School: Bennettschurch, Baile Mhic Cairbre

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1. Larry Roche and the Black Cat

   

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   At the foot of a hill in a lonely district about the county Cork there lived in old times a little man named Larry Roche. He was they say descended from the family of the Roches once so mighty in the South of Ireland. Poor Larry although the blood of Kings was flowing in his veins was neither rich nor respectable and the only means of support he had was a patch of barren land he held from a respectable squire and he used be following the squire every day through the bogs with the bag on his back and the "dudeen" in his teeth. The only animal in or around Larry Roche's cabin was a ferocious looking old black cat far bigger and stronger than any cat ever seen in that part of teh country. His fur was black. He had strong whiskers and at the end of his tail was a crook as sharp and as pointed as a falcon's beak. He was never known to demand a morsel of food and if offered any he would reject it with indignation. The cat's usual place

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Folktales index

   AT2412C: (The Cat Asks for Boots)

   Language

   English

   Informant

   Pádraig Ó Crothaigh

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   64

   Occupation

   Feirmeoir

   Address

   Castlereagh, Co. Waterford