His Heart Was Still In Ireland
In July 1997, I received a telephone call from a cheerful lady who was answering my newspaper ad for autographs and old documents. This is my actual means of making a living. I have been a collector and dealer of autographs for over 25 years. She stated she lived in Thurmont, Maryland and that she had a steamer trunk full of artifacts and documents, mostly from the late 1800’s. We made an appointment for me to come to her home the following day.
It was late afternoon when I arrived and the first thing I noticed was the house, a beautiful Victorian style house painted deep brown with many high hedges and thick pines. A stereotypical “haunted house” we used to see in the old horror movies. I parked the car in the front and walked up the steep pavement and porch steps, each footstep on the porch creaked and moaned. I knocked on the large wooden door and almost immediately the door opened and a pleasant woman reached out her hand for mine and introduced herself. “Just call me Mary, everybody else does” she said. I said “OK, Mary. Thank you for inviting me to your wonderful home.” That was no overstatement, this place was like a step into the past…gasoliers, pedestal sinks, sconces, bronzes, etc.
She motioned to the large sitting room where a steamer chest was sitting by a beautiful daybed. She explained that her late father had collected the contents and simply placed everything in the steamer trunk. He had an interest in documents that described historic events. As well, he had collected several older autographs. The trunk was used by him when he immigrated from Ireland in the 1918.I opened the lid and was hit in the face by the typical musty aroma of old paper. I started to sift through the items and quickly read over the papers to see exactly what was before me. Many of the items were personal letters written in Gaelic. Included were soldiers correspondence from France, no doubt during the First World War. Then I came across a 7x9 inch photo of King George V of Great Britain that was signed by the monarch. As I touched the piece, I knew there was a history behind it.
I sat motionless for a minute or so, long enough to be noticed by Mary. She inquired if anything was wrong? I told her that I got a sense of hatred and pain when I touched this photograph. She then noticed what I was holding and sighed….then tried to hold back tears. I explained to her that I was able to sense residual feelings and events and that I had performed paranormal investigations for many years. She smiled and told me why she was displaying tearful emotions.
Mary explained that her father was a member of the Irish resistance in Dublin and that he had always blamed King George V for the death of his brother during the 1916 “Easter Rising”. Her father was also captured by the British troops but managed to escape and make his way to the United States. He always wanted to go back to Ireland to reunite with family but was afraid that he would still be considered a fugitive. He eventually got married and raised a family. He worked as a gunsmith and bricklayer. Mary said he would pace in his study daily wondering how his friends and family in Ireland were getting along. In 1935, he had gathered enough money together to visit Ireland after he had received a visa. Then tragedy struck when her father suffered a severe stroke. The money he saved for his trip was used for his cremation and funeral.Mary then stood up and said “please, follow me.” We walked down the hallway into a study and library. “This is where my father resides.” Mary stated. “I hear his footsteps and moans every night.” I was speechless. I asked her if she would mind if I tried to communicate with her father. She said “No, that’s not necessary. He wouldn’t understand…besides, he talks to me every evening.”
I did purchase the items and the steamer trunk. The signed photograph of King George V of Great Britain remains in my collection and continues to remind me of the sad Irish immigrant who simply wanted to see home one more time.
NOTE: this incident actually took place as described. Mary's recall of history may not have been totally correct but I felt that the encounter should be written as stated in her words. I continued to purchase pieces from Mary for several years after our original meeting. Sadly, Mary passed away in 2002 while on holiday...in Ireland. I fondly remember a phrase she would repeat each time we would depart company..."may the rocks in your field turn to gold." I was told her father's ashes were sent to Ireland to be mixed with Mary's ashes and scattered at an undisclosed location...Lon
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Ireland's Haunted Castles...Proceed With Caution!
Clonony Castle
Shannon Harbour, County Offaly
Built in the 16th century, the great ruins of this tower are the home of a mysterious ghost that no-one has been able to identify. A man, surrounded by a hazy, eerie light, stands at the top of the tower wearing old-fashioned clothes. This tall, gaunt figure is regularly seen by people driving by the castle and the description of the man has always been the same. Irish castles are usually not visited by such mysterious apparitions from the Beyond.Charleville Forest Castle
Tullamore, County Offaly
With luminous balls of ghostly light appearing throughout the castle, and the ghost of Charles Bury, First Earl of Charleville haunting a tower, the Charleville Forest Castle is an eerie place of strange sights, include an Initiation Circle left over from the Druids. Thanks to the fact that this haunted castle of Ireland provides accommodations for the night, ghost hunters can bed down here to search for the secrets of its uncanny events.
