I have two stories of death messengers. One my own, one my mother's. I'm not sure either could be classified as the Banshee.
My mother describes hearing the shreik of the Banshee the night her grandfather died. She was tending to him, and said it was fierce loud, and surrounded the house, not coming from a single source. They lived on the Mayo coast in the parish of Kilbride, tight on very high cliffs. I often wondered was it the wind coming in off the water and into the cliffs causing that sound. She swears to it, and that it stopped when my great grandfather passed. That would have been likely the late 1930s.
When my mother passed, I was living in Maine. I live on an island, where many people leave for the winter. So, I'm pretty well isolated. I had only just been home, and had spent 6 weeks by her side. I knew she wasn't long for the world, but had to get back here.
We had heard from her care home that things were not looking good. I had my bags packed, and plans to fly back the following day. At 5:15 am, I was woken by a bell ringing. It rang for several minutes. I searched the house. It was definitely coming from inside, but could not find its source. About 20 minutes later I received a call saying that she had passed.
I'm convinced it was she saying her goodbyes. I've often wondered though, could this be classified as the Banshee. It was definitely a death messenger, but can that also be the Banshee? It was as clear as day, but very different from the wailing my mother had heard, and the descriptions in Dr. Lysaght's book.
Thank you for this post. Wish I could be to your talk.
The sound of the shriek surrounding them and not knowing where it was from sounds very banshee-ish. As for the bell, they are often associated with the fairies so…maybe you brought some over with you :-)
Hopefully some talks will soon be online also so people who can’t attend in person can also share the banshee love (and terror)!
It's quare that you mention the fairies. Since living here in Maine, I have several trees that have volunteered them selves on the edges of my little plot. Hawthorn, Rowan, Yew have settled here, and in one corner I have foxglove and blackberry also volunteered. I've often thought about this and wondered lols...
My mother, who grew up in Gweedore in the 1920's & 30's remembered women keening at wakes when she was a child, but said the custom did not continue for many years after that. I think she was relieved!
I have two stories of death messengers. One my own, one my mother's. I'm not sure either could be classified as the Banshee.
My mother describes hearing the shreik of the Banshee the night her grandfather died. She was tending to him, and said it was fierce loud, and surrounded the house, not coming from a single source. They lived on the Mayo coast in the parish of Kilbride, tight on very high cliffs. I often wondered was it the wind coming in off the water and into the cliffs causing that sound. She swears to it, and that it stopped when my great grandfather passed. That would have been likely the late 1930s.
When my mother passed, I was living in Maine. I live on an island, where many people leave for the winter. So, I'm pretty well isolated. I had only just been home, and had spent 6 weeks by her side. I knew she wasn't long for the world, but had to get back here.
We had heard from her care home that things were not looking good. I had my bags packed, and plans to fly back the following day. At 5:15 am, I was woken by a bell ringing. It rang for several minutes. I searched the house. It was definitely coming from inside, but could not find its source. About 20 minutes later I received a call saying that she had passed.
I'm convinced it was she saying her goodbyes. I've often wondered though, could this be classified as the Banshee. It was definitely a death messenger, but can that also be the Banshee? It was as clear as day, but very different from the wailing my mother had heard, and the descriptions in Dr. Lysaght's book.
Thank you for this post. Wish I could be to your talk.
The sound of the shriek surrounding them and not knowing where it was from sounds very banshee-ish. As for the bell, they are often associated with the fairies so…maybe you brought some over with you :-)
Hopefully some talks will soon be online also so people who can’t attend in person can also share the banshee love (and terror)!
It's quare that you mention the fairies. Since living here in Maine, I have several trees that have volunteered them selves on the edges of my little plot. Hawthorn, Rowan, Yew have settled here, and in one corner I have foxglove and blackberry also volunteered. I've often thought about this and wondered lols...
Haha sounds like you might have some neighbours…
The good ones ; )
Brilliant, do you think you will do some storytelling festivals in Cork as well
I haven’t got any invites but if they arrive I’d surely give it a go. Mind you I’m not a seanchai but we’d have a bit of craic if nothing else
My mother, who grew up in Gweedore in the 1920's & 30's remembered women keening at wakes when she was a child, but said the custom did not continue for many years after that. I think she was relieved!
From what I’ve read it could all get a bit unsettling at the wakes alright.