School: Cill Mhic Eoghain (roll number 9848)
- Location:
- Kilmackowen, Co. Cork
- Teacher: Domhnall Ó Hurdail
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0276, Page 017
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- XML School: Cill Mhic Eoghain
- XML Page 017
- XML “An Cailleach Bhéara”
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- Long ago at the time of Saint Patrick three witches, An Cailleach Bhéara, Cailleach an Dhaingean, agus Cailleach Bhóilis lived. At that time Saint Patrick was teaching the true faith in Munster, but the Cailleach Bhéara would (not) believe that God was there, or that He was the maker of the world.About a few weeks after Saint Patrick was preaching to her, she went to his house and stole a few holy books he had. St. Patrick following her, struck her with his wand, but not before she had jumped from Sgíac, to Coolagh and from there to Kilcatherine. It was while she was taking the last span that St. Patrick's rod struck her, and she is now in the form of a rock in Kilcatherine with the basket of books on her back. The print of her foot is in the middle of a flat stone, about five feet long by six feet wide in Coolagh, and it is full of water both Summer and winter.The Cailleach Béara was said to have the best sight, and the best voice, in Bere Haven, because once when she was standing on Sgíac, she saw a(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Joan Houlihan
- Gender
- Female
- Informant
- Danial Houlihan
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- 55
- Address
- Crumpane, Co. Cork
