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Oct 22, 20217 min read

Design Ideas & Research

Ireland is a beautiful place full of Folklore, Myths, and legends. Many of which are known worldwide such as the banshee, leprechauns and fairies.


If you’ve spent any time reading as a child, you will know that there are creatures out there that vary in types some of which are nice bedtime stories to help you sleep and others to scare the living daylights out of you. The artist was told as a child many different tails of fairies and creatures that prowled the lands.


Following on from the secondary research completed to determine the character designs the artist has picked her 4 final designs. Now the artist will conduct more advanced research into their chosen designs.



Figure 1, Merrow

Merrow

The merrow is an almost forgotten legend today. They loved to play around in the cold waters of the Celtic Sea. A merrow is a type of mermaid or merman who was believed to need a magical cap to be able to move between the sea and dry land. These creatures were described as beautiful women who enjoyed swimming in the sea. What most could not see were the fish-like tails that the waters hid from above.



Figure 2, Merrow and Sailor

Like a siren, the merrows song lured sailors and fishermen to them. These men found the merrow females irresistible. However, merrow men were believed to be hideously resulting in the females seeking mates in humans. A male merrow is believed to be covered in emerald scales and green hair. They were extremely bitter over their appearance to the point they would steal the spirits of men drowned at sea in an attempt to get revenge on them for stealing their women.


Merrow women had radiant hair with beautiful scales which would glisten under the light. Their beauty drew in men who they would choose as their mates. According to Christina Neary in her article for Beach coming magazine, she states that the surnames O’Flaherty and O’Sullivan in County Kerry and County Clare are believed to have descended from the unions between a merrow female and human male.


There is a legend about Killone Abby in County Clare which says a merrow would swim up a stream that ran under the cellars at Newhall to steal wine. However, the master an O’Brien, killed the merrow and her blood reddened the lake for a day and night. While she floated away it was said she wailed

“Fish without flesh, meat without bones, hear the mermaid’s curse on the plains of Killone. As the mermaid floats bloodless down the stream, so shall the O’Briens pass away from Killone”

This curse seemed to come true as according to Clare Folk Tales by Ruth Marshall, O’Brien has never had a son resulting in his name dying out. He only ever had girls and his daughters only ever had girls. It is believed that every 7 years the water turns red from her blood, however, there is also the possibility that it turns red from the clay which resides within its depths and banks. The artist likes to think it’s the legend of the merrow though.



Figure 3, The Puca

The Puca aka Pooka -

The word ‘Puca’ in Irish translates as ghost or spirit, however, the story behind it describes it as a creature.

The Puca or Pooka is an Irish mythological creature that deserves more attention than it gets. He’s a little mischievous being who is said to bring good or bad fortune to those around it. Therefore, so many feared it, it never caused people any physical harm, but no one wanted to take the chance of bad luck.


Like many legends,

Figure 4, Different Puca appearances

the appearance of this creature is constantly disputed however, everyone can agree that its eyes are always bright gold! According to folklore, the Puca could morph its appearance which seemed to scare people more. As they never knew what one would look like until they came across it.


There are rumours that they live in rural parts of Ireland living in small lakes within the mountains. Even some of the lakes are known to locals as ‘Pooka Pools’ which according to Keith O’Hare on Irish Road Trip loosely translates to ‘The Demon’s Hole’.


Even after all that some believe that the Puca liked to sit and talk with humans. This is why it is believed that benches in many towns and villages across Ireland are where you would likely come across a Puca who just wanted to listen, talk, or offer advice and thoughts on the locals’ problems. They would happen upon someone sitting alone on a bench, sit down, and start a conversation without the person even knowing it was a Puca. They would just think it was another local.



Figure 5, The Banshee

Banshee

Depending on where you look and what you read the description of a banshee changes slightly. Some people say the banshee is a kind of spirit and others say it is some sort of a fairy.

However, there are two facts that everyone can agree on, which are that a banshee is always a woman, and they are one of the most terrifying creatures in Irish folklore!


