Conriocht | Werewolves - Irish wolf shape shifting stories
Wolves were still found in Ireland until 1786 when the last wild wolf was reported to be killed. Irish words for a wolf are mac tíre, madra allta (allta meaning wild so this would be wild dog) and faolchú. My favourite wolf related Irish word comes from Darach Ó Séaghdh’s @theirishfor Faolshnámh - to glide like a wolf.
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A few shapeshifting wolf tales from Dúchas.ie
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A mans sheep were killed by a wolf. He met a man out in his field and after chatting a bit he turned into a wolf. The wolf apologized for killing his sheep saying he couldn't help it and offered him treasure. The treasure's hiding place was a big rock that opened into a door (a very common other-world entryway in these stories) and inside was loads of gold. The man could come and take what he wanted but must keep it a secret for 7 years. People were pretty suspicious of his new found wealth, especially his wife who eventually followed him one night. When she discovered the hiding spot the wolf appeared and roared "‘you’re done for now’ in a voice of thunder that made the mountain shake” (terrifying). The man and his wife did escape but lost all their fortune. ( I dunno, it seems like the wife being too ‘nosey and should mind her business’ is a recurring trait in these stories and it’s just cover for nefarious activities! 🤔)
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Then I love this snippet, i’ll paste it exactly as it is on Duchas.ie
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“One day St. Cormac was praying in the field when two wolves appeared before him. When Cormac saw them he ran up an iron rail and pulled it in after him. Then the wolves changed into snails and crawled up the wall and got inside.”
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I want to know more about this!! Wolves shapeshifting into snails is amazing! And think of how slow they’d be crawling up to Cormac, the tension! 😱 I don't even know the resolution, did St Cormac get eaten by wolves? Its a tale for the ages!!