine head has an enormous gaping mouth that exudes a pungent, toxic vapour, and a single giant eye like a burning red flame. A race of supernatural giants, Fomorians are often described as hideous-looking monsters who came from the sea/underworld. Carman put a blight on Irelands crops and terrorized the Irish until the Tuatha De Danann, the peoples of the goddess Danu, used their magic to fight and defeat her, and drove her sons across the sea. Their names and attributes varied between languages and locations, with some deities worshipped by all tribes while others were specific to a particular region or people. Celtic mythology - Wikipedia 12 Fascinating(and Scary) Irish Mythological Creatures, 12 Best Irish BeersThat You Must Try In Ireland, 6. Photo by Khomenko Maryna/shutterstock.com. The God of Death would provide his Fomori with victims, but the evil race was left to their own devices when Balor was killed by his son Lug, who shot him with a slingshot. But despite living in several countries, my love for Ireland remains the same. The poems, sagas, and recorded oral histories of Celtic mythology. The Morrigan frequently appears in the ornithological guise of a hooded crow. Dad forced her into an arranged marriage with a rich man who treated her terribly, and eventually, she commits suicide. The eye became swollen and granted him the power of death. They say that when a chicken or cow sees a Pooka, the animals become too traumatized that they cannot produce eggs or milk for weeks. Pookas can also imitate human voices and they use it to call them out of their houses. Perhaps itd be a good idea to stay away from any bodies of water this Halloween! Once those authors or musicians reached the peak of their creativity, however, the leanan sidhe would suddenly leave them, plunging them into a much deeper depression than they were in previously. The evil fire-spitter drowned in the ocean, leaving a swell behind that created the famous Hawks Well. Contrary to popular belief, the Leprechaun has nothing to do with the term the Luck of the Irish. As with Dearg-due, to prevent the undead Leanan Sidhe from rising, one must put a cairn of stones over her resting place. These evil creatures are said to appear to weary travelers, enticing them for a ride. The fiercest and the largest bull in Irish mythology, Donn Cailnge used to roam the vast forests of the Cooley Peninsula. The demon slid down a mountain away from the saint, but Patrick spotted her and chased her down upon the fastest horse in Ireland, which was brought to him. On This Day: Arthur Guinness, founder of the Dublin brewery, died in 1803. Balor can kill someone just by staring at them with his evil eye, so he kept it closed most of the time, so as not to constantly be tripping over dead bodies.