Ireland Trip Part 29: Bunratty Castle's Banshee

Banshee . Credit: http://www.fairyist.com/

This part 29 of our Ireland Trip and we'll cover the legends of a Banshee, one of Ireland's mysterious creatures - because one is tied to Bunratty Castle. 
WHAT IS A BANSHEE? - A banshee is a "spirit" of a wailing woman who is heard preceding the death of someone. Sometimes they can show up for several nights in a row until the victim passes.


WHAT IS THE BANSHEE OF BUNRATTY CASTLE? - According to the book "Haunted Ireland" a book published by "Picture House," the name of the Banshee that "haunted" Bunratty Castle was named "Aibhill." The first banshee attached to Bunratty was heard around 1014 before the death of Brain Boru, who lived in the first castle on the site. 

WHO IS "AIBHILL"? - She's a druid goddess of the kings of Dalcassia, who were ancestor of the O'Brien family - the family that lived in the fourth castle on the site. Aibhill was known to live in a cave about one mile north of Killaloe in County Clare. 

THE HISTORIC ENCOUNTER - One encounter with hearing "Aibhill" was written down in 1649 by Lady Anne Fanshawe who was a guest in the Bunratty Castle. She described being awakened at 1

Bunratty Castle

a.m. by a woman in white who stood outside her window. The woman, a Banshee,  had a pale complexion and red hair.  She said "Ahore" three times (I have no idea what that means). Later that morning the lady of the house came to Lady Anne and told her that a cousin of hers passed away at 2 a.m. that morning. 

ANOTHER RECORD - Paranormal database.com cited an occurrence in 1956:
Location: Bunratty - Rathlaheen Cottage, near Bunratty Castle
Type: Crisis Manifestation     Date / Time: 1956
Further Comments: The wails of the banshee were heard within this building just before a death occurred

NEXT:  BUNRATTY CASTLE FOLK PARK: A WALK THROUGH HISTORY