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School: Ballyjamesduff Convent

Location:
Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan
Teacher:
Sr. Mary Theresa
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0996, Page 308

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0996, Page 308

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    “Long ago there lived in the town of Ballyjamesduff two cobblers named Humpy McCabe and Humpy Gleeson.”

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    Long ago there lived in the town of Ballyjamesduff two cobblers named Humpy McCabe and Humpy Gleeson. They were called humpy because they had a hump on their backs. They had a donkey each. The donkeys grazed beside the Rath. One night Humpy Gleeson went up to the Rath for his donkey, and he heard the Fairies singing, "Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday." Humphy Gleeson joined the chorus. One of the fairies said "Who is that chorusing our song?" and another answered, "Who is it but Humpy Gleeson." The third one said, "Take that hump off him and put it on the ring of the fort, and Humpy Gleeson went home without his hump.
    The next day Humpy McCabe met Humpy Gleeson, and latter told his story. That night Humpy McCabe went up to the Rath for his donkey, and he heard the fairies singing, Thursday, Friday, Saturday." He joined in and sang, "Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday." "Who is that chorusing our song," said one of the Fairies." "Who is it but Humpy McCabe said another. Take the hump that you took off Humpy Gleeson and put it on Humpy McCabe said the third. So instead of going home humpless, he went home with two humps.
    (pupil)
    Evelyn O'Reilly,
    Cornahilt,
    Ballyjamesduff,
    Co. Cavan.
    From who obtained:-
    Mr. Robert O'Reilly, 50yrs
    Cornahilt,
    Ballyjamesduff,
    Co. Cavan.
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    History Edit
    Folktales index
    AT0503: The Gifts of the Little People
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Evelyn O' Reilly
    Gender
    Female
    Address
    Cornahilt, Co. Cavan
    Informant
    Mr Robert O' Reilly
    Gender
    Male
    Age
    50
    Address
    Cornahilt, Co. Cavan