The bean sidhe ("woman of the hills") were a type of jinn from Irish lore very similar to the banshee. They are most often seen lingering near a house, either alone or in a group, where a person was likely to die; once one starts their keening ("mourning wail"), the person's fate was set. If one can be captured it could be compelled to say the name of the person who will die.
The bean sidhe were described as dressed in a green dress and gray cloak and having long, wild hair and bloodshot eyes from their constant crying. There were also regional variations to the descriptions of the bean sidhe, sometimes having one large bucked tooth, other times having overly large and pendulous breasts. In a few stories she was said to have slimly and wet skin, similar to pond scum.
Bean sidhe were also seen at river banks washing a blood stained shirt, a burial shroud, an article of clothing, or a shirt, the item varies from region.
Aiobhill was the name of the bean sidhe who presided over the Dalcassians of North Munster; Cliodna was the bean sidhe of the MacCarhys as well as other families of South Munster.