The West Room, in Irish lore and society, is a place where those who have passed on are remembered. In life it may have been their own room, but in death it is their shrine. Pictures of the loved one are place on a table or on the walls, surrounded by candles and other material items they owned, such as furniture or even a rosary. Often the bodies of the deceased were laid out in this room. Sometimes, urns were housed within them. It is a room derived of hope as it faces the setting sun. The belief is, the loved one will arise again. The room is kept as not only a reminder, but as a familiar place for the dead to reside or visit. In some ways, the tradition is much like that of the Egyptians, who built the elaborate tombs, placing all earthly materials within its walls to guide the Ka, or spirit of the deceased, to the next world. In addition to being a shrine, it is also the place families leave a pan of milk out for the faeries, so they will not cause any mischief, as they are so well known for.

The Banshee’s West Room is comprised of favorite words written by those of the past and even several of the present. They are the Banshee’s personal choices. The Banshee hopes you enjoy them as much as she does.

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