Here are some Irish mythological creatures across folklore, heroic epics, and spiritual traditions. I’ll give short, clear descriptions and note what kind of being each one is.
The Fae & Otherworld Folk
Name
Description
Key Traits
Sídhe / Aos Sí
The “People of the Mounds,” powerful supernatural beings living in hidden realms parallel to ours.
Immortal, beautiful, dangerous when disrespected.
Banshee (Bean Sí)
A woman who wails to foretell death within a family.
Pale, long hair, cries at night, tied to noble bloodlines.
Leanan Sí
A fairy lover/muse who gives creative genius at the cost of the lover’s life energy.
Seductive inspiration, draining love.
Changeling
A fairy switched in place of a human baby.
Illness, odd behavior, reveals itself under stress or fire.
Beasts and Spirits from Legend
Name
Description
Key Traits
Púca (Pooka)
A shapeshifter, often a black horse with golden eyes. Mischievous, sometimes guides or destroys.
Trickster spirit of wild places.
Selkie
Seal that sheds its skin to become human.
Gentle, tragic, commonly stolen or bound by humans.
Kelpie
Waterhorse that lures victims into lakes or rivers.
Appears as a beautiful horse; drowning spirit.
Each-Uisce
More aggressive relative of the Kelpie, especially deadly.
Its skin traps riders who touch it.
Guardians, Warriors & Monsters
Name
Description
Key Traits
Fomorians (Fomorach)
Ancient sea raiders / giants opposed to the early gods.
Deformed, powerful, embodiments of chaos.
The Tuatha Dé Danann
The ancient god-like race of Ireland—masters of magic and arts.
Later became the Aos Sí (Fae aristocracy).
Cú Chulainn
Legendary hero who becomes a near-berserk war-god in battle.
Warp-spasm transformation; unstoppable champion.
Morrígan
Battle goddess of fate, shapeshifter (often a crow).
Chooser of the slain, oracle of war and death.
Death, Fate, & Otherworld Messengers
Name
Description
Key Traits
Dullahan
Headless rider carrying their own head, drives a death carriage.
Cannot be stopped; sees who will die next.
Fetch
A ghostly double of a living person, appearing shortly before death.
Harbinger spirit rather than a haunting.
Cat Sí (Cat Sidhe)
A large black fairy cat that steals souls before burial rites.
Linked to wake traditions and sacred fire.
Forest & Nature Spirits
Name
Description
Key Traits
Fir Bolg
One of the pre-Tuatha races, connected to earth and labor.
Strong, grounded, ancient tribes.
Gancanagh
A seductive male fairy who enchants lovers into despair.
Equivalent to the Leanan Sí’s masculine form.
Leprechaun
Trickster shoemaker fae; wealth hoarder; hates being tricked.
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