School: Gowran (C.) (roll number 15366)
- Location:
- Gowran, Co. Kilkenny
- Teacher: Máiréad Ní Chuinn
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0861, Page 008
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- XML School: Gowran (C.)
- XML Page 008
- XML “The Broken Promise”
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- Long ago there was an Irish King who met with a fairy Princess. He asked her to marry him, and she said that she would if he promised to give up all his friends and live only for her. He promised so they were married and lived happily together. They had two beautiful children, a boy and a girl. Years passed and the king longed to hunt wild beasts in the forest, so he told his wife and she said he could go, but to come back alone if he loved her. He went and had a great time with his friends, and then returned that night and the night after, alone.
The third day he went and did so well that his friends were all delighted with him, and one said in fun "How proud your lady will be of you". The others laughed, and the king in anger said "Come and I will show you my wife". He took them to the castle-yard where his wife and children waited to greet him.
When the king looked at his queen, he saw that she was angry and then he thought of his promise to her. He moved towards her but she with the children kept retreating until the three of them fell into a well, which started flowing all over the castle and lands and is now a long lake.
- Collector
- Maureen Denieffe
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Gowran, Co. Kilkenny
- Informant
- Mrs Hoban
- Address
- Gowran, Co. Kilkenny
