Tradition: Irish Mythology
Alternative Names: Bean Sí, Bean Sídhe, Fairy Woman, Woman of the Fairy Mound
Category: Ghost
The Myth
The banshee is a female spirit in Irish mythology whose mournful cries foretell the death of a member of a family. Her name derives from the Irish bean sí, meaning “woman of the fairy mound,” connecting her to the ancient burial mounds scattered throughout the Irish countryside. These mounds were regarded as entrances to the supernatural world inhabited by the sí, or fairies. The banshee is most often heard rather than seen, announcing impending death through screaming, shrieking, wailing, or the traditional Irish lament known as keening.
Descriptions of the banshee vary between accounts. She may appear as an old woman with long, streaming hair, which she sometimes combs while lamenting. In some traditions, she wears a grey cloak over a green dress, and her eyes are red from continual weeping. Other descriptions portray her dressed entirely in white, with red hair and a deathly complexion. Her stature also differs between tales: although some accounts describe her as unnaturally tall, many depict her as an exceptionally small, elderly figure, sometimes no more than a few feet in height. She may also appear as a veiled woman crouching beneath trees at night or as a spectral figure flying through the moonlight while crying bitterly.
In some legends, the banshee is the spirit of a young woman who died before her time and was assigned by supernatural powers to warn her mortal relatives of approaching death. She may even appear as a sweet-singing maiden associated with the family she serves. Traditional accounts claim that the banshee’s lament is heard around the home of a family when one of its members suffers from an illness destined to end in death. The belief was particularly associated with ancient and noble families, who were said to possess the privilege of a supernatural mourner. Her cry does not necessarily cause death; rather, it serves as a sorrowful warning that death is near.
Sources
“Banshee.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 16, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banshee