Kilkea Castle
Castledermot, County Kildare
High on a wall in the rear of this castle, an erotic carving of bizarre half-human, half-animal figures indicates to all who approach that Kilkea Castle is not for the faint of heart. This carving, known as the Evil Eye Stone, is not the only unusual feature of this haunted castle of Ireland. It is said that every seven years, the ghost of Earl Gerald rises from the grave to rid Ireland of its enemies. Time your visit to this haunted Irish castle right, and you may catch a glimpse of the Earl as he sets out on his spectral mission.Killua Castle
Clonmellon, County Westmeath
Famed as the family seat of the great T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), Killua Castle was abandoned long ago. Nevertheless, its former visitors often heard strange sounds in the middle of the night.
The walls of Killua Castle are said to be guarded by a white specter at night, and a vile-looking figure was often seen inside the ruins. This hideous apparition is believed to be Jacky Dalton, a land steward from the 18th century who swindled his master out of great sums of money.
He was said to be a small but wily man who drank all his ill-gotten gains and committed suicide by throwing himself into the lake. If you are possessed of steely nerves and you wish to glean the knowledge of Ireland haunted castles, Killua can give you a glimpse into the eerie and uncanny.
Leap Castle
County Offaly
Visit Leap Castle only if you are willing to dare a glimpse of the life and unlife. Standing out among Ireland haunted castles, Leap is said to be one of the most haunted castles of Ireland. Even the locals who are supposed to "know better" avoid it after the sun goes down. Some have described seeing the windows at the top of the castle lighting up brilliantly for no reason whatsoever. Another presence is said to give off a ghastly odor.
The ghosts in Leap Castle are angry specters...and with good reason.
Within its walls lie secrets of a dark and deadly past. Over 400 years ago, during High Mass, a priest was murdered by his own brother in what is now called the "bloody chapel".
The dungeon was also a source of excruciating pain and unendurable misery for tortured prisoners as they waited for the sweet release of death. With such notorious implements as thumbscrews, the rack, and the iron maiden, there was no end to the pain this den of misery subjected its denizens to.
Around the year 1900, workmen hired to clean out Leap Castle pulled up the drop floor of the dungeon and discovered human skeletons piled on top of each other as though they were tossed in like cordwood. Death was everywhere in Leap Castle. And now, it lingers in the very living stone.
If the bizarre, the frightful, and the inexplicable do not dissuade you, Leap Castle is the destination where you can test your mettle against all things that go bump in the night.
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Sightings of 'White Lady' Prompt Investigations in County Tyrone
NOTE: these sightings near Coalisland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland have been reported since December 2008 and sporadically long before that time. I have posted below previous media reports since the activity started to increase 10 months ago...Lon
dailymail.co.uk - The numerous ghoulish encounters with a mysterious 'white lady' has prompted many to believe they had met a supernatural being.
Over the past six weeks there have been dozens of sightings of the apparition near the ruins of a remote farmhouse in near Coalisland in Co Tyrone.
Convinced that the sightings are true - rather than the result of one too many pints of Guinness - convoys of ghost hunters have flocked to the dip in the road where she was seen.
Up to 60 cars have been spotted parked on the side of the road at midnight, causing traffic jams in the usually desolate area.
Villagers who have spotted the ghost say it looks like an old woman with a sad expression.
However, none have so far been able to describe the features of her face in any detail.
The spot where the ghost was spotted could perhaps best be described as a 'ghost's paradise'.
The damp crumbling walls on the ruined house where the ghost was spotted still bear the scorch marks from a fire.
Broken doors now creak in the wind and tree branches scratch against the collapsed roof. The birds in the trees are strangely silent.
Ryan Bell, the son of the local landlord Raymond, claims he has seen the ghost more than 20 times.
'I was freaked out the first time I saw her, but now I'm getting used to it,' he said. 'It looks like an old small woman with a shining white cape.
'When you drive by the run-down house, the figure emerges from the trees and crosses the road in front of you before coming to a halt in the same place each time.
'It's definitely a creepy experience. You can only see the profile of her face but she appears sad.'
Paranormal experts are now heading to the area with thermal imaging cameras and high frequency voice recorders in the hope of verifying the sightings.
Warren Coates, of the Northern Ireland Paranormal Research Association, said he was aware of previous paranormal activity in the area.
