Dobhar-Chu - Ricky Abshire

## What is the Dobhar-Chú

The Dobhar-Chú is an Irish lake monster that has been said to have inhabited lakes of the British Isles since ancient times. When translated, its name roughly means "Water Hound" or "Hound of the Deep". Dobhar-Chú is approximately seven foot long (about the size of the average crocodile, which also gives it the nickname "Irish Crocodile") This creature is a hunter that is definitely high up on the food chain. It is known for its high speed and aggression. It also has a certain appetite for human flesh. It is unlikely for this creature to be killed, but when they are in danger or are dying, they let out a high pitched squeal that warns it's mate of its impeding doom and the mate will immediately come up from the waters to hunt whatever caused its death. Sightings of this creature date back to as far as 1684, but the first recorded sighting was dated as 1896 in The Journal of Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. It was spotted by a woman by the name of Miss Walkington, who described the creature as "half wolfdog and half fish." Some people believe that the Dobhar-Chú is an incomplete and immature form of the more famous Loch Ness Monster.

## The History of the Dobhar-Chú

As mentioned previously, the Dobhar-Chú has been known and seen for centuries in fact, a couple have deaths have been attributed to the creature. The first of these deaths is the Kinlough stone, which is said to mark where a woman was killed by the creature, even having an etching of an image of the creature. The second is the Glenade Stone, which is also said to be the spot where a separate woman had died to the creature in 1722. There is also an etching of the creature in this stone. This creature is well known to attach humans for food, and many attempts to locate this creature have ended poorly for those that searched for it. The most famous sighting of this beast was in 1948 by Patrick Tohall. The story mentions that Tohall's wife went out to the lake to wash some clothes, and when she did not return he went to look for her and found her bloody, mangled corpse with the Dobhar-Chú asleep on it. He immediately went back home and got his knife, returned and killed the creature and upon death it let out a terrible high pitched squeal that alerted its mate. Tohall got on his horse to flee the creature but after not being able to outrun it, he stopped against a wall and managed to kill the creature as it climbed his horse to attack him. This sighting shows why many people choose not to go near the creatures as they are very dangerous and can be unescapable if pursued.

## The Legends

Irish history is primarily oral, which is how many cryptids like this one are passed down and adapted over time. The previous story involving Patrick Tohall is said to be tangible proof that the Dobnar-Chú exist, as his wife Grace Connelly's grave actually existed and her death is attributed to this cryptid. Some researchers say that a small group of Dobnar-Chú still live today in the islands of Achill, off the west coast of County Mayo. One of the most recent sightings of this creature was in 2003, when Irish artist Sean Cocoran and his wife reported seeing a strange creature on Omey Island, County Galway. They described him as a huge creature that could swim very quickly and emitted a strange, high pitched whistle. Most sightings of the creature take place in western Ireland since it is littered with lakes, the natural habitat of the Dobhar-Chú. With this vast amount of lakes, sightings of the creature for decades to come will surely continue.

## Adaptations of the Dobhar-Chú

Over time, the Dobhar-Chú has changed but not as much as other cryptids, which eerily makes it more likely to be real. The creature continues to this day, as mentioned previously with the Seann Cocoran encounter, is still reported to be huge, whistle, and swim fast. As for deaths that have been attributed to the creature in recent years, there are none. However, this does not mean that the creature does not exist. As time went on, the creature began to be described as more otterish and less like a dog or even a fish-dog hybrid like many earlier sightings depicted it to be. Overall, the creature was made less terrifying and more like a normal animal; again, showing some eerie evidence that this creature may be real.

## Analysis

Overall, the Dobhar-Chú has not changed much over the centuries that it has existed, but what has changed is just how dangerous and "evil" the creature looks. If I could continue to adapt this creature, I would double down on the morphing to something closer to a real animal, possibly an actual genetic cousin to the modern otter. This would make the creature more likely to be believed as a real animal. This creature is a very interesting cryptid which has a rich history in Irish folklore. It has burned it's place in the society and communities of the areas in western Ireland and has become a part of its culture. Over time I hope to see this creature continue its growth and adaptations in the folklore of the area, especially now with the internet, this information can spread faster than ever.

## Sources:

Dark Tales. (2022, September 12). *The dobhar-chú*. Dark Tales. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://darktales.blog/2019/03/28/the-dobhar-chu/

Rafferty, R. (2021, May 30). *The myths and legends of ireland's hound of deep, the Dobhar Chu*. IrishCentral.com. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/irelands-hound-dobhar-chu

Shuker, D. K. (1970, January 1). *The Dobhar-chú - trailing Ireland's mysterious master otter. part 1: Glenade Lake and a gravestone*. ShukerNature. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://karlshuker.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-dobhar-chu-trailing-irelands.html