Dhobar Chu
Tonight sees us heading to Ireland to visit a creature that dwells in the water. Specifically, the Dhobar Chu(pronounced something like doyarchu). This creature is a strange cross between an otter and a dog that has decided to live in the water.
Dhobar Chu literally translates to ‘water dog’ so you can picture a sleek, yet fishlike, creature. Perhaps it looks like a seal...but wrong. Some legends also describe it as a part dog part fish, but tonight we’re just sticking with the part dog part otter (which, for whatever reason, is easier to wrap my own head around).
Some people believe that the Dhobar Chu are not just one creature, but many, and they have been swimming in the waters for generations. They are meat eaters and often pursue prey. Why they don’t necessarily seem to hunt humans, they do have a specific taste for human meat. They are said to be quite vicious, and it is often warned to be wary of the water’s edge.
It is said that the only weapon that can truly kill a Dhobar Chu is a silver bullet, but that whoever kills one dies due to unforeseen or mysterious circumstances just a day later.
If you somehow kill one and manage to survive, you may not last long. Like otters, these creatures mates for life and if their mates or offspring are disrupted or, much worse, killed by your hand they will doggedly (pun intended) hunt you down. Oh, did I mention it is believed that they never sleep?
Two of the most infamous historical records of Dhobar Chu both happened to women. Both highlight the story of women killed by Dhobar Chu in stone. One is the Glenade Stone, which marks where a woman was killed by a Dhobar Chu in 1722. Another is a burial site with the Kinlough stone, which marks the final resting place of a woman killed by a Dhobar Chu.
A source provided by the Mythical Creatures Guide highlights, Patrick Tohall (1948, pp.127-129 cited in Dave Walsh, 1998) who wrote the following:
'A woman named Grainne, wife of a man of the McLoghlins, who lived with her husband in the townland of Creevelea at the north-west corner of Glenade Lake, took some clothes down to the lakeshore to wash them. As she did not return her husband went to look for her and found her bloody body by the lakeside with the Dobhar-chú asleep on her breast. Returning to the house for his dagger he stole silently on the Dobhar-chú and drove the knife into its breast. Before it died, however, it whistled to call its fellow; and the old people of the place, who knew the ways of the animals, warned McLoghlin to fly for his life. He took to horse, another mounted man accompanying him. The second Dobhar-chú came swimming from the lake and pursued the pair. Realising that they could not shake it off they stopped near some old walls and drew their horses across a door ope. The Dobhar-chú rushed under the horses' legs to attack the men, but as it emerged from beneath them one of the men stabbed and killed it'
This far from the only known creature haunting the waterways of Ireland but, to me, it is utterly (or otterly) unique. What are your theories for this strange creature? Both skeptical and woo-woo answers are welcome!
Samantha M, thank you for this Blogstonishing topic!
Artist Impression by Eye Witness Sean Corcoran. This creature was encountered on Omey Island, Connemara, Co. Galway, Ireland. It is by Bango Art and licensed under Creative Commons 2.0.
