Banshee

Codename

BANSHEE-413286

Type

Spirit

Region

Ireland

First sighting

8th century

Alias

Bean Sídhe, Bean Chaointe, Badhbh, The Washer at the Ford

Known associates

The Dullahan, Fairy Folk, Ancient Irish Families

Investigator case notes

The banshee, or 'bean sídhe' in Irish, is a female spirit in Irish folklore whose mournful wail is an omen of death. Often appearing as a pale woman with long, flowing white or silver hair and red eyes from endless weeping, she's typically dressed in a grey cloak over a white dress. Banshees are known to follow specific Irish families, particularly those with 'O' or 'Mc' in their names. Their cry, described as a combination of a wail and a keening song, is said to be heard at night when a family member is about to die. Some accounts describe them washing the blood-stained clothes of those who are about to die in streams. While terrifying, the banshee is not malevolent - she merely warns of inevitable fate. Modern sightings continue to be reported across Ireland and in areas with strong Irish heritage.