School: Cnoc an Éin Fhinn (Birdhill) (roll number 13991)

Location:
Cooleen, Co. Tipperary
Teacher:
Micheál Ó Meachair
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0539, Page 054

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0539, Page 054

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  1. XML School: Cnoc an Éin Fhinn (Birdhill)
  2. XML Page 054
  3. XML “In the Penal Times”

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  1. About two hundred years ago there was a rich man living near Nenagh. He had one daughter named Mary and one brother named Niochalas. This rich man got a mass said in his house. It was in the penal times, and he invited his brother Niochalas to the mass. Niochalas told one of the soldiers that there was a mass going to be said in his brother's house. Niochalas said he would mind the door and he told the Soldier that if he came he would let him into the Mass. Niochalas came the day of the Mass to mind the door. When he came he started praising Mary and saying she grew alot since he saw her last. Mary did not like him at all, because she had some suspicion about him. He told Mary he was going to mind the door. Mary said she would mind it; and so she did while mass going on. He was at the door also. The soldier then let a shot to shoot Mary but it was Niochalas he shot. The soldier went over to Niochalas and asked was the priest inside. Niochalas said he did not come at all. Then the soldier went away and the priest came and heard Niochalas' confession and he told the priest he was the fourth priest he had spied upon.
    The above was told to me by John Hayes Cragg, 56 yrs Herd Birdhill, Limerick. Maura Mannion, Cragg, Limerick.
    17/3/38
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Topics
    1. time
      1. historical periods by name (~25)
        1. penal times (~4,335)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Maura Mannion
    Gender
    Female
    Address
    Cragg, Co. Tipperary
    Informant
    John Hayes
    Gender
    Male
    Age
    56
    Address
    Cragg, Co. Tipperary