TheGhillie Dhu orGille Dubh (Scottish Gaelic pronunciation:[ˈkʲiʎəˈt̪u]) is a solitary malefairy described inScottish folklore. He was said to be dark-haired, and clothed in leaves and moss, from which theghillie suit got its name.[1] He appears primarily in accounts from the late 18th century,[2] living in abirch wood in the north-westHighlands of Scotland. He was said to fiercely protect the forest from outsiders, but with accounts of him treating children with kindness.
Ghillie is an English equivalent of theScottish Gaelic wordgille.[3] English lexicographerEdward Dwelly listsgille as a "lad", "youth", or "boy";[4] withdubh meaning "dark" or "dark-haired".[5]
According to folkloristKatharine Briggs, the Ghillie Dhu was a gentle and kind-hearted mountain spirit,[2] or a "rather unusual nature fairy."[6] He was generally timid, yet he could also be "wild".[7] Generally of a dishevelled appearance,[8] he used green moss and leaves taken from trees as clothing.[9] As indicated by his name, he had black hair.[9] He was of a small stature.[10] His fondness of children is similar to that displayed by the little known Hyter sprite of English mythology.[11] He was said to live in thebirch woods near Loch a Druing,[9] in the north-west Highland area ofGairloch.[12] The woods are in a dip alongside a hilly area[13] around 2 miles (3.2 kilometres) from whereRua Reidh Lighthouse was later built.[9] He was mainly reported in the latter part of the 18th century. He was described byOsgood Mackenzie, a Scottish landowner and horticulturist, in his 1921 memoirs.[2][14]
The best known account of the Ghillie Dhu involves a girl named Jessie Macrae, who lived near the woods. She wandered into the woods and became lost as the sun went down. Her sobs reportedly drew the attention of the Ghillie Dhu, who comforted her and either led her home before darkness fell, or stayed with her all night and led her home in the morning. Over a period of four decades the fairy was reportedly seen by many people but Jessie was the only person with whom he conversed.[9]
At some point, landownerSir Hector Mackenzie of Gairloch invited a group of five Mackenzie dignitaries to hunt and capture the Ghillie Dhu, which he believed posed a threat.[9] Despite searching extensively throughout the night, the hunters could not find their prey;[15] according to mythology scholarPatricia Monaghan, the Ghillie Dhu was never seen again.[8]
After researching folklore traditions gathered primarily from Gaelic areas of Scotland,[16] an authority on congenital disorders, Susan Schoon Eberly, has speculated the tale of the Ghillie Dhu may have a basis in a human being with a medical condition;[17] other academics, such as Carole G. Silver, Professor of English atStern College for Women,[18] agree and suggest he was adwarf.[10] Eberly maintained several other solitary or individual fairies, including theBrownie and the ManxFenodyree, could also have a medical, rather than supernatural, explanation.[19]
