The Messed Up Origins™ of The Dullahan | Celtic Folklore Explained

[@JonSolo]

March is almost over but we managed to squeeze some Celtic Mythology in before the end! 😅 Which of today's stories was your favorite? And is there a Celtic figure you'd like to see us over next? ▼ Podcast Links! ▼ » Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jon-solos-messed-up-origins-podcast/id1631064271 » Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/0zC1NxCX576HHQUoYCuGDo » Google Podcasts: www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vbWVzc2VkdXBvcmlnaW5z » Amazon Music: music.amazon.com/podcasts/e2ab5016-5166-4670-b0a3-7c6ade06947d/jon-solos-messed-up-origins-podcast » Stitcher: www.stitcher.com/podcast/jon-solos-messed-up-origins-podcast » iHeartRadio: iheart.com/podcast/99117988/

[@srayj]

I really love your videos. When I was a kid, I used to watch a show called So Weird on the Disney Channel and every time I listen to one of your stories, that’s what it reminds me of. That being said, I’m not sure if you’ve ever done an episode on will-o’-the-wisps, but that would be a fascinating topic.

[@pierrebuieii3908]

Celtic mythology that’s a new one I love it 🥰 especially the last story and hilarious one stuff like this got controversy all the time Jon like Beyoncé song break my soul that crap got backlash but that was some good crap I couldn’t help jumping to the beat lol 😝

[@Kamenriderbuster2022]

I loved the last story

[@HeatherNickless-vt8zr]

I like the story but, hey The Headless horseman is one of my favorite halloween stories but I also like stories associated with folklore, especially those from outside the U.S.🤡

[@crimsonvoid1595]

I would like you to do a messed up Origins Episode on Cu’Cullan.

[@carolynwatson4301]

Ewan McLain was beheaded during a battle. His body remained on his horse for miles. So he was a real headless horseman. My Grandmother told me that story as he was her ancestor. True story.

[@DC-iu1gc]

Very interesting!

[@denxylboart4403]

Family story. I seriously need to check my family history to see if I have any as cool as yours 😊

[@Ayahuasca98]

That’s awesome.

[@VegetaReal204]

If I saw that in a war I'd be running.

[@theblackbaron4119]

My family is only befallen by the ancient curse of dementia. And the blight of "high cancer risk".

[@joshuamalone3111]

I believe the meaning of the last story is to not fear death but be ready for your time and meet it like an old friend

[@1anastudent]

In the movie Darby O'Gill and the little people he was picked up by a coach with a headless driver. I recommend this Disney movie. Also, it was Sean Connery's first movie

[@davidlabrosse9661]

It was a great movie.

[@brockpha9424]

Classic 💯

[@michellebrouellette]

Great movie filled with wonderful fairy creatures. Leprechauns, Pooka, Banshee, the death coach and some Leprechaun sized horses.

[@roringusanda2837]

I love that movie 🐙💕

[@lifeofbekahh]

I just watched this movie 😊

[@ladyofavalon]

Thank you so much for covering Celtic Mythology. I'm a modern Druid and enjoy hearing the old stories.

[@anthonyamador1813]

what’s a modern druid

[@charlesnewman6468]

Wow are you serious. I thought they were all "gone." Keep it real man

[@naotokamigire-terumi9912]

What's it like bro? I read a bit about you guys when looking for a practice.

[@gypsydonovan]

@@charlesnewman6468 there are 340,000 practicing pagans just in the United States. 342,000 Wiccans & 30,000 people who practice druidry. I’m not sure of the numbers but I’m sure it’s a higher percentage in Europe. There’s a lot more than the Abrahamic faiths. You don’t have to be of a faith to be aware of it. I’m sorry you’ve been limited & hope you’ll explore other ways of thinking. Most, whether Asatru, Shinto, Buddhist or Dine/Navajo, the majority of religions world wide have varying levels of animism (a connection with nature, respect for the spirits of ancestors, acknowledgment that we are just a part of a greater tapestry). Really, the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Islam, Christianity) are the exception because they center humans as more important than the natural world. Stewards rather than just another animal. It’s allowed us to abuse the world around us & take more resources than we need to survive. There’s a lot of beauty in the Abrahamic faiths, it’s just frustrating that so many people think you must be that or an atheist, maybe Hindu. It’s unfortunate.

