Galloway Conversations: Mermaids Of Dumfries And Galloway

Join us to discover all things mermaid from Dalbeattie to Crawick via the mermaids chair! Judith Hewitt from D & G Museums will enlighten us with stories and accounts of mermaids which are often surprising they can be caught on hooks by fishermen, negatively effected by pollution or act as healers and protectors of water supplies.There are numerous stories of mermaids in Dumfries and Galloway. Some follow the traditional tales of strange women caught on hooks or washed ashore. Other stories are more unusual and specific to place including the Merse on the Solway, Dalbeattie Burn and Crawick Water. This talk will consider stories and tales of mermaids but also their appearance in songs, poems and pictures.
Mermaids appear in folklore but also in placenames. They are mysterious creatures associated with the moon as well as sometimes having the power to heal and curse. In some respects they resemble genus loci, while in other ways they are more like faeries or witches.
Judith Hewitt has researched folklore, witchcraft and womens history for around twenty years. Judith is an accomplished speaker and this talk should take you to unexpected places!