Rón
Rón
Éan Róin (a pup/birdlet of a seal)
Gormánach (a young seal after shedding its white baby-coat)
Athrón (a yearling seal)
Gillín (a fine, fat seal)
In Canada, there are seven types of seals: northern fur, harbour, ringed, harp, bearded, hooded, and grey. They can be found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans. Seals are important in Gaelic culture, and legends connect them to supernatural beings and transformations.
In Gaelic folklore, there are tales of mermaids called "maighdean mhara" or "murúch" in Irish. These mermaids can change between human and seal forms. These stories often talk about love, loss, and longing. The word "murúch" comes from "muir" + "dúchann," which means "sea-chanter." Some people think these stories might have come from sightings of Inuit people drying their clothes, but there isn't much evidence for this.
Seals are sometimes seen as the souls of the dead. Ancient myths say that seals are the remaining Fir Bholg, who were thrown from the cliffs of the Aran Islands.
An rón ag teacht go barr an uisce ó áit go h-áit ar aimsir bréa, sin comhartha stoirm - The seal coming to the top of the water from place to place during fine weather, that’s a sign of a storm
Nuair a fheiceann tú an rón sa bhfarraige agus a chloigeann os cionn an uisce, sin comhartha teaspach - When you see the seal in the ocean and its head above the water, that’s a sign of warm weather
Béaloideas - Folklore
Ó Bhrighid Bean Uí Dubháin, Co. Ciarraí
Bhí fear darbh ainm Seán Ó Fhlaithbheartaigh lá ar an trá nuair chonaic sé uaidh an murúch suite ar charraig agus í ag cíoradh a gruaige. D'éalaigh sé uirthi agus tháinig i ngiorracht dhi i ngan fhios. Rug sé ar a cochall a bhí ina haice agus b'éigin di é leanúint ansan.
Bean an-álainn a bheadh í agus thugadar grá dá chéile. Phós siad agus bhí cúigear clainne orthu. Bhí sí go slachtmhar chun gach saghas oibre a dhéanamh agus mhair siad go síothach grách lena chéile.
Bhí a fear lá ag cuardach rud éigin ar an gcúl lochta, agus chaith sé anuas ar an dtalamh gach ní a bhí ann. Cad a bhí ina measc ach an cochall a ghoid sé óna bhean agus a choimeád sé i bhfolach uaithi ó shin i leith. Ní túisce a leag sise súil ar an gcochall nó go rug sí air agus rinne gáire mór sultmhar. Seo léi láithreach chun na trá agus ní fhaca an fear bocht ná a clann riamh ó shin í.
Adapted from: “The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0426, Page 463-464” by Dúchas © National Folklore Collection, UCD is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.
Seanfhocail - Proverbs
Chomh ramhar le rón – as fat as a seal
Ó bearradh na rónta - Since the shaving of the seals (a long, long time ago)
Maitheas bainne cíoch an róin go ndéana sé dhuit, mar cuireann an t-éan róin brat saille suas le gach aon deoch bhainne gheibheann sé óna mháthair - may it do you as much good as seal’s milk, for the young seal puts on an extra layer of fat with every drink it gets from its mother (a blessing, such as on good food)
