The Dobhar-chú (Irish pronunciation: [ˈd̪ˠoːɾˠxuː];[dubious – discuss]lit.'water dog' or 'water hound'), or King Otter, is a creature of Irish folklore. It resembles both a dog and an otter, though it sometimes is described as half dog, half fish.[citation needed] It lives in water and has fur with protective properties.[citation needed]There are little to no written records of the Dobhar-Chú since its legend has relied heavily on oral storytelling and tradition.
Physical description of the Dobhar-Chú resembles an otter but said to be about five times as large (perhaps 10–15 feet), with white pelt, black ear tips and a black cross on its back. Though, due to the murky waters it is said to reside in, its pelt may be portrayed as darker.[1]
Etymology
Dobharchú is one of a number of Irish words for 'otter'.[2] The modern Irish word for 'water' is uisce (see whiskey), although dobhar is also (rarely) used. Dobhar is a much older form and cognates are found in other Celtic languages (e.g. Welsh dŵr or dwfr). Cú is 'hound' in Irish (see for example Cúchulainn, 'Culainn's hound'). The Dobhar-chú is also known as the dobarcu, and anglicised as doyarchu, dhuragoo, dorraghow or anchu.[3]
Headstone
A headstone, found in Conwall cemetery in Glenade, County Leitrim, depicts the Dobhar-chú and is related to a tale of an attack on a local woman by the creature.[4] The stone is claimed to be the headstone of a grave of a woman killed by the Dobhar-chú in the 17th century.[5]
The monument is a recumbent flag of sandstone about 4 ft. 6ins. by 1 ft. 10 ins. It shows a recumbent animal having body and legs like those of a dog with the characteristic depth of rib and strength of thigh. The tail, long and curved, shows a definite tuft. The rear of the haunch, and still more the tail, are in exceptionally low relief, apparently due to the loss of a thin flake from the face of the slab. So far the description is canine. The lettering, and carving are in relief.[3]
Legend
In 1772, Grace McGloighlin, locally known as Grace Connolly(her maiden name), lived in the townland of Creevelea at the north-west corner of Glenade Lough. One morning she went down to the lough[lake] to wash some clothes. Some accounts say that her husband, Terrence, rushed to the shore after hearing her scream whilst others say that he went down after she failed to return that evening. Both accounts say Mr. McGloighlin rushed down only to find her mutilated body with the Dobhar-Chú sleeping on top of her. Terrence runs home and grabs a dagger before returning to kill the Dobhar-Chú. As the beast died it let out a whistling yell to its mate, who soon rose from the lough. The second beast chased him from the lough, and after a long and bloody battle, which some accounts say he did not face alone, he killed the second Dobhar-Chú.[6]
^O'Flaherty, Roderic (1846). A Chorographical Description of West Or H-Iar Connaught: Written A.D. 1684. For the Irish Archaeological Society.
^""otter"". téarma.ie. Téarma. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
^ abTohall, Patrick (1948). "The Dobhar-Chú Tombstones of Glenade, Co. Leitrim (Cemetries[sic] of Congbháil and Cill-Rúisc)". The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. 78 (2): 127–129. ISSN 0035-9106. JSTOR 25510654.
^Tohall, Patrick (December 1948). "The Dobhar-Chú Tombstones of Glenade, Co. Leitrim (Cemetries[sic] of Congbháil and Cill-Rúisc)". Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. 78 (2): 127–129.
^von Radowitz, John (10 November 2017). "Does prehistoric otter explain Dobhar-chú myth?". Independent. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
^"The tale of Leitrim's own Loch Ness Monster - the Dobhar-Chú". Leitrim Observer. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
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dobhar, chú, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, april, 2016, l. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Dobhar chu news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Dobhar chu Irish pronunciation ˈd ˠoːɾˠxuː dubious discuss lit water dog or water hound or King Otter is a creature of Irish folklore It resembles both a dog and an otter though it sometimes is described as half dog half fish citation needed It lives in water and has fur with protective properties citation needed There are little to no written records of the Dobhar Chu since its legend has relied heavily on oral storytelling and tradition Dobhar chuArtist s impressionGroupingLegendary creatureSub groupingLake and riverOther name s King Otter Water HoundCountryIreland Contents 1 Description 1 1 Etymology 1 2 Headstone 1 3 Legend 2 See also 3 ReferencesDescription EditPhysical description of the Dobhar Chu resembles an otter but said to be about five times as large perhaps 10 15 feet with white pelt black ear tips and a black cross on its back Though due to the murky waters it is said to reside in its pelt may be portrayed as darker 1 Etymology Edit Dobharchu is one of a number of Irish words for otter 2 The modern Irish word for water is uisce see whiskey although dobhar is also rarely used Dobhar is a much older form and cognates are found in other Celtic languages e g Welsh dŵr or dwfr Cu is hound in Irish see for example Cuchulainn Culainn s hound The Dobhar chu is also known as the dobarcu and anglicised as doyarchu dhuragoo dorraghow or anchu 3 Headstone Edit A headstone found in Conwall cemetery in Glenade County Leitrim depicts the Dobhar chu and is related to a tale of an attack on a local woman by the creature 4 The stone is claimed to be the headstone of a grave of a woman killed by the Dobhar chu in the 17th century 5 The monument is a recumbent flag of sandstone about 4 ft 6ins by 1 ft 10 ins It shows a recumbent animal having body and legs like those of a dog with the characteristic depth of rib and strength of thigh The tail long and curved shows a definite tuft The rear of the haunch and still more the tail are in exceptionally low relief apparently due to the loss of a thin flake from the face of the slab So far the description is canine The lettering and carving are in relief 3 Legend Edit In 1772 Grace McGloighlin locally known as Grace Connolly her maiden name lived in the townland of Creevelea at the north west corner of Glenade Lough One morning she went down to the lough lake to wash some clothes Some accounts say that her husband Terrence rushed to the shore after hearing her scream whilst others say that he went down after she failed to return that evening Both accounts say Mr McGloighlin rushed down only to find her mutilated body with the Dobhar Chu sleeping on top of her Terrence runs home and grabs a dagger before returning to kill the Dobhar Chu As the beast died it let out a whistling yell to its mate who soon rose from the lough The second beast chased him from the lough and after a long and bloody battle which some accounts say he did not face alone he killed the second Dobhar Chu 6 See also EditAhuizotl creature Kelpie Water Horse Lake monster Lavellan SelkieReferences Edit O Flaherty Roderic 1846 A Chorographical Description of West Or H Iar Connaught Written A D 1684 For the Irish Archaeological Society otter tearma ie Tearma Retrieved 9 May 2022 a b Tohall Patrick 1948 The Dobhar Chu Tombstones of Glenade Co Leitrim Cemetries sic of Congbhail and Cill Ruisc The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 78 2 127 129 ISSN 0035 9106 JSTOR 25510654 Tohall Patrick December 1948 The Dobhar Chu Tombstones of Glenade Co Leitrim Cemetries sic of Congbhail and Cill Ruisc Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 78 2 127 129 von Radowitz John 10 November 2017 Does prehistoric otter explain Dobhar chu myth Independent Retrieved 11 March 2020 The tale of Leitrim s own Loch Ness Monster the Dobhar Chu Leitrim Observer 6 September 2018 Retrieved 11 March 2020 This article relating to a Celtic myth or legend is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dobhar chu amp oldid 1128101541, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
