You have 'Type' next to each entry - what does it mean?
What is Ireland's Vanishing Island?
I submitted a story to you a while but it has not been published - why?
Where does your information come from?
Why have you not responded to my query?
Why can I not see any ghosts / ufos / strangeness in any of your photographs?
You have 'Type' next to each entry - what does it mean?
Each database record is categorised under one of the following:
In regard to the ghost types, the model is based loosely on that by Emily Peach in her book 'Things that go Bump in the Night' (Aquarian Press, 1991).
Welsh Water Horses (Ceffyl-dwr) are semi-spectral creatures which emerged from rivers and offered to carry weary travellers. They would fly for great distances in the air, normally before vanishing several hundred metres above the ground with their rider plummeting to his death. In Scotland, it would be common for the Water Horse to wait invitingly for a rider by the site of a river or loch. Once mounted, the horse would dive into the water and drown the person on its back.
A Welsh version of the Irish Banshee, the Gwrach-y-rhibyn manifests as an old hag who brings warnings of death and disaster to well established Welsh families.
While reports of corpse candles have been recorded all over the UK, they are most numerous in Wales, where they are also known as Cannyllau Cyrth. Manifesting as a flickering light, the entity would be seen moving towards a churchyard (following a future funeral path), and once entering the area would hover over the ground where the next corpse would be buried. The size of the flame was said to denote the age of the person to die - a small one for a child, a larger flame for an older person.
Kobalts and Bucca were names given to the goblin-like entities that frequented mine shafts, responsible for the banging and rapping heard at night when the mines were devoid of human life. Bucca were also wind spirits, said to be able to foretell storms at sea.
A Tarbh-uisge is a Scottish mythological creature in the form of a Water Bull with no ears and soft black velvet skin.
The Bean-nighe is a Scottish spirit; an ill bringer in the form of an old washer woman who would be seen on the banks of rivers and lochs scrubbing the clothes of those soon to die. The entity has long breasts slung over her shoulders, and if one was grabbed from behind the spirit would have no choice but to tell her assailant to whom the clothes belonged. If a person was indeed brave enough to engage with the Bean-nighe, she could change fate and prevent their death.
These evil manifestations normally possess animal bodies (normally that of dogs or goats) and heads of loathing men, though their form does vary enormously from region to region. Exclusively found in Ireland, the creatures tend to hunt in packs and bring ill-fortune and death to any communities they terrify.
A Silky is a old Northumbrian name for a phantom woman. The entity tends to be invisible, but makes her presence known by smell (ie perfume) and the rustling of her dress. As the dresses tend to sound like silk sheets rubbing against each other, this ghost type was named 'Silky'.
What is Ireland's Vanishing Island?
In several bays around the Irish coast, fishing communities have spoken about a small, lush island which appears early in the morning before moving off or vanishing. While modern theory is that the island is a mirage, two myths linger. Some people believe that the land belongs to the fairies, which they use to move around (mostly) undetected and away from prying human eyes. The other story states that the island was once rooted in Galway bay and ruled over by a cruel king. His people fled en mass, and he and his land was cursed to move around the sea until the stars burn out.
Although this is something we do not normally engage in, if time permits we are happy to give our opinion on any strange images which you may have taken - drop us a line using the contact form.
I submitted a story to you a while but it has not been published - why?
Because the Paranormal Database has limited staff, it can take some time to edit all the mail which it receives. Sometimes stories are omitted for other reasons, though this is rare.
Where does your information come from?
The information published comes from many sources, including journals, books, magazines, and first and second hand accounts. Please see further reading for a list of sources which have not been sent to us direct.
Why have you not responded to my query?
While we try to respond to every query, it can sometimes take a while. Some emails are difficult to respond to as we do not have all the answers, though we do attempt to signpost vistors in the right area.
Why can I not see any ghosts / ufos / strangeness in any of your photographs?
The photographs on this website, unless otherwise stated, show the location of the paranormal activity, rather than the activity itself.
Last Updated 13 Jan 2008