School: Bouleenshere (C.) (roll number 12865)
- Location:
- Booleenshare, Co. Kerry
- Teacher: Mary A. Walsh
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0417, Page 508
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- XML School: Bouleenshere (C.)
- XML Page 508
- XML “A Mermaid”
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- A mermaid is half a woman and half a fish. She has a head like a woman and a body like a fish. She has long golden locks when seen she is always combing her hair. If any person has the misfortune to see her, he or one of his relations is sure to get drowned before seven years.
Long ago a man went to the Ballyheigue strand and he saw a mermaid sitting on a rock combing her hair. He saw beside her a wand and he thought if he got this all her power would be gone. So he stole it and took it home and hid it. The mermaid followed him home and she became a beautiful lady as soon as she put her foot on the land. Shortly afterwards they got married and had three children. One day as she was cleaning a loft over the fire she found her wand wrapped in a cloth. She immediately went to the strand and became a mermaid again. She was never seen or heard of in after years.
- Informant
- Thomas Williams
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- 60
- Address
- Ballyheige, Co. Kerry
