School: Ballyhale (roll number 7914)

Location:
Ballyhale, Co. Kilkenny
Teacher:
Eibhlín Ní Shúilleabháin
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0848, Page 115

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0848, Page 115

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  1. (continued from previous page)
    living by peddling. He always kept an eye on funerals to Kilkeasy graveyard. The corpse in these days was carried on a bier. The bier comprised two long pieces of timber with three cross pieces on which the coffin was laid and carried in turns by four men. It was the custom to leave the bier in the churchyard, it not being considered lucky to take it away. But Shaun made a habit of taking them home for firewood during the night.
    All went well with Shaun until one day a man locally known as Billy the Spirit was buried there. Billy got this name from performing as a cow doctor in the locality and was supposed to be going with the fairies although his cures were always a success. When Shaun was
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Nellie Henebry
    Gender
    Female
    Address
    Ballyhale, Co. Kilkenny
    Informant
    Michael Henebry
    Relation
    Parent
    Gender
    Male
    Address
    Ballyhale, Co. Kilkenny