School: Lathach Barr
- Location:
- Ardbane or Laghy Barr, Co. Donegal
- Teacher: Seaghan Ó Gallchobhair
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1032, Page 307
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- XML “The Black Lamb”
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- It was a custom amongst the Irish people, when throwing (when) away water at night, to cry in a loud voice.
“Away with your self from the water,” for it is said that the spirits of the dead last buried are wandering about.
One dark night a woman suddenly threw out a pail of warm water without (well) saying the warning words. Imediately [sic] they heard a cry of a poor person in pain, but no one was seen. However, at the same moment the next night a black lamb entered the house, having its back all scalded and it lay by the hearth and died. There they all knew it was the spirit which had been scalded by the woman and they carried the dead lamb and buried it deep in the clay. Yet every night at the same time it walked again in and lay down, maned and dried. This happened(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Brigid Barron
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Mullanasole Barr, Co. Donegal
