{"id":3060,"date":"2016-07-31T19:03:02","date_gmt":"2016-07-31T19:03:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/?p=3060"},"modified":"2016-07-31T19:03:02","modified_gmt":"2016-07-31T19:03:02","slug":"listen-not-to-the-song-of-the-merrow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/listen-not-to-the-song-of-the-merrow\/","title":{"rendered":"Listen Not to the Song of the Merrow"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Girl<\/a>
Girl dressed as a Merrew in Shop Street in Galway: according to tradition they can herald a forthcoming death like a Banshee (normally a river or lake dwelling variety) detailed in my verse “Lady of Lough Gowna<\/strong><\/a>“, or lure men to their deaths like the Siren of European mythology – as told in the verse “Catch of the Merrow<\/strong>“, and there are tales of mortals marrying merrew as well!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Men of Erin, and all men, who in Erin you may be
\nListen not to the Merrow song that sounds with such beauty
\nSwim not in the waters as she and her spell song does entice
\nThe wiliest of wiley ladies whose wiles are tantamount to vice<\/p>\n

For weak of mind as well of flesh as most mortal men are
\nKnow not the meaning of the song that echoes beautiful from far
\nIt may be a warning of a drowning to come, a heralder of death
\nHearing it, it is not you, but you dont know that yet
\nOr it may be to entice you to to water to be taken
\nTo lose your life to win her love, to never more awaken…<\/p>\n

Reference:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Merrow – Wikipedia<\/a><\/p>\n

