Language 101

You might know although I'm not a native speaker I have a keen interest in the Irish language and I've just finished a diploma in the language.  While playing through Halo Reach I came across a word of Irish origin and thought I might share it's history.

The word in question is banshee, which is translated from "bean sídhe" or "fairy women ".  In Irish legend and even in common belief up until 50-100 years ago the banshee was regarded as an omen of death.  When someone was due to die the banshee would sit outside their house and cry. Hearing the banshee cry meant a family member woudl die that night.  She typically had long hair and sat combing it.

My grandfather (who liked a drink) claimed to have met the banshee on his way home from the pub one night.  According to him she was sitting on a wall at the bottom of the hill on which he lived.  He claimed to have knocked her off with his stick. Apparently she ran off and he never saw her again.