Part of my heritage is Irish and I like learning about my various cultural histories. In honor of this St Patrick's Day, I wanted to share some of the Irish Monsters. Enjoy and remember, Erin Go Bragh and don't steal the Leprechauns gold!
1. The Dearg Due - Which means Red Blood Sucker. This is the Irish version of a Vampire. She was once a beautiful young women who fell in love with a peasant boy. Her parent's did not approve so she killed herself to avoid an arranged marriage she was being forced into.Legend has it she arose from the grave and killed her family to get revenge for her lost love.
2. Cu Dorchadas - Dog of Darkness. They are dog-like solitary apparitions that haunt lonely abandoned places, ruins and churches. They are usually black and have the ability to shapeshift. They come for one of two things an Omen of Doom and Disaster or a Protector of buildings, locations, and travelers from other, more sinister supernatural beings.
3. Each Uisce - A dangerous Waterhorse that attempts to drown and devour humans. It will take the form of a horse and try to get people to ride it. It can also take the form of a human in order to seduce a human and eat them.
4. The Dullahan - A Death Omen in Celtic Mythology the Dullahan is a rider who posses a whip made of a human spine in one hand and his head in the other (somewhat like The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow). When he calls your name the doors to the underworld open and you die immediately. But don't stick around to watch lest your eyes be whipped out by that nasty spine!
5. Caoranach - A monstrous female serpent who is the mother of all demons. She lives in an Irish Lake called Lough Derq.
And as a bonus there is of course The Banshee and The Leprechaun! But most people know about those :-).
Have a Great St. Patrick's Day!
