School: Mullinahone (C.) (roll number 15363)

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1. Burning of Brigid Cleary, Ballyvadlea (continued)

   

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   By this time the poor woman had become so haggard and worn as a result of her bad health that her husband relatives and neighbours began to think that Brigid Cleary had "gone with the fairies" and that this person whom they were endeavouring to restore to health was an old witch which had been left in her place.
   Michael Cleary believed that if he went out on three moonlight nights in succession, he would see his wife riding out of the rath near his house on a white horse. He went out on the scheduled nights, but nobody appeared near the rath. Then began the trials to which the wretched victim was subjected. Brigid was held over the fire while the neighbours asked her.
   "Are you a witch or are you a fairy,
   Or are you the wife of Michael Cleary"
   She was then turned and again questioned. She was given three morsels of bread and as she was unable to

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. events
      1. hardship (~1,565)
         1. fires (~306)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Nellie O' Connell

   Address

   Mullinahone, Co. Tipperary

   Informant

   James Maher

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   34

   Address

   Mullinahone, Co. Tipperary