View source for Dobhar-chú

{{Short description|Irish mythical creature}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox mythical creature
|name  = Dobhar-chú
|image     = Dobhar-chu encounter.jpg
|caption  = Artist's impression
|Grouping       = [[Legendary creature]]
|Sub_Grouping   = [[List of legendary creatures by type#Lake and river|Lake and river]]
|AKA            = King Otter, Water Hound, Irish Crocodile
|Country        = Ireland and Scotland
|Region         =
|Details        = Found in water
|First_Attested =  Lough Glenade
}}
{{Culture of Ireland}}
The '''Dobhar-chú''' ({{IPA|ga|ˈd̪ˠoːɾˠxuː}}; {{lit.|lk=yes|water dog' or 'water hound}}), or '''King Otter''', is a creature of [[Irish folklore|Irish]] and [[Scottish folklore]]. It resembles both a [[dog]] and an [[otter]], though it sometimes is described as half dog, half [[fish]]. It lives in [[water]] and has [[fur]] with protective properties. There are little to no written records of the Dobhar-Chú since its legend has relied heavily on oral storytelling and tradition.

==Description==
Physical description of the Dobhar-Chú resembles an otter but said to be about five times as large {{convert|10|-|15|feet|abbr=on}}, with a white pelt, black ear tips, and a black cross shape on its back. Though, due to the murky waters it is said to reside in, its pelt may be portrayed as darker.<ref>{{Cite book|last=O'Flaherty|first=Roderic|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YFZ6AAAAIAAJ&q=related:ISBN0826449980|title=A Chorographical Description of West Or H-Iar Connaught: Written A.D. 1684|date=1846|publisher=For the Irish Archaeological Society|language=en}}</ref>

=== Etymology ===
{{lang|ga|Dobharchú}} is one of the two most common [[Irish Language|Irish]] words for 'otter'.<ref>{{cite web |title="otter" |url=https://www.tearma.ie/q/otter/ |website=téarma.ie |publisher=[[Téarma]] |access-date=9 May 2022}}</ref> The modern Irish word for 'water' is ''uisce'' (see [[whiskey#Etymology|whiskey]]), although ''dobhar'' is also used in placenames. ''Dobhar'' is a much older form and cognates are found in other [[Celtic languages]] (e.g. Welsh ''dŵr'' or ''dwfr,'' Cornish ''Dowrgi'' 'waterhound/otter' ). ''Cú'' is 'hound' in Irish (see for example ''[[Cúchulainn]]'', 'Culainn's [[hound]]'). The Dobhar-chú is also known as the ''dobarcu'', and anglicised as ''doyarchu'', ''dhuragoo'', ''dorraghow'' or ''anchu''.<ref name=":0" />

=== Headstone ===
A headstone, found in Conwall cemetery in Glenade, [[County Leitrim]], depicts the ''Dobhar-chú'' and is related to a tale of an attack on a local woman by the creature.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Tohall|first1=Patrick|date=December 1948|title=The Dobhar-Chú Tombstones of Glenade, Co. Leitrim (Cemetries[sic] of Congbháil and Cill-Rúisc)|journal=Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland|volume=78|issue=2|pages=127–129}}</ref> The stone is claimed to be the headstone of a grave of a woman killed by the Dobhar-chú in the 18th century.<ref>{{cite web|last1=von Radowitz|first1=John|date=November 10, 2017|title=Does prehistoric otter explain Dobhar-chú myth?|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/does-prehistoric-otter-explain-dobhar-chu-myth-36306533.html|access-date=11 March 2020|website=Independent|language=en}}</ref>

The monument is a recumbent flag of sandstone, which is about {{convert|4.6|by|1.10|ft|abbr=on}} in size. It depicts a recumbent animal having body and legs like those of a dog with the characteristic depth of rib and strength of thigh. The tail, long and curved, shows a definite tuft. The rear of the haunch, and still more the tail, are in exceptionally low relief, apparently due to the loss of a thin flake from the face of the slab. So far the description is canine. The lettering, and carving are in relief.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Tohall|first=Patrick|date=1948|title=The Dobhar-Chú Tombstones of Glenade, Co. Leitrim (Cemetries[sic] of Congbháil and Cill-Rúisc)|url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/25510654|journal=The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland|volume=78|issue=2|pages=127–129|jstor=25510654|issn=0035-9106}}</ref>

=== Legend ===
In 1722, Grace McGloighlin, locally known as Grace Connolly (her maiden name), lived in the townland of Creevelea at the north-west corner of [[Glenade Lough]]. One morning she went down to the lough [lake] to wash some clothes. Some accounts say that her husband, Terrence, rushed to the shore after hearing her scream whilst others say that he went down after she failed to return that evening. Both accounts say Mr. McGloighlin rushed down only to find her mutilated body with the Dobhar-Chú sleeping on top of her. Terrence runs home and grabs a dagger before returning to kill the Dobhar-Chú. As the beast died it let out a whistling yell to its mate, who soon rose from the lough. The second beast chased him from the lough, and after a long and bloody battle, which some accounts say he did not face alone, he killed the second Dobhar-Chú.<ref>{{cite web |title=The tale of Leitrim's own Loch Ness Monster - the Dobhar-Chú |url=https://www.leitrimobserver.ie/news/features/334274/the-tale-of-leitrim-s-own-loch-ness-monster-the-dobhar-chu.html |website=Leitrim Observer |access-date=11 March 2020 |date=September 6, 2018}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Ahuizotl (creature)]]
* [[Kelpie|Kelpie (Water Horse)]]
* [[Lake monster]]
* [[Lavellan]]
* [[Selkie]]

== References ==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dobhar-Chu}}
[[Category:Aos Sí]]
[[Category:Fairies]]
[[Category:Irish folklore]]
[[Category:Irish legendary creatures]]
[[Category:Legendary dogs]]
[[Category:Otters in popular culture]]
[[Category:Tuatha Dé Danann]]
[[Category:Mythological aquatic creatures]]
[[Category:Water spirits]]


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