Top 10 Creepy Irish Myths and Legends

the Emerald Isle is home to some of the

the Emerald Isle is home to some of the world’s most interesting tales and

world’s most interesting tales and

world’s most interesting tales and supernatural concepts welcome to

supernatural concepts welcome to

supernatural concepts welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting

watchmojo.com and today we’re counting

watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 creepy

down our picks for the top 10 creepy

down our picks for the top 10 creepy Irish myths and legends before we begin

Irish myths and legends before we begin

Irish myths and legends before we begin we publish new videos every day so be

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sure to subscribe for more great content

sure to subscribe for more great content for this list we’re looking at both the

for this list we’re looking at both the

for this list we’re looking at both the creepiest mythological creatures as well

creepiest mythological creatures as well

creepiest mythological creatures as well as folklore to be passed on from era

number 10 the Leprechaun this little man

number 10 the Leprechaun this little man of the hills is perhaps the most iconic

of the hills is perhaps the most iconic

of the hills is perhaps the most iconic of the fairies of Ireland while

of the fairies of Ireland while

of the fairies of Ireland while predominantly appearing in folklore

predominantly appearing in folklore

predominantly appearing in folklore rather than older mythologies these

rather than older mythologies these

rather than older mythologies these members of the ASC are classified as

members of the ASC are classified as

members of the ASC are classified as solitary fairies as opposed to trooping

solitary fairies as opposed to trooping

solitary fairies as opposed to trooping fairies who are seen in groups and

fairies who are seen in groups and

fairies who are seen in groups and processions while mostly harmless and

processions while mostly harmless and

processions while mostly harmless and even helpful at times they’ve been known

even helpful at times they’ve been known

even helpful at times they’ve been known to play tricks on humans

to play tricks on humans

to play tricks on humans like many solitary fairies they’re

like many solitary fairies they’re

like many solitary fairies they’re considered to be capable of wickedness

considered to be capable of wickedness

considered to be capable of wickedness but without any particular malice if

but without any particular malice if

but without any particular malice if that makes it any better

that makes it any better

that makes it any better wishes famed for their hoards of gold

wishes famed for their hoards of gold

wishes famed for their hoards of gold leprechauns will grant three wishes to a

leprechauns will grant three wishes to a

leprechauns will grant three wishes to a human who captures them just be careful

human who captures them just be careful

human who captures them just be careful what you wish for that’s where I saw

what you wish for that’s where I saw

what you wish for that’s where I saw that leprechaun leprechaun he told me to

that leprechaun leprechaun he told me to

that leprechaun leprechaun he told me to burn things number nine the children of

burn things number nine the children of

burn things number nine the children of lead according to legend when boa Derek

lead according to legend when boa Derek

lead according to legend when boa Derek was made king of the godlike race known

was made king of the godlike race known

was made king of the godlike race known as the two Ahad the Denon lien the god

as the two Ahad the Denon lien the god

as the two Ahad the Denon lien the god of the sea was upset maja offered one of

of the sea was upset maja offered one of

of the sea was upset maja offered one of his daughter’s faith as appeasement

his daughter’s faith as appeasement

his daughter’s faith as appeasement together she and Leah had four children

together she and Leah had four children

together she and Leah had four children when she died however he remarried and

when she died however he remarried and

when she died however he remarried and the new wife being jealous of the

the new wife being jealous of the

the new wife being jealous of the children turned them into swans

children turned them into swans

children turned them into swans here the story deviates depending on

here the story deviates depending on

here the story deviates depending on which version you’re reading but they’re

which version you’re reading but they’re

which version you’re reading but they’re all rather tragic in one ending the

all rather tragic in one ending the

all rather tragic in one ending the swans return to human but have aged

swans return to human but have aged

swans return to human but have aged dramatically in another they spend nine

dramatically in another they spend nine

dramatically in another they spend nine hundred years on three lakes before

hundred years on three lakes before

hundred years on three lakes before returning to human form dying and going

returning to human form dying and going

returning to human form dying and going to heaven though tragic it is a

to heaven though tragic it is a

to heaven though tragic it is a beautiful story number eight marrows

beautiful story number eight marrows

beautiful story number eight marrows [Music]

