Episode 18
Beware the Dullahan: The Headless Horror of Irish Folklore
Today, we’re diving headfirst into the spine-chilling world of Irish folklore with none other than the Dullahan, the headless rider who’s basically the life of the death party! Picture this: a dude riding a jet-black horse, carrying his own head under one arm like it's a casual grocery bag, and wielding a whip made from a human spine. Yup, you heard that right. This fella rolls up on festival nights and, spoiler alert, brings death along for the ride. We’ll spill the tea on some hair-raising tales, like how one unlucky chap heard the Dullahan’s chilling call just before tragedy struck. So, buckle up, keep your curtains drawn, and maybe stash a little gold nearby—trust me, you’ll want to be prepared for this wild ride!
Takeaways:
- In this episode, we dive deep into the eerie world of Irish folklore, focusing on the Dullahan, a headless rider who brings nightmares and chills.
- The Dullahan isn't just any spooky ghost; he's like a dark fairy with a serious flair for the dramatic, complete with a whip made from a human spine.
- Legend has it that if you hear your name called by the Dullahan, it's already game over for you, so better keep your ears peeled, folks.
- Gold is the Dullahan's kryptonite, and even a simple gold coin might send him scurrying back to the shadows—remember that next Halloween!
- The Dullahan makes his grand appearances on festival nights and especially on All Hallows Eve, so you might want to keep an eye out then!
- And if you happen to spot him, just don't look back or you might end up losing more than just your wits—yikes!
Transcript
Welcome to Bite Sized Folklore, where ancient tales and modern chills meet in short episodes designed to leave you looking over your shoulder.
Speaker A:I'm Jodi.
Speaker A:And today we ride with death.
Speaker A:Because in the shadows of Irish folklore, one figure always seems to return.
Speaker A:Ledullahan, the headless rider of Irish nightmares.
Speaker A:When exploring Celtic mythology, it doesn't take long before you cross paths with the Dullahan.
Speaker A:The Dullahan is known as one of Ireland's most terrifying supernatural beings.
Speaker A:It's something you definitely want to stay away from.
Speaker A:He's no ghost.
Speaker A:He's no man.
Speaker A:He's something older, a dark fairy or fae, particularly active in the loneliest corners of Irish countryside.
Speaker A:They say he appears most often on festival nights, feast days, and especially All Hallows Eve.
Speaker A:So what is Adullahan?
Speaker A:The name means dark man, and legend paints him as a headless horseman.
Speaker A:He rides a pitch black steed and carries his own decaying head under one of his arms.
Speaker A:His in his other hand, a whip made from a human spine.
Speaker A:His cloak is darker than darkness.
Speaker A:His eyes glow with a hellish fire, scanning the horizon for the name of his next victim.
Speaker A:And when he finds them, there's no escape.
Speaker A:Sometimes he rides alone.
Speaker A:Other times he drives the Kushti Bower, known as the silent coach, pulled by four, sometimes six headless horses.
Speaker A:This coach might carry a coffin, it might be accompanied by a banshee, but it always carries death.
Speaker A:And here's the thing where the banshee gives a warning, the Dullahan kills.
Speaker A:One chilling tale comes from the Thomas Johnson Westrops folklore survey of County Clare, where the Dullahan was blamed for the death of Sir Burton McNamara.
Speaker A: In: Speaker A:He threw himself to the ground just in time as something invisible passed him by.
Speaker A:The next morning, news came from London.
Speaker A:Admiral McNamara had died.
Speaker A:The Dullahan speaks only once on his journey, and that is to say the name of the one he has come to take.
Speaker A:If you hear your name, it's already too late.
Speaker A:But if you see him, you're not safe either.
Speaker A:Villagers drew their curtains at night, terrified that one glance at the Dullahan would blind them and not by magic.
Speaker A:He'd whip your eyes out with his spine.
Speaker A:Whip?
Speaker A:Just for looking.
Speaker A:It's said he rides his black steed through the countryside, and whenever he stops, a mortal man dies.
Speaker A:He's the angel of death and worthy of dread.
Speaker A:Dressed all in black and lacking a head.
Speaker A:If you happen to survive a sighting.
Speaker A:Count yourself lucky.
Speaker A:One anonymous man from Galway escaped thanks to a gold headed pin he dropped on the road.
Speaker A:Ledullahan vanished instantly.
Speaker A:Why?
Speaker A:Because for all his power, the Dullahan fears gold.
Speaker A:Even a small gold coin might send him fleeing.
Speaker A:As long as he wasn't after you to begin with.
Speaker A:So where does this nightmarish figure come from?
Speaker A:Some scholars say the Dullahan is the reincarnation of Chrom Du, a pre Christian fertility God who demanded human sacrifices.
Speaker A:When those rituals died out with the spread of Christianity, Chrom Du, angry and starved of souls, returned, now transformed into the Headless House Harbinger of death.
Speaker A:Some have even claimed to see him.
Speaker A:In County Down, A man named W.J.
Speaker A:fitzpatrick once saw the Dullahan raise his head and call out a name.
Speaker A:Fitzpatrick covered his ears just in time.
Speaker A:And someone else died on that very road the next day.
Speaker A:And while Washington Irvine's Sleepy Hollow may have brought the Headless Horseman to America, Ledullahan's roots run deeper.
Speaker A:Older than the US Older than Christianity itself.
Speaker A:So if you ever find yourself walking alone and you hear hooves behind you, don't look back, don't listen.
Speaker A:And above all, hope he's not saying your name.
Speaker A:Thank you for joining me on bite sized folklore.
Speaker A:If this tale chilled your spine, share it with someone you'd want beside you when the Dullahan comes riding.
Speaker A:New episodes drop every week.
Speaker A:Until next time, keep your gold close and your windows shut.
