School: Cluain an Droma, Mullach (roll number 5267)

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   “The origins of 'throw a spit on him' said when a horse shivers after taking the tackling off him.”

   

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   (The origin of "Throw a spit on him" said when a horse shivers after taking the tackling off him - Collected by B. S. O'Huiginn O.S., Cluain an Droma, from Corney Sullivan, blacksmith, Kilmurry Ibrickane aged 68 years)

   
   When the tackling is taken off a horse he is noticed to give a shudder and around here the people have a habit of saying, "Throw a spit on him." The origin of the saying is to be found in the days of Saint Senan in Scattery Island (Inis Cathaigh)

   At the time when he was a young man there was a terrible dragon or sea serpent on Inis Cathaig. It used appear every night at the coming of darkness and anybody who saw it would shiver and fall dead at the sight. Several people had perished as a result so at dusk all houses were locked and bolted.

   When Saint Senan arrived on the island he had a horse and he knocked at the door of a house. He would not be admitted for a while. Then the door was opened and he stood on the threshold. Just then they heard a terrific sound and the dragon appeared. The horse which was nearest to it began to shiver and was about to fall when Saint Senan threw a spit on him and commanded the dragon to depart in the name of the Blessed Trinity. This is the origin of the

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. events
      1. events (by time of year) (~11,476)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   B. S. Ó Huiginn

   Gender

   Male

   Occupation

   Múinteoir

   Address

   Cloonadrum, Co. Clare

   Informant

   Corney Sullivan

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   68

   Occupation

   Smith

   Address

   Kilmurry, Co. Clare