Rónán and the Mermaid: A Tale of Old Ireland

by Marianne McShane, Jordi Solano (Illustrator)

An Irish storyteller revisits the little-known legend of the Mermaid Saint in a haunting, beautifully illustrated tale of kindness, music, and longing.

Long ago, on the eastern coast of Ireland, a monk from the Abbey of Bangor was collecting driftwood along the wave-tossed shore when he found a boy washed up amid a circle of seals. At first the boy, wrapped in a shawl of woven seagrass, could barely move or speak. But when he regained his strength, he recalled being brought ashore by a lady with long golden hair who sang him to safety and gave him a silver ring. The monks knew the legend of a mermaid who had wandered the coast for three hundred years. Could it possibly have been her? Inspired by a story told in medieval chronicles of Irish history about a wondrous happening in the year 558, debut author Marianne McShane weaves a captivating tale, while Jordi Solano captures the legend's spare but welcoming abbey on the rocky shore -- a setting that makes you believe that if you listen hard enough, you too can hear the mermaid's song.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Ireland, Mermaids, Fantasy, Folklore, Folk Tales

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 19, 2020

About the author

Marianne McShane is a former children's librarian and a seanchaí, a traditional Irish storyteller. She grew up on the east coast of Ireland and especially loves to tell folktales and fairy tales from her native land. Rónán and the Mermaid: A Tale of Old Ireland is her first book for children. She lives in Ireland, on the same shore where this story took place.
Visit Marianne at www.mariannemcshane.com

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful retelling of a folk tale of Ireland.

Wonderful pictures.

Ronan is rescued by a mermaid, and keeps trying to find her again. He learns to play the harp, and play songs of the sea, and finally hears her voice again, and is able to rescue her the way she rescued him.

I was unfamiliar with this tale, so was delighted with the retelling, and the well thought out pictures of monks in old Ireland.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Nicola Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, I wish I had a child to read this with!! This is a most beautiful book, the retelling of an ancient Irish myth. The book is lavishly produced with gorgeous illustrations by Jordi Solano that will soothe tired eyes and calm frayed nerves. McShane's writing is pure in heart and effortlessly carries the reader back to an Ireland of long ago, of grace and beauty and compassion. Ultimately, this is a story about kindness and nurturing those around us. I loved how the Author's Note at the back explains the fragmented origins of this story - a mermaid was caught in a fisherman's net in 558. This is pure magic and any book that highlights kindness and compassion will always, always be relevant.

[Milou · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very quick, but enjoyable read. The story itself was fine, too short and simple to really be memorable or in any way impactful, but still nice. Religion plays a big role in it, but I don't feel I am the right person to give my opinion on it. 

The art in this, and the way the text is involved in it, is amazing though. I am happy I got to read this just for that. 

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Irish tale of young boy found by a monk by the sea. You are immediately captured by the illustration and the Irish brogue as you read the words of long ago. Ronan was shipwrecked and saved by the mermaid princess Liban. She had beautiful long hair and a voice that hushed the restless heart of sorrow. Liban had saved Ronan with a promise for him to save her. Ronan stayed with the monks by the sea always looking for Liban and playing his harp given to him by the monks. Even though Ronan lost all that he had, he had found peace. Liban and Ronan meet again and are blessed by each other. An Irish poetic tale.

A Special Thank you to Candlewick Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Rachel Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a very sweet and short story that tells an old Irish tale. A nice addition to my collection of Celtic tales I’ve been reading.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Nadine in NY Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love stories based on fable, they have a depth and mystery that modern stories often lack. This story is halfway there, because it's not based on an actual folk tale, it's based on a few notes that McShane found in historical documents. That's awesome! But McShane didn't seem to know how to finish her story, it just sort of ... ends. There's no KAPOW! like you get in actual folk tales. No one learns anything, no one solves anything, there's no moral or achievement, it just is an ending.

Monks in ancient Ireland are portrayed as definite good guys here, anyone who takes issue with that may struggle with this book. I'm not convinced that baptizing the mermaid is really a huge Win.

And I had questions: if Ronan fell overboard while fishing with his father, what happened to his father? Why did he (apparently) spend the rest of his life living with these monks instead of going back to his family? Why does one pluck of the harp string make such beautiful music? The implication is that the Ronan is supernaturally skilled somehow, but ... one pluck? Wouldn't that be due to the harp-maker's skill rather than the harp-player's skill?

The art by Solano is gorgeous. This is his first picture book. I hope this team makes more picture books together (or separately)!

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 .