[@Logitah]

Your profile picture also looks pleasantly surprised. 😊

[@crimsonvoid1595]

In Scottish Folklore the Death Coach is referred to as The Coach Macabre. It usually appears when a person is close to death. The driver which is a Dullahan will have their head utter the name of the person about to die to beckon their soul into the coach before taking them to the hereafter. I actually learned this by watching Darby O’Gill and the Little People. Granted the special effects in the movie aren’t as good as the effects of movies today but I still find the movie enjoyable.

[@roringusanda2837]

Not as good...?? That's a matter of opinion. I prefer the old school special effects, computer CGI is just nothing. There's no "there" there...I can't have any respect or fear or affection for it. Darby, and movies with Ray Harryhausens kind of special effects will never be equalled by computer illusions. That's why the original Clash of the Titans is so much better than the remake.

[@jessicalay6553]

Thank you for covering, Celtic mythology it makes our culture more known and makes me so happy. You put so much thought and time into these! 💚

[@juliusnovachrono4370]

Honestly, this mythology is unnaturally interesting.

[@alexandrab3310]

need someone to create a show series or movie where old creatures, monsters, gods, etc. actually use modern technology. like the Dullahan attaching an airtag to his head 💀

[@Tribalfan88x]

Lol. I see the Dullahan driving a stretch limo around instead of a coach😂

[@fox0277]

There is anime called Durarara!! One of the main characters is a Dullahan named Celty. Her head was stolen and she lost her memory. Celty came to the city where the anime takes place in to find her missing head.

[@jokejoke954]

Thanks for showing the Philippines manananggal, stories about it slowly dying and i'm hoping you could cover Philippines mythology because it is actually very interesting and creepy. Netflix trese can be a gateway to learn 😊

[@tenebrousoul9368]

The headless horseman will always hold a special spot in my memories. Thank you John.

[@hanakowolf578]

Watching this makes me want to watch DuRaRaRa!! again. My favorite Dullahan will always be Celty. ☺️

[@LuinTathren]

I was trying to remember the anime with the dullahan in it. Thank you!

[@hanakowolf578]

@@LuinTathren No problem 😊 It's one of my favorite anime for the fact that I see a little piece of myself in every character. Especially Erika and Walker 😂 I'm an otaku at heart!

[@TylerRakstis]

Definitely a reason why the Headless Horseman is one of my favorite monsters, especially with the extended backstory in Celtic and European folklore.

[@GredelsRage]

In the Dullahan stories my grands told he wasn't headless he was heavily cloaked, with a face seen by no mortal being. Hiis horse moved silently along the pavestones and he was simply warning of impending death.

[@shawnthompson2303]

They were once Men. Great Kings of Men. Then Sauron the Deceiver gave to them 9 Rings of power.

[@GredelsRage]

@shawnthompson2303 considering Tolkien took folklore and fantasy from across the british isles, the Dullahan does rather fit the ring-wraithes. And i know that people curently hate Rowling, but she took folklore and fantasy to an even more relatable level. TOLKIENs audience was always young adults 18 and up. Have a great weekend dude.

[@nikkia9506]

There's an anime called Durarara!, where one of the main antagonists is a female Dulahan called Celty. She's in Japan because her head had been stolen and taken there. It's actually a really good story.

[@Tribalfan88x]

Celty was an antagonist?! The way I remember it, she was one of the good people.

[@nikkia9506]

@@Tribalfan88x It depends on which side you were on 😉 I should've typed protagonist/antagonist, really.

