School: Johnstown (roll number 877)
- Location:
- Johnstown, Co. Meath
- Teacher: Miss H.C. Hickie
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0687, Page 123
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- XML “A Strange Legend of Rossnaree”
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- A resident of Rosnaree was going home from Drogheda one night. He was a bit intoxicated and had to cross a fort at Rosnaree. He saw great light and a sort of wide hall opened up before him.
He went in and saw a lot of bags hanging round the wall and a sword stuck in each bag.
He lifted out one of these swords and according as he was drawing it out, men on horseback were rising up all round him.
They were nearly clear when the man dropped the sword with the result that the horsemen disappeared.
A voice said "Go home you coward."
It is about 56 years ago since James Neill heard an old man named Johnny Murray - a native of Rosnaree, telling this story.
He forgets the name of the regiment the man would have liberated if he had the courage to draw out the sword altogether.
- Informant
- James Neill
- Gender
- Male
