School: Druim Mór

Location:
Dromore, Co. Sligo
Teacher:
Seosamh Ó Catháin
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0167, Page 292

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0167, Page 292

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  1. XML School: Druim Mór
  2. XML Page 292
  3. XML “The Fairy Fair”

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  1. In Gleneasky there lived a man named Micky Culkin. He was very fond of card playing and not a night passed but he went cardplaying. One night on his way home in the present Mrs. Cardan's land he saw the fairy fair. It was held on the path so he had to approach it. When he came nearer he could hear the buying and selling quite distinctly and when he came within a stone's throw of the fairy fair someone shouted, "Here comes Micky Culkin, let him pass". They immediately made way for Micky and he passed through undisturbed and he himself did not interfere with them. Farther on he saw a man sitting at a table and a light and pack of cards on the table. When he was he asked Micky to have a game. Micky couldn't refuse. He sat down and they played all night. Micky won every game and when it was coming near morning Micky a fine stack of gold on the table beside him. When daylight began to appear one of the coins fell on the ground beside Micky's chair. When he bent down to pick up the gold he saw the cloven feet of the man opposite him. Then he realised that it was the Devil he had been playing with. He then put all the money he won during the night in his pocket and set off home. He didn't mind what Devil he had been playing with as long as he had won. He went to bed that morning satisfied with himself. When he woke later he put his hand in his pocket to show the gold to his wife and what should he find but a pocketful of hawthorn leaves. When Micky saw this he
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Seosamh Ó Catháin
    Gender
    Male
    Occupation
    Múinteoir
    Address
    Dromore West, Co. Sligo
    Informant
    John Cuffe
    Gender
    Male
    Address
    Cannaghanally, Co. Sligo