It is well I remember the 15th September 1937 when James Vaughan and his brother Michael went cutting wood in their own farm in Ross near Bridgetown where the electric wires were going over the farm. James went up into the tree and his brother remained under it. It happened that the wires were near the tree which they intended to cut down. When they had the tree cut a branch fell on the electric wires. They did not see the danger at this time and continued to touch

The local landlords long ago were the Arthurs of Bridgetown. The Arthurs were there for generations and it was the earliest generation that was the cruelest. Every month they sent around to every house for the rent and if it was not paid immediately the people of the house would be thrown out on the side of the road to live or die.There were many evictions such as this carried out in this district. The landlords were so cruel that the people had to barricade the doors with heavy pieces

Colonel Paterson was the Landlord in Ogonelloe who evicted my great-grandmother. She was going out into the garden to dig potatoes for her dinner when Paterson's men arrested her and brought her to court in Killaloe. They threw all her furniture out on the side of the road and told her that she was never to go back to the house again. So she had to go to Bridgetown and stay with her friends until my grandfather was able to work because the rest of the children were very young. When he began

At the time when people believed in fairies a man who lived near Ballymoloney wood near Bridgetown was digging ridges in a garden with other men. One of the men who was with him said he was a great man and he never said God bless him and the man got a blast. Every night a strange man would come in and take him out and the people of the house would try to hold him but he used to fall down on the floor and disappear. One day he met a

There is a field near Bridgetown called "An Rinnce." It is said that there was a very big house in the field long ago and that beggars slept there. They used to dance in the house on Sunday nights and Wednesday nights. There are big stones at four corners of the field and it is said that people that were not able to dance would sit on them and they were called "Cloc Na Daoine Lusce." One of the stones is still to be seen and it marks the place where the house was built.

and travelled through Bridgetown on his way to the Ford of Killaloe. It is said that he refreshed his horses with water at the small river which runs through the village.

There was once an old woman who lived in a small house in Bridgetown where Hammond’s egg store now is and she worked in Farrel’s and she was always telling stories to the children. She was a funny old lady but good to children. The First Bicycle was ever seen around here when she saw it she said it was near to the end of the World because she saw a man riding on a cart wheel. My mother told me this story.

One night a man was coming from playing cards in Bridgetown. As he was coming up through Eastown he was thinking would he play cards the next night. When he came as the White Gates he saw a light. It came nearer to him until it was beside him. He looked at the light and

Kilgole road branches off the Drumcroil road and leads out on the Bridgetown road. Miss Kate Kelly informs me that that road was made as relief work during the

At this fort there are often lights seen. There is a fort near Bridgetown station and there is one at Mullinacross and near this fort is a sciog bush and sometimes there are lights seen and music heard at it. Some people think that if you scatter mayflowers on the window sills on May Eve, it will keep the fairies away from the house.

and it measured 62 feet by 22 feet. An old wall, which is all covered with ivy, is all that remains now. One time, there was an old graveyard about a quarter of a mile below Bridgetown in the townland of Rushbrook and the man that owned the land that the graveyard was on ploughed it, and he ploughed up the human bones.

Bridgetown Abbey
About three miles west of Ballyhooly near where the Blackwater and the Awbeg meet are the ruins of Bridgetown Abbey. It was built in the beginning of the fourteenth century by "Lord Theobald Fitz Hugh Roche" who was a Norman. He brought Monks from Meath there. They were the Order of Canons Regular of St. Augustine but some say the Order of St. Victor.
It was very large. It had much land going with it on both sides of the river. There were two timber bridges across of which no sign is now. Wheat and crops were on the side now called Grange.
Mass was said every morning in a large room. After it the Monks taught the young people around the place. Some worked on the farm, some were praying and some taught. Each had a special calling. The Refectory is still to be seen. There is a beautiful stone over the door.
There was a battle fought there between Cromwell and the Monks. Cromwell won, knocked the bridge and part of the Monastery and drove out the Monks. He then gave the land to his soldiers. This Abbey is referred to in old books - the bridge over the river is called Fermoy Bridge. There is a

Hidden TreasureIn the big field in Churchtown Bridgetown, Co Wexford a light is seen every night. The people of the village believe that under the old oak tree in the middle of the field is hidden.The treasure was placed there many years ago by a miser who lived in Bridgetown. He led a poor miserable life and often went hungry. He stored all his money away in an old tin box. He never slept a wink at night for fear robbers would come and steal it.One day he put all his money in the tin box along with some valuable jewels that belonged to his grand-mother. He dug a hole by the side of the tree and buried the treasure. Every night the miser went out with a ligt and stayed under the tree all night minding the money. After some years the man died and never told his secret to anyone.Many attempts have been made to unearth the treasure but no one has got it yet. A large stone

home, a priest was brought, he recovered his senses and received all the rites of the Church, but was a corpse before next morning. He told the tale of his awful encounter with the ghost before he died, but soon after he departed, the arm which had given the blow became as black as a pot - hook. The ghost was never afterwards seen at Leaches Cross, though for many years people were shy of passing there at a late hour.Written by :-
Ena Cassidy,
Bridgetown. Co Wexford.Told by :-
Miss K. Browne, (60)
Rathronan Castle,
Bridgetown, Co. Wexford.

