Traditions

As there are many different dominations of Christianity. There’s also a large number of traditions of Wicca. The oldest is Gardnerian founded by Gerald Gardner. Alexandrian was founded in the 1960s by Alex Sanders. Raymond Buckland founded Saxon witchcraft or Seax-Witchcraft in 1973.

There are a large amount of covens that claim roots in Italian, Celtic, Druidic, Welsh, Irish, Dianic, or Scottish. More still classify themselves as eclectic.

All follow the basic witchcraft beliefs and celebrate the Sabbats at the same time of the year.

Some Irish Vampires

Sile na Gig
Other names Shee-lah na Gig, An Chailleach Beara (the Old Woman of Beara), Black Annis, Clotha, Hag, Old Hag, Sheelagh na Gig, Sila na Gig
In Celtic lore of Ireland Sile na Gig was a type of vampiric earth spirit or mother goddess from which all life came forth. She was very ugly, she had an extended vulva, pot belly, twisted face and withered breasts. Her image was still found even after it was outlawed by the Church. Its possible that Sile na Gig was a little-known Celtic goddess by the name of Clotha. She was the embodiment of battle and weaver of soldier’s burial shrouds. The goddess had similar traits to the Banshee, she washed bloody shrouds at the riverbank too.

Dus Duce
In Celtic lore there is a vampire demon called dus which means specter. He consumes the flesh and blood of humans

Neamh-Mhairbh
Other names Neam Mare-bub, Murbhheo, Heamh-mairbh
In Irish folklore there is a vampire Revenant that’s created through magic, it’s called neamh-mhairbh meaning the undead. It feeds off of human blood. Neamh-mhairbh isn’t a species of vampire but a vampire that’s created through magic.
This sounds great..magic making vampires!
Abhartach (remember him?) was considered a neamh-mhairbh because it was his own magic that allowed him to return

Leanhaun-Shee

Other Irish vampire today for my beloved Vampire Wednesday.

In the middle of the northern Irish Sea on the Isle of Man is a type of vampiric fay called Leanhaum-Shee (pronounced Lee-awn_she). It appears to its victims as a beautiful young woman but is invisible to everyone else. It will try to seduce a man, and if successful, it’s magic will cause the man to fall in love with it.
If the man does fall in love, the Leanhaum-shee will take him as it’s lover; if the man doesn’t fall in love , it will strangle him to death and drain his corpse.
Slowly it will drain it’s lover’s life energy during intercourse.

The leanhaum-shee also collects it’s lover’s blood and stores it in a red cauldron, which adds to its magic. The cauldron is the source of its power and what gives it the ability to shape-shift into a white deer and keeps it looking young and beautiful.
It also feeds small amounts of blood to its lover so he will be inspired to write love poems. Sooner or later it die.

She’s also called Leanan-Sidhe, Leanhaun-Shee Leanhaun-Sidhe, Lhiannan Shee

http://www.myspace.com/sayyesmistress/photos

Fir Gorta and Fear Gortagh

Irish Vampire Fir Gorta
A bit of a history lesson first: In 1845-1851, The Irish Potato Famine took place. In the hardest places turned to eating “Relish Cakes” a small cake made with oatmeal, turnip greens, and fresh blood that was drained from the necks of animals.

After the blight, it was believed that some people had developed a taste for relish cakes and didn’t stop eating them. Only after the Potato Famine ended did the Fir Gorta (hungry man) come into existence. He is portrays as a skeletal man holding a staff in one hand and a begging cup in the other.

Legend has it that the Fir Gorta would go to the back door of houses that still ate relish cakes. In a weak feeble voice, it would ask for food or money. If the occupants didn’t give him anything, they would all become sick.

Hungry Man

Fear Gortagh
Also known as Fear Gor-ta, Fair-Gortha, Fairy Grass Fear, Gortach, Fod Gortac, Foidin Mearuil (Stray Sod) and Grave Grass. This one has so many names I confused myself…
In Ireland there are patches of earth –spots where someone died from starvation- that have vampiric tendencies it’s known as fear gortagh or hungry grass.

It looks like the grass all around it so there isn’t anything to give it away for hungry grass until its too late. When you walk on it you’ll get extremely hungry. Running away won’t stop Fear Gortagh from continuing to eat you live energy. The only way to save yourself is to eat and drink something quickly or you’ll die of hunger pains.

Photo Credit:
Fear Gorta: http://metraxus.deviantart.com/art/Fear-Gorta-295486981

Ennerdale

Let’s change this up a bit…No stop yelling it’s still about vampires. I would never take your loved Vampire Wednesday away from you vampire-holics.
We’re still in Ireland…
Ireland has so many vampires and vampire like beings a vampire-phile like me feels like I’ve died and gone to vamprie heaven…or hell…or….anyways. I’m so happy right now with all my Irish vampires. *Sigh*

Okay, let’s get on to the vampires…

The Vampire Dog of Ennerdale.

In May of 1810 in the town of Ennerdale (located near the English and Scottish border) was the first report of animal hunting sheep. Soon the animal was described as a large dog whose tracks were long and deeply set in the ground. Its reported that it killed 6-8 sheep a night, ripping holes in their throats and draining their blood.

None of the carcasses were ever found eaten or even partially eaten. In early September of that same year a large black dog was seen in a cornfield and shot. The killings stopped for a short time then started again, this time in Ireland. The idea of a wolf was quickly dismissed as the last one was seen back in 1712. The vampire dog was blamed, reports of it killing as many as 30 sheep a night now, it’s hunger obviously having increased.

