School: Grangecon

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   “Simon Fylan used to go up on Ballykane Hill to shoot rabbits on a moonlight night.”

   

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   Simon Fylan used to go up on Ballykane Hill to shoot rabbits on a moonlight night. One Hollandtide night, he went as usual to shoot rabbits and the whole fairy host came around him shouting "Give me my horse. Give me my horse".

   Being a stout man, Simon shouted also "Give me a horse" and in the twinkling of an eye he was astride a fine charger. Away went the whole band, at full speed, but Simon didn't know where they were going but they had a girl when they were coming back.

   They had to cross the Boyne and the horse gave such a great jump over the river that Simon blessed himself and shouted 'Glory be to God', and the next instant all had disappeared except himself and the girl.

   He brought the girl home and kept her. She worked and knitted all the time but never a word passed her lips. The following Hollandtide Night, Simon went up on Ballykane Hill again and the very same thing occurred this time and one said "I hope we do better than we did last time". Another answered "It doesn't matter. She is no good to those who have her. I stuck a pin in the back of her head and she can't talk and tell them who she is". Simon didn't wait to hear any more but made home as fast as his legs could carry him. He looked in the back of the girls head and found the pin and pulled it out

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Folktales index

   AT0990*: A Merchant's Son Finds the Princess Wounded in a Coffin

   Language

   English

   Informant

   Mr Seon Mallen

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   c. 75

   Address

   Grange Con, Co. Wicklow