Recent changes

live in the town,
Marry in yellow and you are ashamed of the fellow,
Marry in gray and you will live far away,
Marry in white and you are chosen all right,
Marry in red and you will wish yourself dead,
Marry in black and you will wish yourself back,Matchmaking.
Two men go to the house where the girl lives and they bring a bottle of whiskey with them. If the man who wants to get married gets enough of money from the girl whey both come to terms. And they get married.
The bride gets a present of gold and silver and sets of china and several other gifts.
On the wedding day they have great feasts in the bride's house. And they ask all the neighbours around them and all their friends. They have a wedding cake, which is divided round

One night Pat McGrath of Monadiha was looking at snares in Ballinacurra. It was a moonlight night and as he was going out a gate he saw a friar standing there with his eyes on the ground.
Thinking it was a real friar he said "Good-night" as he was passing him. When he got no answer he turned round but the friar had vanished.During the lambing season Denis Cullinane of Kilbrack of Kilbrack puts lanterns in the fields to frighten off foxes but there is one field there and he puts nothing in it but a light appears there of itself.A cat is supposed to haunt the old castle in Rathgormack and sometimes he goes around mewing in the nightime as if he were in pain. If anybody followed him when they went to the place where they heard the mewing they found he was gone but when they went away again they heard him once more.About twenty years ago a Protestant named Quinn lived in Shanakill. After his death the bells in his

Nettle stings:-
Rub the affected part with a green dockleaf.Warts:-
Rub a snail on the wart and then hang him on a "sgeac". Burn the wart with a lighting match.Kidney Diseases:-
Scutch grass in new milk and drink the milk afterwards. The tops of gilcock boiled in water and drink the water afterwards.Cuts:-
Put a cobweb on the cut to stop the blood flowing.Wild fire:-
The blood of a Cahill.Rheumatism:-
Boil dandelion seeds in water and drink the water.Sores:-
Rub the sore with milk.

I do not know when football was first started in this parish. Before the rules were made the match was played without goalposts the players kicking the ball into the fences.
The ball was bigger than the one used now for sometimes instead of a rubber bladder a pig's was used. Any number of players took part in the matches which lasted until the players were tired.
The first good team that Rathgormack had were playing in 1911 and had the championship of the county for several years. Their greatest rivals came from Clashmore and Windgap. They defeated Kerry in Mallow in 1911.
Their best players were Michael Curry, Jack Norris and Tom Quinlan of Derinlaur.

What is the biggest wonder in the map of Europe?
That Hungary did'nt eat Turkey without Greece.When was beef the highest?
When the cow jumped over the moon.

When does a cook break the game laws?
When she poaches an egg.
What goes round a field but cannot get in?
A fence.
Two legs, sitting on three legs looking at one leg. In comes four legs and snatches up one leg. Up jumps two legs snatches up three legs throws it at four legs and gets back one leg.

Experience is the best schoolmaster.
Empty vessels makes the loudest noise.
Better to go to bed supperless than to rise in debt.
The best hurlers are always on the ditch.
A nod is as good as a wink.
He does not know B from a bull's foot.
You can kiss the hare's foot for it now.
Curiosity lost paradise.
As old as Methusalem's cat.
Mum's the word.
He was a real mac see.
Sense and nonsense are two things that do not agree.
"Ye are all the same" as the goat said to his feet.
"Life is sweet" as the tailor said as he ran away from the gander.
Maybe I'd rather and I suppose things with no sense.
A stitch in time saves nine.
The cure is worse than the disease.
You cannot squeeze blood from a turnip.
An excuse is nearer to a woman than her apron.
The beginning of health is sleep.
Deep waters run smooth.
It is easier to fall than to rise.
Nature is stronger than training.
It is easier said than done.

There is another bone setter near Dungarvan named Mrs. Murphy and she inherited it from her parents. Her fame is spread very far over this county for bone setting.

