Butter Spirits are thought to be related to Leprechauns but more focused in their pursuits. They are small men (less than 2 feet tall) and are found throughout the Emerald Isle and England. In general, they are mischievous and steal anything not nailed down. Their first love is fresh butter (thus the name) and will get it out of fresh milk even before it is churned. It is claimed they only steal from the rich.
These fairies are very resourceful and can reach inaccessible places. The best way to keep them away is to mark things with the sign of a cross.
The Dullahan Fairy rampages about the countryside on festival/feast days. He is a headless horseman who carries his head in his hand. The head glows and can be used to light the way.
The head can only speak once on a journey and does so to call out the name of the soul it is out to collect. The Dullahan Fairy follows a family and forewarns of death and brings the fact of death. Some say the Dullahan is the legacy of the time when beheading was an acceptable form of sacrifice to the gods and represents the remains of the Celtic god Crom Dubh (or Black Crom).
There is really no way to avoid encountering this fairy if you are the one sought. He can go anywhere and go rapidly. However, to avoid encountering him, stay indoors with the curtains drawn (if you look at him and you are not the one sought, you may be blinded or worse). Some believe that he fears gold so always have a bit of gold on hand on festival/feast days.
The Far Darrig (Red Man) tends to be restricted to Donegal in Ireland. He is very elusive and no reliable description of him exists. The reports on sightings of him range from him being a small man dressed in red to a gray giant.
However, it is agreed that he likes play some pretty wicked pranks on mortals. He has a tendency to show up at a home on cold nights demanding shelter. Those turning him away are said to regret it because he takes the luck of the house with him. Those admitting him are reminded of his visit for days because his smell lingers for days. The Red Man is not known for good personal hygiene.
Sheerie Fairies are phosphorescent glimmers of light that move from cover to cover. They combine elements of fairy and human nature. It is thought that Sheerie Fairies are the souls of unbaptized children trying to gain entry to the mortal world.
Given this problem, they tend to be very jealous of and angry toward humans. This may be the reason that they are believed to be behind human misfortune.
These fairies can be found on land or water. For instance, the water types confuse humans into thinking bogs are safe when they are not (and other misfortunes associated with water). Land fairies do similar things to humans like getting them to wander off cliffs.
These fairies do not have the power of speech but do put out a mewling sort of sound. They can be warded off with iron, a crucifix, or holy water.
The Watershee Fairy looks very much like the image many people have of fairies. This fairy appears as a small, delicate, attractive, female with gossamer-wings (she might also appear as a beautiful woman). Unfortunately, this appearance is deceiving. Watershee Fairies lure the innocent into water with their beautiful appearance and mesmerizing singing. Once a person falls into this trap, they drown and the Watershee devours their souls. The best defense against falling under the Watershee’s spell is to wear a cross (or other holy object) and to pray.
Interestingly, images of fairies that look like the Watershee Fairy are quite popular in jewelry, on calendars, statues, and so forth.
Tree fairies (called a variety of names) act as guardians of trees/bushes. They often protect lone trees. If the unwary inflict harm on a fairy tree, woe betide them. Tree fairies are capable of serving up all sorts of retributions to those who kill or damage the tree/bush they are guarding. The offending party might be visited by poverty, illness, or other misfortunes. If the fairy is angry enough, the punishment might extend to the person’s family. So, before undertaking any landscape alterations, be sure a fairy tree is not in your way.
Fairies are thought to have a difficult time birthing. Many times newborn fairies are borne with deformities, mental deficiencies, and so forth. The fairies cannot abide such impurity and seek to exchange the deficient baby with a healthy human baby…thus the name changeling.
Infants who are much admired or infants, who have not been baptized, are often the targets of these fairy exchanges. When such exchanges occur, the human household is in for a rough time. The changeling is very demanding and brings a variety of misfortune to the household. Changelings usually have a wizened appearance, thin frail limbs, darkened eyes, and yellowed skin. One positive attribute of these fairies is that they are often gifted musicians and bring much joy when they perform.
Although less frequent, older children can be the target of a fairy exchange. One can’t tell the change has occurred by the changeling’s appearance as in the case of infants because the changeling will appear much like the child did. However, one can tell by the extreme personality change. Fairy changelings tend to be cold and unresponsive.
In all cases, the changeling has little regard for humans and is indifferent to the burdens placed on the family. For instance, they will eat everything in the house and expect more. In most cases, the changeling does not live more than a couple of years. Examining the burial mound can reveal its true nature. Instead of the body of an infant, one will find bog roots or some other aspect of a tree rather than an infant.
