Ireland’s Water Hound

The Dobhar-Chú (water hound) is a fearsome creature from Irish folklore—a large otter-like beast that has allegedly killed humans. A 1722 gravestone in County Leitrim preserves the story of a woman killed by the creature.

The Name

Dobhar-Chú:

• Irish Gaelic
• “Water hound”
• Ancient creature
• Feared for centuries
• King of lakes

The Description

What’s reported:

• Half otter, half dog
• 7 feet long
• White with dark markings
• Amphibious
• Extremely aggressive

The Gravestone

Grace Connolly’s grave:

• Dated September 24, 1722
• Conwall cemetery
• County Leitrim
• Shows creature being killed
• Historic evidence

The Story

What happened:

• Grace washing at lake
• Attacked by creature
• Husband heard screams
• Found her dead
• Killed the beast

The Revenge

Terence McGloighlin:

• Grace’s husband
• Killed first creature
• Second attacked
• Chase ensued
• He killed both

The Pursuit

The hunt:

• Second creature followed
• Miles of chase
• On horseback
• Finally killed
• Near Cashelgarran

Physical Evidence

The gravestone:

• Still exists
• Shows creature
• Being speared
• Historic record
• Tourist attraction

Modern Sightings

Ongoing reports:

• Glenade Lake
• Other Irish lakes
• Occasional encounters
• Consistent descriptions
• Still seen

2003 Sighting

Omey Island:

• Artist saw creature
• While painting
• Large dark animal
• In water
• Recent account

Possible Identity

What it might be:

• Giant otter
• Unknown species
• Misidentified seal
• Legendary only
• Unknown

Cultural Significance

In Irish tradition:

• Feared creature
• Lake warnings
• Ancient knowledge
• Part of folklore
• Respected

The Whistle

Distinctive feature:

• Makes whistling sound
• Identifying call
• Warning sign
• Recognition marker
• Documented

Geographic Range

Where reported:

• Glenade Lake primarily
• Other Irish lakes
• Connemara
• Western Ireland
• Lake regions

Significance

Historic cryptid with 300-year-old physical evidence (gravestone) and ongoing modern sightings.

Legacy

The Dobhar-Chú represents Ireland’s deadliest cryptid—a creature with physical evidence of its victims and a gravestone that immortalizes a fatal attack.