Mythology @ FreshCaffeine.com

Folklore of Ireland

This is the name of a monstrous humanoid in the legends and traditions of Ireland. The FER CAILLE, whose name may be translated as the "Man of the Woods", is described as being huge-looking like a man but having only one eye in his head, one hand, and one foot. He is evidently not restricted by this, since he is occupied with controlling the great herds of beasts and frequently seen carrying a huge black pig over his shoulder and followed by an extraordinarily ugly hag. It is in the Togul Bruidne Da Derga , the epic of Destruction of the Hostel Da Derga that we are told how FER CAILLE waylays the hero CONAIRE on his way to Da Derga.

Source: Giants, Monsters, and Dragons: An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend, and Myth

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Irish Folklore
A Sea Creature

This is the name of a huge water monster in the traditions and legends of Ireland, the PEISTE is described as a type of amphibious "worm" or Dragon, recorded in early times and said to have been defeated by Saint Patrick. I recent sighting, by a group of friends on an outing, took place in Lough Fadda in the west of Ireland in 1954, and the folk beliefs still clearly lives on.

Source: Giants, Monsters, and Dragons: An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend, and Myth

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Created by Author Bram Stoker in 1897
Based of real life "Vlad the Impaler"
World Wide Folklore or Legend

This is he name of the character in the classical horror story DRACULA 1897 by the Irish author Abraham (Bram) Stoker (1847-1912). The Count DRACULA of the novel is described as a clean-shaven old man with a high forehead over hi aquiline nose. His eyebrows were so thick that they seemed to meet; his eyes appeared to be as one in a fever; and he wore a gray mustache over his ruddy mouth, from which sharp, pointed teeth protruded and his stinking breath exhaled. His ears were curiously pointed at the hair line, while the hands with which he gripped his visitors were white with hairs in the center of the palm, and the long finger were extended by pointed, claw-like nails. He was dressed entirely in black, which made his pallid skin appear almost blue. DRACULA was a VAMPIRE and a Transylvania count who lived in his castle high in the mountains, from which he made sorties every night with his wolf pack and other VAMPIRES to terrorize the local population. In the novel, DRACULA visits the British Isles, because he must remain to his vault each night (Sharing with the TROLLS of Norse Mythology his demise should sunlight fall on him), he had to take some Transylvania earth with him.

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Irish Folklore
A type of Elf
Has Many Names
Happy St. Patrick's Day!

In the legend and folklore of Ireland, this is the fairy shoemaker. He goes by numerous names, the original being LUCHORPAN, meaning “Little Body”, the designation of a dwarf. In Literature, the names LUBRICAN, LUBBERKIN, LUCHORPAN, and LUPRACAN may be used. Other names are used in different districts, such as LUNRAMAN in Ulster; LUCHRAGAN, LUGADAN, and CLURACAN in Munster; LURACAN in south Leinster and Connacht; and LOIMREACHAN in east Leinster. The LEPRECHAUN is generally described as having a little wizened, grey-bearded face with twinkling eyes and a pointed nose. He is said to wear a red jacket with silver buttons, brown breeches, black silver-buckled shoes, and a high crowned hat. Sometimes he is said to be clothed in all green; however, he usually has a leather apron and appears to be mending a shoe with his little hammer tapping busily. It is this tapping that signifies his presence, but it is not advisable for humans to approach.

This Elf is tricksy, and despite his reputation for guarding crocks of gold, he will play pranks on any mortals who take their eyes off of him for a second, and will vanish laughing. Typical of this is the tale concerning a man who managed to get a LEPRECHAUN to show him the bush in the field where the treasure was located. Having no spade, the man marked the bush with one of his red garters, then kindly released the SPRITE and went for a spade. Returning almost instantly, he found that all of the numerous bushes in the field were wearing a red garter.

Source: Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins Encyclopedia

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Irish Folklore
Celtic Mythology
Attendant Spirit

The name means "Woman of the Hill" or "Woman of the Mound", is derived from the Irish bean, a woman, and si or Sidheand ancient “mound” and later “fairy”. The BANSHEE is known by many different names in various regions: in Waterford as BADBH; in Wexford, KILDARE, and in Wicklow as BADHBH; and in Kilkenny and Laois as BADHBH Chaointe. The BANSHEE is said to look like an old woman with glowing red eyes in hollow sockets and long flowing white hair; she wears a grey cloak over a green dress (the fairy color). Another description is of a woman dressed in white (the color of death) with a ghastly face surrounded by long red hair.; but lady Wilde described her as beautiful but veiled in mourning.

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