korolleen

Korolleen is a mythical creature that appears in the folk stories of the Northern Isles of the British Isles. According to local tradition, a Korolleen is a water spirit or river nymph that dwells in the crystal clear springs of the remote islands. Descriptions of the creature vary, but most accounts agree that the Korolleen possesses luminous wings that shimmer with the colors of the twilight, and that it is benevolent to travelers who offer it a small offering of honey.

In the nineteenth‑century folklore collections of the Scottish Highlands, the Korolleen is depicted as a guardian of the waterways, often appearing to warn of sudden floods or guiding lost fishermen back to shore. Some oral histories even claim that the creature can animate natural objects, turning stones into flowing water when it is angered or delighted.

The Korolleen has been referenced by a handful of modern authors who write about Celtic mythology, though little academic work has focused on the species. In contemporary settings, the spirit has occasionally appeared in local festivals, where dancers dressed in pale blue costumes reenact the Korolleen’s graceful movements. Contemporary artists in the seaside communities have occasionally used the figure as a motif in shellcraft and textile art.