School: Clochar San Pól, Cill Fhíonáin (roll number 13026)
- Location:
- Kilfinane, Co. Limerick
- Teacher: An tSr. Bernadette
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0510, Page 229
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- (continued from previous page)she had nothing to give him but spring water. She told him if he had called a week later she would have plenty of milk for her little cow was only a week from calving. The Saint smiled and told her to go out and have a look at the cow and to her surprise the little cow had calved. She milked the cow but when she went to warm the milk she had no fire, the Saint seeing this told his servant to cut some green rushes that were in the fields adjoining the house. The poor woman was alarmed and said it would be useless to try and burn wet rushes but the Saint said to wait and see. When his servant brought in the wet bundle he put them on the hearth and soon St. Patrick had a blazing fire.
The Saint having finished his meal thanked the old woman and gave her his blessing then he went his way. But he has left two blessings after him for every Christmas week there is a new milch cow in Ballinanima and we are told also that the rushes of the field which the Saint ordered to be cut and kindled for the old womans fire will light in Ballinanima when cut quite green.
The Saint continued his journey from Ballinanima to Glenbrohane and from that to Ballinvreena and whilst between Glenbrohane and Ballinvreena he noticed that his man had a billhook in his hand and he asked him where he got it. The man said he got(continues on next page)
