School: Baile an Ghaorthaidh, Cluain Meala

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1. Riddles I Have Heard at Home

   

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   Riddles from Ballingeary School c. 1938

   1. What is the difference between a school master and an engine driver?
   One trains the mind and the other minds the train.

   2. What turns without moving?
   A road.

   3. A field of white cows and a red one in the middle?
   A set of teeth and the tongue in the middle.

   4. Jenny inside the fence and Jenny outside the fence. If you went near Jenny she would bite you?
   A nettle.

   5. What is always behind time?
   The back of a clock.

   6. Under the fire and over the fire and never touches the fire?
   A cake in the oven pot.

   7. As black as ink, as white as milk and hops on the road like hailstones?
   A magpie.

   8. A poor man has, a rich man wants, a blind man sees, a deaf man hears?
   Nothing.

   9. Black and white and read all over?
   A newspaper.

   10. Long and lanky, deaf and dumb, has no legs and yet can run?
   A river.

   11. What goes up when the rain comes down?
   An umbrella.

   12. Why is Ireland like a bottle?
   Because it has a Cork in it?

   13. Ink, ank, under the bank, ten drawing four?
   A woman milking a cow.

   14. Why did Cane kill Able?
   Because he was able.

   15. Why is a black hen more clever than a white hen?
   Because a black hen can lay a white egg, but a white hen cannot lay a black egg.

   (continues on next page)

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. genre
      1. verbal arts (~1,483)
         1. riddles (~7,209)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Eileen Hayes

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Ballingeary East, Co. Tipperary