The Merrows – Irelands Eye<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Men of Erin, and all men, who in Erin you may be Listen not to the Merrow song that sounds with such beauty Swim not in the waters as she and her spell song does entice The wiliest of wiley ladies whose wiles are tantamount to vice For weak of …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[256,168,169],"tags":[1218,2345,1866,2775,2782,3116,3115],"class_list":["post-3060","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-irish-heritage","category-irish-legend","category-myths-and-tales","tag-folklore","tag-ireland","tag-irish-folklore","tag-merrew","tag-merrow","tag-s","tag-siren","column","twocol"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7EI4f-Nm","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4030,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/when-its-bad-manners-to-say-thanks\/","url_meta":{"origin":3060,"position":0},"title":"When Its Bad Manners to Say Thanks","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"5th October 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The story of a ghost miller on Lough Gownas Inch Island From the Irish Folklore Collection On the waters of Gowna there rests Inch isle On monastic fame, and the ringing bell The shores of which array Derrycassin, Culray Mullahoran, Dring and more places as well. The tale is told\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Folklore and Legend"","block_context":{"text":"Folklore and Legend","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/folklore-and-legend\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"There was a mill on Inch Island on Lough Gowna, worked by a phantom miller... one of the many supernatural phenomena on the lake, along with the monster, and the merrow","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Lough-Gowna-which-has-a-version-of-the-Loch-Ness-Monster-and-a-mermaid-according-to-local-folklore.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Lough-Gowna-which-has-a-version-of-the-Loch-Ness-Monster-and-a-mermaid-according-to-local-folklore.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Lough-Gowna-which-has-a-version-of-the-Loch-Ness-Monster-and-a-mermaid-according-to-local-folklore.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Lough-Gowna-which-has-a-version-of-the-Loch-Ness-Monster-and-a-mermaid-according-to-local-folklore.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Lough-Gowna-which-has-a-version-of-the-Loch-Ness-Monster-and-a-mermaid-according-to-local-folklore.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2677,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/catch-of-the-merrow\/","url_meta":{"origin":3060,"position":1},"title":"Catch of the Merrow","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"17th April 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"The Merrow (Moruadh or Murr\u00faghach, from muir, sea, and oigh, a maid) was a sea spirit thought to lure people to their deaths. Alas in Galway we have too many coming to an end in the water, whether at their own hand or through misfortune. This is dedicated to their\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Current Affairs in Ireland"","block_context":{"text":"Current Affairs in Ireland","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/ireland\/current-affairs-in-ireland\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Aran Islands seen from Renmore - taken by Tomas O Carthaigh 2016","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Aran-Islands-seen-from-Renmore-taken-by-Tomas-O-Carthaigh-2016.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Aran-Islands-seen-from-Renmore-taken-by-Tomas-O-Carthaigh-2016.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Aran-Islands-seen-from-Renmore-taken-by-Tomas-O-Carthaigh-2016.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Aran-Islands-seen-from-Renmore-taken-by-Tomas-O-Carthaigh-2016.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Aran-Islands-seen-from-Renmore-taken-by-Tomas-O-Carthaigh-2016.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4040,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/flickering-candles-foretell-death\/","url_meta":{"origin":3060,"position":2},"title":"Flickering Candles Foretell Death","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"6th October 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"A tradition of foretelling a death from North Longford... From the Irish Folklore Commission In days gone by a tradition old Of which the Church condemns though what they are told By clergy the folk pay little heed For superstition and tradition they had a need And so together on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Death"","block_context":{"text":"Death","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/death\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Dozen candles set un a dungpile - the first that went out said its owner would die within a year according to old Longford tradition","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Dozen-candles-set-un-a-dungpile-the-first-that-went-out-said-its-owner-would-die-within-a-year-according-to-old-Longford-tradition.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Dozen-candles-set-un-a-dungpile-the-first-that-went-out-said-its-owner-would-die-within-a-year-according-to-old-Longford-tradition.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Dozen-candles-set-un-a-dungpile-the-first-that-went-out-said-its-owner-would-die-within-a-year-according-to-old-Longford-tradition.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Dozen-candles-set-un-a-dungpile-the-first-that-went-out-said-its-owner-would-die-within-a-year-according-to-old-Longford-tradition.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Dozen-candles-set-un-a-dungpile-the-first-that-went-out-said-its-owner-would-die-within-a-year-according-to-old-Longford-tradition.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3664,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/being-easter-sunday-will-the-sun-dance-in-the-morning\/","url_meta":{"origin":3060,"position":3},"title":"Being Easter Sunday, Will the Sun Dance in the Morning?","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"15th April 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"It being Easter Sunday, At the dawn, will the sun dance? Should the clouds chance to be clear This year to see I will get the chance. I for the last few have tried In my efforts have been dismayed Through work, party, and through sleep I missed the dance\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Faith"","block_context":{"text":"Faith","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/faith\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Red Dawn - A crimson sky over Ballybrit heralds a rainy day according to folklore","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Red-Dawn-A-crimson-sky-over-Ballybrit-heralds-a-rainy-day-according-to-folklore-300x165.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Red-Dawn-A-crimson-sky-over-Ballybrit-heralds-a-rainy-day-according-to-folklore-300x165.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Red-Dawn-A-crimson-sky-over-Ballybrit-heralds-a-rainy-day-according-to-folklore-300x165.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1731,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/from-corn-hill-his-spirit-watches\/","url_meta":{"origin":3060,"position":4},"title":"From Corn Hill His Spirit Watches","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"20th May 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"The latest of the restored poems to the website, from a couple of years back Upon that hilltop he does sleep His spirit on all below does keep Watchful eye on cattle men and sheep Where the Black Pig its Dyke deep ploughed. From there in the dark and distant\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Irish Legend"","block_context":{"text":"Irish Legend","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/ireland\/irish-legend\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Cairn Hill and Edenmore Hill in Longford","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Cairn-Hill-and-Edenmore-Hill-in-Longford.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Cairn-Hill-and-Edenmore-Hill-in-Longford.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Cairn-Hill-and-Edenmore-Hill-in-Longford.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Cairn-Hill-and-Edenmore-Hill-in-Longford.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Cairn-Hill-and-Edenmore-Hill-in-Longford.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3102,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/hens-plan-a-holiday-in-scotland\/","url_meta":{"origin":3060,"position":5},"title":"Hens Plan a Holiday in Scotland","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"15th August 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Thats a hens journey to Scotland\" ~ North Longford saying (proverb) Irish Folklore Commission The hens had heard by fluttering word To Scotland for a holiday they should go Told by the geese who once were there They had traveled far and would know. The morning to set out was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Folklore and Legend"","block_context":{"text":"Folklore and Legend","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/folklore-and-legend\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"\"Farmard Chickens\" by Edgar Hunt 1876-1955 dated to the 1920s","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Farmard-Chickens-by-Edgar-Hunt-1876-1955-dated-to-the-1920s.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Farmard-Chickens-by-Edgar-Hunt-1876-1955-dated-to-the-1920s.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Farmard-Chickens-by-Edgar-Hunt-1876-1955-dated-to-the-1920s.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Farmard-Chickens-by-Edgar-Hunt-1876-1955-dated-to-the-1920s.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3060","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3060"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3060\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3063,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3060\/revisions\/3063"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3060"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3060"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3060"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}