The bone-setters that lived around here were the late Maurice Connolly and his mother of Ballyclough. It is not certain whether he did any great jobs of bones or not. Not one of his children is a bone-setter.
There is another great bone-setter named Pat Walsh of Coolnahorna and he is still alive. His father was able to mend bones also and he was a cousin to the Walsh's of Tinhalla who were also great bone-setters. The Walshs of Tinhalla were related to the Walshs of Barnakill in Stradbally, and the Walshs of Ballykeorage were great bone setters to. There is another great bone setter Jim Bolger of Cluanasgeac, Slievenamon. He is over eighty years of age and he still sets bones.

And that bailiff John Seáinín.
I played for Dick and Simon
For Jimmy and for Din
For Coulter nose Tomáisín
And that miser Patsy Quinn.III
I played for Quinn of Shanakil
That Sasanch so stout
When I put up my fiddle
'Twas then I got the rout.
I played for fools and oinseachs
At the cross of Ballyneale,
I play for the Lord of Waterford
And he rammed me into jail.This song was composed by John Raher of Crehanagh. He died in 1929. It is usually sung by John Coghlan of Carrowleigh.

Twas at the Cross of Feddans
I put resin to my bow
And the sound of my old fiddle
Could be heard in Curraghmore.
I played in Knockaturney
I played in Monamanaun
And where I got my dinner,
Was at Fahy's in Cruachán.II
I played for Michael Kirby
I played for Tom the Squeal
I played for poor Joe Andy

it and level it out big enough to fit on the griddle. It takes half an hour to bake and is only like a hard crust. Put a hoop around it to keep the smoke from the rims on it and is lovely to eat. It is far nicer than the ordinary white bread.

Pan cakes:-
Pan cakes are made for a special feast which falls before Ash Wednesday. That is the only time they are used. Get some flour and sour cream and mix it together and put it on a frying pan (and put it on a fryin) for five minutes and turn it over after two minutes. It is then baked.Oaten Bread:-
Mix some oaten meal with water until it is very damp and make it into a cake. Then leave it bake for half an hour and when it is hard take it up. You can make a fancy oaten cake mixed with cream and leave it baking for half an hour or so. It is the most palatable cake you ever ate in your life.Griddle bread:-
Put a brand on a fire of straw or furze and put a griddle on it. Mix flour, soda, salt and milk into dough and make a cake of

There was an old sports meeting held in Glen until about fifty years ago. It was held on Ascension Thursday and the last one was in 1887. It was held in a field belonging to Bob Hurley, on the banks of the River Suir. It was shifted up afterwards because of the danger of drunken people getting drowned.
The field was three acres in size. The sports held were dancing, singing, high jumping and long jumping. The great dancers were, Mick Kelly of Churchtown, Ted Hogan of Carrick, William (Price)

Cows:-
Cows are tied by means of things called bales. There are two kinds of bales, one like this
[?]There are two sticks, one fixed and the other can be moved. There is a [?] on the fixed stick. The cow's head is put between the sticks the [?] is lifted up, the other stick is pulled over an the [?] left over it.The other is like this
[?]A cow can be tied at each side of the stick. The chain is tied around the cow's neck.

Pigs:- Meal, potatoes and other root crops.
Sheep:- Grass and vegetation.
Ass:- Hay, corn, grass, chopped furze, root crops.Calling the Animals:-
Dog:- Here, calling him by name.
Cat:- Puss, puss, puss.
Ferrets:- No call.
Pig:- Deoth, deoth, deoth.
Horse:- Twoh, twoh.
Goat:- Ginny, ginny, ginny or Nanny.
Cow:- Sooky, Pooee
Ass:- Bessie or Twoh.When calling birds:-
Hens:- Chick, chick, chick.
Ducks:- Finick, finick, finick.
Turkeys:- Biad, biad, biad.
Geese:- Goosey, goosey, goosey.Names of Cows:-
Gollywog, Polly, Stasia, Spot, Rosy, Betty, Surprise, Tut-tut, Judy, Be the Hooky, Rosette, Nag.

