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Rugby Courtney Byrne Transition Year student was presented with a certi cate of excellence in

creative writing in the Senior Category for her essay “Under The Sea” in the John West
National Fantasy Writing Competition 2013.

UNDER THE SEA

Her hair uttered in the light breeze as she strolled down and utterly smitten. When she saw my dumbfounded
the warm sandy beach. She waited patiently once more. expression, she smiled.
Her skin was pale and dotted with dark freckles. I thought We swam through the under sea village, but didn’t get
I heard the wind whisper, ‘a face without freckles is like a very far before a Melusine mermaid swam up to us and
sky without stars,’ but I must have been mistaken. Finally, exchanged a furious look with my Merrow tourguide, before
when the sun tipped the horizon she stepped into the cool, shrieking at me with blind fury. I jumped back with fright,
refreshing sea of blue. Her long, sleek legs morphed into a and turned to ee, but it was too late. Before I could blink, I
turquoise scaly tail. She icked her amber hair from her eyes, was surrounded by screeching mermaids. From a distance I
combed her hair three times with a blue, coral shaped comb; could see my amber maiden look at me with a pained, guilt-
then with enchanting grace, dove into the water. This was ridden expression.
the 7th day I had watched her. Every evening, at sunset, she
would step in the water, comb her hair, and change form, I was dragged away and chained to an anchor. I shed a tear
Back Row L – R: Dean Hakoraia, William Ebbitt, Michael Wilson, Tiwani Akinlabi, Stephen Stewart, Killian Tubman, Ruairi O’ Connor, disappearing deep into the sea. Every evening, at sunset, I’d in fear of what was to come. Tales of nosy humans getting
Danny McKeon, Ciaran Flynn, Octavian Carey & Salman Bin Ihsan. chopped up into pieces by mermaids raced through my
Front Row L – R: Mark Fuller, Paul Young, Stewart Bell, Paul Galligan, John Clarke, James Crossfield, Philip Speares & Robert Matthews. sit here in secret, just watching. Her beauty astounded me.
I was mesmerised. Then every evening, when she’d left, I’d head and I cursed my luck. A Melusine mermaid with a
BOYS RUGBY stay in my place, in awe of what I’d just witnessed. trident stood guard, callously laughing at my sorrows. I tried

My grandfather told me stories about The Merrow when pleading with her, but remembered that I couldn’t take, so
This year it was decided to reintroduce full contact I was young. He warned me that they are cruel creatures; she just prodded my back with her trident, leaving blood
rugby to the school. In the rst half of the 20th century beautiful, but cruel. He told me that they lure young men stains on my shirt. She wrapped herself around me, teasing
the Royal School elded a senior rugby XV. There are still and women into the deep with them, and enslave them and grinning wickedly. I tried to push her away, and she
many team photographs in the front hall of the school. with Merrow music played below the sea. He told me that didn’t like that... At all... She shrieked in my face, slashed her
However this aspect of competitive sport in the Royal lay if I were ever to meet one, and fall under her spell, I should nails across my cheek, and spat in my eye. It burned like acid,
dormant until this year. and I writhed in pain. She tightened my chains until they cut
steal her comb, and she would become my obedient bride.
We concentrated on U14 boys and got the services of That day, I decided to see if the stories were true. I dove into into my esh, laughing every time I winced. I glared at her
a New Zealander Dean Hakoraia to coach us. We used the sea with great speed, eager to catch up with the scaly with utter loathing. She swam o after checking my chains
the schools all-weather pitch plus the facilities of Cavan maiden, and swam deeper and deeper. I didn’t think about again. I hung my head and held pleasant memories in my
Rugby Club to prepare us for our matches. Over 20 needing air, or getting tired, but somehow I found I didn’t thoughts. Visions of my beautiful Merrow... I closed my eyes.
players togged out for the rst session despite the cold need to breathe. At last I saw her. Her smooth tail icked I felt a tugging at my chains, and quiet sobs. I turned my
of the evening. This provided us with su cient numbers before me, and I swam faster. I tried to call out, but only head to see my amber maiden undoing my chains and
to form a solid and competitive squad. Some of our bubbles followed. She seemed to notice I was following, and wincing at every cut she saw. I motioned for her to go away
players currently play for local rugby clubs but for others I heard her giggle. before she got caught. Who knows what they would do to
it was there rst time to play the sport. her, I thought. But she was persistent. She undid my chains
She stopped swimming and I almost crashed into her. I and pulled me up to the shore. “W-w-what will they do to
Our rst match was against Breifne College in the spring Not to be left out the u17 girls have also got some tag looked around me, and my jaw dropped from the sight. I you?” I stammered. She shook her head sadly and put on a
term. Ciaran Flynn had the honour of scoring the rst try rugby coaching and are due to play an upcoming four was in some sort of town, and it’s inhabitans were many brave smile. “Stay here, with me...” I o ered. She smiled but
for the Royal. William Ebbitt also crossed the line as the team blitz. We would like to thank Dean for his coaching di erent types of merpeople. I saw mermaids with two shook her head again. “I’ll stay on this beach from now until
newly formed team raced into a 10-0 lead but two late skills and Mr.Plunkett for organising everything. Roll on tails called Melusine, and seal-like beings called Selkies. I forever if I have to. I don’t want you to get hurt.” She shed a
tries from Breifne left the match all square. next year when we plan to build on this year’ success and silently thanked my granddad for telling me Irish bedtime tear, laid a gentle kiss on my lips, and went back down to

Since then we have played a return game with Breifne progress further. stories. I scanned the area for my merrow, but couldn’t see her village.
and are due to play Monaghan Collegiate in the summer William Ebbitt her anywhere. Then I felt a tap on my shoulder and heard a I did as I promised. I stayed on that beach all night long, and
term. mu ed giggle. I twirled around, but she was gone again.
I felt her tail brush against my leg and I shivered. She was as the sun rose, I saw her. She limped out of the water, barely
freezing cold. I turned around and there she was, about a able to stand. She was beaten within an inch of her life. I
metre from me. I tried to catch her, but she swerved and ran to her and helped her walk. “You’re staying with me now
swooped, around me easily, clearly enjoying my growing and I won’t hear another word about it,” I said strictly. She
frustration. I gave up, sat on the sea bed and folded my arms managed a smile, a real one this time, and nodded. We went
with my back to her. She swam over softly, sat on my lap, and home and lived long, happy lives together.
put her pale, webbed ngers on my neck, kissing my cheek. Courtney Byrne
I couldn’t move, I couldn’t think, yet again, I was completely

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