[@aleshaschool]

I have been a fan for a long time and as weird as it to say... I'm so proud of how far this channel has come! I love your story telling style

[@0M3G4_K1NG]

"on a silver platter" Werewolf: *confused doggo noise* That's all I immediately thought up as soon as I heard "silver platter" after he was bringing up those 3 other creatures. XD

[@coursefearwell4847]

When I was a little kid, I had a gripe about ghosts that carried their heads around. “Why do they need to carry their head? It’s not doing them any good anymore!” My logic being that there were plenty of ghosts who lost their heads and got along just fine without them.

[@PhilieBlunt666]

There is a really good creepy pasta involving these fae called "I bought a haunted house and no one believes me" it's definitely worth a listen!

[@leighdowling7289]

My favourite part of the Celtic mythology series is Jon trying to pronounce the Gaelic names 😂😂 loving these videos, from the Emerald Isle 🇮🇪 💚

[@dcbandit]

The Dullahan is one of my favorite fairies! It's both an omen of death, and effectively the Grim Reaper, or at least on of them. There is a lot of Celtic reapers and bad omens, especially in Ireland.

[@barbarahouk1983]

Actually any mythology you research and present has been entertaining. I have followed you since those days you still were in college. I am grateful to all the patreons that can send you a bit now and then. I retired disabled. Sure ruined my financial planning. I am grateful daily I did live; only 1/10 survive bacterial meningitis. So I thank all those who do throw a bit of monies Jon Solo's way. I too benefit even though my income is limited. May Jon and all of his on patreon stay healthy.

[@gbdgaming1617]

I think a good one to cover similar to the Dullahan would be the Nuckelavee

[@Hair8Metal8Karen]

My favourite beastie!

[@kenzieuchiha1191]

I've always had a soft spot for the dullahan, but I never found it to be a scary or malicious entity. The Legend of the Headless Horseman song by Mercyful Fate also adds to that love.

[@SpicyClover]

Every horrifying monster has a cute version of itself in media thanks to the impeccable artists.

[@dracone4370]

I think it would be appropriate for this coming Halloween to do a video on Hellhounds and their surprising number of varieties. Also, Easter is on the 9th of April this year; I hope Jon has an appropriate video in mind for that time.

[@Kisara.Kaiba23]

Well there's a Celtic hellhound that's very less known called a gwyllgi but only if you talk to locals or do look into plus I agree with you hellhounds are pretty cool

[@dracone4370]

@@Kisara.Kaiba23 And given Jon's clear love for his dogs, it should be right up his alley. And as a plus, he can dress up both the puppers as different hellhounds and do the video with him, and their outfits could even mark as a transition point in the video to the hellhound their costume is modeled on if they decide to pop in mid video, or at least be a bit closer to it. And you are right, some types of hellhounds are very regionally specific; the Moddey Dhoo, for example, is another one of those incredibly specific hellhounds, only appearing in and around a specific castle on the Isle of Man.

[@Kisara.Kaiba23]

True and I love the idea of them dressing up for it I have dachshund and a fellow dog lover myself it does make sense to do so for the video

[@clavesseptem7223]

There's a local band out of Ohio that calls themselves Dulahan. Their song of the same name is pretty good. :)

[@amiracle1269]

Cleveland here

[@Rayna_Reed]

I'd really like if you'd do jamaican folklore :)

[@Naomi-pq6tv]

The death coach is part of the folklore of Northwestern Europe. It is particularly strong in Ireland where it is known as the cóiste bodhar (Irish pronunciation: [ˈkoːʃtʲə ˈbˠəuɾˠ]), also meaning "silent coach", but can also be found in stories from British and American culture. It is usually depicted as a black coach being driven or led by a dullahan.

[@roringusanda2837]

So... like Darby O'Gill and the Little People...that death coach was a real thing? Cause it seemed like a very comforting figure to me, more than scary... although it was a little unnerving. I wouldn't mind a last coach ride...

