Mermaid Crest

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I’ve added a mermaid avatar. I hope that this particular example is not too risqué.

The crest is from the arms of the Irish Family O’Broin (Byrne).
I notice that one of the Clan Murray crests is also a mermaid.

Might this signify that a prominent member of the families was a seafarer?
Or is it a caution against the vice of vanity?
Are mermaids a successor to the Homeric Sirens?

Are there any other clans or families that use the mermaid?

I’d like to have a mermaid kilt pin.
You would think that mermaid pins would be easy to find on the internet.
Well yes and no.
Most of them are not of the “comb and mirror” variety.
Any leads would be appreciated.

More than 50 families use this version of an heraldic mermaid as their crest-- the heraldic significance attributed to the mermaid is ELOQUENCE. From earliest times the "sirens song", a deceptively alluring plea or appeal, has been credited with changing the hearts and minds of men-- often to their detriment.

The mirror symbolizes TRUTH-- there is no escaping that the mermaid sees herself as she is, disheveled hair and all.

So what does the crest mean? Well, I think you can rule out the sea fairing premise, as well as a warning against vice and vanity. Taken as a whole the crest says: Fair words can not hide the truth.

As to the figure on the IRISH HARP-- I'm sorry to say that it's not a mermaid (or "Sheillah", either) it is Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. After Irish independence the Nike harp was replaced on the official Arms of the State by the "Brian Boru" harp currently used (and protected internationally by copyright).