The sheep were killed exactly the same as they had been in England. Their throats had been ripped out and the carcasses drained of blood. The paw prints were also described as those from England, long deep and with obvious claws.
On April 11 the large dog was shot again, this time by the archbishop, ten years later it was spotted again a hundred miles away. The cycle of finding drained sheep, sighting the dog, shooting and killing, after a few days the dog would be seen again some hundred miles later repeated.

In Limerick, Ireland it bit a man who shortly afterwards went insane and was admitted to Ennis Insane Asylum. In 1874 the dog was shot again, everyone waited for him to reappear. He never did, until nearly 30 yrs later. On Novemeber 1 1905 The London Mail reported that sheep were found slaughtered(their throats were ripped out and they’d been drained) in Badminton.

The dog was reported as being shot and killed near Gloucester on November 25, again on December 16 in Hinton. On March 19 1906, 51 sheep were killed on one night near Guildford. That was the last report of the vampire dog. Throughout the last killing spree a hyena and a panther were blamed, they were said to have escaped from a menagerie. There were no reports of such animals escaping any zoo.

During the 65 years the Vampire Dog of Ennerdale killed 237,250 sheep, that averages 10 sheep a night. If these numbers are correct the vampire dog consumed 1,594,320 liters of blood. That’s enough to fill 2 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The Vampire Dog roamed England Scottland and Ireland from 1810-1874 and again briefly from 1905-1906

Too Cute Vampire Dogs…Which do you prefer?

Get him out of the sun!

Look at those fangs and eyes!

A true vampire, cape, red eyes, and a coffin!

Photo Credits:
Black Vampire Dog: http://www.popscreen.com/p/MTMxNzc2OTQw/Amazoncom-Vampire-Dog-Prop-Home-Kitchen
Bony Vampire Dog: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dartboard/389423907/
Sunlight Burns Dog: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/28/1044247/-Wednesdai-Woozles
Count Pug: http://www.bitethepower.com/count-pugula-vampire-shirts.html
Vampire Chihuahua: http://www.mysmalldogclothes.com/small-dog-clothes/pet-halloween-costumes-verrry-scarrry/

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Today is St. Patrick’s Day.  Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!
A day we celebrate Irish culture.
We wear green as not to be pinched and hope someone forgot so we can pinch them.
Leprechauns and Shamrocks decorate windows.

Some of us celebrate the feast day of the Saint the day was named for. Attending mass and reciting prayers.

Whichever way you choose to celebrate, by bowing your head or rising your glass.

I wish to remind you of those Irish who desire your blood.
The Earl of Desmond
Dullahan
Carricaphouka Castle
Abhartach
Annis
Banshee

Vampire Wednesday still has more of Beloved Irish vampires, keep coming back to read about more!

Have a Happy and safe St. Patrick’s Day
Photo Credits
Leprechauns: http://www.bellaterreno.com/graphics/clipart_mystical/celticirishleprechaun/default.htm
St Patrick: http://www.bellaterreno.com/graphics/clipart_mystical/celticirishsaintpatrick/default.htm

The Earl of Desmond

Vampire Wednesday.
I have another Irish vampire for you.

The Earl of Desmond lived in Limerick County Ireland, there once stood a castle over looking Lough Gur (Loch Gair in Irish) A count who said he was a scholar and used magic lived there. He always kept his magical ceremonies secret. He never let anyone see him as he practiced his art. His wife would beg to watch, he finally gave in, but under one condition. She couldn’t make a sound no matter what she saw. Only after she vowed to obey did he start his ritual. He began to shape-shift into various forms soon taking a shape so horrible she couldn’t hold her scream any longer.
As the scream came out of her mouth the castle began to tremble and sink into the nearby Lough Gur. NO ONE escaped!

I’m sorry I have to say it. . . I don’t want to but I have to. . . Sometimes a man is right. There I said it.

The Earl is now a vampire revenant, sometimes he leaves his watery home and travels around the surrounding countryside looking for young adults he can find and bring to the castle. He drains them of their energy through sexual intercourse.
The Earl is forced to exist in this manner until the time comes for him to “restore all to as it was.”

He’s also been called..Gearoid Larla Fitzgerald

Annis

Today is Vampire Wednesday. I’ve been under so much stress, I thought it was Tuesday. I almost missed VAMPIRE WEDNESDAY. This is the worse thing I could possibly do.

Since I didn’t miss it….
We are looking at Ireland today, I’m not sure how long Ireland’s vampire creatures will last, but we’ll have fun as long as it does.

Annis

Young Queen Annowre

Annis pronounced An-eez, is a sorceress. Her name means pure as in virginal.

Her legends go back as far as the creation of not only Ireland but of Scotland too. She has had so many names that it is nearly impossible to list them all. Her name ancient name was Caillech. Scota where Scotland originates from was called Caledonia meaning, “Lands give by Caillech”, and so Scotland was named after her.

 

She is so important in the minds of her people that she has been converted into Christendom as St. Anna the daughter of St. Joseph of Arimathea. She’s also known as Annowre in Arthurian lore.
She’s reported as having shape-shifting abilities; mostly she takes the form of an owl. Some stories state she can control the weather, heal the wounded, conduct initiations ceremonies, and dispense wisdom to those who seek her out.

She been worshipped as a goddess; revered as a saint; and even cursed as a demon. Hills, rivers, and countries were named after her

“Yeah, Yeah, this is all cool. Maybe you got confused today Mari and this Annis should have been in your Witching Hour post.”
I hear you say.
“Maybe your right maybe she should have been in my Witching Hour, but …”

In all of her long history, she has always consumed the blood of children. That seems like a vampire to me.

She also goes by Blue Hag

Photo Credit:
Annowre http://www.gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=23129678
Blue Hag http://homes4her.blogspot.com/2010/12/blue-annis.html

Come back next week for more Irish Vampire creatures.