The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #109303 Message #2296061
Posted By: Jim Carroll
23-Mar-08 - 04:02 PM
Thread Name: Folklore: Selkie/Selchie? & pronunciation
Subject: RE: Folklore: Selkie/Selchie? & pronunciation
Off topic somewhat - There is a very strong tradition of sea-lore in this part of the world (West coast of Ireland) with a rich repertoire of tales and beliefs and some songs.
Anybody interested in Irish sea lore should look up folklorist Bairbre Ní Flionn's article 'The Lore of the Sea in County Clare' in the 1986 edition of the Clare magazine Dal gCaís, which can be found on the Oidreacht an Chláir (OAC) website.
There are numerous other articles on music, song, dancing and folklore in these magazines.
One of the strongest traditions on this coast is that of the mermaid.
Bairbre says in her article that the last reported sighting of this creature here, was in a fishing village a couple of miles south of here, Quilty. Apparently, the local hooligans stood on the shore and pelted her with stones; she wisely disappeared and was never seen in Ireland again.
Jim Carroll