Since I have a vampire heroine in Cat’s Curse, I decided to post something on vampires today. Strangely, my heroine is not a Celtic vampire, but an ancient Greek one””a Lamia. A Greek vampire fit my story better. I’m sure I will have a Celtic vampire in one of my next books. Here is a list of some of the Celtic vampires, some of which are very frightening.
Irish vampires:
Dearg-due is an Irish vampire that was once a fair maiden who was forced by her father to wed a man she didn’t like. Her new husband treated her badly and she committed suicide. To get revenge, she rose from the grave and lured her husband and father to their deaths. She appears to men in the form of a beautiful maiden, seduces them and drains their blood.
Leanan Sidhe is a female vampire that had a fondness for musicians, writers and painters. She gives them the gift of inspiration and they end up giving her their lives. Her name means fairy mistress or fairy sweetheart.
Scotland vampires:
Baobhan Sith (buh-van-she) is an evil Scottish fairie that appears as a beautiful young woman and will dance with the men they find until the men are exhausted””they then feed upon them. Can be killed by cold iron.
Redcap are said to murder travelers who stray into their homes (usually ruined castles along the border between Scotland and Britain) and dye their hats with their victims’ blood. If the blood staining their caps dries out, they die.
Kelley Heckart
‘Timeless tales of romance, conflict & magic’
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604
My book page at Awe-Struck
http://www.king-cart.com/Awe-Struck/category=Kelley+Heckart/exact_match=exact
Vampires fascinate me. Bram Stoker was born just across the road from where I live and the small park opposite was named Bram Stoker Park in his honor. Did you know Fear na droch fhola (Drockola)means man of bad blood?
Loving your posts Kelley! I never realized that their were so many different types of Vampires.
Hi Carol,
Thanks for you comment. When I was looking up Celtic vampires I did come across Drockola, which I found interesting. btw I was reading some of your posts on here–really liked them.
Hi Cindy,
Thanks for your comment. Every culture has a vampire myth. I think the oldest one is Sumerian and I’m having a brain fade on the name. It’s a very unpleasant thing–an ekkimu.