Folklore Workshop – The Banshee

Each Tuesday afternoon workshop will centre around the myth or folklore topic of that week. The aim will be to discuss ideas surrounding that belief or narrative and to come up with a finished piece using any of the methods and materials that are available. You will have access to paper/card, printing materials (linocut, block, mono or collagraph), paints, drawing materials, 3D resources (clay, paper mache, wire, wool), paints and other bits and pieces. You will have an experienced artist to help you develop your ideas and produce your artwork.

A banshee is a female spirit in Gaelic folklore who heralds the death of a family member. She is famously known for her haunting wail or shriek, traditionally called keening, which serves as an acoustic warning of impending doom. The legend of the banshee traces back over a millennium, deeply intertwined with Ireland’s fairy folklore and ancient clan customs. She is generally tied to specific, ancient Irish families (usually those with an “O” or “Mac” prefix) and appears to warn members no matter where they are in the world. The banshee’s appearance can vary widely, often depending on regional lore or who is telling the story. She is most frequently depicted as an ugly hag with long white hair and a grey cloak or a beautiful, mournful young woman with silken silver hair or washerwoman washing bloody clothing at a riverbank. While primarily an auditory phenomenon, some witnesses claim to have seen her combing her hair, weeping near a window, or clapping her hands in grief.