Bean nighe | Scottish Mythology

A bean nighe is a fairy in Scottish mythology. The name “bean nighe” is Scottish Gaelic for “washer woman”. Messengers from the Other World, the mnathan nighe, which is plural of bean nighe are said to be the spirits of women who died in labour, and are now roaming the sides of streams and rivers, washing the blood from the clothes of those about to die.

The bean nighe is a type of bean shìth, fairy women or banshees in English.