School: Cliffoney (B.) (roll number 13882)

Location:
Cliffony, Co. Sligo
Teacher:
Patrick Mc Hugh
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0155, Page 0530

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0155, Page 0530

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  1. XML School: Cliffoney (B.)
  2. XML Page 0530
  3. XML “Elf-Shot Cattle”

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  1. When a cow or a calf sudden gets sick people say it is "elf shot".
    Then a messenger is sent to a man in the district who has a set of "elf stones."
    "Elf stones" are stones of a white colour varying in size from a taw to a match box. They are to be found in fields where bushes are plentiful.
    The tradition of "elf stones" is that "the good people" or fairies play by firing these stones at each other. If one of them hits a beast that animal is said to be "elf shot".
    The cure for an "elf shot" animal is as follows -
    A set of "elf stones" (it consists of 9 stones) a gold ring, 6d or 3d in silver, 1d or 1/2d and a pair of beads are
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Topics
    1. activities
      1. economic activities
        1. agriculture (~2,659)
          1. animal husbandry (~2,587)
            1. medicine for animal sicknesses (~175)
              1. elf-shot (~18)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Patrick Mc Hugh
    Gender
    Male
    Occupation
    Múinteoir
    Address
    Cliffony, Co. Sligo
    Informant
    James O' Connor
    Gender
    Male
    Age
    61
    Address
    Carns, Co. Sligo