Ireland
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Revenant
The Revenant is a form of undead creature and at one time it was used as a synonym for “ghost.” Their name is a variation of the French “revenir” meaning “to return.” They return from the grave and can be physical or incorporeal. In Irish folklore, they are physically risen bodies that sometimes attend their own funerals. Other times they are undead, with some being vampiric in nature. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2017. Guiley, Rosemary. The Encyclopedia of Ghosts and Spirits. United States, Checkmark Books, 2007.
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Piast/Biast/Bestia
The Piast is a monstrous creature from Irish myth. They are described as giant lake monsters, being part salmon and part serpent. They are also thought to be capable of breathing fire. It is believed Piast are one of the kinds of monsters banished by St. Patrick until judgment day. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Féar Gortagh/Fair Gortha/Fear Gortach/Fod Gortach/Fairy Grass/Hungry Grass
The Féar Gortagh is from Irish myth. It’s thought to be a patch of grass where someone died a violent or unnatural death, though it is indistinguishable from any other grass. It drains the life force of its victims, with them sometimes dying if they don’t immediately eat or drink something. Some believe that any who step on Fèar Gortagh becomes so hungry they eat themselves. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Mythological Objects. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2020. Maberry, Jonathan. Vampire Universe: The Dark World of Supernatural Beings That Haunt Us, Hunt Us, and Hunger for Us. United States, Kensington Publishing Corporation, 2006.
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Ech Tened
The Ech Tened was a creature mentioned in the Epistil Isu, or Sunday letters, from Ireland. Its name means “fiery horse” and it was the third creature mentioned by these letters who punish those who do not keep the Lords Day holy. It was said that any who rode a horse on Sunday would be cursed to ride an Ech Tened in death as punishment. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Blue Witches
The Blue Witches are mythical figures from Ireland and Scotland. They resemble massive, naked, blue women. They’ve been seen on the battlefields of the Romans and the Celts, where they searched for wounded Romans to kill. They carry ancient magic swords stolen from the tombs of kings and use these swords to chop the heads off of Roman soldiers. They are possibly based on female soldiers who’ve charged into battle with blue war paint. Citations: Maberry, Jonathan. Vampire Universe: The Dark World of Supernatural Beings That Haunt Us, Hunt Us, and Hunger for Us. United States, Kensington Publishing Corporation, 2006.
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Banshee/Bean Sídhe
The Banshee is a creature from Irish mythology. Once a singular ancestral spirit. Her wail announced the coming death among one of the five main families these being the O’Briens, the O’Connors, the O’Gradys, the O’Niells, and the Kavanaghs. Newer interpretations of the Banshee see them as Psychopomps that foretell death with their calls. Hearing the cry of the Banshee means that someone you know will die the following night. Some believe that groups of Banshee gather together and cry out together at the death of a great or holy person. They are rarely seen but often resemble naked women with long hanging boobs washing shrouds by the river. When…
