Artists' Reconstructions
When it comes to creating a lasting imprint on the imagination nothing compares to the composite reconstructions of skilled artists. Just as painters and computer animators are relied on to demonstrate to us how prehistoric animals may have looked, likewise they tend to inherit the role of an authority when portraying unknown animals. However from a research standpoint concern arises that if an image is widely publicized it can influence both memory and perception of possible witnesses. For example, there've been a number of fascinating, if not frightfully sobering, tests done on Loch Ness where staged "witnesses" were briefly exposed to an conspicuous object in the water and then asked to describe it. With the popular conscious of the Loch Ness monster being represented as a plesiosaur, certain tests demonstrated how people tend to come equipped with an impression of what they're expected to see. Not only can one suddenly interpret a normal object as being the same creature reported in the evening news but in cases of a possible legitimate observation, details can be unintentionally added or subtracted to better comply with previous conceptions.
In fact it was primarily because of this 'influence' factor that I was initially drawn to the phenomena of Irish lake monsters to begin with. Part of that reason being because even in geographical areas that experience reoccurring, if not to some degree frequent, sightings there appears to be little in the way of popular conscience on the matter. Folks seldom discuss their experiences and what does escape into social circles is usually taken lightly. So, by this logic Irish reports would appear less at risk of being "tainted" with preconceived impressions as to what a "horse-eel" or "wurrum" was supposed to look like. Basically, few in today's modern reports recognize a peiste when they see one.
Monsters of Orbis
Orbis Publishing Unlimited produced the following images for Volume 13 of their series "Mysteries of Mind, Space & Time" (1992). While most of the information on Irish lake monsters was recycled from Costello and Holiday, they deserve credit at least for presenting the manner in a slightly more colorful tone than previous publications. Included in an overview of the more noteworthy sightings were five memorable portraits based upon separate accounts. It's tempting to conclude that Ireland is well stocked with such a diverse array of aquatic oddities but in actuality they're most likely based upon the same type of animal (except maybe for the Dubh creature).
Images as these shouldn't be valued as anything more than amusing conceptual attempts at fleshing out a description. That having been said, they at least do well to ignite the imagination.
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Lough Fadda Monster
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The
Coyne Dragon
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Achill
Creature
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Black's Lake Beast © Orbis
Unlimited |
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Bran of Lough Brin
© Orbis
Unlimited |
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Altered Images
This clever little picture was included within the Athlone library's "Lough Ree Monster" folder. A clipping of a monitor lizard interrupts what otherwise looks to have been a boat race.
This image was originally a photograph of a pike struggling on a line . At least that's what it was before it going through some modifications with MS Image Composer. Not that I'm advocating making monster photos but let's face it this JPG certainly helped perk your curiosity when you first got here, right?
As for the others: the one in Horse-Eel was originally a photograph of a conger eel whereas the silhouette crawling ashore in Land Sightings was actually a photograph of a hippopotamus until I spent hours and hours 'tweaking' it so that it was just right. Time well spent indeed!
