The Oilliphéist is a dragon-like Celtic sea monster said to lurk in the lakes and rivers of Ireland. Some say it can command the water, creating storms and floods, and swallow a ship with its entire crew in a single gulp. Its gaze is rumored to be so frightening that one glance will drown a swimmer. In some tales, it guards priceless treasures hidden deep in the water. Many stories surround this serpentine beast, including a tale that it once swallowed Ó Ruairc', a drunken piper who continued to play his instrument inside the belly of the beast. The enraged monster immediately regurgitated the piper, allegedly inspiring the legend of the Loch Ness Monster.
Comments