Dobhar - chú

The Dobhar-Chú, a mysterious creature known as the "king otter" or "water dog," has fascinated the people of Scotland for centuries. Legends of this extraordinary animal date back to the 17th century, and one of the most famous stories concerns the tragic fate of Grace Connolly, whose brutal murder was allegedly the work of the Dobhar-Chú. Tales of encounters with this monster that survive today combine elements of reality with folklore, and Grace's gravestone in the town of Drumain is a testament to this.

The image of her murderer, the mysterious animal Dobhar-Chú, carved on Grace Connoly's tombstone

An early description of this giant otter appears in Roderick O'Flaherty's 1684 book, "A Description of West Connaught." According to the author, a man was walking along a steep lake shore when he suddenly saw the head of an animal in the water. When he tried to take a closer look, the creature dived and struck the bank with all its might. The man fell into the water. The creature resembled a large otter, the color of a "common greyhound," but was hairless. The animal sank its teeth into the man's skull and dragged him beneath the surface. The man drew a knife and stabbed the creature, which released its grip and fled, leaving a trail of blood behind it.The most important story associated with this creature dates back over two hundred years. It tells the story of Terence McGhloughlan and his young wife, Grace Connolly. They lived in the town of Creevel, at the northern end of Lake Glenade, in northern Scotland. One September morning, Grace went to the lake to wash her clothes, but never returned. Her worried husband, setting out to search, didn't have to search long—Grace's body lay mutilated near the lake. Beside the body lay the murderer—Dobhar-chú, an animal known as the king otter. Blinded by rage, Terence immediately shot it. Before doing so, the animal had let out a piercing scream. Moments later, a response came from the depths of Lake Glendale, and a second animal, the vengeful companion of the shot beast, emerged.It charged at McGhloghlan, who jumped on his horse, quickly rode home, and, accompanied by his brother, began to flee. However, the large animal tirelessly pursued them.

And here is another image of Dobhar-Chú

The two men finally reached Castlegarden (Cashelgarren) and dismounted. They positioned their horses on the path and hid, awaiting the arrival of their bloodthirsty pursuer. When Dobhar-chú tried to slip between the horses' legs, Terence leaped from his hiding place and plunged his dagger into the animal's flesh, killing it. The scene was later immortalized on Grace's gravestone (below).

This story could be dismissed as a fairy tale, were it not for the fact that Grace's grave actually exists. The grave is located in Congbhail Cemetery in the town of Drumain, on the Glendale side of the coastal plain in north County Leitrim and south County Donegal, near Bundoran.

Dobhar-Chú stuffed in a bottle :-) You can buy such souvenirs all over Scotland

The image of Dobhar-chú carved in stone is an interesting combination of morphological features. Long limbs and powerful thighs, a broad chest, and a long, curled tail (with a distinct tuft) strongly resemble a dog. Large paws, a long, strong neck, a short head, and small ears are characteristic of an otter. It's no wonder, then, that the animal's common name reflects this duality. Dobhar-chú means "water dog" and "royal otter."

The animal does not resemble any currently known species, and there would be nothing to wonder about if it were not for Grace Connolly's gravestone, which proves that we should not be so quick to dismiss this story as a myth.