Food:-
Dog:- Bread, meat, potatoes, milk, water.
Cat:- Bread, meat, milk.
Ferret:- Bread without soda mixed with milk. Rabbits.
Cow:- Hay, corn, grass, root crops.
Horses:- Hay, corn, grass, chopped furze, root crops.

There is a road going from Healy's Cross to Cahill's Cross called the Long Road. It is about one third of a mile in length. On the western side of the road there is a stone called the Hungry Man's Stone and people say a hungry man sat begging there during the Penal Days.

The Chapel Road.
There is an old road going along the foot of the mountain called the Chapel Road. It is so called because people went from Ross to the chapel in Graigavalla that way long ago.

The Old Hill.
The Old Hill is situated in the townland of Seskin about three miles from Rathgormack. It is by this road that people used go to Carrick befor the New Road was made.The Old Road.
The Old Road begins at Connolly's Cross and joins the Old Hill three miles farther on. Everyone used to go to Carrick that way from the Comeragh mountains until the new road was made.The Old Road.
This Old Road goes grom Killballyquilty through Ballingeara to Windgap. People come that way from Carrick and they pass on their between four ponds and three rocks. Long ago these rocks were whitewashed every year so that people would not lose their way in the nighttime.

Carraig-Ginac.
There is a road in the parish of Windgap called Carraig Ginac. It is a quarter of a mile and ends on the road from Carrick to Clonmel. It is a rocky bye road and is so called because there was a lime kiln among the rocks there.

night a vicious-looking sow with bonhams appeared in the dyke and frightened the robbers.
This apparition was seen last by a neighbour on a bright moonlight night about fifty years ago.

There is a road going from Rathgormack to Windgap and there is a portion of this called Bóthar na mBanbaí because a sow and bonhams are supposed to have appeared there.
In olden times the fences were heavily timbered with every kind of trees especially holly trees and some of them still remain. Some of the people began to cut and steal these trees but one

Irish.

Móna Rud.
There is an old road in the parish of Rathgormack called Móna Rud. It is a shortcut from Rathgormack to Kilrossanty and it is about one mile long. It is an old bye-road and is (about) very rough.Sean-Ceardhcha.
There is an old road at the back of Scartlea called the Sean Ceardhcha. It is so called because there was a forge there long ago. It is an Irish mile long and it is a short cut from Scartlea to Toor. It goes through the wood and is very rough and hilly.Boithrín an Uisge.
There is a road in Churchtown called Boithrín and Uisge. It is a short cut from Churchtown to Ballindysart. The reason it is so called is that water is running out of the end of it. It is a very bad road.
It is said that Mick Kelly saw the dead people hurling there. The teams were Churchtown against Rathgormack and when they scored they shouted in

Bearna Road.
Bearna Road is breaking out below the New cottages in Monadiha. The road was coming out from the village that was in Kilbrack. There is another part of the road breaking out about a mile and a half below Tunneys Cross on the "Glen Road. But what was too awkward for the people in the village so they broke out that road there and that is the reason it got its name "Bearna Road".

Glen Road.
There is an old road commencing at Turney's Cross leading to Curraheen called the Glen Road, There is a small "sgeac" about fifty yards below the cross where a man was killed. On a small hill on the road it is said that a priest named Father Maher was killed coming down from Graigavalla after flogging a woman. There is a stone for a mark there yet. Some people say that he fell off his horse and others say that a stone was fired at him. The quarry is on the cross at the bridge and they say the "badhb" is to be seen there. There is a boreen going up towards the chapel of Kilbrack and they say that it was the way to the chapel but the fence is closed across the mouth of it now and some of the fences are knocked down.

II
Dreoilin, Dreoilin, where's your nest
Tis in the holly that I love best
Between the oak and the holly tree
Where no young boy can follow me.
Mr. - is a very good man
He'll give us something to bury the "wran"
We wish you all a very good cheer
Tumbles of whiskey and barrels of beer.III
As I was going to Killenaule,
I met a wren upon a wall
I handled my wattle and gave her a fall
I carried her into Rathgormack town
Where all the boys did follow me
Christmas comes but once a year
I wish you all a happy New Year.