'It related to a phantom female hitchhiker, who caused a stir five years ago,' he said. 'Drivers would see her on the side of the road with her thumb out. When they pulled up to offer her a lift, she would vanish.
'Sometimes she would walk across the road in front of cars. But when drivers swerved to avoid her, she disappeared. These sightings were about a mile away from the latest sightings.'
Mr Coates, who set up his paranormal organisation in 1991, believes the ghost might be a woman who has died in a car crash in the area.
Others, however, are more sceptical and believe the apparition is a hoax.
Desmond Donnelly, a Sinn Féin councillor, said: 'At one point, there was a line of up to 60 cars on the road with people trying to spot it.
'It wasn't just one night, it was going on for a week or so over the holidays. I'm not sure how it all started - I wouldn't be one for ghosts, but you know how this type of thing spreads.
'If you ask me, it's more likely to be a reflection of the moon on the river that flows through the area. Although the talk is that what was seen was in the shape of a person.'
Ireland is increasingly becoming the 'ghost capital of Europe', as holidaymakers from around the world visit in the hope of a supernatural experience.
The most memorable ghost of recent times was a cloaked figure photographed standing in a doorway at Hampton Court Palace in 2003.
Some believed it to be the restless spirit of the King Henry VIII's fifth wife Catherine Howard who was executed. Before the photograph emerged, she had reportedly been seen by several visitors - sometimes uttering terrible cries.
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Originally posted 1/10/09
Curious Crowds Continue Ghostly Quest in Northern Ireland
Cars have been lined up nose to tail every night for the past three weeks as news of the vision on the Mullaghmoyle Road, near Coalisland, has spread.
Armed with video recorders and digital cameras, ghost-hunters have queued up to get a glimpse of the "white lady", who is described as elderly with a sad expression.
Some have come as far as Belfast and Enniskillen in the hope of seeing the ghost.
Although some have dismissed the sighting as a trick of nature, the phenomenon has roused the interest of paranormal groups.
Raymond Bell, who owns a pub nearby in Brackaville, said his 17-year-old son Ryan had not believed in ghosts until he saw the "woman" several times.
"My son says he has seen the shadowy figure on numerous occasions and others have seen it too - it is the face of an elderly lady wearing a long white dress with a long white cape," he said.
"People are still coming in their droves to see her. They come when it gets dark at about 4.30pm and they stay until after 1am.
"It is only about 400 yards away and I have tried to get down there but there are just too many cars. It is all that anyone is talking about."
Sinn Féin Councillor Desmond Donnelly said there was a line of 60 cars queued up at one stage: "I wouldn't be one for ghosts, but you know how this type of thing spreads.
"If you ask me, it's more likely to be a reflection of the moon on the river that flows through the area. Although the talk is that what was seen was in the shape of a person."
Among those interested in the sightings is Warren Coates of the Northern Ireland Paranormal Research Association (NIPRA).
He said he planned to go to the area with a spirit medium: "It may sound far-fetched, but we will try to pick up names of people who may not be able to move on from this life.
"We have looked into reports in this area before which related to a phantom hitchhiker who walked across the road in front of cars.
"This time, a man with his newborn baby and wife in the car saw a woman walk straight in front of his car and had to slam on the brakes.
"I know some people are saying it could be the moon, but I think most people can tell the difference the moonlight and the figure of a person.
__________________________
Originally posted 1/6/09
Phantom Hitchhiker Sighting Causes Traffic Problems In Northern Ireland Town
This time of year is traditionally associated with high spirits as revellers welcome in another year.However, a spirit of a different kind has been causing a bit of a commotion outside Coalisland in County Tyrone.
An apparent sighting of a ghost has led to crowds of people descending on the Brackaville area over the holidays.
"At one point, there was a line of up to 60 cars on the Mullaghmoyle Road with people trying to spot it," said Sinn Féin Councillor Desmond Donnelly.
"It wasn't just one night, it was going on for a week or so over the holidays. I'm not sure how it all started - I wouldn't be one for ghosts, but you know how this type of thing spreads.
"If you ask me, it's more likely to be a reflection of the moon on the river that flows through the area. Although the talk is that what was seen was in the shape of a person."
Pat Hughes, speaking at the Central Bar in Coalisland, said the sighting had certainly got people in the town talking.
"Everybody's been talking about it in the bar and it has also caught the imagination of young people," he said.
"It has got to the stage where it's a bit like a drive-in movie."