The best way to ward off an exchange is to lay an element of the father’s clothing over the infant. Religious objects (crucifix, etc.) placed around the crib are also thought to be effective deterrents.
It is also thought possible to drive out the changeling by getting it to reveal it’s true age. If it does, the human infant will be returned. Heat and fire may also be effective.
Leprechauns are far and away the most recognizable of the Irish Fairies…some even refer to the Leprechaun as Ireland’s national fairy. Leprechauns appear as old, diminutive men who are shoemakers and bankers for other fairies. It is argued that the name Leprechaun derives from the Irish term for shoemaker (leith bhrogan).
Many Leprechauns drink to excess but never to the point of losing control of themselves. Leprechauns have long been associated with money often depicted along with the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. One reason for this is that they seem to have an endless supply of money.
They are thought to always have a silver and a gold coin, each in a different pouch. When they part with the silver coin, it magically returns to their purse. When they part with the gold coin usually to bribe their way out of a difficult situation, the coin turns to leaves or ashes in the recipient’s pocket.
In addition to being shoemakers, Leprechauns are thought to be the bankers of the fairy world. Many believe they have found and hidden treasures lost by others. These treasures are buried in crocks and pots. Leprechauns are able to recall the exact location of these buried treasures.
These banker fairies are thought to have very dour dispositions and to avoid contact with humans because they consider humans to be shallow. They also worry that humans will steal their treasures.
Leprechauns are very hard to catch or see because they can move very quickly. If one is caught, he usually promises great wealth if allowed to go free. Once released, he quickly zips out of sight.
There seem to be two different types of Leprechaun’s the dour, banker type who wears green and avoids humans and the friendly type who dresses garishly and delights in making mischief for humans (some argue this latter fairy is not really a leprechaun but a close cousin who should be called a cluricaun). Banker fairies know all about money while cluricaun know nothing about money and have no knowledge of where treasures can be found.
This section of this blog provides an introduction to Fairies and their roles in Celtic lands. There are various schools of thought about how Fairies came into existence. One school of thought is that when the great rebellion took place in Heaven some angels did not take sides. In the end, they were cast out of heaven but were not sent to hell. Supposition has it that St. Michael, the patron saint of Fairies, interceded on their behalf and kept them from being cast into hell. Instead, they were given remote/dark places to inhabit on Earth. Another explanation is that Fairies are not fallen angels but are the remains of the Tuatha de Danaan, one of the early races to inhabit Ireland. The Tuatha de Danaan are thought to have come from Greece with knowledge that seemed magical to others. Thus, they were seen and treated as Gods. However, with the spread of Christianity they lost this status and fled to glens, hollows, and other remote areas where they remain to this day.
Regardless of the true origin of Fairies, the types are clear and we will overview some of them in subsequent entries. Contrary to the popular culture view, most fairies are not like Tinkerbell so brace yourself.
The story of Tain Bo’ Cuailnge (Cattle raid of Cooley) is an oft told tale and bespeaks of the struggles between gods, between people, and of the interference of ethereal beings in the daily affairs of people. In essence, Queen Medb and Ailill of Connacht (her consort) boast to one another about their respective possessions.
Things are pretty even between the two but Ailill has in his possession a great white horned bull, Findbennach. Medb scours her herd but has no comparable bull. She eventually learns of a great brown bull of Ulster owned by Daire mac Fiachniu. He agrees to loan the bull to Medb for a large sum. Unfortunately for Medb, he hears her soldiers bragging about how they would have taken the bull if he hadn’t agreed to the loan. Thus, he subsequently backs out of the deal and hides the bull.
Medb eventually decides to invade Ulster in order to seize the Donn Bull. War rages and the Donn Bull is sent to Connacht for safe keeping. However, Findbennach, the white bull, senses his presence and the fight between the great bulls is on.
The bulls are huge (large enough for 50 boys to ride at once) and immensely strong. The battle rages for days over all of Ireland. Eventually, the Donn Bull kills Findbennach but is so exhausted by the struggle dies as well.
This is an interesting story full of intrigue and mystery. It shows how Gods interfered with the day-to-day existence of mortals and suggests that humans at this time felt a need to explain conflicts as having a purpose beyond the mere mortal concerns. At the same time, Gods were seen as being motivated by concerns not all that dissimilar to mortals’ concerns…just on a grander scale.
