Creatures from Éire

        In this post I am going to show you several mythological creatures found in Irish folklore. The amount of these creatures is huge and it is very interesting to notice that some of them can also be found in other places near Ireland. The selection I have done is just based on my own liking. I hope you enjoy it!

         Without a doubt, leprechauns are the most famous legendary creatures in Ireland and today they have become a symbol of the country. They are male fairies who spent their time making shoes. Legends tell that in war times they earned huge amounts of gold and they keep it hidden in a vessel hidden at the end of a rainbow. This is the reason why they are regarded as a sign of prosperity and good luck. They appear like old men and even if they are usually represented wearing green clothes, actually old legends tell about red ones. It is also said that if a human captures a leprechaun, they will grant three wishes as an exchange for his freedom.

        Selkies are mythological creatures found in Scottish, Icelandic and Irish folklore. In Ireland, they are also known as roane. They are shape-shifters, living as seals in the waters and becoming human on land after shedding their skin. Both, male and female selkies are said to be incredibly beautiful creatures and legend tells that if a man find the skin of a selkie, he can demand her to marry him and she won't refuse to do it. Another legend about this creature tells that selkies cannot watch humans for too much time before going back to the ocean.

Stamps depicting selkies from Faroe Islands.

        Banshees are probably one of the darkest creatures in Irish folklore. They are female spirits regarded as omens of death and messengers from the hereafter. Legends tell that they appear before somebody announcing that a relative of him or her is going to pass away soon. They usually can be seen crying, screaming and bawling but some other times they only are noticeable for their shrieks.

        The púka or pooka is one of the most feared creatures in Irish folklore. They are evil fairies that are said to be able to change their shape. They usually appear as a fearsome black horse that runs through the fields ruining the harvest and destroying farms. This is one of the most frequent shapes they adopt, but the real shape of the pooka is actually pretty much ridiculous in comparison: they are just little and deformed fairies similar to trolls.

        Irish mythology, along with all its creatures and stories, has helped to develop the fantastic genre in such a way that, without it, fantasy would not be the same at all nowadays.