School: Kilcullen (Convent) (roll number 11806)

Location:
Kilcullen, Co. Kildare
Teacher:
Na Siúracha
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0780, Page 231

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0780, Page 231

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  1. XML School: Kilcullen (Convent)
  2. XML Page 231
  3. XML “Folk-Tales - The Seven Crows”
  4. XML “Folk-Tales - Girl Seeks Her Lost Enchanted Brother”

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  1. Once a woman had eleven sons and one daughter. While the girl was small, the boys were changed into swans by their mother.
    When their sister grew up she found out and went to look for them. She went on till she came to the sea, where she saw them. They brought her across the sea on their backs.
    When she got there an old woman told her that in order that her bothers would regain their human forms, she should makes them shirts out of nettles, and was not to speak for eight years. During the time she was making the shirts a king came riding up to her and took her away with him. After about eight years, the king was going to burn her because they said she was a witch, as she would not talk. When she had the shirts made, she was tied to a staff. The swans came and she threw the shirts over them, and immediately they became human beings
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Folktales index
    AT0451: The Maiden Who Seeks her Brothers
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Nan O' Neill
    Gender
    Female