Maighdean Mhara in Oméith /
A Mermaid in Omeath
A Mermaid in Omeath
Informant: Unknown
Age:
Address: Omeath, Co. Louth
Collector: Collected as part of The Schools’ Collection, National Folklore Collection, UCD
Date of Recording: 1937/38
Reference:
Oyster Vendor, Carlingford, circa 1950 [Maurice Curtin, National Folklore Collection, UCD]
Maighdean Mhara in Oméith
Is i mBéarla atá an buntéacs.
A Mermaid in Omeath
There is another story told about a seal or mermaid. Some of the Omeath men were out dredging for oysters and saw a fish in the water. They followed it trying to catch it, but they couldn't catch it. They followed it until it landed on the Cooley shore and a man called Michael McGuire caught it. It was a mermaid and it followed them into the boat and it started to sing very sweetly. It would cry sometimes and at other times it would sing. The men got such a fright that they were afraid to go home that night. This mermaid would always appear when a big storm would be on sea.