Tale of The Sheoques
An scéal de na Sheoques
When we picture an average fairy, many of us have a romantic tinker bell character in our heads. But for the Irish, tales of folklore, are sum what unique and the Sheoques are no different. They are known mainly for haunting sacred thorn bushes and the green Irish raths, (little fields circled by ditches) throughout Ireland. Yet they have a deviant habit of exchanging their own offspring (changeling babies) for those that are human. Yet many believed folklore existed and to be a form of comfort to people who has no knowledge of modern science or medicine.
But all hope is not lost for new parents! Simple charms such as an inverted coat or open iron scissors which are placed where the child sleeps are thought to ward Sheoques off or to act as a constant watch over the infant!
Despite being born and raised in Ireland myself I lacked this knowledge for many years. When I learnt of the horror of this tale I was eager to visualise and portray it. Although there are many interpretations of this tale, aspects were taken from this mythical tale and interpreted into a dark and sinister narrative with a slight modern twist.
