Bachleda plays the title role, a possible selkie - a mermaid from old Irish folklore- who can seemingly communicate with our fine finned friends. We first meet Ondine when she's fished out of the sea by lonely Castletownbere fisherman Syracuse (Farrell), a decent, hardworking and largely luckless father of a young wheelchair-toting, wisecracking girl (newcomer Alison Barry) who's looking for a miracle or two.
THE VERDICT: Neil Jordan indulges in his love for all things mythical, mystical and mysterious here whilst also returning to the low-budget, homemade moviemaking of The Miracle and Angel.
It's a film with potential - and some fine scenery (Jordan has a home in Castletownbere) - but you never quite believe here. And I'm not just talking about the little would-be mermaid. Farrell - still on the career rehab trail - offers up a fine thick Cork accent, but the plotting simply doesn't hold water.
RATING: 2/5
Review by Paul Byrne