Home / Series / Monstrum / Aired Order / Season 2019 / Episode 13

Banshee: Ireland's Screaming Harbinger of Death

You might not think a crying, screaming ghost is a good thing, but you’d be wrong. The Irish banshee does predict death, but she also serves as a cathartic symbol and has a long history going all the way back to the 8th century. Dr. Zarka shows how this wailing female ghost connects to the very real Irish tradition of keening— a rhythmic wailing and mourning performed by women as part of the death ritual. Tune in to see how fact and fiction combine to create a supernatural tradition that connects the people of Ireland to their ancestors.

English
  • Originally Aired September 25, 2019
  • Runtime 7 minutes
  • Production Code r1c-ah112UM
  • Network PBS Digital Studios
  • Created September 25, 2019 by
    Administrator admin
  • Modified February 11, 2022 by
    Caféine mod