[Music]

[Music] like many creatures to be found on this

like many creatures to be found on this

like many creatures to be found on this list the marrow isn’t exactly evil more

list the marrow isn’t exactly evil more

list the marrow isn’t exactly evil more careless the female marrow is said to be

careless the female marrow is said to be

careless the female marrow is said to be beautiful from the waist up

beautiful from the waist up

beautiful from the waist up but scales all the way down she has

but scales all the way down she has

but scales all the way down she has green hair and delicate webbing between

green hair and delicate webbing between

green hair and delicate webbing between her fingers marrow men are said to be

her fingers marrow men are said to be

her fingers marrow men are said to be hideous which makes the females hope for

hideous which makes the females hope for

hideous which makes the females hope for human lovers according to legend marrows

human lovers according to legend marrows

human lovers according to legend marrows try to lure young men into their watery

try to lure young men into their watery

try to lure young men into their watery homes and keep them there forever

homes and keep them there forever

homes and keep them there forever however they can also be persuaded to

however they can also be persuaded to

however they can also be persuaded to come on land if a man takes her : drew

come on land if a man takes her : drew

come on land if a man takes her : drew as’ a magic hat she uses to breathe

as’ a magic hat she uses to breathe

as’ a magic hat she uses to breathe underwater she’ll remain on the surface

underwater she’ll remain on the surface

underwater she’ll remain on the surface however children of marrow and men will

however children of marrow and men will

however children of marrow and men will crave to return to the sea number seven

crave to return to the sea number seven

crave to return to the sea number seven valor of the evil I translate it from

valor of the evil I translate it from

valor of the evil I translate it from Gaelic the name Balor roughly translates

Gaelic the name Balor roughly translates

Gaelic the name Balor roughly translates to the deadly one king of the foe

to the deadly one king of the foe

to the deadly one king of the foe mauryans Balor was said to possess a

mauryans Balor was said to possess a

mauryans Balor was said to possess a fiery eye which when open would set the

fiery eye which when open would set the

fiery eye which when open would set the land on fire the personification of

land on fire the personification of

land on fire the personification of drought and pestilence he locked away

drought and pestilence he locked away

drought and pestilence he locked away his own daughter and tried to kill his

his own daughter and tried to kill his

his own daughter and tried to kill his grandchildren after hearing that one

grandchildren after hearing that one

grandchildren after hearing that one would someday kill him one grandson Luke

would someday kill him one grandson Luke

would someday kill him one grandson Luke survived and went on to lead Balor’s

survived and went on to lead Balor’s

survived and went on to lead Balor’s enemies the affirm mentioned to a handi

enemies the affirm mentioned to a handi

enemies the affirm mentioned to a handi denon and true to prophecy he took his

denon and true to prophecy he took his

denon and true to prophecy he took his grandfather’s life locked in a thule in

grandfather’s life locked in a thule in

grandfather’s life locked in a thule in Sligo county is set to a formed when

Sligo county is set to a formed when

Sligo county is set to a formed when Balor fell and his eye burned a hole in

Balor fell and his eye burned a hole in

Balor fell and his eye burned a hole in the ground Tolkien has gotten nothing on

the ground Tolkien has gotten nothing on

the ground Tolkien has gotten nothing on this Celtic God drama

number six

number six vadik the red man forgive you this time

vadik the red man forgive you this time

vadik the red man forgive you this time the red man so named for the red hat and

the red man so named for the red hat and

the red man so named for the red hat and coat they’re said to wear are less human

coat they’re said to wear are less human

coat they’re said to wear are less human in appearance than other members of the

in appearance than other members of the

in appearance than other members of the fair folk said to have hairy skin with

fair folk said to have hairy skin with

fair folk said to have hairy skin with long tails and snouts they’ve also

long tails and snouts they’ve also

long tails and snouts they’ve also earned the unflattering nickname rat

earned the unflattering nickname rat

earned the unflattering nickname rat boys like the leprechaun or cleric on

boys like the leprechaun or cleric on

boys like the leprechaun or cleric on they enjoy playing tricks on humans

they enjoy playing tricks on humans

they enjoy playing tricks on humans although of a more mean-spirited variety

although of a more mean-spirited variety

although of a more mean-spirited variety [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] not content with just souring milk and