Cranes.
Long ago people had no / cranes for hanging pots on the fire like they have now. They had two sticks going from one side of the chimney to the other side and an iron bar crossing on the two of them and from that a chain hung down to the fire.Chimneys.
The people long ago built chimneys which could not be built by the people now. The chimneys sloped very much to the east and in this way the draught drew the smoke directly up the chimney.Settles.
In all the old houses settles formed a part of the furniture. These settles had a three-fold duty. In the day it was used as a table and when meals were over it was formed into a seat. In the night it was used as a bed, The top board of the settle which formed the table was raised up and underneath this was the part which was used as a bed.

By either sun or moon
For there is only one that e'er shall pull
The Rose of Aughnabroon.I pity now those fine young men
And all they do go through
For if one do get to pull that rose
What will all others do
I'll poke away both night and day
What e'er shall be my doom
I'll seek or find or else go blind
The Rose of Aughnabroon.

By either sun or moon
For there is only one that e'er shall pull
The Rose of Aughnabroon.I pity now those fine young men
And all they do go through
For if one do get to pull that rose
What will all others do
I'll poke away both night and day
What e'er shall be my doom
I'll seek or find or else go blind
The Rose of Aughnabroon.T

There is a lovely flower of attractive power
Within our parish grows
Many a one has taken a tour
To view that lovely rose.
It ne'er decays through Winter days
It's always found in bloom
That lovely flower of Feddans' lower
Sweet Rose of Aughnabroon.Some with their guns and silky dogs
Go hunting as it were
They search along those gloomy bogs
To hunt the sporting hare
While others dwell down at the well
On Sunday afternoon
To watch the dell of that fair belle
Sweet Rose of Aughnabroon.Some prefer the darkest night
Their sight it must be sharp
While others watch the pale moon rise
Or the rising of the lark
It's all in vain they ne'er shall gain

Toothache:-
Put a little breadsoda on affected tooth.Pain in stomach:-
Eat a raw eggshell.Consumption:-
The egg of a red hen sucked every day.Worms:-
Chew some tobacco.Ear-ache:-
Some cotton wool steeped in olive oil and put in the ear.

"The devil with the bonhams"
Said Martin of the Brake.

There is a jolly cowboy
He lives not far away
He works below in Shanakill
For one and six a day.He is a jolly fellow
A Johnny of the Rake
And everybody calls him
Martin of the Brake.Said Mr. Walsh to Martin
The day of Carrick fair
"These four and twenty bonhams
Wake up and bring them there"And in this town of Carrick
Where Martin sold the pigs
He met with Mr. Smithwig
And put him on the jigs.He drank the pints a plenty
And wobbled like a drake

Sean Fleming who was a very educated teacher taught in Rathgormack in the old school for about thirty three years. The school master that was there before him was called Danger Power. He was born in the village of Clonea opposite Flynn's public house. While he was teaching Rathgormack, he had an assistant in the top part of the school.
There are some of his old pupils around this place at present. The pupils that went to him are Ned Walsh of Park, Michael Kelly of Ballyclough, Maurice Kennedy and William Cusack of Ballindessart.
He lived in Clonea while he was teaching in Rathgormack, and every morning he used to come up in an ass and car, for the journey was very long. He lived for a few years in Kilbrack in a house near Tunney's Cross.
His son was a teacher also and he taught in Rathgormack for a few years. My father went to him for a few years long ago. He had three daughters and two of them taught in Windgap school. His wife was a teacher also and she taught some place behind the Comeragh Mountains.

