We all know that ye olde fairy tales weren’t quite the sweet bedtime stories many folks like to tell their children today. Grimm famously collected (and/or invented) hundreds of stories that ran the full gamut from “happily ever after” to “never sleep again.” And every folkloric tradition has its dark side.
In Ireland and Scotland, for instance, even the fairies bear little resemblance to the kind wish-granting winged folk modern children’s stories have warped them into. But while the sidhe may be fair or foul depending on their mood, there are some scary fairy tale creatures in Celtic folklore you should never cross paths with.
Note: The headless dullahan and the fear dearg absolutely belong on this list, but I’ve written about them before. Same with banshees—they already made my list of terrifying female monsters, and so are not included here.
7 Scary Fairy Tale Creatures of Celtic Origin
I drew much of my inspiration for The Harbinger’s Head from the stories of frightful fae monsters said to stalk the Emerald Isle—but of course, not every scary fairy tale creature from Celtic mythology could make the cut. All of the following were strong contenders because, let’s face it: all of the following are top-notch nightmare fuel. And who knows? Maybe they’ll worm their way into a future tale…
1. The Sluagh
Depending on who you ask, the Sluagh are either twisted fae, fallen angels, or damned souls. In all cases, however, their shape is the same: winged, raven-like, blacker than night. They fly in flocks, the sound of their wings an omen of wicked things to come, and feast on the flesh of livestock. The lonely and the brokenhearted, however, are their true prey, as they may be coerced into joining the flock and becoming a monster themselves for all eternity.
Sluagh appear in the ‘Legacy of Kain’ video game series by Crystal Dynamics and the ‘Merry Gentry’ book series by Lauren K. Hamilton.
2. The Leanan Sidhe
The epitome of “looking fair and feeling foul” (hello again, fellow Tolkienites), the literal translation of this Gaelic word means something like “fairy sweetheart.” But don’t let the name fool you—the leanan sidhe are beautiful but deadly. They offer inspiration in exchange for life force, often acting as spiritual vampires who spark the imaginations of genius artists but also force them into early “retirement.” They offend easily, and tend to respond rather viciously as well.
Leanan sidhe appear in video games such as the ‘Megami Tensei’ series, ‘Persona 5,’ and ‘Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening.’ Leanan sidhe appear frequently in fiction as well, including the ‘Dresden Files’ series by Jim Butcher and the ‘Ancient Magus’ Bride’ series by Kore Yamazaki.
3. The Each-uisge
In general, I’m actually rather fond of water horse creatures, even kelpies. But there’s something about the each-uisge that makes my skin crawl in a way the others don’t.
Maybe it’s the fact that they seem purposefully malevolent, whereas kelpies strike me more as creatures of instinct. Maybe it’s because they can masquerade as regular horses for so long, only to drag their riders to sudden death by drowning should they ride within sight of a lake or river. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s the fact that they can trap you on their backs by melding your skin to theirs, the better to devour you—leaving only your liver to float to the surface of your watery grave.
‘The Each-uisge’ by Jac Colvin is a short interactive fiction game where the player steps into the shoes of a child enchanted by an each-uisge. One also appears in ‘Fae Tactics.’ While water horses appear frequently in fiction, specific mentions of the each-uisge are rarer; Anne-Marie Neil’s ‘Each Uisge’ is one such example.
4. The Dearg Due
The so-called “Red Thirst” is an Irish female vampire with a history almost as horrifying as the monster herself. The Dearg Due (sometimes also called the Dearg Dur or Dearg Dul, among other spellings) suffered the unfortunately typical fate of a maiden in love with the wrong man in days gone by: she was married off to a cruel, abusive husband and locked away in a tower. She eventually chose a slow, starving death rather than living out her days as his wife—but even dead, she was not gone.
She returned on the anniversary of her death to suck the air and blood out of her father and her husband. Her revenge complete, she found that she was still hungry, and sated her thirst with whoever was unlucky enough to answer her siren call. It is said that the locals pile stones on her grave on the anniversary of her death every year to prevent her rising again. But sometimes the date is forgotten, or the stones misplaced, and she walks the earth once again…
While vampires in general are easily found in a wide array of books and games, the Dearg Due seems mysteriously absent. If you know of a novel or video game that references her, let me know!
5. The Alp-Luachra
With a name like “the Joint-Eater,” you already know this one is going to be unpleasant. It’s basically a tapeworm, but worse: an invisible parasite that consumes its host’s food, until its host eventually dies a slow, painful death by starvation. In some versions of the story, it is shaped like a newt and attaches itself to a host by crawling into its victim’s mouth while they sleep. No, I repeat, no thank you.
Joint-eaters are referenced in games such as ‘Dark Age of Camelot’ and ‘Eternal.’ They also famously appear in Douglas Hyde’s book ‘Beside the Fire,’ which offers a ray of hope for victims of the alp-luachra: consuming large quantities of salt will dry the parasite out, forcing it to evacuate the host’s body in search of fresh water.
6. The Fear Gorta
More creepy than cruel, the fear gorta (sometimes far gorta) may be considered benevolent in some stories, but always takes the shape of hunger personified—and that, in itself, is incredibly disturbing. A pale, gaunt figure said to haunt the land in times of famine, it may bestow good luck upon those generous enough to offer a donation to its alms cup, but it is also said to be a harbinger of famine. Some stories also have it that the fear gorta inspires a sort of crazed hunger in unlucky travelers who cross its path—a hunger that proves fatal if not quickly sated.
Cory Cline’s ‘Fear Gorta’ features one of the few examples of this particular scary fairy tale creature in popular fiction.
7. Aoifé
In the original legend of “The Children of Lir,” Aoifé plays the familiar role of the wicked stepmother who transforms her husband’s children into birds (in this case, swans). Perhaps her most horrifying moment, however, is also often the most glossed-over: the punishment for her crime is to be transformed into a demon of the air—forever.
Imagine it: an invisible winged thing, unable to land, to sleep, to die. The personification of dread itself—a horror, but also a warning. “The dark feeling that stops someone walking down a dangerous road, the sense of dread that pulls a driver sweating towards the side of the road, the feeling that someone mistakes for guilt and changes course . . .” as author Dierdre Sullivan portrayed her.
Aoifé’s fairy tale of origin has been told and retold countless times over the years, often changing shape with each retelling. Most versions, however, focus on the children’s plight; ‘Savage Her Reply’ by Deirdre Sullivan shines the spotlight instead on Aoifé herself.
Why Are Fairy Tale Monsters So Darn Creepy, Anyway?
We’ve all had it pounded into our brains that scary old fairy tale creatures served a useful purpose for parents back in the day: they helped scare kids into good behavior. They taught valuable lessons about the dangers of wandering off, of being cruel or greedy, of tempting fate. They kept children in their beds at night, lest they be eaten by the (all too real) beasties lurking in the woods outside their homes.
But what lessons should they, or we, take away from creatures like the Dearg Due? The Leanan Sidhe? The Sluagh? Never love, never feel lonely, never create? It can’t be that simple, or that foolish.
Perhaps they’re about something a little subtler, a little more complicated. Loneliness and heartbreak can lead you astray, if you allow them to make your decisions for you. Burning the candle at both ends for the sake of art always comes at a high cost to your health and sanity. Lovers should never be parted merely for someone else’s gain, and no woman should be forced to marry a cruel man.
Oh, and for the love of all things good in this world—don’t fall asleep with your mouth open. You never know what might decide to crawl in there.
The Harbinger’s Head is an interactive fantasy novel by Kim Berkley that features several scary fairy tale creatures of Celtic origin—along with a few nice fae, too. Read the first chapter for free here.
