Merrows: The Enchanting Mermaids of Celtic Mythology by Judith Shaw

Mermaids have captivated our imaginations worldwide for thousands of years. Across cultures, mermaids are depicted in differing ways—as a dangerous seductresses like the Greek sirens, or as one who could grant immortality like the Japanese ningyo.  

Celtic Ireland, with its abundance of fairies and magical beings has its own kind of mermaid, the Merrow. This term derives from the Gaelic word, “murúch,” which translates as “sea maiden.”

Merrows, considered mystical sea beings with human and fish characteristics, are unique both in appearance and in character. It is said that they reside in the Otherworld, Tír fo Thuinn, the Land Beneath the Waves. There are many Otherworlds in Celtic mythology, which all connect the people with the natural world, sacred beliefs and the ancestors. Water is one of the gateways to the Otherworld.

The original legends depicted a Merrow as a beautiful, slender, graceful woman with webbed toes and fingers for better swimming. Envisioned with pale white skin as a result of living underwater, the Merrows have long, green, seaweed-like hair and usually wear a green or blue dress made of fish scales or seaweed. After the legends were put in written form, Merrows were often depicted with a fish tale.

But, whether seen with a fishtail or webbed toes, a Merrow always has her magical red cap, called a “cohuleen druith,” which allows her to travel between the deep water and dry land. The red cap is seen throughout Celtic mythology as a magical tool with transformative powers, facilitating personal growth, change and new beginnings. If this magical cap was taken from her, then she was stranded on land, no longer able to grow and change with life . 

Merrows are credited with a wide variety of talents. Often associated with good fortune, they can control the weather and the tides. They are often sweet and loving, granting wishes to those who treat them kindly. But if mistreated or if the sea is dishonored, then Merrows can be vengeful and seek retribution. 

The Merrows are believed to have healing powers. Their enchanting melodies can calm the mind, soothe turbulent waters and capture the heart. Merrow tales allude to the beauty, mystery and dangers of the sea. Their songs evoke a sense of yearning for the wild, boundless depths of the sea.

With their mystical beauty and ability to bring good fortune, men often coveted Merrows as  wives. Additionally they were believed to be wealthy beyond imagination, with underwater palaces filled with splendid treasures from shipwrecks. When a man married a Merrow he also gained access to her sea treasures. 

It was widely known that without her red cap she could not return to her home under the sea. When she was spotted on the shore, a man would steal her cap, leaving her stranded on dry land. Then he would offer her protection as his wife. With no way to survive on land, she agreed.

Sometimes it’s the Merrow who first falls in love. One legend tells of Benowen, a Merrow who fell in love with a fisherman and chose to live on land with him. But even though it was her choice, her need for the sea proved too strong.  Eventually she returned to her deep water home, leaving her fisherman behind, heartbroken. 

The Merrows, with their enchanting songs, enthralled men, drawing them irresistibly to the sea. Some might be seeking vengeance for a wrongdoing, in which case he would find himself in the embrace of death at the bottom of the sea. But most often, the man is entranced to love and follow the Merrow, who wanted a human husband to live with her in her underwater home.

The many legends of Merrow relationships with humans are often bittersweet, revealing their dual nature. Though she might come to love the man and children born of their union, she could never lose her longing for the sea. Ultimately she finds her red cap and without regret, returns to her wild home under the sea. 

Merrow tales reveal our eternal longing for the sea, the original source of all life on land. They explore themes of love, sacrifice, transformation and our enduring connection to the natural world,

Merrow men are described as ugly and ferocious. There aren’t many tales of Merrow men, though when mentioned they are generally viewed as a dangerous foe. It was commonly believed that Merrow women preferred human men because their own men were so ugly and dangerous. 

Some legends depict Merrows as guardians of the sea and protectors of both the many sea creatures and fishermen. One tales tells of a Merrow whose haunting melody rescued a sailor from a wrathful storm. Enchanted, he followed her song through the pounding waves. When dawn came, instead of being drown beneath the waves, he found himself washed up on the shores of his home, saved by the loving embrace of the Merrow’s song. 

The sea gives life and it takes it away. The Merrow is the embodiment of this duality, appearing as both a protector and a threat, as a lover and a predator. These tales illustrate the Celtic worldview—one which does not seek to tame nature but instead respects, reveres and also fears the mysteries of the natural world. 

The Merrow/human relationship also reveals our complex and dual nature—the drive for civilizing comfort and the longing to return to the wild state from which we emerged.

The Merrow represents the liminal space we find ourselves in during times of change. She can be found in the waves that wash over the shore only to then recede back to the depths.  As an intermediary between the mundane, everyday world and the Otherworld of the divine, she symbolizes transformation, the lure of the unknown, and the danger of temptation. The Merrow serves as a reminder of the untamable nature of the sea—a potent warning in our time of climate change. 

Next time you find yourself on the seashore, feel the pull of the depths; squint your eyes, and you just might see a Merrow beckoning you to embrace the transformation we so desperately need.

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