Ask Mr. Know It All

By Gary Clothier

Q. In Celtic folklore there is a story of a seal that becomes human by removing its skin; to return to life in the sea, it must don its skin again. This creature has a name. What is it?

F., Fleetwood, Pa.

A. It’s a selkie. Stories of the selkie are not restricted to the Celts; the creature is featured in myths throughout much of Northern Europe.

One of the more popular stories is of a lonely fisherman who watches a selkie become a woman. He hides her selkie skin, and the two fall in love, get married and have children. One day the woman finds the hiding place. Although she loves her husband and children, the call to return to the sea is great. She tells her children goodbye and leaves.

The male selkie is very handsome. He possesses great powers of seduction over women. In human form, male selkies cause storms and sink ships.

DID YOU KNOW?

According to legend, the first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place in Boston in 1737. The first organized parade occurred in New York City in 1762.

Q. A number of years ago I traveled to Scotland with two of my friends. In one town we visited, there was a plaque commemorating the birthplace of Duncan Fife, the famous American cabinetmaker. I can’t remember how his name is spelled in America, but I don’t think it was Fife. Can you explain the difference?

T.L., Pensacola, Fla.

A. Duncan Fife was born near Loch Fannich, Scotland, in 1768. He immigrated to Albany, N.Y., as a 16-year-old, where he served as a cabinetmaker’s apprentice. In 1792, he changed the spelling of his surname to Phyfe, and two years later he moved to New York City, where he established his own business. Phyfe was one of the leading 19th-century furniture makers. He died in 1854.

DID YOU KNOW?

“Ochone” is an expression of grief or regret that is often used in folktales.

Q. There is an Irish dish made with mashed potatoes with shallots mixed in. The potatoes formed a volcano shape with a well at the top filled with butter and milk poured down the side. Do you know the name of this dish?

J.H., Medford, Ore.

A. I sure do. It’s called champ, though you might also hear it called poundy. There are many variations of the side dish. Try adding in sausages, baked beans or fried eggs. As they say in Ireland, “It’s quite lovely.” Oh, if you substitute cabbage for the shallots, you have colcannon.

DID YOU KNOW?

Actors Dakota Fanning, Anne Hathaway and Ben Affleck all have some Irish heritage.

Q. My question is about the movie “The Quiet Man,” starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. At the end of the film, after the credits run, Sean Thornton (Wayne) and Mary Kate Danaher (O’Hara) are standing in their garden waving goodbye. She turns to him and whispers something in his ear, causing Wayne to look surprised. What did she say?

R.L., Corpus Christi, Texas

A. No one knows, and it’s my guess no one ever will. The story goes that director John Ford asked O’Hara to repeat an unscripted bit of text, saying he wanted a genuinely shocked look on Wayne’s face. At first O’Hara refused, but she relented eventually — as long as the line would never be revealed. Ford and Wayne are no longer alive, and O’Hara remains silent about the moment.

Send your questions to Mr. Know-It-All at AskMrKIA@gmail.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

2012 Gary Clothier