School: Crosskeys

Location:
Cross Keys, Co. Cavan
Teacher:
Thomas Greene
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0977, Page 262

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0977, Page 262

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  1. XML School: Crosskeys
  2. XML Page 262
  3. XML “The Dead Fiddle”

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  1. I wonder if many people have heard of the violin playing itself as it hangs on the wall. It is an evil omen for the fiddler who had been accustomed to play that fiddle. The writer has heard the story told how a certain local fiddler was startled one night by what he described as the fiddle playing itself. The next day he had a 'dead' arm. That is the term used for paralysis amongst the country people. He never played the violin again, and regarded the self-played notes as his "swan song".
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Topics
    1. genre
      1. belief (~391)
        1. folk belief (~2,535)
    2. agents (~1)
      1. supernatural and legendary beings (~14,864)
    3. events
      1. events (by time of year) (~11,476)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Thomas Greene
    Gender
    Male
    Occupation
    Múinteoir