Marianne McShane

When a young boy washes up on the shore near Ireland's Abbey of Bangor one day in 558 AD, Brother Declan knows there is something special about him. He and his fellow monks nurse Rónán back to health, and learn from this fisherman's son that he was saved at sea during a terrible storm by a beautiful golden-haired mermaid. Brother Declan believes that this maritime savior must be the mermaid princess Líban, and shares her story and other legends with the boy. As Rónán grows, he stays attuned to the music of the world all around him, and gifted with a harp from Brother Declan, he becomes a fine musician. It is this skill which help him to reconnect with Líban, whom he brings to Abbot Comgall, who baptizes her and gives her the name Muirgen, meaning "born of the sea." Rónán, in the meantime, becomes a great harper, and through his music he stays in touch with Muirgen and with the selkies on the shore near the abbey...

Retired Irish children's librarian and seanchaí (traditional storyteller) Marianne McShane made her authorial debut with Rónán and the Mermaid: A Tale of Old Ireland, although I happened to read her second picture book, The Fog Catcher's Daughter, first. I enjoyed that subsequent title so much I immediately sought out this earlier book, and am glad I did! The story here is inspired by an entry in the Annals of the Four Masters, a 17th-century Irish text that chronicles medieval Irish history. The story of how Saint Comgall baptized the mermaid Líban is a legend of Irish history, even if apocryphal, and McShane expands upon it in this lovely tale. I find it fascinating that this story from ancient Ireland shows one of the Christian sacraments being shared with a partially non-human creature, given that later traditions, such as that in Hans Christian Andersen's famous fairy-tale, The Little Mermaid, depict such creatures as lacking a soul. The early Irish church was quite interesting, and often seemed to have unique approaches to various topics! In any case, leaving that aside, this was an immensely engaging tale, and was greatly enhanced by the accompanying artwork of Spanish illustrator Jordi Solano. Recommended to any picture book reader who loves mermaid stories, or who is searching for tales with an Irish cultural background. Somewhat older readers might also be interested in Irish author Michael Mullen's The Four Masters, a historical novel for children that addresses the writing of the Annals of the Four Masters.… (altro)

Living along the Irish coast, across the water from the fairy-haunted isle of Lisnashee, Eily was the daughter of her village's fog catcher—a brave man who set out once a year, on Midsummer day, to harvest fairy water from beads of mist on the island. One year, when her father accidentally left behind Wise Annie's protection charm, always carried with him on his dangerous trip, Eily set out in pursuit, determined to restore the charm to her father, and if necessary, to rescue him from the wild and sometimes malicious enchantment of the fairies...

Published in 2022, The Fog Catcher's Daughter is the first book I have read from Irish seanchaí (traditional storyteller) and former children's librarian Marianne McShane, although it is her second book published, following up her retelling of a traditional story in Rónán and the Mermaid: A Tale of Old Ireland. Here the story is an original fairy-tale, inspired (according to the author's note) by the Copeland Islands, off the coast of Donaghdee, in County Down. In any case, leaving all of that aside, I found both McShane's story and illustrator Alan Marks' accompanying watercolor artwork absolutely lovely! The two-page spread in which Eily is rowing toward the island, navigating her way through a whirlpool with the help of a blessing, looking behind her as she rows, is particularly striking, although all of the visuals are beautiful. I will definitely be tracking down McShane's earlier book, as well as other work from Marks. Recommended to picture book audiences looking for magical stories and beautiful vistas, as well as to those seeking tales with an Irish cultural background.… (altro)

Monk from the nearby monastery was walking the coast looking for driftwood when he happened upon a circle of seals with a boy in the middle. The old Monk took the boy back to the monastery and helped him heal. Ronan was the boys name and he was sure he had been saved by a mermaid. But do mermaids really exist?
The author weaves a tale based on an ancient Irish legend. The story combines with the beautiful illustrations to tell of a story of survival, compassion and belief. This book would be a good read aloud for older elementary students. It would be a great addition to a collection of myths and fairytales.… (altro)