As with these sorts of things, rumours about what was or was not seen quickly spread. It was claimed the apparition was a woman who had lived locally. Warren Coates of the Northern Ireland Paranormal Research Association (NIPRA) said he was aware of "previous paranormal activity" in the area.
"It related to a phantom female hitchhiker, but if anybody down there would like us to investigate this latest sighting, we'd only be too happy to help," he said.
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Video: Anomalous Objects Filmed at Killarney Lakes, County Kerry, Ireland
Click for video
Statement with video: "On Thursday, 17th September 2009, three representatives of the Centre for Fortean Zoology, the world's foremost mystery animal research group, (Jon and Corinna Downes, and Max Blake) together with Tony `Doc` Shiels, were just above Lady's View in Co Kerry, Eire. It overlooks the three lakes of Killarney, and on the upper lake, we filmed and photographed some anomalous objects that appear to be animate."
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Magical Stones and Leprechauns
austriantimes - A Polish plumber has become a faith healer after finding a mystical stone while he was digging up the drains under his home.Baffled Jacek Slominski has been swamped by demands from hundreds of patients since he pulled the stone from the earth where it had laid undisturbed for hundreds of years.
"It has a huge Z carved into it and as soon as I touched it I felt this tremendous energy coming from it. I've had a bad back for years but all of a sudden all the pain left me and never returned," he said at his home in Bialystok.
Now Jacek has become a full time healer as patients travel hundreds of miles just to touch his healing stone.
"I don't understand it but it works and it's better than fixing broken toilets," he said.
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The Leprechaun Fairy Watch - Tipperary, Ireland
The leprechaun fairy watch webcam is in a hidden location in the field in Tipperary, Ireland. This is an enchanted area, well known for magical associations. There is fairy ring close-by and you may see leprechauns and other Irish fairies such as pookas, banshees and merrows. Because the Leprechaun Watch is in the countryside in a remote part of Ireland there is only natural light and there will be little or nothing to see after dark and before dawn. The time shown is the current time in Tipperary, Ireland. In the summer in Ireland it is often bright until quite late at night. Here's the link to the website The Leprechaun Watch.
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The Good People
I received an interesting email from Jan, a reader from County Kerry, Ireland:Hi Lon,
I know you probably get hundreds of these odd photos, so I will keep this short and sweet. This is an ole abandoned farm house on the west cost of Ireland, Co. Kerry. I was out picking wild flowers and decided I'd stick my head in and take a couple of photos.
Notice down in the lower right corner "Old Kitchen" (above photo), there seems to me some organic looking light anomaly. Then same room, "Old Kitchen 2" (photo just below), same general corner - I see three odd looking little obelisk shaped critters (fairies?). There was nothing in this space that I could see with the naked eye. Just plain bare concrete floor, which is standard for this type of old farm house here.
Odder still, if you use points of reference between these two photos, you can figure out that the anomaly in the first, would be in the area of the top of the manifestations in the second (from the top of the obelisks).
There seems to be some energy on the "Old Stairs"(below) as well.
Just for a reference photo I included "Old Sitting rm" (below).
I don't know much about this house, except it has been empty a long, long time and the people who used to live there were know to be very neat, tidy and friendly (salt of the earth).
Fairies in Ireland are not the homogenized "Disney" version. They can shape shift, and are usually mischievous, and even dangerous. They don't like to be referred to as "fairies", but instead to avoid injury by them, you should always call them "the Good People".
These photos are not photo shopped in any way, except focus sharpened in the first, there are no alterations to what I downloaded from my phone/camera. I don't have photo shop on my computer and wouldn't have a clue how to use it.
I don't know what, if anything these images are, but it they are "The Good People", then this may be the first ever authentic photo ever of this type of energy.
Thank you kindly, Jan
ADDED: I talked to some of my husband's family today about the old place. My husband's family has been in the area for generations. The family that lived in the house was "O'Donoghue". They had five children. Only one of them ever married (girl). The old man lived well into his 90s, but the children, all died in their middle ages. Two brothers living in it the last. Wishing you well, Jan
NOTE: my wife, Vanessa, is into fairies as well as angels...in fact, she has a large fairy tattooed on her left arm and shoulder. Frankly, I know little about them...so I'm always glad to receive informative emails. As far as the photos, I'm going to leave that to your interpretation. Thanks to Jan! Lon
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Irish Fairies - "The Good People"
You need to know Irish fairy superstitions in order to learn how to keep them happy so they don't cause any problems in your life. They have been known to cause many problems and just generally make your life miserable.
