(Banshee)
A Banshee is a "Benevolent Faerie Woman" of normal human size. She does not cause death she mourns it. Banshees attach themselves to Families and can follow them anywhere in the world. A Banshee will warn a distant family of the death of a loved one. Many European cultures have similar spirits. They are protective spirits that help families in transitions.
"BANSHEE, correctly written Beansighe, plural Mna'-sige, she fairies or women fairies, credulously supposed, by the common people, to be so affected to certain families, that they are heard to sing mourn- ful lamentations about their houses at night, whenever any of fa- mily labours under a sickness which is to end in death. But no fami- lies which are not of an ancient and noble stock are believed to be honoured with this fairy privilege." -- O'BRIEN'S Irish Dictionary.
How Oft Has the Banshee Cried
How oft has the Banshee cried!
How oft has death untied
Bright links that Glory wove.
Sweet bonds entwined by Love!
Peace to each manly soul that sleepeth;
Rest to each faithful eye that weepeth;
Long may the fair and brave
Sigh o'er the hero's grave!
We're fallen on evil days!
Star after star decays,
Every bright name that shed
Light o'er the land is fled.
Dark falls the tear of him that mourneth
Lost joy, or hope that ne'er retrench;
But brightly flows the tear
Wept o'er a hero's bier.
Quenched are our beacon lights --
Thou, of the Hundred Fights!
Thou, on whose burning tongue
Truth, peace and freedom hung!
Both mute--but long as valor shineth,
Or mercy's soul at war repineth,
So long shall Erin's pride
Tell how they lived and died.
Thomas Moore (1779-1852)