Selkies: Irish Myths & Legends Part 4

There are many famous stories that revolve around selkies in Ireland. One particular one is that of Thady Rua O’Dowd, a clan chieftain who was tasked with finding himself a bride upon rising to clan leadership. Apparently, choosing a wife was more difficult than he realised, and he could not makeup his mind.

Out walking on the beach to clear his head, Thady stumbled upon a beautiful maiden combing her hair. Though unclothed, she had a magical cape or coat next to her. Of course all in Ireland knew of the sea people, the selkies, and Thady was no different. He quickly snatched up her selkie cloak to hide away, professing his love at first sight for her. Without her fishtail, the selkie called Eve had no choice but to return his love and marry him. Together, they ruled the lands and raised their seven children but Eve always longed for the sea.

Legend has it that though the selkie cloak was well hidden, one of their children spotted Thady checking on it, and told his mother of the “bag of gold.” When Thady was away from home, Eve checked the spot her child told her about – and lo and behold, her fishtail. With the return of fishtail, Eve could not resist the temptation of the sea.

And so she left to go back to the ocean with her children. But she could not take them all, and instead turned five of them into rocks, swimming off into the waves with the remaining children under each arm.