they could see some figures in the dim light. On coming nearer they were horrified to discover two corpses one handing on either side of the wall, - one that of the recently buried Mr. Williams and the other that of the body-snatcher.What had happened was this: The bod snatcher proceeded to Crooke Churchyard with a large potatoe 'kish' for the body. He had the kish fixed on a across his forehead with a rope so that none would suspect his load to be anything suspicious. He secured the body and deposited it in the kish, carried the kish on his back - in the usual fashion - suspended from a rope balanced across his forhead.Apparently he stopped with his back to the bridge to rest his load on the low stone wall. With a sudden jerk the rope slipped from his forehead to his neck - the heavy kish hung over the wall of the bridge and tightened the rope across the throat of the unfortunate man and hanged him. In this position the two men found him. Horrified at the dreadful sight the men were

About a hundred years ago the terrible practice of "body snatching" was carried on in this locality and in Crooke Churchyard. The local body-snatcher was a disreputable character who lived across the river in Arthurstown, Co. Wexford. This man was a notorious bad character and was on one occasion denounced publicly by the Curate in Duncannon Church. This he resented fiercely but as the Curate was of remarkably giant stature he contented himself with scoffing openly at the Curate's reproaches. Thereupon the Curate declared that before long this creature would meet with a sudden and horrible death.Events proved the Priest a true prophet, and the manner in which the body-snatcher met his death gave rise to the expression "The dead man who hanged the live man."A man named Williams died in Dromina House, Woodstown

An old shoemaker named Connors lived up by Crooke Chapel. He was very fond of drink and the boys from the village used to play tricks on him. One day he went to Waterford for leather to mend shoes. When evening came the boys went up to see if he had come home but the door was closed. They waited until they heard him coming down by the Cross road in the donkey and cart. They went up to meet him and there he was fast asleep in the cart, with the donkey bringing him home as usual. They followed him down and took the donkey from under the cart. They took the wheels off the cart and lifted him in through the door in the car with no wheels. They then put back the wheels on the cart in the kitchen and put the donkey under the cart again. So they hid to see what Connors would say when he woke up. He looked around him and he said 'I often heard that the Devil dipped his tail in drink but he must be here when I brought the donkey and

The following story was told to me a few years ago by my aunt - Mrs.Mary Meade, aged about 82, Crooke, Passage East and told me since by John Colfer (85) Passage East.
At the time of the '98 rebellion my great-great-grandfather named Robin Pottle lived in the farm next to Geneva Barracks, now occupied by Thomas Ivory. One day Robin Pottle was making stooks in the cornfield close to the barracks. He noticed a 'Croppy' running towards him in a distracted manner. The Croppy reached him and told him he had just escaped from the barracks. Just then they heard the uproar from the barracks as the escape was discovered. "I'm lost" the poor prisoner groaned. "No" said Pottle, "lie in here". He put the Croppy kneeling and built the stook over him. Then calmly proceeded to erect another, moving away

the public were entitled to a free and unrestrained access across the river. Lord Waterford produced in parchment several charters and royal grants in support of his claims. The first of these was one of Kings John's by which that monarch granted for ever the ferry between Ballyhack and Passage with all its apurtenances, together with the town of Passage and its revenues and the townslands of Crooke and Knockroe with their castles, etc to the Abbey of Dunbrody.The last Royal Charter was one of King William's by which he assigned all the ferries of the Suir and Barrow and other rivers in Ireland to James Roche in recognition of the services he rendered to that monarch by swimming the river at Derry and bringing a message of hope

Waterford Harbour; when the city by the Suir first raised its towers above the waters of Portlairge, To the ocean voyager coming for Waterford Harbour, the Tower of Hook is an indispensible guide.Once inside the Harbours mouth the dangers are not yet over, as mariners have learned to this cost even in our own day. The treacherous rock bound shore from the Hook to Duncannon have sent many a Waterford bound ship to destruction. In order to avoid this danger the lighthouse at Blackhill was erected directly behind Duncannon to the North.By keeping these two lights directly in line, ships come safely up the entrance of the Harbour. In olden times the Castle of Crooke

directly opposite Duncannon would serve the same purpose as Blackhill light-house does to-day, by keeping a course between the light at Crooke and Duncannon; and taking Duncannon close on the port hand, they would come safely up the entrance of the Harbour. The western or Dunmore bank runs close to the Point of Duncannon and leaves but a very narrow passage between it and the Wexford shore, from thense up to Ballyhack.So that the pilot who brings his ship up the narrow way must keep his eye steadly fixed on the site of the old Church at Ballyhack; the least deviation from the guidance of this land-mark would prove fatal to his charge.The old church, on top of the hill that rises straight over Passage

the first Norman invaders bestowed on Dunbrody, were not of their own creation, but belonged to a race who were in no way their inferiors in civilisation and it is to them we may trace the quadrangular fortifications at Passage the massive square Castle of Ballyhack the Castle of Crooke and Duncannon, all of which are shown on the map which Mr. Hore gives as a frontispiece to his history of Dunbrody Abbey.When we come to study the situation of these ancient towers or fortresses that stand along the both sides of Waterford Harbour; we must come to the conclusion that they were not selected by any capricious or hap-hazard accident of design. On the contrary they were a part of a well conceived plan for the safe navigation of

he explained about the skin and its value so she took the skin and plucked the wood off the skin an gave him the skin and its value.
Then he went home and told his father, and his father said that he should get married to that girl and they got married shortly after. Then they departed to build the castle of the King the last advise he got from his wife was to keep good friends with the maids of the house.
They started to work and it was not long until the castle was very near finished and it was the finest castle in the world he told the King that there was a small finishing touch he could not finish it without a article he had athome. Then the Goban Saor said that he would send his son home for it the King said that he would send his own son for it but to tell him the name of the name article so the Goban said to ask his daughter-in-law for crooked-against-crooke- and wrong against wrong so when he went to Gobans house she at once understood the meaning of the meaning of the message and she told him it was in a big box but he would have to reach down to get it and when he bent over the edge of the box she came from behind and threw him headlong into the box she said he will

