Considering that mankind has been fishing for many thousands of years, it's not surprising that a substantial body of superstition and folklore is associated with fishing and the sea. Throughout Ireland, customs, folklore and tradition thrived in fishing communities. Many of the superstitions are still held today, and some have spread from the fishing community to the sailing, diving and merchant shipping fraternities.
Bearing in mind the calamitous effect tragedies at sea had on small coastal communities, and the often perilous state of the small fishing boats in Ireland long ago, nobody could blame fishermen for looking for every advantage they could find in trying to survive the ravages of an often cruel sea. In this sophisticated age some of these superstitions might seem fanciful or ridiculous. Women generally got a bad press from the fishing folk, and red haired women in particular.
Beliefs concerning luck in fishing, good and bad include:
It was unlucky to whistle on a boat in any circumstances.
It was unlucky to bring eggs on board.
It was unlucky to meet a barefooted red haired woman in the morning as you headed off to fish.
It was unlucky to start a new fishing season on a Friday, or to go to sea before noon on Good Friday.
It was unlucky to respond to the first call in the morning.
It was unlucky for a woman to be first to ask a man about his catch.
It was unlucky for a woman to comb her hair from the time her husband left to fish in the morning until he returned that evening.
If a man mentioned a pig or a rabbit at sea, he was likely to be thrown overboard.
It was unlucky to put to sea having just got a loan of something, but it was very lucky to get a loan of something while at sea.
A red haired man on board was likely to attract the unwelcome attention of the fairies.
It was unlucky to point out a boat at sea.
Fishermen did not like to meet a fox, a hare or an unchurched woman
If the season was good for herring, fishing folk always ate the herring from the tail forward in the belief that this would prolong the good season.
Fishermen brought a yellow object onto their boats for good luck during rowing or sailing competitions.
When the corpse of a drowned person was brought home, everyone had to leave the house before the remains were brought inside.
The respiratory system of cod or ling were used as an augury of the season ahead. When laid on hot coals, if it roasted gently without exploding, the fishing would be good. If it exploded as soon as it was placed on the coals, this was a sign of a very bad season.
