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Kids' Ireland
This is a monthly column that we hope parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles or older siblings will share with children of all ages. Most are by our guest columnist, Grainne Rowland; a master spinner of stories who re-tells the tale so well they are once again fresh and new.

"There was a place in childhood that I remember well, And there a voice of sweetest tone bright fairy tales did tell."
Samuel Lover

Index of All Children's Stories

Kids' Ireland Library

Sean & The Selkie
by Grainne Rowland

The sun was just about to set. Three tired fishermen plodded along the narrow coast road to their homes. They were famished for their evening meals and looking forward to a bit of a rest.

Sean was the first around a bend in the road. He stopped so suddenly that the others bumped into him.

"Shhh!" Sean whispered. "Look!"

The three stared at the most beautiful woman they had ever seen. She sat on the rocks combing her long red hair.

"Who is she?" asked one. "I've never seen her before."

Sean answered, "She's got to be a selkie. Look, there's her skin lying on the rock beside her."

Patrick whispered, "You're right. Since I was a young lad, people have told stories of the selkies, the seal people. But this is the first time I've ever seen one."

Sean crept forward and made a quick grab; he stood up with what looked like a seal's skin. He held it tightly with both hands.

The woman looked up with a sad expression on her face.

"Will you not give back my skin?" she asked sadly.

"No," said Sean. "I am the only man in the village without a wife. I know selkies make the best wives. You will be my wife."

"I will miss the sea if I come with you," she said. "But as long as you keep my skin, I must stay with you."

"You may come to the sea whenever you wish," said Sean. "But I will keep your skin."


Sean was married three days later, and his two friends were at the wedding. No one but the three knew that Sean's wife was a selkie. As for Sean, he locked the selkie's skin in a strong chest and kept the key on a chain around his neck.

Sean's marriage was a good one. His fortunes improved as soon as he was married. He soon owned his own fishing fleet, and his two old fishing friends worked for him. His wife gave him three strong sons and two beautiful daughters. Sean was very happy.

Sean's wife spent as much time as she could by the sea. She loved especially to sit by the sea on a night with a full moon. It was then she met her own people, the seal people, who came to console her on her fate among humans. Often, after they left, she would weep. How she missed her own people!

After many, many years, Sean decided that he was so rich that his family must move to a bigger, grander house. As they were all stepping into an elegant carriage to go to the new mansion, Sean's wife went once more into the house to take a last look around. In one corner, she noticed something that looked like a small pile of rubbish.

Curious, she knelt down to see what it was; her heart began to beat faster. It was an old chest, rotting with age! Could it be? She quickly searched through it. There it was! Her skin! Her heart singing, she took it, ran out the door and raced down to the sea. As she reached the sea, she heard Sean chasing after her and shouting his love. But, before he could catch up, she threw on her skin. In front of his eyes, she changed back into her seal form and then swam far out to sea. She was never seen again.

Images:
Old chest from Google images
Image Credit: Macaw-Frey


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