[@nancyM1313]

Thank you, great to hear more of these wonderful tales Jon. 💚🍃💀🍃💚

[@DoubleDealingDisarray]

I adore Irish legends. 🥰 Thank you for making a video of the Dullahan! 😁 Keep up the great work!

[@heathermason9311]

I’ve been watching this channel from 21K. It’s amazing how far you have come! Excellent work.

[@kermidiu4390]

I think this is the inverse of Little Red Riding Hood. That story teaches that not all your friends are really your friends, but this teaches that not all your foes are really your foes.

[@carolinecheney]

I had recently learned about the Dullahan’s existence when I found a video from Snarled related to it. It’s apparently the Irish version of Death.

[@Tribalfan88x]

It is Death in Scotland. The irish version just tells of Deaths' impending arrival.

[@amandaredd3057]

I listened to Vidith (KZbin narrator) read a story called "I Outran A Dullahan" (or something like that) and I swear I laughed so hard my stomach hurt 😅

[@HasufelyArod]

As much as I want to see the intro back on your videos, I'll definitely be mindful of the good reason you gave why there's no intro here. I'll watch it cheerfully and less grumpily. 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@ericsharpsteen3135]

Thank you so much for covering the Celtic folklore. I'm someone who has found out that a great portion of my DNA is Scottish and your videos have been a great source of information about myths and legends that my ancestors believed.

[@abenag2172]

I enjoyed you returning to previous videos to expand on characters.I would love to hear your take on the Orisha of the Yoruba people. You would not lack content.

[@charlesmiller6826]

I'm not so sure i am ready for something as terrifying as bubblewrap

[@Kisara.Kaiba23]

Thank you so much for touching on this as someone who is from this heritage I am now more aware of my ancestors but I actually heard that a few reports of people claiming to see one during major Irish holidays at sun set and I have heard of a woman one as well but from what I know they are lone fairies not spirits along with the Banshee are part of the fairies that's what I learned in Ireland but not as much as from your video

[@dullahan7373]

Yay! Has been my gaming alias for over 20 years 😂 Awesome stuff 😊

[@matthewscudder7503]

I really enjoy Jon’s content and i really wanna support you by buying some merch, but can we get some new designs? Maybe some based on different mythology or on any of the other topics you cover here!

[@anthonyamador1813]

You should do some chinese mythology like the sun and moon god there’s a really messed up one where the moon god is served food coming out of all holes of a god and he killed her on the spot

[@naotokamigire-terumi9912]

Isn't that Tsukiyomo and some chick he's sister Amaterasu was friends with?

[@anthonyamador1813]

@@naotokamigire-terumi9912Yeah the goddess of food invited the sun goddess to a feast and she was busy so she sent tsukiyomi instead and he was not a fan of the food

[@naotokamigire-terumi9912]

@@anthonyamador1813 Yeah, _yeah_ where the food came from was unsettling.

[@sierrajohnson717]

In the Devil is A Part Timer anime, Satan named his bicycle Dullahan and now it’s even more funny

[@xenaheart1690]

It's the middle of the night and I clicked on the notification for this video only to come face to face with the cover photo, it scared the life out of me 😂. Regardless, love your videos! Excited to see what you've put together this time 🤍

[@hokkaidoosaka4881]

What happened to his song intro

[@psychokinrazalon]

@@hokkaidoosaka4881 Copyright, maybe?

[@EBThisThat]

I know you've already covered vampires, but it would be interesting if you spoke of the Dwarf King, Abartach. I did a bit of research and apparently, after his death, he rose from his grave to feed upon the blood of his victims. To put him to rest for good, one must find his grave, impale him with a yew stake through the heart and bury him upside down to make certain he doesn't rise again.

