School: An Pasáiste Thoir (C.), Port Láirge

Location:
Passage East, Co. Waterford
Teacher:
Clare, Bean Uí Eachthigheirn

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Local Traditional Stories - How a Dead Man Hanged a Live Man

Archival Reference

The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0652, Page 243

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About a hundred years ago the terrible practice of "body snatching" was carried on in this locality and in Crooke Churchyard. The local body-snatcher was a disreputable character who lived across the river in Arthurstown, Co. Wexford. This man was a notorious bad character and was on one occasion denounced publicly by the Curate in Duncannon Church. This he resented fiercely but as the Curate was of remarkably giant stature he contented himself with scoffing openly at the Curate's reproaches. Thereupon the Curate declared that before long this creature would meet with a sudden and horrible death.

Events proved the Priest a true prophet, and the manner in which the body-snatcher met his death gave rise to the expression "The dead man who hanged the live man."
A man named Williams died in Dromina House, Woodstown

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Collector
Brigid Donnelly
Gender
female
Address
Passage East, Co. Waterford
Informant
William Baston
Relation
unknown
Gender
male
Age
circa 60
Address
Passage East, Co. Waterford
Language
English
Location
Crooke