St Muirgen (Muirghein) is an Irish mermaid saint and her feast day is 27 January. My illustration depicts her holding a salmon, which she had once taken shape.
According to the the Martyrology of Donegal (17th century), Muirghein – woman of the sea – was first known as Liban, daughter of Eochaidh, son of Muireadh. She lived 300 years under the sea and was ensnared in a net by St Beoan. She was baptised after telling her story and adventures.
Liban (Lí Ban) comes from Old Irish word lí, ‘beauty’, and ban, ‘of women’. Another Lí Ban is known from the tale of the Wasting Sickness of Cú Chulainn, where she is responsible for the curse of illness upon Cú.
In the Annals of the Four Masters (17th century) it is said she was captured AD 558 on the strand of Ollarba in the net of St Beoan, son of Inli, who was the fisherman of Comghall of Beannchair.
The earlier Lebor na h-Uidri, ‘Book of the Dun Cow’ (12th century), however, provides more details about St Muirgen. It states Liban was a daughter of Eochaidh who lived at Loch Eathach (Lough Heagh). He was drowned with all his children circa AD 90 except Liban and her brothers Conaing and Curnan. Liban survived living in a palace or fort under the loch. She then willingly transformed into a salmon. Centuries later, a crew associated with St Beoan were in a currach at sea on mission to Rome and heard a celebration held by angels beneath their boat. Liban surfaced and declared she had dwelled within the sea for over 300 hundred years. She also mentioned she will meet with Beoan in a year’s time. Sadly, after hearing about this incident, Beoan set out to trap her. Liban was caught, however, in the net of Fergus of Miliuc and pulled to shore. A dispute broke out over her ownership between Beoan, Fergus and St Comhgall. Prayers for an answer resulted in the arrival of a chariot pulled by two wild oxen. She was carried by the chariot to Teach-Dabeoc where she was baptised by St Comhgall and became St Muirgen, ‘Born of the Sea’. She is also know as Muirgeilt, ‘Traveller of the Sea’, and Fuinchi.
Reference
Muirgen The Mermaid Saint, January 27
http://omniumsanctorumhiberniae.blogspot.com/2013/01/muirgen-mermaid-saint-january-27.html
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