[@Tribalfan88x]

I prefer the story of Koschei the Immortal. Doesn't take much to kill him, but he won't stay dead for long. Unless you managed to find his soul (or sometimes his death) which is hidden in a needle that is hidden inside an egg, the egg is in a duck, the duck is in a hare, the hare is in a chest, the chest is buried or chained up on a far island...

[@greenscalekingdom3143]

Being of Celtic decent, these lore videos intrigue me the most. As well as the Norse, and maybe one day you can deliver us some Welsch lore😁. I think you have some videos already, but I really enjoy the way you present the info! Keep it up!

[@iamjustamomdoingthebestica6999]

I have been WAITING for these!! YESSSS!

[@skekze]

the appearance of the pug was my favorite part.

[@haidesxaoc7727]

Gods I missed your videos 😢 know I watch them for both entertainment AND inspiration for my stories. I like to incorporate mythology onto my stories

[@jmurphy95]

Such an entertaining video, there's so much to these familiar characters I didn't know!

[@threexx8808]

I can't believe I've been watching Jon Solo for around 7 or 8 years

[@KoshTimeStepper]

Having a Dullahan as a friend? Yes please!

[@terrafallow]

This video is well timed. Glen innes NSW is getting ready for the yearly Australian Celtic Festival.

[@donnieenfield8280]

Fuck yeah dude I've been waiting for you to cover the dullahan

[@megans7778]

A anime I watched “MONSTER MUSUME: EVERYDAY LIFE WITH MONSTER GIRLS” actually has a Dullahan in it although it doesn’t show up until near the end. Although I don’t know about everything they had in the anime is exactly accurate, but does make use of/briefly explain some of the lore you did in this video. This anime is funny, entertaining, and makes use of a lot of monster like creatures and some of their lores all be it I am not sure how much is true-ish and what they made up for the anime.

[@spadeundead1468]

I have been falling behind on videos, but now I can binge them to catch. Win-win scenario?

[@aquaticcatfey]

Are you planning on covering the manananggal and/or the similar penanggalan (fun fact: both words are derived from a Tagalog verb meaning "to separate" or "to shed") in the future? They're pure creepy awesome. So is the dullahan/dúlachán/gan-ceann.

[@crimsonffire]

Cheers for doing a celtic story. The last story I liked the most, because we are always taught to be kind and generous weather in manners or, deeds to strangers because you never know if it's a fairie testing you or not. Irish people, way back while during times of war , like storming a castle time thing. Would put pikes in different directions so any rider and horse would be impaled . They'd chop the heads off of both the hourse and rider and mount them for all to see, discard the human body and eat the horse. (Fresh meat during a seige after all) my history teacher may have gone little too in depth with that at the time but definitely would explain why a lot of stories talk of headless riders and horse or horses.

[@warrenchapoton2089]

Remember what we learned from Sleepy Hollow, "You cannot reason with a man with no head!"

[@katiesnyder6296]

I would love another collaboration with you and Isaac!

[@LegendStormcrow]

Durarara had one too. She was kinda cute, for being a headless faye creature.

[@HinoTestsuExtra]

Been waiting for this and I didn’t realize I’m a couple months late fuck yeah though SO EXCITED!!! My favorite creature from the folklore of my heritage

[@Tribalfan88x]

I'd love to hear some Inuit folklore from you. That ethnic group is so much overlooked...

[@soulsnatcha402]

Be praised Jon you are a modern bard

[@lovely1762]

Ooooh, I love this mythology it's soo awesome.

[@richewilson6394]

I think that both stories tell of how we should be not taking life for granted. The danger is always around us and to not take our minds off of what we're doing and focus on what's most important.

[@Mr.Kai77]

“Made him actually shit his pants, PIZZA HUT NEW CHEESY MELTS-“ I absolutely died laughing

[@sassysuzy4u]

Thank you for this!

