Irish Mythological Creatures: the Mischievous, the Cute, and the Terrifying

Myths are part of the history of many countries around the world. In prehistoric times and before Abrahamic religions such as Christianity became widely practised, every culture had its own set of beliefs that contained gods and goddesses and stories of creatures that ruled, helped or terrified the humans of the earth. With time —and other religious beliefs— these stories became less of a practised religion and more of myths and legends told through generations to entertain and educate about how our ancestors lived, the best of which are those including Irish mythological creatures.

Irish mythology is the most significant and best-preserved part of ancient Celtic mythology. It has been passed orally through generations for centuries and was eventually recorded by Christians in the early medieval era. To this day, Irish myths and legends are still being told all around Ireland, and these stories of the Irish mythological creatures and heroes have been feeding books and films for decades.

There are many stories of mythological creatures around the world, but what stands out in the creatures of Irish mythology is that they are mainly one of two types: harmless, helpful and cute or viscous, bloodthirsty and murderous. There is no in-between with the Irish! In this article, we will talk about some of the most exciting creatures in Irish mythology, their origins, their stories and how they are perceived nowadays in Ireland and beyond.

Irish Mythological Creatures

There are hundreds of creatures in Irish myths; some are very well-known, such as the Banshee, the Leprechaun and the fairies and others less so, such as the Abhartach and the Oilliphéist. These creatures and more can be divided into the good ones and those you don’t want to mess with.

The Irish could weave such intricate legends around their creatures and make their stories (fun or terrifying) feel as accurate as possible. Here, we will discuss several creatures and divide them into two categories. We will start with the more tame ones and then move to those that might give you a hard time falling asleep (you’ve been warned!). Let’s dive in!

Celtic vs. Irish Mythological Creatures

Irish mythology is a core branch of the wider Celtic mythology tree. The Celts were a group of tribal societies that spread across Europe, and their legends evolved across regions like Scotland, Wales, Brittany, and, of course, Ireland.

While all Celtic myths share themes like nature spirits, magical beings, and heroic warriors, Irish mythology developed its own distinct identity. That’s thanks to the Gaelic language, Christian influences, and strong oral tradition passed down for centuries.

For example, creatures like the Leprechaun, Abhartach, and Banshee are mostly unique to Irish folklore. On the other hand, figures like Selkies or Faeries have versions across several Celtic cultures. If you’re searching for Celtic mythology creatures, you’re often encountering Irish tales that made the biggest cultural impact.

So while the terms “Celtic” and “Irish” mythology often overlap, they’re not identical. Irish myths are part of Celtic heritage—but they also stand firmly on their own.

The Good and Mischievous Creatures

The following creatures can be considered harmless (compared to the other vicious ones) and have been used extensively in children’s stories. However, these creatures are not exactly your friends as they can also be tricky and get you in serious trouble, but at least they will not try to suck your blood or woe you into an early grave. Let’s meet the good creatures of Irish mythology.

The Leprechaun

The Leprechaun is one of the most famous Irish mythological creatures. It is usually visualised as a short bearded man wearing a green coat and a hat.

The Leprechaun is said to be a great shoemaker and cobbler who uses his skills to earn lots of gold that he keeps in a cauldron at the end of a rainbow. But you must be careful of a Leprechaun as he is a trickster who would try his best to deceive you. It is said that if you catch a Leprechaun (not an easy job, by the way!), you can keep him captive until he agrees to bestow upon you great wealth.

Although Leprechauns are commonly depicted in popular culture, historically, they were linked to the Tuatha Dé Danann, an ancient people in Irish mythology. Some sources suggest they evolved as shoemakers to the fairies. This deeper origin resonates with Celtic myth, bridging Irish and broader Gaelic lore.

Nowadays, it is the creature most associated with Ireland and is used in many books and films to represent wealth, luck, and trickery. According to the myth, Leprechauns live in caves or tree trunks in rural Ireland, away from crowds.

The Faeries

Faeries —as traditionally spelt— or fairies are found in many European myths, including —but not limited to— Celtic and Irish myths. In children’s stories, they are usually small women with wings who help the hero or heroine and are very good-natured.

