“Beware of the horseman who bears no head upon his shoulders, yet let loose a phantom laugh that carries on the wind.” -Unknown.
The Dullahan is a ghostly figure in Irish mythology that dispenses death and justice with the eerie whisper of a name. This mythical creature has been a part of Irish culture for hundreds of years and is consistent with other headless horse riders in various folklore across Europe.
Origin of the Dullahan
The Dullahan, whose name means “the dark person” in the Irish language, is a headless creature that is said to ride a black horse and collect the souls of its victims with the whisper of their name. This creature is believed to have evolved from older legends surrounding the Celtic god Crom Cruach, who was also known as Crom Dubh.
Crom Crauch was a fertility god who was widely worshipped with human sacrifice in Ireland before the Christianization of the region. As Christianity spread, this ancient god was demonized and abandoned.
It is believed that Crom Cruach took the physical form of the Dullahan to continue collecting his yearly quota of human souls.
Physical Appearance of the Dullahan
The Dullahan is typically depicted as a headless rider dressed in dark, tattered clothing who rides a black horse across the countryside. In other stories, this rider is described as a female headless figure. No matter the gender of the Dulluhan, it always appears in a characteristic Black flowing clock.
Dullahan’s most distinctive feature is that he carries his head under one arm. The head is said to have a terrifying appearance. A rotting flesh that looks “like a large cream cheese hung round with black puddings, a perpetual grin that stretches from ear to ear, and eyes that constantly dart about in a strange and irregular motion.
The Dulluhan’s head is believed to have supernatural eyesight; he holds it high during his missions to scout great distances. The Dullahan also travels with a long chain made from the human spine.
The Dullahan’s Death Coach
In other descriptions, the Dulluhan rides on a carriage that is drawn by six black horses. This coach, popularly known in Ireland as the death coach or headless coach, is said to be decorated with funeral objects such as coffins, tombstones, and wheels made from human bones.
How did the Dullahan Lose its Head?
There are several explanations for how the Dullahan lost its head. According to some stories, the Dulluhan was an ancient soldier who was decapitated during a battle. It is said that the spirit of this man was so bitter about his death that he refused to go to the other side and remained on earth in search of other souls to take with him.
In other versions of Irish folklore, those who commit grave sins or wrongdoings could be cursed to wander the earth in this monstrous form. Thus, the Dullahan, as a headless rider, might be enduring punishment for some ancient crime or transgression, doomed to eternally carry his head as a reminder of his past.
Powers and Characteristics of the Dullahan
The Dullahan is primarily known as the harbinger of death. It only appears to collect the soul of someone whose time has come. There is no way to deny the Dullahan as all doors and windows fly open as it approaches.
Also, anyone who dares to gaze upon this ghostly figure is drenched in a basin of blood that marks the individual as the next target. Witnesses might also have their eyes lashed out by the monstrous spine whip of the Dullahan.
It is useless to hide from this creature. When he arrives at the household of his target, he stops his horse and calls the name of his victim, who immediately drops dead no matter where the individual hides. The creature collects the soul of his victim and moves on to its next target.
How to Defeat the Dullahan
If you are the target of the Dullahan, there is little hope for you as the Dullahan will eventually get to you. However, you might be able to buy yourself some time -or a lot of time- by exploiting the Dullahan’s fear of gold.
In many stories, people who encounter the Dullahan have been able to drive it away or protect themselves by using gold. A gold coin, a piece of gold jewellery, or even a small gold object can be enough to force the Dullahan to retreat for some time.
In Irish folklore, those who fear encountering the Dullahan, particularly at night or during times of illness, would carry a piece of gold with them as a form of protection.