[@Abraxium]

First thing that came to mind was obviously the headless horseman, then upon learning of its Celtic origin, I thought of Kieran in RDR2. Although that is most likely symbolic of Saint Denis of Paris

[@gracefulannie-grcflannie-]

"And that, kids, is how I met the Dullahan." 😂😂😂

[@theresacherco3503]

Dullahan makes one of my favorite anime Durarara and amazing Celtic folklore

[@anncathrynalvarado4882]

Would you mind making an episode about the manticore, the basilisk and the kraken? Plssssss

[@arturotorres5663]

Loved everything Jon!! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@KERRYPIKE]

Great video about the Dullahan.

[@LadyRoyale617]

Thank you‼️ I was listening to a creepy pasta shout out to @lighthousehorror referencing dullhans thank you for diving in 💪🏾

[@lXlQueenofScots]

Id love to hear you cover Rabbie Burns' Tam o Shanter ❤😊

[@womoth9959]

The ancient Celts also had a penchant for taking the heads of “enemies” for a few different reasons.

[@sunandrain98]

The most terrifying thumbnail I've seen on this channel !

[@taekwongurl]

The Dullahan is one of my favorite mythological figures, something about being a harbinger tells me they're more merciful than they look. But they're clearly not to be trifled with.

[@ryanviolette3703]

Love your videos.

[@thomaswilson8080]

Could you think about make a video on the Shinto kami/god, please : )

[@naotokamigire-terumi9912]

*Kami

[@AdamTurnbull-xd3nf]

There is are great Celtic hero Cu Chulainn if you you ever want to cover him.

[@ToneeRhianRose]

There's an anime called Durarara!! that features a female Dullahan. She doesn't ride a horse though. She rides a motorcycle. IIRC the motorcycle is her horse that she transformed in order to blend into modern day Japan.

[@tayloredwards4968]

Please do the Easter Bunny

[@masonpugh1819]

YES

[@alyssa1226]

👍👍👍

[@Spyrodelta]

No fr

[@charlesnewman6468]

Lol

[@hackman669]

Yes do the 🐰🐇

[@CallMeKes]

Aww, I miss Jon calling us out for skipping the ad read!

[@antiquatedanachronism1997]

My favorite was the Death Coach. I remember it from Darby O'Gill and the Little People.

[@detectivecrimson7539]

My first exposure to the dullahan was from an anime called Durarara. I don't really remember much of the story. Just that the dullahan was depicted as a woman and her main goal was to find her head. I think (not sure for sure), it went that she had her head and carried it with her, then it was attached to her body and then later removed and stolen.

[@DeJahMode]

I finished Skyrim (as much as you can finish) years ago and recently I picked it back up. New race new gear different choices and I just recently seen the headless horseman ghost … that apparently rides around Skyrim at night has been for quite some time. Idk how I never seen it before.

[@Jada452]

Love it! I love it all. I'm going to write a book now or at least a short story, hahaha

[@michellel564]

Love your takeaway on this by the way, be nice to everybody because you never know who can scratch your back😅

[@glenjennett]

It reminds me of the movie Darby O'Gill and the Little People, at the end of which showed a creepy stagecoach that was there to ferry someone to the land of the dead. I don't remember if it was called the Dullahan in the movie, but it matches one of the descriptions you talked about. Good movie if you want to see it.

[@derrickhaggard]

The Dullahan is my most favorite Fae in Irish folklore/legend.

[@michellecrocker2485]

That crossover was so good. I hope you and Isaac will collaborate again

[@magicpyroninja]

Some kind of crazy supernatural being wandered up to me in the middle of the night and he wasn't being hostile or aggressive or doing anything to me. I would be like what's up bro

[@brendabowers3792]

Please cover “El Silbon”

[@charlesnewman6468]

I find them to be very cool and scary at the same time. No way in hell a Dollahan is going to be looking for me to remind me of death. Nah, I'm good. Lol

[@thomasohanlon1060]

The story of Hanlon's Mill is far longer than one would think. Don't you think?

[@RedVIP2019ForzaHorizon4]

I love watching these videos with Orgins.