The Main Manuscript Collection

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  1. Castle of the Underworld

    CBÉ 0265

    came to Jack next day in the garden and says now Jack I'm done would ye and ye have to get nine blackthorn sticks he says no matter where you get them and for nine mornings place a blackthorn on a rush each morning
    So Jack done that before to got married to her brought her home to his own country so put down the kettle and make tay and if they dont live happy that we may
  2. (no title)

    Long ag there used to be a fair held in Regory and a goat or kid fair it was.

    CBÉ 0220

    cut some good blackthorn sticks and put them up in the Chimney to season so that they would be tough. The day came anyhow and they took down the sticks out of the chimney and tied them up in a bundle and they left wan a piece for themselves to walk with. The mother then got the bundle across her shoulders and the three started off for the fair. Coming on to the evening the two Guinifs got their backs to a lime kiln and the mother stood beside them and laid down her bundle and the two sons took off thier coats turned up their sleves and again challenged all the Cogleys in the county to fight. The Cogleys came from all parts and all were armed with big sticks and the fight started and what Cogleys were in the fair couldn't get between the Guinifs and the kiln and they beat the Cogleys out of the fair in the latter end. Whenever the Cogleys would make a stroke the Guinifs would ward it off and then land the Cogleys with a box under the chin
  3. Faction Fights

    CBÉ 0221

    There used to be great fights and feuds between parishes and baronys long ago and Adamstown used to be a great place for that. About sixty seven or seventy years ago this used to take place. They used to fight on the fairs and at the races, especially when people would have a sup of drink taken for it was ? that time and nearly anyone would be able to buy what would make them drunk for a shilling. In fact they would never fight at all only when they had drink taken. Almost at every fair when the buying and selling would be over and the men would all go off to the public houses, the fighting would start. They would use big blackthorn sticks for the purpose and it is often people came home with their bones broken and had to stay in bed for a week or so.
  4. (no title)

    There used be a fair in Scar long ago and there is still on the 11th of June.

    CBÉ 0220

    Scar, Co. Wexford

    up and tould the man his story, and the two then set off again to find the culprit that took the boots on the poor chap. The went on anyhow to where the Garter man was as they were suspicious of that boyon. but neither trace or tidings of him could they find. Now they kneew themselves that he was the man that took the boots. So they hunted the fair for him and in the latter end they found him and he was standing under the eve of a thatched house. The eve was about four feet thick and he stood there and the boots across his shoulders and a big blackthorn stick in his hand and he dared anyone to come near him. The man and Tully came up and they got two long sticks and started beating all around the Garter man but they couldn't get near him After a while a crowd gathered and they knocked thatch flying form over his head and they had the house almost stripped but they were no nearer to stirring the Garter man. In the latter end the man of the house came out and a [?] in wan hand and the woman behind him and a big can of boiling
  5. Tops

    CBÉ 0407

    is to make 3 distinct efforts to break the other top by hitting it deliberately with the spear of his own. Should he fail to slip the down top recourse is had to "three stone pegs". They cast at the molly once more and the attacker is selected and he has liberty to do his utmost to slip his opponent's to by using a good big stone as a hammer and his own top as splitter. In this game the biter is often bitten
    The modern shop top is no match for the home-turned and home-spurred crab or blackthorn whether as attacker or attackée. Ball in the Cap_ passim , is dócha.
  6. Long Story - Jack and the Giants

    CBÉ 0460

    The boy got the fright of his life, and he ran back as fast as he could and told his master that the cows were grazing in the giants' land and that Jack was nowhere to be seen; that he must be surely killed.
    The gentleman got a great fright when he heard this, and he ordered the bell to be rung for his workmen to come home immediately. They came; and he went about twenty of them off to the farm to bring home the cows, and see if they could find Jack anywhere. So they armed themselves with blackthorn sticks. Every wan of 'em was afraid but they didn't let on they were. When they came to the upper farm they peeped over the wall and after a while they went in to the lawn to round up the cows.
    They were just in the field when who did they see coming down from the castle but me brave Jack. Jack sent wan man home with the cows and brought the other nineteen up to the castle, and