The most well known of Irish fairies has to be the Leprechaun . A close second is the Banshee . You may or may not have heard of the Pooka . These are some of the solitary fairies. The Merrow are Irish sea fairies or I should say the sea fairies of Ireland. The Dullahan are the most feared fairies.
There are many stories concerning the social or trooping fairies. The trooping fairies travel in large groups or hosts. If you see a sudden gust of wind that swirls up dust and leaves or just blows on the leaves of some trees but not others near by, that is a cavalcade of fairies passing by. The fairies themselves unseen by human eyes.
Where Did Irish Fairies Come From
There are two thoughts on the origin of the fairies.
The first thought is they are the Túatha Dé Dannan. The Túatha Dé Dannan were in original gods of Ireland. They were defeated by the Sons of Mil thought to be the final Gael conquers of Ireland. The Túatha Dé Dannan were not banished from the land. They were diminished in size and told to go live among the hills, mounds and plains. They do not die of old age. They are not visible to humans but they can be seen if they want to. They have supernatural powers, they are gods after all.
The second thought of their origin is that they are fallen angels. This idea probably came with the coming of Christianity in the fifth century. After all everyone knew fairies existed so they had to conform to the new Christian belief. When Lucifer rebelled against God some of the angels hesitated about which side to join. For this behavior they were cast from Heaven. Some fell on land to live in elf mounds called Sidh. Some fell into the seas, lakes and rivers of Ireland and are bound to live there. A few fell into Hell and were taught by the devil to do ill to mankind, these are the malevolent fairies.
All fairies will not know death until the "Last Day" comes. Then they will simply vanish away forever, that is their fate. They are very jealous of humans because humans will be granted immortality on that day.
Do You Believe In Irish Fairies?
Today it is believed that only the uneducated believe in fairies. I don't think this is the case. I think the uneducated would be the only ones to admit to belief in fairies. Anyone else would never admit to your face this belief for fear of ridicule. Secretly many people are careful not to offend the Good People.
Up until the year 1700 virtually everyone in Ireland believed in fairies from royalty down to the rural peasants. Not even the arrival of Christianity in the fifth century could dispel this belief. Old stories were told that included fairies. It was just taken for granted that these stories were all true because it was the natural order of things that they truly were part of the real world.
As the science of the day began to find cures for mankind's aliments belief in Irish fairies began to decline, but not completely. To this day in Ireland some people still practice rituals to appease the Good People even though they may not be aware of what they are doing. On May morning some people collect flowers especially primroses to spread around their doors and windows. This is done to keep out the malevolent fairies. They may or may not know why they do this. They would never admit to you or me why they do this.
A friend of mine from here in the U.S recently visited a town in Co. Kerry, Ireland. On display were some fairy houses where some fairies are suppose to currently live. A local told her that the "real" fairies don't live there, the display is just for the tourists. She wouldn't tell my friend where the fairies really lived, that has to be kept secret.
Milk, salt, and fire are sacred in fairy lore. I remember as a child being told by my mother to throw spilled salt over my shoulder. I wonder if this was to give the fairies their share, I would be willing to bet that it was. This most likely has been handed down through the family, but the reason behind it has been lost. After all you should just know why you are throwing salt over your shoulder, shouldn’t you? It's the natural order of things.
There might be things done in your family to appease the Good People that you may not be aware of. So I ask again. Do you believe in fairies?
Source: The Irish Path
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Searching For Ireland's Banshee
The Banshee, from the Irish bean-sídhe ("woman of the síde" or "woman of the fairy mounds") is a female spirit in Irish mythology, usually seen as an omen of death and a messenger from the Otherworld. Her Scottish counterpart is the bean shìth.
According to tradition, the Banshee can only cry for five major Irish families: the O'Neills, the O'Briens, the O'Connors, the O'Gradys and the Kavanaghs. Intermarriage has since extended this select list. Individuals have described the Irish Banshee in numerous ways. Many describe this mythical creature as a young, beautiful woman. Then, there are some that describe the Banshee as a matron. In some tales, the figure who first appears to be a Banshee is later revealed to be the Irish battle goddess, the Morrígan. The hag may also appear as a washer-woman who cleans the blood stained clothes of those who are about to die. Although not always visible, her mourning call is heard, usually at night when someone is about to die and usually near woodlands. The Banshee may also appear in a variety of other forms, such as that of a crow, hare and weasel, most any animal associated in Ireland with witchcraft. Banshees are frequently described as dressed in white or grey, often having long, fair hair which they brush with a silver comb.
