Ireland - Baobban Sith, Bhean Sidhe, Deamhain Fhola, Dearg-Dul, Dreach-Fhoula, Fear Gortagh, Leanhaum-Shee, Murbhheo, Neamh-Mhairbh, Súmaire, Vaimpír

Baobban Sith: Pronounced as "baavan shee" and meaning "spirit-woman". Occasionally seen as crows or ravens, usually these vampires are young maidens in long green dresses (which hide their cloven hooves). They are afraid or repelled by horses and cause massive wounds on the necks and shoulders of men they dance with. For unknown reasons this vampire like creature has been associated with Scotland as well as Ireland.

Bhean Sidhe: Under construction.

Deamhain Fhola: Possibly also seen as Deamhan Fola. Possibly a regional variation of Dearg-Dul. Otherwise, still under research.

Dearg-Dul (also possibly known as Dearg-Due, Dearg-Dililat, and Dearg-Diulai): Meaning a drinker of human blood. According to Montague Summers, this Irish vampire can be held at bay by piling large amount of stones on its grave - but no Irish mythologist can find any reference to it.

Dreach-Fhoula (possibly also seen as Dreach-Shoula, Droch-Fhoula): Pronounced droc'ola and means 'bad' or 'tainted blood' and whilst it is now taken to refer to 'blood feuds' between persons or families, it may have a far older connotation. During a lecture in 1961, the Registrar of the National Folklore Commission, Sea'n O' Suilleabha'in, mentioned a site which he called Du'n Dreach-Fhoula (pronounced droc'ola) or Castle of the Blood Visage. This was allegedly a fortress guarding a lonely pass in the Magillycuddy Reeks in Kerry, and inhabited by blood-drinking fairies. He did not give its exact location, and cultural historians have spent years hunting through archives for more specific information. Droch-fhoula pronounced droc'ola also, can also mean "bad" or "tainted blood" and while it is now taken to refer to "blood feuds," it might have a far deeper meaning. It might indeed have been the inspiration for the name Dracula rather than Vlad Dracul. Bram Stoker, after all, never visited Eastern Europe and relied entirely on travelers' accounts.
Abhartach is only one among many blood-drinking noble and chieftains that populate Irish folklore; and the blood-drinking undead feature in Geoffrey Keating's History of Ireland, written in 1626-31. Stoker may well have read the legend of Abhartach in another History of Ireland, written by Patrick Weston Joyce and published in 1880. Around the same time, manuscript copies of Keating's work were on display in the National Museum in Dublin.

Fear Gortagh: Meaning 'hungry grass'. Although this is not a person but a place, it is still worth mentioning. It is a spot where someone has died of starvation. The hunger is said to linger and can suck up your vital energy.

Leanhaum-Shee: Possibly also known as Leanan-sidhe, Leanhaun-shee, and Leanhaun-sidhe. Very little other than word of mouth reference can be found, but it is said to be similar to the Incubus/Succubus. An offshoot of this may be the Lhiannan-shee of the Isle of Man. I have found one reference to Leanhaum-Shee as an Irish fairy mistress, not completely a vampire but engaging in vampiric activities. She used her incredible beauty to lure men to her side and then used her charms to place them under her spell. The victim would then waste away as she slowly drained away his life's essence through exhaustive love making. It is possible that the Indian Rakshasa tale is a source of the Irish myth of Leanhaum-shee.

Murbhheo: Gaelic for the living dead.

Neamh-Mhairbh: Term used for the undead.

Súmaire: Seen used infrequently. Possibly just terminology and not an actual creature.

Vaimpír: Seen used infrequently. Possibly just terminology and not an actual creature.


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