In Irish folklore, Faeries are divided into Seelie and Unseelie faeries. Seeli Faeries are associated with Spring and Summer and are as good-natured as they are in children’s stories. They are helpful and playful and like to communicate with humans. On the other hand, Unseelie Faeries are associated with Winter and Fall and are not very good-natured. They are not evil per se but like to trick humans and cause trouble. All Faeries are ruled by the Faerie Queen, who resides in the Seelie and Unseelie courts.

Irish people believe that Faerie Courts exist below the ground and can be found at places in Ireland with Fairy Forts or Ring Forts. Fairy Forts and Ring Forts are ancient monuments scattered throughout the Irish countryside. There are around 60 thousand Fairy and Ring Forts in Ireland that you can visit. But whether you will meet a faerie or not, we cannot make any promises.

The Púca

The Puca or the Pooka is an Irish mythological creature that is said to bring good or bad fortune. 

They can shapeshift and take different animal forms or even human forms. They are generally very lovely creatures and love chatting with humans and offering advice. Most people would not want to encounter a Puca because you never know what kind of fortune it might bring you.

Even though they are shapeshifting creatures that like to take the form of whatever other creatures might benefit them, they usually keep one feature of their original shape constant: their big golden eyes. Since golden eyes are rare among animals and humans, it is the only way to recognise a Puca.

Pucas are said to live in rural Ireland, just like leprechauns. Since they like to interact with humans, they usually visit small villages and strike up conversations with people who sit alone, away from crowds.

The Merrows

The Merrows are the Irish counterpart of a mermaid. Merrows are half-fish sea creatures from the waist down and half-human from the waist up. Unlike how most folktales portray mermaids, Merrows are thought to be kind, loving and benevolent. They can feel real emotions towards humans, and the female merrows often fall in love with human men.

In Irish folklore, it is said that many female merrows have fallen in love with human men and even went on to live on land and create a family. However, merrows are naturally drawn to the sea, and no matter how long they stay on land or how much they love their human family, they will eventually want to return to the ocean. According to the myth, to keep your merrow-wife on land, you need to take away her cohuleen druith, a little magic cap that she needs to get her tails and scales back.

Male merrows or merrow-men also exist, but while female merrows are gorgeous looking with flowing green hair, merrow men are believed to be very ugly with pig-like eyes. According to Irish legends, merrows can be found on Ireland’s coastline.

The Fear Gorta

During the 1840s, Ireland went through a horrible period called the Great Famine. At that time, the myth of the Fear Gorta emerged. He is considered an extremely thin and famished-looking old man who emerged from a dry and hungry grass batch. He sits on the streets and in places where there are lots of people asking for food. If you answer his begging and offer him food when food is scarce, he brings you great fortune and luck. However, if you ignore him and do not offer him any food, he curses you and brings you bad fortune till the day you die.

Many people believe that Fear Gorta is the precursor of famines. However, he is still not considered a destructive or harmful creature since he only asks for food.

The Scary and Terrifying Creatures

Irish mythology has many terrifying creatures that can haunt your dreams and nightmares. Since the Irish believe in good and bad fortunes, many creatures are harbingers of bad luck and horrible fortunes. Unlike the ones above, where good and bad fortunes are possible with them, these below are creatures you do not wish to come across.

The Banshee

The Banshee is one of the most terrifying creatures in Irish and Celtic mythology, mainly because it is associated with death. The Banshee is said to be an old or young woman with long black hair blowing in the wind. Her most unique physical feature, though, is her blood-red eyes. The legend says that if you hear the scream of a Banshee, someone in your family will die shortly. Hearing a Banshee scream or wail is a bad omen and a sign of impending death.

In many cultures around the world, there is a tradition of hiring women to cry and scream when someone dies. It is said that the myth of the Banshee originated from this tradition that existed in Ireland during the old times, and these women were called the Keening Women. However, the stark difference between Banshees and Keening Women is that the latter is hired to show grief and sadness over someone’s death, while the Banshee can predict death before it happens.

Banshees can be found anywhere in Ireland near homes where someone is about to die. Do pray that you never encounter one (if they exist).

The Abhartach

The Abhartach is an Irish vampire. Local legends describe the Abhartach as a small yet fearsome chieftain with dark powers. The Abhartach used to live in a parish called Slaughtaverty in Derry. He lived by killing people and drinking their blood. There are many stories about how Abhartach was dead, but they all follow the same pattern, even if they have some differences.

