What is the water spirit of Celtic folklore known as?

Answer 1

Each Uisge (Aughisky): Much like the Kelpie and the Brag, these Celtic water horses found in the Scottish Highlands and in some parts of Ireland do not like humans. Unlike the Kelpie, the each uisge prefers lochs and sea inlets. The each uisge takes the appearance of a beautiful horse and beckons for a traveler to mount. If he does, he will be taken on a wild ride ending up underwater, where he will drown and be devoured by the each uisge. Glashtyn: Another name for the færie water-horse on the Isle of Man is the glashtyn. The glashtyn is described as a goblin that often rises out of the water and is similar in nature to the Manx brownie. Like the kelpie, the glashtyn appears as a horse: specifically, a gray colt. It is often seen on the banks of lakes and appears only at night. Kelpie: A Kelpie, in Scottish legend is a creature, which is said to be in league with the devil. Usually it is a black beast part horse and part bull, with two sharp horns. It has the ability to change its shape and usually when it did; it would take the form of a beautiful white horse. If passersby mounted the horse it would immediately gallop into the water and drown the rider. The Kelpie would then eat the flesh of the drowned victim. In other stories, the Kelpie would take the form of a handsome young man. However, the man would always have wet hair with waterweed tangled in it. If a young woman did not notice this, she would go to the man that is wooing her, and lead her to a watery grave. Selkie (Silkie, Selchie): Living off the coasts of the Orkney and Sheltland islands, these seal-people live under the water. Their normal appearance is human; however, they have seal skins with which they swim through the sea. When Selkies come ashore, they hide this seal skin. If a man finds a selkie maiden's seal-skin and can successfully hide it from her, he can force her to marry him. If however, at any point, the selkie finds her skin, she will return to the sea. They say that male selkies can take human lovers. It is also said that people born with webbed hands or feet are selkie-born.

Answer 2

The water spirit in Celtic folklore is known as a "selkie." Selkies are mythological creatures that are said to be seals in the water but can transform into humans on land. They are often associated with stories of love and loss.