School: Matehy, Inniscarra
- Location:
- Saint Ann's Hill, Co. Cork
- Teacher: Conchobhar Ó Liatháin
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0347, Page 446
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- XML School: Matehy, Inniscarra
- XML Page 446
- XML “The Enchanted Castle”
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- Ballycotton, in South Munster, opens out of the Atlantic Ocean. Once upon a time a boat was coming in from fishing. The men let the anchor down, but found they could not draw it up again. They cast lots as to who should dive down to release the anchor. The lot fell to the one who had let it down. He was called Mac Carthy, a youth noted for his speed in running, and as the best in the district at the game of hurling. He agreed to try to recover the anchor, and dived into the sea.
Now this was the reason why the anchor could not be drawn up. In swinging down through the water, it had forced open the door of a palace under games[?]. But worse than that happened - the anchor struck the eye of the lady of the castle. Mac Carthy was held prisoner in the castle to give an eric or compensation for the injury of her eye. Inside the palace all sorts of tempting foods were offered him, but he refused to eat, since anyone who ate of fairy never wished to return(continues on next page)