John Fleming was born in the parish of Clonea in the year 1815. When he was old enough he attended a hedge school in the parish of Kill and first taught at a night school in a farmer's house in Currabaha.
Most of the old people around here were taught by him in the old school where he was a teacher from 1849 till 1882. I am not sure if there was any assistant teacher with him but there was a teacher here named Mrs. Crowe and she may have taught with him.
When he taught in the Old School he came from Clonea every morning in an ass and car till he got an old housed now inhabited by Mrs. Ormonde.

and he put it into Fionn's mouth. With a pull and a chuckle Fionn bit off his middle finger, all the strength left the giant then and with a howl and a roar he leaped for the door. Fionn jumped out of the cradle and hit him down on the head and all was left of Macallester Moore was a lump of jelly stretched on the floor.

at that and he went out and put his two hands around each gable and turned it around and left it down in the same place again. Then he came in and the woman had some griddle cakes made for the purpose and she gave the hard ones to the giant and a soft one to the child in the cradle.
The first bite the giant took he knocked out four teeth and the child ate his without any stop. Then she asked the giant could he squeeze water from a stone so he tried but he could'nt. She gave one stone to the child and she had some whey of milk between his two hands and when he pressed his two hands together the drops came out like water. "O", said the giant, "what kind of a man must this be when his son is able to eat iron cakes and squeeze water from rocks?" but before I go let me see what kind of teeth this fellow has". "O yes", said the woman, "but you must put your finger very far back in his mouth for the teeth are very far back in his head".
It was the giant's middle finger he had all the strength

Once upon a time there lived a great giant named Macallester Moore. Every day he came to the top of the valley in which Fionn Mc.Cool lived asking every one to fight him.
One day Fionn Mc.Cool told him he would fight him on a certain day. The day came and in the evening Fionn and his wife heard the giant coming and she told Fionn to get into the cradle and act as if he were a child "and I'll act in your place".
At the heel of the day there came a knock at the door and in on the floor stepped Macallester Moore. "Is it here lives the great Fionn Mc.Cool?" said the giant. "It is", said the woman, "but you'll have to wait for a while he is down at the gangway making a bridge over bridge".
"While your waiting", she said, "would you oblige me by twisting the house around three times and leave it in the same position again as Fionn does every day". The giant was greatly surprised

day is Rushy Thursday it was called that day because our Lord was going on a journey on a Thursday and there were rushes spread before him.
People say there is a cure in Spring water brought in on May Eve. If you take a spoon of it nine mornings it would keep sickness away.

It is lucky to go into a new house on Friday. People do not like to pay out money on a Monday for they would be paying it out for the week.
People do not like digging a grave on a Monday. It is unlucky to cut a person's hair on a Monday. To wash you hands in the dew of the grass any morning in the month of May it would cure wharts.
Most people would like to have their potatoes sown before the first of April and to have their cabbage sown before St. Patrick's day.
The name of a certain

use soap and water, methylated spirits is also good to rub to the feet after washing them.
Shoes are made and repaired in Ballinamult. The words the people have belonging to the work are, "teevee-een" and "barrasgian". The teevee-een is a patch put in the upper of the boot and the "barrasgian" is a patch put on the sole of the shoe. The shoemakers learned the trade from their ancestors. Shoemakers were much more plentiful long ago than now as most boots and shoes were then home made the greater part of shoes and boots are now made by machinery.
During the European war about twenty-two years ago shoes with timber soles were worn. Some people wear them yet. Leather was never made in this place.
Some people put a bag around their legs to keep them dry.

Long ago people used never wear a pair of boots until they were getting confirmed and some of them would not them until they were getting married which was generally between twenty and thirty years of age. Long ago the people when going to town used carry their boots with them in their hands and walk barefooted until they got near the town and they put them on and they used to take them off in the same place coming back. They used to do this so as not to be wearing their shoes. Most of the children of the present day go barefooted from the first of May until October. Long ago the children who used to take off their shoes in Summer used to take them off In March and leave them off until October or November.
Long ago the people used never wash their feet but now some of them wash their feet in salt and water and more of them

twine to the latch of the door.
When this was done he got an iron and put it in the fire. When the iron was red he took it out of the fire and put it beside the person's face.
Then the person would jump aside, and the tooth would fall out.
Nowadays when there are dentists there is no need to be going to the Blacksmith.