A man finds the Abhartach, kills him and buries him. The next day, the Abhartach escapes from his grave and demands blood from the people of Slaughtaverty. The man finds him again and kills him, but once again, he escapes his grave, more vital than ever before, and demands more blood.

Knowing that the Abhartach will just escape a third time, the man consults a druid on what to do about this predicament. The druid tells the man to kill the Abhartach using a sword made of yew wood and bury him upside down. The man does as he is told; this time, the Abhartach does not rise again.

Many people believe that Abhartach was real and that he inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula. His grave is known as Slaghtaverty Dolmen and can be found in the north of Maghera in County Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It remains a curious draw for cryptid enthusiasts and travellers alike. Scary, right?

The Oilliphéist

The Oilliphéists are said to be sea monsters that live in lakes all around Ireland. They look like dragons or serpents but are sea-bound. According to one legend, the most famous Oilliphéist was Caoránach and lived in Lough Dearg in Donegal. Caoránach emerged one day from the broken thigh bone of a woman who was killed in the Lough Dearg region.

At first, Caoránach emerged as a small worm but quickly grew more prominent and started eating all the cattle in the region. The people were terrified of it and did not know who to kill it, so they commissioned Saint Patrick to kill the monster and rid them of its harm.

Saint Patrick arrived in Donegal, successfully killed the monster, and dumped its body in Lake Lough Dearg. In other words, Saint Patrick never killed Caoránach but only banished him to the lake, where he lives to this day, waiting for his victims.

The Dullahan

Another harbinger of death, the Dullahan, is a headless rider in Irish mythology who calls the names of the people about to die. According to the legend, the Dullahan is a type of headless faerie who rides a black horse and carries his head in his hand (think Headless Nick from Harry Potter but way less friendly) and a whip made of a human’s spine in the other hand. In other stories, the Dullahan is not a horseman but a coachman who calls people into his coach. If you answer his call, you die. Not like you will have much of a choice to deny him, anyway.

The Dullahan is said to live around graveyards where wicked aristocrats are buried. There is not only one Dullahan but rather many who can be both men and women. When they call someone’s name, they know that that person is about to perish. In other cultures, the Dullahan is almost precisely like the Grim Reaper, who collects the souls of those about to die.

Ellén Trechend

Ellén Trechend is a three-headed Irish monster that is said to have emerged from the cave of Cruachan in Roscommon, Ireland. According to the legend, it terrorised the Irish people and laid waste to Ireland until it was killed by the poet and hero Amergin.

The creature was often described as looking like a vulture or a three-headed dragon. The Irish author P.W Joyce believes that the Ellén Trechend was mounted by a goblin who commandeered an army to destroy Ireland. Unlike the other creatures of Irish mythology, the Ellén Trechend is the one that actually looks like a classic monster the most. All around Europe, you can find myths close to the Ellén Trechend.

Irish Cryptids

Not all Irish mythological creatures are fairies or spirits—some are cryptids, believed to be real by locals even to this day. These creatures fall into the realm of folklore and mystery, often spotted in remote areas or lakes. The Abhartach is often considered Ireland’s original cryptid. His story is still tied to a physical location—Slaghtaverty Dolmen in Derry, which some believe to be his final resting place.

Here are a few notable Irish cryptids:

• Dobhar-chú – A large, otter-like beast said to haunt Glenade Lake in Leitrim. It’s been described as a cross between a dog and an otter, known for its fierce nature and speed.
• The Muckie – Sometimes called Ireland’s Loch Ness Monster, this lake creature is said to live in Lough Foyle and Lough Nahooin. Descriptions vary from a giant eel to a hump-backed monster.

These stories are still told today in rural Ireland and are often used to explain strange sightings or unexplained noises in the night. If you’re exploring Irish legends, don’t overlook these terrifying tales of local cryptids.

In modern days, filmmakers and novelists love to tackle Irish mythology or at least use its creatures in their own stories. Faeries and Leprechauns have had their fair share of adaptations and features in many stories ranging from children’s books to more adult content that can venture more into the creatures’ tricky and untrustworthy nature. If you take a trip to Ireland, ask the locals about local legends and stories, and you will find the most captivating tales and places to visit.

Have you heard any local stories about these creatures? Share your experiences in the comments!

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