Wow that is one epic story I love it. You clearly have the luck of the Irish that no banshees ever got to you! It sounds like an awsome fantasy to grow up in. I can only imagine how kids must have messed with one another and had the most fun pretending to see one!
We had a little demon called a Tokolosh that would hide under your bed so you better go to bed early, i think that was just parents way of keeping us honest but everyone knew not to mess with the Tokoloshy