until ready made horseshoes were imported from England.
Then they lost their trade and were obliged to give up their forge and work with the farmers.
We find many old traditions, and stories connected with the blacksmith & the forge.
Outside the forge, we see a round flat stone. In the middle of this is a big hole. This stone is known as the wheel-wright, and it is used for putting bands on the wheels of carts.
First the box of the wheel is put into (a) hole in the stone; then the blacksmith brings out the red iron brand, and hammers it down on the wheel.
This work is done outdoors because if it was done inside the forge would be in danger of catching fire.
Long ago when there were no dentists in Ireland people went to the blacksmith when they wanted to get their teeth drawn.
He first tied a long twine to the person's tooth. Then he tied the other end of the

Long ago there were four or more forges in this parish. One was situated in the east at the Sweep about six miles from Waterford. In the west at Ross there was another which is still being worked.
Another was situated at Kilmeaden about 8 miles from Waterford.
One of the oldest of them all was situated in the south at Knockaderry.
All kinds of farm implements, and horse shoes were made in this forge.
During the day the blacksmith made horse-shoes, and put them on the horses. In the night-time his work was usually the making of farm implements.
At night the boys and men gathered together in the forge to discuss the news and all other important matters.
The owners of this forge were the Mackey's, and they had been blacksmiths for generations.
This forge was doing a very good trade

name given to the other players.
Then the "Fish" runs over, and back from each side of the square while the Fisherman tries to catch them as they pass.
If any of the"Fish" are caught inside the small square where the Fisherman is, they will have to help the Fisherman in catching the rest of the "Fish".
When all the fish are caught then the game is finished.
Another game which was played by every child was "Tig".
The girl on which twenty fell was first to have the "Tig".
The she hunted the girls until she tipped one of them.
Whatever part of the girl that is tipped she will have to keep her hand on her until she tips another girl.
This is a very exciting and amusing game.

A very popular game among children long ago was "Fish".
One of the players who was called the Fisherman stood in the middle of a large square. Inside the large square is made a small one.
It is in this small square that the Fisherman stands and if he goes outside it while trying to catch the "Fish" he is expelled from the game. "Fish" is the

hiding places, until they get a good opportunity of running to tip the den, or lying place, but if they are tipped by the "lying" child before they are at the den the last tipped will have to "lie".
If all the players escape to the den without being tipped the same child will have to "lie" again.
This is a very exciting game especially, especially when it is played in a farmyard as there are so many houses, and hiding places in it.

In winter time many games both indoor, and outdoor are played.
The most popular outdoor games in this district are, "Old Mother, Tig, Hunting, Skipping, Beds, Hide-and-go-Seek, and Highgates.
Hide and go Seek is very popular among the country children.
First lots are cast to find out who is to lie, and the rhyme which is usually said is -
"Each, Peach, Pear, Plum
Out goes my very best chum".
This is put around on the children and each word is said on each player.
The child on which the last word falls will have to lie.
Then she goes off, and turns her face to a wall, or ditch so that she cannot see the other players. The other players then go ahide, and after a short time the child who is "lying" goes to look for the others.
The others players remain in their

candle in her mouth, and this causes roars of laughter from her playmates.
They play another game too which is called Fortune telling.
This game is played by getting a cup of water, some clay, and a ring, then one of the children closes her eyes, and touches one of the things.
If she touches the clay she will die very soon, but if she touches the water she will go to some foreign land, and if she touches the ring she will be married.

