School: Ballinamore (B.) (roll number 2820)

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1. Lady Hoolahan and the Fairies (continued)

   

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   Night after night the fairy Queen would bob up before the lonely herdsman trying to frighten him by taking different shapes. Sometimes she would be a great horse with eagle's wings, then quick as thought she would turn into a little lame man with a bull's head. Again she would be a terrible ape with a turkey's tail. But all this took no effect on Larry. He still continuing his herding and piping. Many a time he'd say "Whist now", wouldn't I be a queer "amadhaun" if I were to get frightened by these wee creatures.
   Well, one night when Larry was piping away to his heart's content he heard the fairies flying past his face like a swarm of midges, and all at once a big black cat appeared before him with a pair of new top boots.
   "Aisy now", said Larry. Dance and I''ll pipe for you. So he began to play as well as he knew while the fairy Queen changed from one shape to another.
   Losing patience she changed herself into a calf, snow white and mild. She came up friendly and gently to Larry, but he, like the cute boy, was ready to jump. Throwing down his pipes he landed on her back and with one spring from the hill top he bounded over the waters of the river Shannon ten miles away from the foot of the hill.
   A second after she kicked up her heels and landed Larry on his back. "Arrah but that was well done said Larry".
   The calf looked at him and turned into the fairy Queen again.

   (continues on next page)

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Tommie Darcy

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim

   Informant

   Mrs Travers

   Gender

   Female

   Occupation

   Teacher

   Address

   Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim