The leannán sídhe (lit.'fairy lover';[1]Scottish Gaelic: leannan sìth, Manx: lhiannan shee; [lʲan̴̪-anˈʃiː]) is a figure from Irish Folklore.[2] She is depicted as a beautiful woman of the Aos Sí ("people of the barrows") who takes a human lover. Lovers of the leannán sídhe are said to live brief, though highly inspired, lives. The name comes from the Gaelic words for a sweetheart, lover, or concubine and the term for inhabitants of fairy mounds (fairy).[3] While the leannán sídhe is most often depicted as a female fairy, there is at least one reference to a male leannán sídhe troubling a mortal woman.[4]
A version of the myth was popularized during the Celtic Revival in the late 19th-century. The leannán sídhe is mentioned by Jane Wilde, writing as "Speranza", in her 1887 Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms and Superstitions of Ireland.[5]W. B. Yeats popularized his own 'newly-ancient' version of the leannán sídhe, emphasizing the spirit's almost vampiric tendencies.[6] As he imagined it, the leannán sídhe is depicted as a beautiful muse who offers inspiration to an artist in exchange for their love and devotion; although the supernatural affair leads to madness and eventual death for the artist:[7]
The Leanhaun Shee (fairy mistress) seeks the love of mortals. If they refuse, she must be their slave; if they consent, they are hers, and can only escape by finding another to take their place. The fairy lives on their life, and they waste away. Death is no escape from her. She is the Gaelic muse, for she gives inspiration to those she persecutes. The Gaelic poets die young, for she is restless, and will not let them remain long on earth—this malignant phantom.
A number of traditional Irish tales feature characters that appear to draw from the leannán sídhe legend for inspiration. These include Katharine Mary Briggs's "The Fairy Follower" in Folktales of England, the story "Oisin in the Land of Youth" in Ancient Irish Tales, "The Dream of Angus" in Augusta, Lady Gregory's Cuchulain of Muirthemne.
The old Irish song "My Lagan Love" uses her as a metaphor for consuming love: "And like a love-sick lennan-shee/She hath my heart in thrall,/Nor life I own nor liberty/For love is lord of all."
Starring in the Japanese manga "Mahoutsukai no Yome (The Ancient Magus' Bride)" volume 3, by Kore Yamazaki a leannan sidhe lives with Joel Garland who Chise meets in his rose garden.
The 2017 horror movie MUSE, written and directed by John Burr, features her as the mythical and deadly spirit who becomes the muse and lover of a painter.[8]
Spooky Irish October - October 2007 Emerald Reflections - by Brian Witt
Gregory, Augusta (1904). Gods and Fighting Men. Part I: Book IV: Aine.
November 11, 2023
leanan, sídhe, leannán, sídhe, fairy, lover, scottish, gaelic, leannan, sìth, manx, lhiannan, shee, lʲan, ˈʃiː, figure, from, irish, folklore, depicted, beautiful, woman, people, barrows, takes, human, lover, lovers, leannán, sídhe, said, live, brief, though, . The leannan sidhe lit fairy lover 1 Scottish Gaelic leannan sith Manx lhiannan shee lʲan an ˈʃiː is a figure from Irish Folklore 2 She is depicted as a beautiful woman of the Aos Si people of the barrows who takes a human lover Lovers of the leannan sidhe are said to live brief though highly inspired lives The name comes from the Gaelic words for a sweetheart lover or concubine and the term for inhabitants of fairy mounds fairy 3 While the leannan sidhe is most often depicted as a female fairy there is at least one reference to a male leannan sidhe troubling a mortal woman 4 A version of the myth was popularized during the Celtic Revival in the late 19th century The leannan sidhe is mentioned by Jane Wilde writing as Speranza in her 1887 Ancient Legends Mystic Charms and Superstitions of Ireland 5 W B Yeats popularized his own newly ancient version of the leannan sidhe emphasizing the spirit s almost vampiric tendencies 6 As he imagined it the leannan sidhe is depicted as a beautiful muse who offers inspiration to an artist in exchange for their love and devotion although the supernatural affair leads to madness and eventual death for the artist 7 The Leanhaun Shee fairy mistress seeks the love of mortals If they refuse she must be their slave if they consent they are hers and can only escape by finding another to take their place The fairy lives on their life and they waste away Death is no escape from her She is the Gaelic muse for she gives inspiration to those she persecutes The Gaelic poets die young for she is restless and will not let them remain long on earth this malignant phantom Contents 1 In literature and pop culture 2 See also 3 References 4 Further readingIn literature and pop culture editA number of traditional Irish tales feature characters that appear to draw from the leannan sidhe legend for inspiration These include Katharine Mary Briggs s The Fairy Follower in Folktales of England the story Oisin in the Land of Youth in Ancient Irish Tales The Dream of Angus in Augusta Lady Gregory s Cuchulain of Muirthemne The old Irish song My Lagan Love uses her as a metaphor for consuming love And like a love sick lennan shee She hath my heart in thrall Nor life I own nor liberty For love is lord of all Modern fantasy novels often include characters based on Irish mythology Examples include The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher with a recurring character named Leanansidhe or Lea for short and The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa Also the book Ink Exchange April 2008 a part of the Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr Starring in the Japanese manga Mahoutsukai no Yome The Ancient Magus Bride volume 3 by Kore Yamazaki a leannan sidhe lives with Joel Garland who Chise meets in his rose garden The 2017 horror movie MUSE written and directed by John Burr features her as the mythical and deadly spirit who becomes the muse and lover of a painter 8 See also editIrish mythology in popular culture Banshee Baobhan sith Cliodhna Dames Blanches Hulder Pontianak Rusalka Samodiva Sayona Soucouyant Succubus Weisse Frauen Witte WievenReferences edit Focloir Gaeilge Bearla Leanan Sidhe Encyclopedia com Retrieved 31 May 2020 Focloir Gaeilge Bearla Transactions for the Year 1854 Transactions of the Ossianic Society 2 90 92 1855 Retrieved 31 May 2020 Wilde Lady Jane 1887 Ancient Legends Mystic Charms and Superstitions of Ireland Boston Ticknor and Co o Suileabhain Brian The Truth about Leannan Sidhe Irish Imbas Archived from the original on 16 April 2021 Retrieved 14 March 2019 Yeats W B 1888 Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry London The Walter Scott Publishing Co Ltd p 81 Miska Brad 7 August 2018 DarkCoast Finds Their Muse in John Burr s Twisted Fairy Tale Bloody Disgusting Retrieved 13 April 2019 Further reading editBriggs Katharine 1976 A Dictionary of Fairies Middlesex Penguin p 266 ISBN 978 0 14 004753 0 Spooky Irish October October 2007 Emerald Reflections by Brian Witt Gregory Augusta 1904 Gods and Fighting Men Part I Book IV Aine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Leanan sidhe amp oldid 1170285423, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
