School: Rathowen (B) (roll number 5101)
- Location:
- Rathowen, Co. Westmeath
- Teacher: T. Mc Garry
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0741, Page 153
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- XML “Natty McGuire and the <span class="exact">Fairies</span>”
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On this page
- Matty McGuire and the Fairies.
Told as a true story by James Killean (Farmer) Joanstown Rathowen Co Westmeath (aged then about 85).
Natty lived in Carrighy (Carrigea) parish of Rathaspie. Matty had a snug farm and used to regularly to Ballynacarrigy market which was one of the leading inland markets for oats, wheat, butter, eggs and fowl. Matty (on the day of which I write) and a servant boy went to the market with a load of oats and quickly disposed of it. As was he custom friends and neighbours adjourned to a public house to partake of a few naggins (whiskey at the time was only 2 1/2d a naggin. The half-one at that time was unknown). Matty left for home at the dusk of the evening and when he came to Ballycorkey Bridge he sent his boy around with the horse and took a short cut for home and as he was passing a local fort he met a party of horsemen, some of whom were riding horses and some riding bullocks. Some of the horsemen bid "Good Night Matty. Good Night Matty. Will you take a ride Matty". "Be gob I will" says Matty. Matty was then put on a bullock. The party then started at full gallop across Tynan's bottoms(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Nuala Cregg
- Gender
- Female
- Age
- 12
- Informant
- James Killean
- Relation
- Grandparent
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- c. 85
- Address
- Joanstown, Co. Westmeath
