Coonclunny, County Sligo

It is common belief in the area that the Bean Sidhe crys for some of the families - particularly the Caseys. No later than three years ago it was heard by three people in the village and in a very short time a Miss Casey died.
Here is a true story of my own experience. I have always heard my father (R.I.P.) say that no member of his family ever died without a cry warning the house or one member first. He knew when his mother died - he heard a cry - although he was living 10 miles away. And when his brother died all in the house on that night heard a long low wail outside.
When my father was ill in September 1937 on the Wednesday night previous to his demise I was awakened by a loud cry. I paid no attention and thought it might have been one of the children in another room. On Thursday night and Friday night again I heard the same cry and on Saturday father R.I.P. died though on the previous Wednesday the doctor had pronounced him out of danger - it was the Flanagan side of the family who were followed by the cry. Peculiar coincidence at the time was that the night nurse who was also related to Flanagans heard the same cry on the three nights, and when I told her my experience she told me hers, and said she always knew when there was a death in the town as she always heard the call.


From the National Folklore Collection, UCD.

Knockmoynagh, County Sligo

The bean side follows certain Irish families. A wailing piercing cry is heard. A certain man heard it once in a wood, and he thought it was some one in distress, so he got a lantern and searched. The wailing ceased and when he went into his house the wailing commenced again. Next day a man was found dead in a quarry near by.
There was once a woman who lived in the country. Her mother was sick and one night, she went to the town to do some shopping. As she was passing by a bridge the bean side jumped up and started crying at her feet. She had a brown shawl and long hair. She cried for about ten minutes and the woman could not move until the bean side had finished. When she was coming back, she did not see or hear the bean side at all. The next day her mother died.
There was once a man and one night about twelve o'clock, he heard the bean side crying at his window. He went to the door and when he did, the crying ceased. He went in, and the crying started. The next day, the wire came that his Aunt in America was dead.

From the National Folklore Collection, UCD.