Banshee art. Banshee. The banshee (/ˈbænʃiː/ BAN-shee), from Irish: bean sí [bʲæn ˈʃiː] ("woman of the sídhe" or "woman of the fairy mounds") is a female spirit in Irish mythology, usually seen as an omen of death and a messenger from the underworld.
In legend, a banshee is a fairy woman who begins to wail if someone is about to die. In Scottish Gaelic mythology, she is known as the bean sìth or bean-nighe and is seen washing the bloodstained clothes or armour of those who are about to die. Alleged sightings of banshees have been reported as recently as 1948.[1] Similar beings are also found in Welsh,[2] Norse[3][4][5] and American folklore.[6][7]
Spirits of Legend and Fantasy: Banshees. When we listen to Irish legends, we often hear about leprechauns.
However, leprechauns are only one of many spirits of Ireland. One, much more frightening and morbid, but arguably more interesting creature of legend is the banshee. These ghost-women appeared in many Irish folktales and are as much an element of Ireland’s history as their tiny green-clad counterparts. The following should teach you the basics of what you need to know about banshees.