Ireland

The dragons of Ireland were largely effected by the conversion to Christianity. Many of the dragons from this area are seen as evil.

• Apocalyptic Beast
• Ollipeist
• Muirdris
• Paiste
• Suileach
• Footnotes

History: This creature is said to live in Loch-Bel-Dracon, which means "Lake of the Dragon's Mouth". The Apocalyptic Beast has been connected with the Second Coming of Jesus, which is said to bring about the end of the world. However, the Apocalyptic Beast is just a signal for the end of the world, and it is said to be the avenger of John the Baptist. Therefore, on Saint John's Day, this creature shall rise and thus signal the end of the world.

This creature's mouth was depicted in many different bestiaries and religious missals. The mouth was supposidly the openning and/or entrance to Hell.

Symbolism: This Apocalyptic Beast was said to be a symbol of the end of the world, and it is both an avenger and a symbol of evil.

Physical Description: This dragon is said to be part salmon and part serpent with the ability to breath dragon fire.

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History: Ollipeist is perhaps the most famous of the Irish Dragon. When St. Patrick arrived, the first thing he did was rid the land of snakes. Soon after, he began imprisioning dragons.

It was then that Ollipeist decided to flee Ireland. As he fled, he managed to cut a furrow into the ground. Later this became known as the Shannon Valley.

Symbolism: Ollipeist fled because of the deminishing dragon population. This story shows how the Irish felt towards dragons at the time, but Ollipeist himself offers little symbolism.

Physical Description: Unknown. It has been suggested that he was much like a celtic dragon.

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History: Muirdris was the earlier name for Sinach, which was later given to the same dragon. Muirdris was a sea creature whose adversay was Fergus mac Leti. Fergus mac Leti met Muirdris in Loch Rury first, where he barely saved his life by running away. His encounter with the creature, however, left his face twisted and ugly.

So, the nobles attempted to hide this from him by hiding all the mirrors. Finally, however, someone told him about his problem, and he looked at his own face and saw that the monster had done this to him. Fergus then went back into Loch Rury in Country Down and slew the beast.

Symbolism: None

Physical Description: While Muirdris is sometimes refered to as a water horse, pictures and other decriptions hold him to be a sea dragon of fearsome proportions.

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History: Paiste, the ancient name for 'dragon' or 'snake', was said to be the last of the serpents in Ireland. Just after Saint Patrick's death, the lands that were around Lough Foyle were plagued with a monster. This creature, the Paiste, was said to be huge and could breathe flame, for the Paiste was said to be something ancient, something left over from the beginnig of the world.

So, people came to a very holy man, known as Saint Murrough O'Heaney. They begged him to drive out the serpent, so he prayed for nine days and nine nights, then took three rods of reeds, and then made his way to where the dragon Paiste lived.

When Paiste saw the saint, he was sure that this was merely a sacrifice from the local peoples. He continued to challenge Murrough by telling him that he would soon devour the saint. However, Saint Murrough remained calm, and he asked the dragon if he could preform an 'ancient task'. This, however, was not an ancient task, and most certainly not in the Christian religion, but Paiste, unknowning of this, obliged Murrough.

So, Paiste lied down so Saint Murrough could lay the three rods over his back. When the Paiste told the saint that it was time to be eaten, Murrough asked for just a bit more time so that he could pray over the rods, thus finish the 'ancient task'. It was then that Saint Murrough prayed as he never had before, and, sure enough, the rods grew over Paiste, covering him and enclosing him in bindings as strong as steel.

Unable to rid himself of his imprisonment, Paiste cried out that he had been tricked. Saint Murrough told the creature that he must promise not to harm anymore the Children of God, and so the great dragon promised and demanded he be set free. However, Saint Murrough knew that he was an evil creature, so he explained that, due to the fact that he could not be trusted, Paiste was to remain trapped in the rods until the Day of Judgement. Furthermore, he commanded the dragon to into the waters of Lough Foyle.

When Paiste refused and tried to remove the rods once again, they tightened. The dragon told Murrough that a man had no authority to command a creature such as himself. However, Saint Murrough countered this argument by explaining that he was doing the work of God, and the dragon, being a living creature and creation of God, was obligated to do as God commanded. Thus, the creature moved into the waters of Lough Foyle.

Strange tides have and currents have run along the coasts, and the waters seem to be uncalm in Lough Foyle. This is due to Paiste, who still remains under the waters, trying to free himself from its chains, waiting patiently for the Day of Judgement.

Symbolism: Paiste was a symbol of the evil in the world, and the driving-out of such a creature showed the "purging of serpents" that Ireland underwent when Christianity came to the land.

Physical Description: Paiste was a huge, eleven foot tall wurm with ram-like horns on either side of its head. It had a thick, black tounge, long fangs, and dangerous venom. In addition, the armour-like sales were said to be about the size of diner plates.

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History: Said to be found in Lough of Swilly in Ireland, this creature was quite a meanace to the area of Country Donegal. Suileach was vanquished, but sources disagree who the slayer was. The most common of these is Saint Colum Cuille, who lived in the late 500s.

Symbolism: Unknown

Physical Description: This creature is known for its many eyes and its immense size.

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1. Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose
2. The Serene Dragon: Ollipeist / Ollipheist / Ollepheist
3. Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose
4. Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose

* Source information lost.

For more information, see the Bibliography