The Irish banshee is a supernatural woman whose lament foretells a death. Her name comes from bean sí, woman of the otherworld mound. She is an omen and mourner in most recorded traditions, not a creature whose cry directly kills its listener.
Family and place
Many nineteenth-century accounts say particular families had their own banshee, especially families with old Gaelic surnames. Other stories describe an encounter near a house, road, stream, or burial place. These claims vary by county and storyteller and should not be turned into one nationwide rule.
Keening and appearance
The banshee’s cry resembles funeral keening and may be heard before news of a death arrives. She can appear young or old, beautiful or frightening, and her clothing changes among accounts. A comb, long hair, or washing at water occurs in some tales but not all.
Irish folklore and modern horror
Later fiction, games, and film often give banshees destructive sonic attacks. That image is useful for fantasy but differs from the warning and mourning role in Irish oral tradition. Related Scottish figures such as the bean nighe deserve their own regional context.