About fifty years go there lived on Crooke Road Passage East a man named Jerry O'Toole. One day Jerry went to the fair, and he brought home two pigs, a black one and a white one. The black pig was an extraordinary-looking animal. He was long and lanky and he would nearly speak to you.Jerry Toole got frightened of him for he used to follow any of the family around from house to house and actually snort their names. He got suspicious and he said to himself that it was not good to have him around the place.One day he took him over the strand as far as he could go. He said he would leave him there to perish and he went home. When he arrived home the pig was there before him. He did this three times in succession, but each time the pig was at home before him.He came to the conclusion that he would get it shot, as it was a fairy pig.

Beside Crooke Church near Passage East lived an old man named Maurice Power. He lived there up to about twelve years ago; and remembered seeing the cross-roads decorated for a visit to this locality of Daniel O'Connell. He was blind and remarkably bald. About the baldness a curious story is told. The story is as follows: -Maurice was coming home from the Waterford fair. As he delayed for refreshments he was a bit merry by night-fall. He reached Kil St. Nicholas Cross Roads and was just passing by the lis there when he heard music. Being in a happy frame of mind he was pleased to hear the music and went into the lis field to find out who the musicians were. To his great surprise he saw that the "good people" were having a feast with dancing and music. They invited Maurice to join them which he did. They all drank tea from fairy teacups. When the feast was over Maurice cast a covetous eye on the tiny cups, and when he thought no one was looking he slipped them into his pocket as a present for his daughters. Then he went home.Next morning he awoke

In the year 1884 the American ship Stole Brown was driven into Waterford Harbour in a heavy gale of wind and anchored inside the Hook. She bore the storm until next day, when she slipped her anchor to proceed to Passage East for refuge. She was a large ship and drew a lot of water. Between Creaden Head and Duncannon she grounded and became a total wreck. The Passage fishing boat "The Duck" owned by - - rescued her crew of 19 men and the steward's wife and child and landed them at Passage. A wreckage of food and stores drifted to Woodstown and Crooke strand and they were salvaged by the people of the surrounding district. The remains of the - - lies under water between Creaden-Head and Waterford Bar and she is an obstruction to the fishermen's trawling nets.This is a verse of a song composed.
"On the twenty fourth of January.
In the year of 84.
The auction of the

would go with him the next night to answer the Mass. The next night they went to Killea Church and just at twelve o'clock the priest came out on the altar and John Glody answered the Mass. When John Glody looked around, the church was crowded with people. When Mass was ended the priest told Glody that the other priest was saved. A few weeks later John Glody died.Michael Daley
Story got from
Mrs. Elizabeth Leahy (about 70 years)
Crooke Road,
Passage East.

ship. He said if she dragged her anchor there would be in danger or running ashore. While she was in stays a sudden burst of wind came and blew all sails off the ship. At that moment she was the grandest-looking picture one could see. All ropes were fast and no sails on her. Next moment she was dismasted. The wind and seas blew here ashore at the Head. All the crew were drowned. The captains Cody was found by a Passage East fishing boat and was buried in Crooke Church yard. The place is still known where the Donegal was lost. The fishermen call it the Donegal Hole. There was a song composed about the Donegal: -
Said a pale faced boy to his loving mother
Let me cross the wide; wide sea
For they tell me in Paddy's country
There is health and wealth for me.
So she left him go with a mother's blessing
Though her heart for him did yearn.
There was little dream't in the solemn parting
That the ship would never return.

Riddle me riddle me ree has one eye and can't see.
A needle.As I went out on my Grandfather's gap I met a little man with a red cap, it would be more afraid of a cock or a hen that king George and all his men.
A worm.Q What is the difference between a little fat pig and a fat little pig
A One is a littlle fat pig but the other is only a little fat.Q Why does a dog waig his tail
A Because the tail can't waig the dog.Q Why does a chimney smoke.
Because it can't chew.Full of holes and holds up water.
A pot Crooke.

What bears and never blossoms? - The crooke
What goes round world and leaves a rag in every bush? A mist
Black and White went up the hill blacke came down and Whitie stood still
a hen after laying an egg
What sleeps with his finger in his eye?
The crook
What goes round the house and round the house and sleeps in the corner at night.
The besom.
What grows in wood sounds through the town
A fiddle
I have a little house it could not hold a mouse
But it as an many windows
As the Lords Mayor's house.
Ans. A thimble
Two pigs on yonder style: the more they got the more they cried
And the less they got the less they cried
Ans mill
I sat down on my "hunkers"
And looked through my peepers, ("peepers")
And saw the dead bury alive.
Ans a fire rakings of a fire