The Mermaid

There is a folktale in Ireland and Scotland of a fisherman who falls in love with a mermaid who has been resting on a rock, while combing her hair. He steals her cloak, marries her and they have a family. One day while he's out fishing the children find her cloak, show it to her and she returns to the sea. Thereafter, the descendants of the fisherman will not go fishing or swimming for fear of drowning.

This is the English translation of the lovely Irish traditional song which celebrates this fairy tale. The song itself can be heard on this Youtube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQjrUj40490

It seems that you have faded away and abandoned the love of life
The snow is spread about at the mouth of the sea
Your yellow flowing hair and little gentle mouth
We give you Mary Chinidh to swim forever in the Erne

‘My dear mother,’ said blonde Mary
By the edge of the shore and the mouth of the sea
‘A mermaid is my noble mother’
We give you Mary Chinidh to swim forever in the Erne


I am tired and will be forever
My fair Mary and my blond Patrick
On top of the waves and by the mouth of the sea
We give you Mary Chinidh to swim forever in the Erne

The night is dark and the wind is high
The Plough can be seen high in the sky
But on top of the waves and by the mouth of the sea
We give you Mary Chinidh to swim forever in the Erne


(in answer to some queries: this picture was taken in Stresa, on Lake Maggiore, during an Easter holiday there)