[Melissa Buron · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Rónán and the Mermaid, a young boy is washed ashore on the eastern coast of Ireland and is found by a monk. The boy recovers and describes to the monks his rescue by a beautiful, golden haired mermaid. The monks recall a legend of an Irish princess, Liban, who was turned into a mermaid three hundred years before after her home was flooded. As the boy grows up, he develops an affinity for music and is always trying to remember the haunting tune he heard the night of his rescue. One morning, Rónán goes fishing and and encounters Liban. The mermaid entreats Rónán to bring her to the abbey so that she can be blessed by the abbot. Rónán agrees and the abbot christens the mermaid Muirgen. Muirgen becomes St. Murigen and is known until today as the mermaid saint.

I really enjoyed this story and appreciated the happy ending (of sorts). The author, Marianne McShane, is a storyteller, which is reflective in her prose. This is a book that definitely deserves to be read aloud. I also appreciated the depth of the text used to tell this story. It would have been impossible to write using the word count constraint used by many publishers. Thank you, Candlewick Press! The illustrations by Jordi Solano use a muted palette which perfectly depicts the Irish seacoast.

If you are looking for an addition to your collection of mermaid stories and legends, this is definitely one to add to your library.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shoutout to Netgalley and Candlewick Press for this delightful, little book.

I’ll call this one an advanced picture book. There are definitely bigger blocks of text than in many picture books, but it’s not a chapter book. I like that’s it’s a bit of a bridge between the two for new and emerging readers.

This book recounts the lesser-known tale of the Mermaid Saint and how she was saved by the one she saved first. A boy is found on the shore among some seals, covered in seaweed. He has a mysterious ring that he says a beautiful woman, who he first thought was a fish, gave him after his boat was wrecked. The monks of the Abby take the boy in and raise him, teaching him to play the harp, and he sits on the cliffs and plays in hopes the mermaid will hear him. He never stops believing him, and when something gets caught in his fishing nets, he’s given the chance to repay an old debt.

I loved the art in this one, and the bigger blocks of text mean more full-page, beautifully detailed illustrations. I love folklore, and whenever you say the word, “mermaid,” you’ve got me. This one is out next week, so if you’re looking to give your young reader a little challenge and the opportunity to learn some cool, Irish lore, check this one out.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Rónán and the Mermaid: A Tale of Old Ireland' by Marianne McShane with art by Jordi Solano is a picture book telling the story of the Mermaid Saint.

When Ronan washes ashore in Ireland, he is found by monks and taken to their beehive shaped dwellings. He tells the tale of being washed overboard and seeing a mermaid. The monks take him in and even build him a harp. Can Ronan use it to find his mermaid again?

I loved this beautiful, lyrical story. The illustrations show how sparse things are, but still make them appealing and interesting to see. There is a really nice author's note talking about the inspiration for the story.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Candlewick Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

[Mary Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the lyrical style of an expert storyteller, a picture is painted of long ago Ireland, its' legends, its' magic and its' wonder. The graceful language itself weaves a spell full of atmosphere, whisking the reader back in time. As you read along, you can hear the voice of the storyteller, feel the salty air of the sea, hear the sound of birdsong, music, and the utter quiet of the monks home. The gorgeous illustrations gracing the pages of this picture book give exacting imagery and a genuine sense of time and place, rich in detail, symbolism and a feel of the old; the magical. Rendered in a palette which is sensitive to the story, the pictures combine with the text to create a real treasure. Evocative, exquisite and beautiful; this one truly brings the legend home. Simply wonderful.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

McShane has crafted an absolutely beautiful book, full of rich and magical folklore with equally compelling illustrations. My 7 year old daughter and my 4 year old son were both mesmerized by the entwined stories of Ronan, Liban, and the monks of the abbey at Bangor. I think this speaks to how universally magical this story is, with the adventures of a boy named Ronan and a beautiful mermaid-princess-saint named Liban.

Our only qualm is that the book wasn't longer and full of more detail! But this picturebook was a wonderful jumping-off point and we can't wait to read more about Liban, the monks at Bangor Abbey, and anything else Marianne McShane publishes in coming years.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review: I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley, the following is my honest review and opinion. I love folk tales, and this book really gave me those vibes. The illustrations are stunning. It might be a bit long and go over the heads of the youngest readers but older children will enjoy the story. I love the blending of belief systems in this book, the more magical pagan beliefs and the newer Christian beliefs. The fact that the story is taken from the history books was great as well, I really appreciated the author note describing the historical details.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rónan and the Mermaid is an exquisitely crafted retelling of the legend of the Baptizing of the Mermaid Liban in 787 A.D. by the Bishop of Bangor. Marianne McShane, has interwoven the rescue of a near drowned boy Rónan, the tender ministrations of the monks, a glimpse of gold amid the waves, a selkie’s song, the sweet notes of a healing harp and the soulful seals with all the enchantment of the gifted storyteller she is. Jordi Solano’s muted illustrations in the colors of the sea and sky and lands evoke the softness of the Celtic folk legend perfectly. This is a book to read and share and cherish.

