Death Coach

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The death coach is part of the folklore of Northwestern Europe. It is particularly strong in Ireland where it is known as the cóiste bodhar (Irish pronunciation: [ˈkoːʃtʲə ˈbˠəuɾˠ]), also meaning "silent coach", but can also be found in stories from British and American culture. It is usually depicted as a black coach being driven or led by a dullahan.

Description

According to legend, the sight or sound of the coach is the

headless horseman, called the Dullahan.[3] The banshee is also associated with the coach, and is often depicted accompanying it.[2]

In Scottish folklore, a death coach is said to be seen at times on the Royal Mile of Edinburgh, where it collects the souls of the dead. Also in Scotland a "hell wain" can supposedly be seen in the night sky.[4]

In popular culture

Film

The cóiste bodhar was portrayed in the film Darby O'Gill and the Little People.[5] It initially comes for the protagonist Darby's daughter Katie after being summoned by a banshee, but he makes a wish upon the leprechaun king to let it take him in her place. He's ultimately spared, however, when the leprechaun tricks him into voiding his wishes, and Darby is promptly ejected from the Cóiste Bodhar, which disappears into the night sky.

Television

The cóiste bodhar also appeared in Strange along with the banshee who is able to summon the coach.

Books

The cóiste bodhar is mentioned by W. B. Yeats in his collection Folk tales of Ireland.[6]

The cóiste bodhar has also been featured in the Japanese light novel series Durarara!!. It serves as the steed of the Dullahan Celty Sturluson and it can shapeshift into anything ranging from a headless horse to a motorcycle.

References

  1. ^ Westropp, Thomas Johnson. "A Folklore Survey of County Clare: The Death Coach". Clare County Library. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  2. ^
    ISBN 9780750961141
    .
  3. ^ Traynor, Jessica. "How tales of the headless horseman came from Celtic mythology". The Irish Times. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  4. ^ "Hell (n.)". The Online Etymology Dictionary.
  5. ^ Sampson, Wade (March 12, 2008). "The Magic of Darby O'Gill (Wade's Wayback Machine)". MousePlanet. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  6. ISBN 978-0-389-20951-5
    . Retrieved 15 September 2010.

5. -Spooky Irish October- Archived 2020-08-09 at the Wayback Machine Emerald Reflections Oct. 2007 - by Brian Witt

See also

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Death_Coach&oldid=1197772051"