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The accused is set free when the judge cannot solve the riddles propounded to him. The riddles: (a) what has seven tongues in one head? (bird's nest with seven young found in a horse's head); (b) formerly I was a daughter, now I am a mother; (c) or other riddles of peculiar family relationship. [As well as the standard type, there is also told in Ireland a tale of how an Irishman, condemned to be hanged, is given his choice of tree as gallows; when he chooses a gooseberry bush and is told that it is too small, he says he will wait until it grows (cf. Type 1587).]

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Result count: 5
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  1. (no title)

    “There was a woman and her baby ther long ago. The woman was sitting near the fire and she had the baby in her lap...”

    Language
    English
    Collector
    Jack Clifford
    Age
    13
    Informant
    Seán Ó Clúbháin

  3. (no title)

    “There was a man going to be hung one time and the executioner told him that he would give him three days to make up a riddle that none of the Guards would guess.”

    Language
    English
    Collector
    Mary Holohan