not content with just souring milk and

not content with just souring milk and pinching dogs the fair dog will steal

pinching dogs the fair dog will steal

pinching dogs the fair dog will steal human babies and switch them out with a

human babies and switch them out with a

human babies and switch them out with a fairy baby or changeling

fairy baby or changeling

fairy baby or changeling there are several stories which

there are several stories which

there are several stories which stipulate how to get your child back of

stipulate how to get your child back of

stipulate how to get your child back of it stolen however there are no

it stolen however there are no

it stolen however there are no guarantees

number 5 Ock ishka or our ski like the

number 5 Ock ishka or our ski like the Scottish kelpy there’s more to this

Scottish kelpy there’s more to this

Scottish kelpy there’s more to this horse than meets the eye

horse than meets the eye

horse than meets the eye both are shapeshifters that imitate

both are shapeshifters that imitate

both are shapeshifters that imitate horses but while the kelpie will race

horses but while the kelpie will race

horses but while the kelpie will race its rider to water it’ll only get them

its rider to water it’ll only get them

its rider to water it’ll only get them wet or drown them if they can’t swim the

wet or drown them if they can’t swim the

wet or drown them if they can’t swim the act

act

act ishka or our ski is far worse on dry

ishka or our ski is far worse on dry

ishka or our ski is far worse on dry land far from water they’re said to be

land far from water they’re said to be

land far from water they’re said to be the best horse but if they spot water

the best horse but if they spot water

the best horse but if they spot water their skin turns scaly and adhesive and

their skin turns scaly and adhesive and

their skin turns scaly and adhesive and they will race into the water dragging

they will race into the water dragging

they will race into the water dragging the victim down and devour them all

the victim down and devour them all

the victim down and devour them all except the liver there is some Celtic

except the liver there is some Celtic

except the liver there is some Celtic overlap with a variant of the Ox ishka

overlap with a variant of the Ox ishka

overlap with a variant of the Ox ishka also appearing in Scottish myth the

also appearing in Scottish myth the

also appearing in Scottish myth the overarching lesson don’t ride random

overarching lesson don’t ride random

overarching lesson don’t ride random Gaelic horses

number four the demon bride in the New

number four the demon bride in the New York frickin Journal bridezillas of the

York frickin Journal bridezillas of the

York frickin Journal bridezillas of the world have gotten nothing on this lady

world have gotten nothing on this lady

world have gotten nothing on this lady in white in County Monaghan in the era

in white in County Monaghan in the era

in white in County Monaghan in the era gold true huh graveyard the spirit of a

gold true huh graveyard the spirit of a

gold true huh graveyard the spirit of a woman is said to haunt funerals waiting

woman is said to haunt funerals waiting

woman is said to haunt funerals waiting for the mourners to leave should the

for the mourners to leave should the

for the mourners to leave should the last one to linger be a young man she

last one to linger be a young man she

last one to linger be a young man she will appear as a beautiful young woman

will appear as a beautiful young woman

will appear as a beautiful young woman [Music]

[Music]

