Glashtyn

The Glashtyn (Manx English: glashtin, glashtan [ˈɡlaʃθən] or glashan; Manx: glashtin or glashtyn [ˈɡlaʃtʲənʲ]) stands as one of the most enigmatic entities in the rich tapestry of Manx folklore from the Isle of Man.

This mysterious creature defies simple categorization, with various accounts describing it in distinctly different forms. Some tales portray the Glashtyn as a mischievous goblin that ventures from its watery domain to interact with island inhabitants. Other narratives insist it manifests as a colt, connecting it to the feared water horse of local legend known as the cabbyl-ushtey. Adding further complexity, some sources describe the Glashtyn as a remarkable hybrid—the tarroo-ushtey or water-bull—possessing both bovine and equine characteristics.

The folklore surrounding this shape-shifter often includes stories of its pursuit of women. These tales typically conclude with the classic motif of a narrow escape, where the woman manages to flee by sacrificing the hem of her skirt when grasped by the creature. A more modern version of the legend features a different means of escape—the crowing of a rooster, which breaks the Glashtyn's power. In this particular narrative, the creature initially appears as a handsome suitor, but its true nature is revealed by the horse-ears it cannot fully conceal, betraying its supernatural identity despite its human disguise.