The Bridgetown ElectionIt is now 40 years since Bridgetown Village used to elect a Lord Mayor. At that time it was usual to see two thousand people gathered together on election night. This election was a hoax but the two opposing candidates did not know. Neither would they take advice from any of their friends.
The election was carried out in the old Library where voting took place. Some of the old duffers round the village voted in deadly earnest, while the play boys who were responsible for the election had a good laugh behind backs.
Before the result was made, known the two candidates were carried on chairs, round the village followed by a torch light procession, They had to make speeches and of course promises such as doing repairs to certain houses, or places lighting the village street etc. The last election was fought between an old Miller named Nick Hayes, and Paddy Roche who was a caretaker on an out farm, Nick Hayes always firmly believed in his Office and in conversation if one did not address him as "Your worship", he would be very vexed. Paddy Roche opposed him because he was persuaded that there was £40 per year for the job
Altogether apart from making fools of these old chaps there used to be great fun and excitement at election time bogus telegrams were

The Local fairs are held in Wexford, Bridgetown and Taghmon.
Some of the people in this locality go to the horse fairs in Enniscorthy and New Ross.The fair is held in Wexford in Johnstreet and Hillstreet.
Fairs are held in Bridgetown a village about eight miles from Wexford, and in Taghmon about fourteen miles from Wexford.A fair used to be held in Scar, a townsland. The fair was held on the bridge there about seven miles from Wexford. This fair was noted for fights with blackthorn sticks.When an animal is sold luck money is given with it. If the seller gets a good price for his beast he gives good luck with it. When a buyer and a seller are argueing about the price of an animal a bystander usually interrupts saying "Split the difference" Then the two concerned agree to do so, and shake hands.Another fair was held in Tomhaggard on the 26th of July. Now a pattern is held instead. An old saying is

Once upon a time a man went down to Bridgetown Abbey which is situated nine miles from Mallow and he saw two flagstones outside the Abbey. He wanted one for a hearth-stone and the other for a door-step. He was warned by a farmer not to take the stones but still he took them. Every month while he had the stones somebody belonging to him died. By the time his wife and son were dead and all his cattle as well he put back the two stones and he never interfered with the Abbey since.

In the penal times priests were prevented from saying Mass and the Catholic Churches were closed and the soldiers tried to banish the priests out of the country altogether.
Mass was then said in far away places. Mass was said in Bridgetown about three miles from the village of Castletownroche and it was said in Kilcummer about a mile and a half from the town. Priests hid in the Nagles' Mts. and in caves about Castle Widenham. There is a tree in Annesgrove where priests are said to have hidden in a hollow trunk.

A fair was held in Tour two or three times when the Black and Tans were in Ireland. There is no fair held there now becuase no one would bring cattle there. The fairs were held in the streets of the town except in a few places. A person who sold cattle paid a toll to the Baron but if they did not sell they paid nothing. The toll only amounted to three pence or six pence for each beast. Then the Baron had to pay something each year to the Corporation of the town. When people sell cattle they usually give half a crown to the buyer. This is called luck money. Some cattle are marked with mud and others by clipping the hair off their sides. The fisrs of the year were held in Nenagh, Bridgetown, Limerick, Cappowhite, Cappamore and Newport.

of 22 houses beginning at Bridgetown with the Creamery burned to the ground, and two or three farmer's houses and two in Killbane, one being my Uncles and a next door neighbour of his - Ryans. The place being a burning mass of flames between houses and haybarns, it being the Winter on the 21st day of Feb. 1921. Cattle were in the cowsheds and horses in the stables all the animals went mad when they got loose with the sight of the burning mass and the fumes of Petrol - it was hell let loose to to speak. The tans and military were mad with drink and it was only by an act of Province that the occupants escaped injury and the most miraculous thing of all on that occasion was a picture of the Sacred Heart where a little lamp was kept burning opposite was unharmed it being the only thing in the kitchen uninjured. (Many is the poor fellow) Three young Irish Volunteers were cruelly done to death on the Bridge of Killaloe. Their eyes