A lot of apples are put in a basin of water, and a three penny bit is put in the bottom of the basin.
Each player tries to take the coin from the bottom of the vessel with their teeth. Whoever takes it up gets it, and all the apples too.
A lot of nuts are gathered before Halloween, and the poisonous ones are separated from the eatable ones.
Children delight in burning nuts, and they love to hear them cracking.
They roast the lady-nuts or bread nuts, and they eat them.
The other nuts which are eaten are walnuts, monkey nuts, and Brazil nuts.
Another form of Snap Apple is played by getting two pieces of wood, and putting it in the shape of a cross.
Then a candle is tied on two ends of it, and an apple on the other end.
The cross is swung around, and each child tries to snap the apple with her mouth.
Sometimes she takes a lighting

On Hallow Eve night boys dress in disguise, so that nobody could recognize them. They paint their faces, and put old torn clothes on themselves.
They go from house to house singing and dancing, and they often play some instrument.
People generally give them some money in this part of the county Waterford, but in other parts they give alms of other kinds, such as tea, sugar, and bread.
Nowadays they usually keep the money themselves, but long ago it was give to the poor people of the parish.
Indoor games are still practised on this night. Long pieces of cord are tied from the ceiling, and an apple is tied to the end of each cord.
The players snap at the apple, and try to catch them with their teeth.
If they caught one they could take it. This is called "Snap Apple".

of a cut. The juice of the Gilcock was believed good for curing pleurisy and rheumatism.
Ionán-na sceice-gile was boiled for 24 hours, and when cool it turned into jelly. If one took 2 or 3 spoonfuls of this it cured them of any pains.
The Garlic was boiled, and the juice was used to cure "black-leg" on cattle.
There is a red spot in the middle of St Patrick's leaf, and it is said that this is a drop of blood from Our Lord's heart. This leaf is a wonderful cure for a toothache, and for healing sores, but the berries which grow on it are deadly poisonous.
The juice of the Hoe-root was good to cure sprains, and the leaf itself was good to heal cuts.
The root of the buttercup was boiled and the juice was good to cure a toothache.
The léisce is a poisonous herb, and if a cow ate it she would swell, and her mild would never be of any good after.

and it healed them quickly.
The fothram was boiled, and the juice was used as a cure for sore eyes. The liquid was rubbed on the eyes with a cloth. The leaf was also damped with Easter water, and put on the forehead as a cure for a pain in the head. The "sláineas" was boiled and the juice of it was thought good for cuts.
The "cinn-sealán" was boiled, and the juice which was extracted from it was good to drink for a pain the stomach or the back.
Brown sugar was mixed with the juice, and it turned as stiff as jelly; this was believed to be as good as ointment for healing.
The Fraoc was boiled, and the juice was drunk as a cure for kidney disease. The chicken weed, was boiled, and the juice was put on a burn to cure it.
The dock leaf is good for drawing badness out of a sore, and it is also good to draw a thorn or dirt out

When turkeys were a few weeks old boiled nettles were chopped finely and put through the meal.
This made them strong, and put red heads on them.
St. Patricks leaf or by another name the "good leaf" was good to cure sores.
When one had a sore on her hand or leg the leaf was put on the sore and it healed it.
The foxglove or deadly night shade is deadly poisonous, but it is used in the making of ointment.
The juice of it was never used for drinking but it was used for a pain in the chest. The plant was boiled for an hour and the juice was mixed with linseed meal and used in poulticing.
It kept the meal warm for a long time and for this reason they used it often.
The marshmallow was regarded as a wonderful herb long ago. It was boiled and the juice was left for a few hours till it got cold, and as stiff as ointment. Then it was put on cuts, and sores

There are weeds growing which do harm to crops. The crowfoot, the fo-sesc or charlock, and the ground ivy choke the crops and prevent them from growing.
Thistles make the land poor because they take all the strengh of it, and they choke the oat crop.
The dandelion leaves were used as medicine long ago. The leaves were boiled and the juice was drunk as a cure for a sore throat. The milk of this weed was good to take away (a) warts.
The dock leaves were boiled and the juice of them was thought good to cure whooping cough.
This leaf was considered good to cure the sting of a(n) nettle.
The month of May was the month in which nettles were eaten frequently long ago. They boiled them thoroughly and they ate them as a vegetable.
They liked them every much because they purified the blood.

