Fiona Tyndall Releases “An Mhaighdean Mhara” (“The Mermaid”) ft. Fergal Scahill, Seán Whelan & Brendan Hayes

The single is the second track from her upcoming album, "Éinín an Cheóil", due for release on September 17th 2025.

“An Mhaighdean Mhara”, translating to “The Mermaid”, is a song notably collected by Seamus Ennis - renowned Dublin uileann piper - from Síle Ní Ghallchóir (Síle Mhicí). The song describes a man who went out on a fishing trip one day, when a mermaid (Méirí Shinídh), came to the stern of his boat. Wrapped in a cloak, she came home with the fisherman, who later stole and hid the cloak in a stack of oats. The two later married, rearing two children - Máire Bhruinnil and Pádraig Bán. 

One day, the daughter found the beautiful cloak hidden away, telling her mother, who took back her garment and returned to sea. Every day, she would return to see her daughter, combing the child’s hair, and speaking to her. The lyrics of “An Mhaighdean Mhara” depict one of these conversations (source, ITMA). 

The single features narrative fiddle, mandolin and percussive dialogue from Fergal Scahill (Formerly of We Banjo 3 - Best Folk Album Winner at the 2018 RTÉ Folk Awards), piano, bass and Fender Rhodes by Brendan Hayes, long-time collaborator of Tyndall’s,  and guitar from renowned Irish and World music artist and producer Seán Whelan (Puck Fair, Hotfoot, The Café Orchestra).

Hailing from County Clare, Fiona Tyndall has been immersed in Irish and Celtic music traditions since childhood. Moving to the USA in later life, spending time in both Boston, Massachusetts and Princeton, New Jersey, she now splits her time between both countries, deepening Irish-American cultural connections and carrying on the tradition passed onto her by her father.

An enduring figure in the Irish traditional genre, Tyndall’s debut album, “Deirin De”, blended traditional Irish language lyrics with innovative musical and vocal arrangements, receiving high praise from Siobhán Long (The Irish Times) and Karan Casey. 

Her discography spanning English-language, Irish-language and both original and traditional works, her passion for preserving the Irish language and culture through song has led to incredible collaborations with esteemed musicians, songwriters and arrangers such as Fergal Scahill (We Banjo 3), Kieran Munnelly (The David Munnelly Band), Gabriel Donoghue and Tim Edey (BBC ALBA/Scotland Best Traditional Musician 2020, BBC Radio Two Musician of the Year 2012).

Single Credits:

Vocals & Backing Vocals - Fiona Tyndall

Piano - Brendan Hayes

Guitar - Seán Whelan

Fender Rhodes - Brendan Hayes

Mandolin - Fergal Scahill

Bass - Brendan Hayes

Fiddle - Fergal Scahill

Bodhrans - Fergal Scahill

Shaker - Brendan Hayes

Arrangement - Fiona Tyndall / Brendan Hayes

Produced by - Brendan Hayes

Mixed by - Barry Conboy 

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