In 1437, King James I of Scotland was approached by an Irish seeress or banshee who foretold his murder at the instigation of the Earl of Atholl. This is an example of the banshee in human form. There are records of several human banshees or prophetesses attending the great houses of Ireland and the courts of local Irish kings.
The Irish Banshee, according to the people of Ireland, may come in the form of one of many different animals. This is partly due to the fact that the actual female version of the Banshee is not always seen in that form, however, several animals have been said to emit the same sounds as the mythical creature makes when forewarning of tragedy. This sound is called the "Mourning Call". In some cases, no animal or female figure is seen, but the call can be heard coming from the dark, mysterious depths of the forests located throughout Ireland.
The Banshee of Ireland is a very interesting legend. All throughout history, there have been accounts regarding the sightings of this mythical creature. Is she real? There is no physical evidence apart from witness accounts and tales passed from one generation to another, but for those in Ireland, this is a very real mythical creature. For the rest of us, it is truly one of the world’s greatest unsolved mysteries.
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| The term banshee is an anglicisation of the Irish bean sídhe or bean sí, or the Scots Gaelic bean shìth, – both meaning “woman of the fairy mounds” or “woman of peace” |
One of the Banshee Legends
There was an Irish gentleman who had a beautiful daughter, strong and healthy, and a splendid horsewoman. She always followed the hounds, and her appearance at the hunt attracted unbounded admiration, as no one rode so well or looked so beautiful.
One evening there was a ball after the hunt, and the young girl moved through the dance with the grace of a fairy queen.
Three times the voice came, and three times he heard the words; but though it. was bright moonlight, and he looked from the window over all the park, no form was to be seen.
Next day, his daughter showed symptoms of fever, and exactly in three weeks, as the Ban-Sidhe had prophesied, the beautiful girl lay dead.
The night before her death soft music was heard outside the house, though no word was spoken by the spirit-voice, and the family said the form of a woman crouched beneath a tree, with a mantle covering her head, was distinctly visible. But on approaching, the phantom disappeared, though the soft, low music of the lamentation continued till dawn.
Then the angel of death entered the house with soundless feet, and he breathed upon the beautiful face of the young girl, and she rested in the sleep of the dead, beneath the dark shadows of his wings.
Thus the prophecy of the Banshee came true, according to the time foretold by the spirit-voice.
The Scream of the Banshee
Ireland's Infamous Banshee - Destination Truth Live : New Season
Join Josh's team and special guests as they search for Ireland's infamous banshee in a four hour live event on St. Patrick's Day. Thursday March 17 at 7/6c.
The Banshee - Pagan Ireland
The Banshee
"Who sits upon the heath forlorn,
With robe so free and tresses torn?
Anon she pours a harrowing strain,
And then she sits all mute again!
Now peals the wild funeral cry
And now... it sinks into a sigh."
Another Banshee Legend
In about the middle of the nineteenth century lived the Reverend Charles Bunworth of Co. Cork. Mr. Bunworth became deathly ill. His wife was not too worried because it looked like his health was improving.
A servant of the household knew his master was going to die. He heard the dreaded wail along with several others. He tells his story;
“As I came through the glen at Ballybeg, she was along with me screeching and keening, and clapping her hands, by my side every step of the way, with her long white hair falling about her shoulders, and I could hear her repeat the master’s name every now and then as plain as ever I heard it. When I came to the old abbey, she parted from me there, and turned into the pigeon field next to the berrin ground, and folding her cloak about her, down she sat under the tree that was struck by lightning, and began keening so bitterly that it went through one’s heart to hear it.
Mrs. Bunworth dismissed this as superstition because her husband's health was getting better.
A few nights later a low moaning accompanied by the sound of clapping was heard outside of Mr. Bunworth’s window. Two men visiting the house immediately ran outside to find the source of the sound. They found nothing and heard only silence. Meanwhile the people still in the house kept hearing the wailing and moaning and clapping. This continued for hours. All the while Mr. Bunworth began slipping away. He was dead by the morning.
This just goes to show you that once someone has heard a banshee, death is not far behind.
Why the Legends?
These funeral singers were known as “keeners”, and their services were highly prized. From the natural honoring of the dead, the legend of the Banshee began.
As time passed, the myth of the wailing Irish spirit became more colorful and supernatural.
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