In
Irish folklore, the
Bean Sidhe ("woman of the hills") is a spirit or fairy who fortells a death in a family by continual ghostly wailing. She is popularly known as the
Banshee. When a Banshee is
caught, she is obliged to tell the name of the
doomed.
Traditionally, the Bean Sidhe has long streaming hair and is dressed in a gray cloak and green dress. Her eyes are fiery red from the constant weeping. When multiple Banshees wail together, it heralds the death of a bigshot.
The Scottish version of the Banshee is the Bean Nighe.