School: Forgney, Ballymahon (roll number 860)

Location:
Forgney, Co. Longford
Teacher:
Mrs B. Higgins
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0750, Page 375

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0750, Page 375

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  1. XML School: Forgney, Ballymahon
  2. XML Page 375
  3. XML “Bird-Lore”

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  1. As the cuckoo flies about, a little wren follows her. But before the cuckoo leaves the country for the South, she turns upon her little attendant and eats him. This is firmly believed in this locality.
    The belief is held here that the reason people hunt and stone the wren on St Stephen's day is that this bird betrayed the Saint to his enemies.
    When St. Stephen was being stoned by the Jews, he hid under a heap of moss. But the wren, which was nearby, pulled the moss off the saint, thus revealing him to his enemies.
    When our Lord was dying on the Cross a little robin came, and in pity, tried to pull a thorn out of His Sacred Head. But the cruel thorns penetrated so far
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Topics
    1. agents (~1)
      1. animal-lore (~1,185)
        1. bird-lore (~2,478)
    Folktales index
    AT0236: The Thrush Teaches the Doves (etc.) to Build Small Nests
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Irene Finnegan
    Gender
    Female
    Age
    12
    Address
    Forgney, Co. Longford