School: Johnstown (roll number 877)

Location:
Johnstown, Co. Meath
Teacher:
Miss H.C. Hickie
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0687, Page 079

Archival Reference

The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0687, Page 079

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  1. XML School: Johnstown
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  3. XML “Buried Treasure”

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  1. In a field about half a mile S.E. from Johnstown school there is to be seen a small rath locally termed "The Raheen."
    Towards the end of the last century it was customary to hire parties from Connaught to help with the Meath harvesting. During the period of their services these migratory labourers kept their simple domicile in the shelter of the Raheen. Naturally, under such circumstances the question of fairies buried treasure etc formed the constant theme of their evening gossip and many a man of them "wishes" himself a dream of hidden gold before each morrow's morning.
    The harvest work flew by and the would-be dreamers continued to be disappointed.
    However, one morning there was consternation in the little camp. One of their number had disappeared. What had happened! Suicide! Murder! Abduction by the "Good People" of the fairy rath. A search of the immediate locality discovered a freshly dug hole within the precincts of the Raheen with the spade of the missing man lying beside it.
    It was surmised that the missing man had been 'warned' in a dream of the whereabouts of hidden gold and that while the others slept he had risen and secured it for himself.
    How he disposed of it or where he went, or how are still matters of conjecture in this neighbourhood.
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Topics
    1. genre
      1. belief (~391)
        1. folk belief (~2,535)
          1. treasure legends (~7,411)
    Language
    English