It is widely believed that the scream of the banshee is an omen of death, showing those around it that death is approaching. Believing that if you hear the scream of the banshee a member of your family will pass away shortly. Some also believe that each family has their banshee.


If we investigate the origins of the banshee, we come across what is called a Keening Woman. ‘Keening” according to the dictionary is an action where a person is wailing in grief. It is also described as a prolonged high-pitched wail as a way of expressing grief and sorrow. The word itself ‘Keen” comes from the Gaelic word ‘caoineadh.’ According to wordhippo.com (n.a), the word caoineadh means crying.


Figure 6, Banshee black & white

Some people believe this is where a lot of the legend of the banshee originates from. However, there is one slight difference between a Keening Woman and a Banshee. This is that the Banshee can predict death whereas the keening women wail for the already dying and dead. Therefore, the banshee is more feared.

The sound a banshee makes is said to instil fear in all who hear it as its wails can be heard for miles around. Even here in the UK some people still believe in the myth itself.


It is said that a banshee’s appearance is widely debated as some say she is a short old woman with dirty hair and others say she is a tall woman wearing a grey cloak over a bright green dress. There is one main feature which everyone agrees on and that is her eyes! They are always bright red, supposedly caused by her constant crying.

Regardless, we can all agree on one thing though, that no matter the description the thought of a woman appearing outside your house in the middle of the night wearing dark clothes, a veil over her face and cloak billowing in the wind while wailing would terrify most anyone.




Figure 7, Fairy Queen

Fair Queen

The Irish Fairy Queen of Clare known as Aoibheall folklore can be traced back as far as the 11th century. Her name comes from the old word oibell which according to articles the artist has read means spark, flame, and heat. Aoibheall is not found among the lists of Tuatha De Danann the Gods of Ireland, but she is believed to have control over the weather. Aoibheall is said to have a magical harp which if heard kills its listener, which is why she is considered by some people to be an omen of death like the banshee.


Figure 8, Fairy Queen & her Magical Harp

She is described in folklore as having pale skin, however, her hair colour is not directly stated, there is a comment though that she did not have dark hair. There are pictures of her where she has red and blonde hair which backs up the theory that she did not have dark hair.

This fairy Queen is associated with cats, specifically white ones, and fire. Which again links back to her pale skin and red hair within pictures. It was also believed her sister Cliona turned her into a white cat once, over a love rival.



Figure 9, Fairy Queen Maeve

Then there is Fairy Queen Maeve who has a special place in history. This fairy queen has her own tomb that thousands visit every single year. Her tomb is in the Irish town of Silgo where it lies on a hill known as the hill of the fairies. She was described as a warrior Queen and known as one of the strongest. She had 7 sons and was eventually killed to avenge the death of a woman she had killed. In all illustrations and pictures, she is seen wearing a blue cloak, green skirt, brown waist belt and white shirt. Her striking red hair and carrying a sword. Seemingly always ready for battle.


These will be the 4-character designs that the artists will create as their major project. From here the artist will begin designing 4 looks based on the information found during the research.


To read more about each look keep reading……..




Reference List


Figure List

Figure 1, Merrow

Figure 2, Merrow and Sailor

Figure 3, The Puca

Accessed at: https://www.theirishroadtrip.com/the-puca/ Accessed on: September 29th, 2021

Figure 4, Different Puca appearances

Photo by Barandash Karandashich/Shutterstock Accessed at: https://www.theirishroadtrip.com/the-puca/ Accessed on: September 29th, 2021

Figure 5, The Banshee

Accessed at: https://www.theirishroadtrip.com/the-banshee/ Accessed on: September 29th, 2021

Figure 6, Banshee black & white

Accessed at: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/347410558731740664/ Accessed on: September 27th, 2021

Figure 7, Fairy Queen

Accessed at: https://www.theirishroadtrip.com/celtic-gods-and-goddesses/ Accessed on: September 28th, 2021

Figure 8, Fairy Queen & her Magical Harp

Accessed at: https://www.theirishroadtrip.com/irish-mythological-creatures/ Accessed on: September 28th, 2021

Figure 9, Fairy Queen Maeve


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Kailegh Ellison Glam to Gore.jpg

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