School: Calry (roll number 10473)

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   “Once upon a time there lived a blacksmith named Billy James Duffy.”

   

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   Once upon a time there lived a blacksmith named Billy James Duffy. Whenever he earned a four shilling he drank it. One day he was standing idle in his forge, without any iron to work with. A magician came towards him and told him to make three wishes. The first wish he made was that if anyone lived his hammer they could not leave it down, until he would take it off them. The second was that nobody could take money out of his pocket only himself. The third wish was that if anyone sat on his couch they could not get up until he would take them off it. "Your wishes are granted" said the magician and went away. When the blacksmith does the village of Ballyjamesduff was built to his memory. It is said that he went to Heaven but was sent down to Hell. He would not be allowed in and he stuck his nose in through the bars of the gate. Someone inside lighted the top of his nose and ever since the smith is running about trying to quench it and that is what we called fairies.

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   Folktales index

   AT0330A: The Smith and the Devil (Death)

   Language

   English

   Informant

   Patrick Rooney

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   80

   Address

   Formoyle, Co. Sligo