In Irish folklore, the banshee was a spirit who heralded the death of a family member. Akin to fairies, they often were found near fairy mounds or open ground (like a freshly dug grave). Hauntingly beautiful but with a ghastly pale complexion, and red eyes from crying so much, the banshee would wander the walls of the home, singing her woeful tales to warn of an impending death. The mournful wail of the Banshee was also said to drive guilty men (especially those who committed crimes against women) insane. Some tales describe the banshee as a flying veiled woman or a hunched and hooded woman out in the tree line watching funerals.
