School: Scoil na mBráthar, Loch Garman (roll number 16742)

On this page

1. The Black Lamb

   

   Share Share Post

   It is a custom amongst the people, when throwing away water at night, to cry out in a loud voice, "Take care of the water", or literally from the Irish "Away with yourself from the water", for they say that the spirits of the dead and buried are then wandering about. It would be dangerous if the water fell on them.

   One dark night, a woman suddenly threw out a pail of boiling water, without thinking of the warning words. Instantly a cry was heard as of a person in pain, but no one was seen.

   However the next night a black lamb entered the house, having its back all freshly scalded. It lay moaning on the hearth and died. Then they all knew that this was the spirit that had been scalded by the woman, and they carries the dead lamb out reverently and buried it deep in the earth.

   Yet every night at the same hour it walked again into the house, and lay down moaned and dies, and after this happened many times the priest was sent for and finally by the strength of his exorcism the spirit of the dead was laid to rest. The black lamb appeared no more, neither was the body of the dead

   (continues on next page)

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Thomas O' Neill

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Wexford, Co. Wexford

   Informant

   Matthew O' Neill

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   50

   Address

   Wexford, Co. Wexford