The Irish Banshee Tradition

The Banshee (Bean Sí) is Ireland’s most famous supernatural being. This wailing woman appears before deaths in old Irish families, her mournful cry warning that a family member will soon pass. The tradition dates back centuries and continues today.

The Nature

The Banshee is a fairy woman attached to specific Irish families, particularly those with “O’” or “Mac” surnames. She is not a ghost but a supernatural being whose role is to herald death. She mourns the passing before it occurs.

The Appearance

She is typically described as a woman with long white or silver hair, dressed in gray, white, or green. Her eyes are red from centuries of weeping. She may appear as a beautiful young woman or a withered crone. She combs her hair as she wails.

The Cry

The Banshee’s wail, called keening, is described as the most sorrowful sound imaginable. It combines grief, warning, and supernatural power. To hear it is to know someone in the family will die soon.

Historical Accounts

Written records of Banshee sightings exist from at least the 14th century. Prominent families including the O’Briens, O’Neills, and O’Gradys have documented Banshee traditions. The connection is taken seriously.

Modern Reports

People continue to report hearing the Banshee’s cry before family deaths. The phenomenon has spread with Irish immigration worldwide. The wail is always followed by a death.

Assessment

The Banshee represents one of the world’s oldest continuously reported supernatural phenomena. Whether genuine spirit or cultural expectation, her cry has heralded Irish deaths for over six centuries.