The Woman of the Mounds - The Banshee

Written by Ben Kesp 

Have you ever wandered an Irish country road in the dark of the night? The moon’s silvery hand bathing the landscape in a silvery glow, casting trees in silhouettes! A faint light in the distance signals a lone house. The darkness becomes alive and scurries of night animals leave traces of sounds in the nearby fields. Then you hear it! The high pitch wails echoes over the landscape. A wail so piercing it puts the hairs standing on your body. Everything stops! What do you do? Frozen in the moment or do you turn and run? But in which direction?

I have met people who have told me they have heard it. Do I believe them? Who I am to judge or deny what they tell me? Yet it could be in jest. What follows? A death in a family, but not any family, but one that can be traced to the ancient Irish royal families!

Banshee

There was a time when the old Gaelic families hired professional keening women to lament at wakes following the death in the family. Such notable families like the O’Briens, O’Neills, O’Conchobhairs, Kavanaghs and others used the services of these women. 

But what is the origin? Myth leads us to believe that the woman heard wailing prior to an unsuspecting death of a family member connected to an Irish family is a fairy woman known as the Banshee or Bean Sidhe. In Irish mythology she is referred to as a spirit connected to the numerous mounds that dot the Irish country side. These mounds or fairy forts mark the underground palaces of the Tuatha Dé Danann where they retreated following their defeat by the Milesians. The banshee is not associated with causing the death but is announcing a warning for its coming. 

She can come in many forms but is often represented as an old hag with dishevelled long hair. One could equate her to the Cailleach (The Hag - shape shifts with cycles of the year), an origin deity in the lands of Ireland, one that may have existed prior to the arrival of the Tuatha Dé Danann. The Cailleach is often revealed to be the Morrígan, the Irish Goddess of war, death and rebirth and also Sovereign Goddess of Ireland. Perhaps the Cailleach is an older cult following prior to the arrival of the newer gods however her name still remains strong in Ireland associated with many places. 

The banshee can be traced back to the 8th century associated with the lamenting women hired to keen following a death. They may possibly have been around longer but alas we will never know. In 1380 the banshee is recorded in the publication of the Cathreim Thoirdhealbhaigh (Triumphs of Torlough) and also in Norman literature at around this time period. 

There have been several reported sightings of the banshee and it is said that if she becomes aware that a human is watching her she will disappear in a cloud of mist. Other stories have been reported that if a group of banshees are heard or became visible, someone of great importance is about to die. 

Whether she is myth or a spirit from the old pagan gods we shall never know. However if you hear her, be warned of a pending death but with a little reassurance that it is probably not your own as I doubt the intended person who is about to meet their doom will actually get a warning of it, or will they!!! 

Image: Wikipedia