[Music] after seducing the man she’ll ask for a

after seducing the man she’ll ask for a

after seducing the man she’ll ask for a kiss so that he may see her again and

kiss so that he may see her again and

kiss so that he may see her again and upon receiving her payment she will

upon receiving her payment she will

upon receiving her payment she will disappear

disappear

disappear following her disappearance the man will

following her disappearance the man will

following her disappearance the man will realize what he’s done and eventually

realize what he’s done and eventually

realize what he’s done and eventually die crazed in the knowledge that he sold

die crazed in the knowledge that he sold

die crazed in the knowledge that he sold his soul for a kiss puts a whole new

his soul for a kiss puts a whole new

his soul for a kiss puts a whole new twist on ghosting right number three da

twist on ghosting right number three da

twist on ghosting right number three da da Dora come to me once upon a time a

da Dora come to me once upon a time a

da Dora come to me once upon a time a beautiful maiden and local boy fell in

beautiful maiden and local boy fell in

beautiful maiden and local boy fell in love only for the girl’s father to marry

love only for the girl’s father to marry

love only for the girl’s father to marry her off to a rich chieftain sorely

her off to a rich chieftain sorely

her off to a rich chieftain sorely abused by her husband she died of a

abused by her husband she died of a

abused by her husband she died of a broken heart a year after her burial

broken heart a year after her burial

broken heart a year after her burial near strong boughs tree she rose from

near strong boughs tree she rose from

near strong boughs tree she rose from the grave as Doge dua which means the

the grave as Doge dua which means the

the grave as Doge dua which means the red thirst a creature of revenge she

red thirst a creature of revenge she

red thirst a creature of revenge she went to her father first and sucked the

went to her father first and sucked the

went to her father first and sucked the air from him as he counted the money

air from him as he counted the money

air from him as he counted the money he’d sold her for her next victim was

he’d sold her for her next victim was

he’d sold her for her next victim was her ex-husband and she drained him of

her ex-husband and she drained him of

her ex-husband and she drained him of both air and blood she said to roam the

both air and blood she said to roam the

both air and blood she said to roam the night still seeking vengeance on

night still seeking vengeance on

night still seeking vengeance on careless men

number two banshees one of the most

number two banshees one of the most famous Irish spirits is this wailing

famous Irish spirits is this wailing

famous Irish spirits is this wailing woman of death the cry of the banshee is

woman of death the cry of the banshee is

woman of death the cry of the banshee is sent to warn of death in the family more

sent to warn of death in the family more

sent to warn of death in the family more than one banshee may appear at a time

than one banshee may appear at a time

than one banshee may appear at a time signaling the imminent death of a great

signaling the imminent death of a great

signaling the imminent death of a great or holy person in some traditions a

or holy person in some traditions a

or holy person in some traditions a banshee comes for every family of the

banshee comes for every family of the

banshee comes for every family of the Malaysian stock that is Irish families

Malaysian stock that is Irish families

Malaysian stock that is Irish families with or Mac prefixing their names

with or Mac prefixing their names

with or Mac prefixing their names banshees can appear as an old woman with

banshees can appear as an old woman with

banshees can appear as an old woman with lank hair and dressed in a ragged cloak

lank hair and dressed in a ragged cloak

lank hair and dressed in a ragged cloak or as a young and beautiful woman

or as a young and beautiful woman

or as a young and beautiful woman it’s said that James the first of

it’s said that James the first of

it’s said that James the first of Scotland despite not being Irish saw a

Scotland despite not being Irish saw a

Scotland despite not being Irish saw a banshee and soon afterwards was murdered

number one Dullahan what the hell is a

number one Dullahan what the hell is a Dullahan this headless rider roams the

Dullahan this headless rider roams the

Dullahan this headless rider roams the Irish countryside by night carrying it

Irish countryside by night carrying it

Irish countryside by night carrying it severed cranium under its arm should the

severed cranium under its arm should the

severed cranium under its arm should the dullahan stop and call out a name that

dullahan stop and call out a name that

dullahan stop and call out a name that person will die instantly

person will die instantly

person will die instantly mostly male but sometimes female

mostly male but sometimes female

mostly male but sometimes female Gillihan ride by black stallion or a

Gillihan ride by black stallion or a

Gillihan ride by black stallion or a carriage adorned in bones and candles

carriage adorned in bones and candles

carriage adorned in bones and candles wait a sight to be sure but it’s best

wait a sight to be sure but it’s best

wait a sight to be sure but it’s best not to watch them work as they’re said

not to watch them work as they’re said

not to watch them work as they’re said to throw a bucket of blood on nosy

to throw a bucket of blood on nosy

to throw a bucket of blood on nosy observers marking them as next or strike

observers marking them as next or strike

observers marking them as next or strike them blind in one eye almost nothing can

them blind in one eye almost nothing can

them blind in one eye almost nothing can stop them

stop them

stop them only gold even a small pin drives them

only gold even a small pin drives them

only gold even a small pin drives them away for another night do you agree with

away for another night do you agree with

away for another night do you agree with our picks check out these other great

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