[April Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

McShane's magical tale, based on a story from a historical text from 558 C.E. (the Annals of the Four Masters), tells of Ronan, a boy washed up on the beach near an abbey, found by a monk named Brother Declan. When the boy wakes, he says he and his father were shipwrecked in a storm, and a mermaid saved him. The tale unfolds dreamily (as a tale of this sort should), accompanied by Solano's ethereal art, rendered predominately in earthy tones of browns, blues, and greens. A lovely presentation, the sort of book I treasured as a child, and still do as an adult.

#RónánandtheMermaidATaleofOldIreland #NetGalley

[Maeve · Rating 3 out of 5]

A folktale set in Ireland about a young boy, Ronan, who was saved from a sea storm by a mermaid. After being found on the shore by an abbot, Ronan grew up and learned to play the harp...but he was always enchanted by the sea. One night, he heard a song from the water, so he set out the next day and met the mermaid who had saved him. He brought her to the abbots where she was blessed and christened as Muirgen. Later she was known as the Mermaid Saint.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read to see if it would be appropriate for a friend's child. Lovely illustrations, text is probably too dense for a young child to read by themself but could work to read together with a caretaker or for an older child who likes folktales. I don't think I read any saint stories when I was growing up so I was a little surprised by the combination of Christianity and mermaids but that's a hole in my own education showing!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells the tale of Ronan, a boy found washed up on shore among the seals. Once the boy is nursed back to health by the monks, he tells the monks of a mermaid that saved him. The monks heard stories of a princess that was turned into a mermaid. Could Ronan's rescuer be Liban? This tale may be made up but is based on well-known events in first-century Ireland. Vikings destroyed the original abbey but a new abbey was built telling the tale of Liban, the mermaid.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a long book for a little baby, but I’m looking forward to reading this one again to my little dude. It has the whole catching a mermaid bit, but he listens to her when she asks him to bring her to the land for a blessing.

I think I’m a bit biased because it’s an Irish folk tale and my little dude is a quarter Irish. But this is a fun book to tell him about his great grandfather and where he’s from.

[Jo Burl · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautifully illustrated story. This has just about everything my childish heart could want. Mermaids! Ireland! The sea, a rescue and a hint of selkies. I'll look for more from this duo of author and illustrator. Wish I had small children around me so that I could distribute this to spark their imaginations.

[Ada · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful way to experience the folklore of old Ireland. Being from there, I wanted the opportunity to share some of the folklore with Ada. It is a book for an older age, as she is only 2, but I was able to read it to her, before bedtime, over a few days, and she loved it. It is a brilliant book, with stunning illustrations. An 8-10 year old would truly enjoy reading this on their own.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

A boy washes up on the shores of an abbey, remembering being saved by a mermaid who sang him to safety. Later the boy feels called to head out to sea and helps the mermaid in return.

This is, despite its appearance, not an old folktale, but a new one. It's a beautifully written story, with lovely illustrations.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first-grader, A, wanted to read lots of books about mermaids, and this one tied in nicely with our study of world folklore. The story itself was okay, but the illustrations made the 6th century look pretty drab. I was intrigued by the author's note, which referred to a record in a abbey which included a reference to a mermaid being caught by a fisherman (which the story is based on). I wasn't sure how to explain that... I said that maybe there were mermaids then but that they're extinct now! But it sure made A want to visit Ireland! Whoops. I'm very impressed that the story was based on historical records. I just think a story about a mermaid should have more dramatic illustrations.

ETA: A. loves this book and we have read it multiple times since the first time.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cool book. I loved the story and the pictures went along with it so well. I think its important for kids to learn about other cultures and their folklore. This was such a magical and unique book! I absolutely loved it!

[Chantal Aurora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! Anything to do with mermaids I am always here for. I love that this was based on an actual story of a mermaid sighting, History and fiction wove together seamlessly in this story. The writing style made it sound like I was reading an old fairytale, I loved every second of this.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marriage of two topics I love--mermaids and ancient Ireland. This story was based on an old story (558 AD) in a medieval chronicle of Irish history, though McShane changed some details. Lovely story with lovely pencil and watercolor illustrations.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a beautiful legend. But, I definitely think it's geared toward older kids and parents. I don't think young children will be patient enough to sit through it.

[Cheryl]

Based on a scrap of historical text. But I don't get it. If she wanted to be baptized to find peace, why did she remain a mermaid and, apparently, remain immortal? What good did it do for her to be 'saved?'

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written and illustrated retelling of the little-known Irish legend of the Mermaid Saint.