Caoineag facts for kids
The caoineag is a mysterious female spirit from Scottish mythology. Her name means "weeper," and she is a type of banshee found in the Scottish Highlands. People say she is usually invisible. She warns families of upcoming sadness by crying loudly at night. You might hear her near waterfalls, streams, lochs (lakes), or in glens (valleys) and on mountainsides. Unlike another spirit called the bean nighe, you can't talk to the caoineag or ask her for wishes.
The Scottish storyteller Alexander Carmichael wrote in his book Carmina Gadelica that the caoineag would cry for those who might be hurt in battles. Her sad weeping made parents very worried if their sons were away fighting.
Before a sad event known as the Massacre of Glencoe, people said the caoineag of the MacDonald family was heard crying every night. Those who listened to her warnings and felt scared left the glen (valley). This helped them escape the danger that came to those who stayed behind.
Other local names for this spirit include caointeag, caoineachag, caointeachag, and caoidheag.
The Caointeach: Another Weeping Spirit
The caointeach is another version of this sad spirit. She is linked to different families in Islay, an island in Scotland. When someone was very ill and close to passing away, the caointeach would appear outside their home. She would wear a green shawl and begin to cry loudly at the door.
In one old story, the caointeach was given some clothes because people felt sorry for her. After receiving the gift, she left the house. This is similar to stories about other helpful spirits like the brownie or the Cauld Lad of Hylton.
Sometimes, the caointeach is confused with the bean nighe. The bean nighe is a spirit who washes the clothes of people who are about to pass away, often near lonely streams. However, the caointeach is seen as more powerful. If someone interrupts her, she might hit them with her wet linen. The person hit would then have trouble using their legs.
The name Caointeach is also found in Edward Dwelly's dictionary of Scottish Gaelic. There, she is described as a "female fairy" or a "water-kelpie" (a type of water horse).
