Fear Gorta | The Phantom of Hunger

The Fear Gorta (Irish for "Man of Hunger") is a phantom from Irish folklore, a gaunt, starving spirit appearing during famines, seeking alms but often bringing misfortune, symbolizing the dread of starvation; it's linked to "Hungry Grass" (Féar Gortach), cursed patches of grass that induce insatiable hunger, potentially growing over unblessed corpses, and showing the stark contrast between charity (bringing luck) and cruelty (inviting perpetual famine). 

Appearance & Behaviour

• Emaciated Figure: A skeletal, often blue-skinned phantom, sometimes appearing as a rotting corpse or a mere shadow.
• Begging for Alms: Walks the land during famine, asking passersby for food.
• Harbinger of Famine: Its presence signals widespread hunger and suffering, linked to the Great Famine.