horses on the fair, and oftentimes they go there to buy some.
The Delaney's and the O'Conner's are the families which visit the County Waterford most frequently.
The gipsies are another class of people who travel around the country and they live in caravans.
The women sell lace, and the men sell wooden tables, and oilcloth.
They buy these articles in the shops and then they sell them at a profit.
Some of the gipsies pretend to be able to tell fortunes, and they take money for this work.
Poor people travel individually around the country often, and they usually sell small articles such as safety pins, brooches, buttons, and little ornaments.
The depend on what the people give them, and they often get a night's lodging in some farmhouse.

In Ireland families travel around the country together in caravans.
This custom of living is the same as the old Irish clan custom.
The tinkers are one class of people who live in families.
Some of these people are rich because they have army pensions, but still they beg, because it is a habit which they have.
They would take any alms which they would get, such as clothes and food such as bread, tea, sugar and eggs.
They often buy tin, and they make pints, and quarts out of it.
Some of them make straw mats which they sell.
When there is a fair in some village or town they stay in some place convenient to the fair.
Generally they sell donkeys, and

When butter was made at home long ago, the milk was skimmed with a skimmer. Then the cream was put in a wooden vessel for a few days.
When they had the quantity they required they made the butter.
The cream was put in the barrel and the barrel was kept turning by twisting the handles. About half an hour it took to make it.
A plug which was in the side of the barrel was taken out, and then the buttermilk came out, and it was kept for certain uses.
The buttermilk was thought healthy to drink, and they used it in making bread.
Cold water was put in with a funnel and the churn was twisted around, and they gave the butter three washings.
Then it was taken out and put into a tub, and salted, and washed again.

to heal cuts, and bruises.
The blood is very good for sores too, and it often heals them.
Long ago, when one had the measles, the fat of the sheep was rendered into dripping, and then drank as a cure for this ailment.
There was an old superstition that when a child was delicate she was brought to the forge, and the smith would lift the sledge over her three times.
By doing this it was believed that she would get strong and healthy.
In this parish there lives a gentleman whose name is -
Mr. R. Gamble
Cullinagh
Kilmeaden
Co. Waterford
and he is able to cure ringworm and wildfire. This cure has been in his family for generations. First he gets three little kippins, and puts them in the fire. When they are red he takes them out one by one and holds it over the ringworm, while doing this he says some words in his mind. Then when the words are said he takes up the second stick, and repeats the same words. When this is done he takes up the third stick likewise. The person who is affected must visit him three times before he is cured.

to heal cuts, and bruises.
The blood is very good for sores too, and it often heals them.
Long ago, when one had the measles, the fat of the sheep was rendered into dripping, and then drank as a cure for this ailment.
There was an old superstition that when a child was delicate she was brought to the forge, and the smith would lift the sledge over her three times.
By doing this it was believed that she would get strong and healthy.

and in the treatment of cancer.
St. John's wort is used to cure whooping cough.
The root of the marigold flowers are boiled for a couple of hours, and drunk for to cure fever because it promotes the perspiration, and the fever.
In May most people had the custom of boiling nettles, and eating them; they purify the blood, and also cure nettle rash.
It was believed to be a good tonic as well.
The red flowers called "poppies" were boiled, and the steam inhaled as a cure for toothaches, and neuralgia.
The plant called "coltsfoot" was boiled, and left on a plate, and lighted, and the smoke would have a wonderful effect on a sorethroat.
The goose grease is very good for stiff veins, when it is rubbed on the veins it loosens them. It is also good

There is a plant which is called the "dull brat" and it has leaves like that of the Rhubarb; it is said that when it is boiled it is used as a cure for pleurisy.
A plant too called spunk was used for sore throat.
The Duscaillín weed is used as ointment for a burn.
"Robin run the hedge", and Hore root are also used as ointment for burns. The dandelion is a popular herb.
Long ago, it was boiled, and the juice was drunk as a cure for kidney and liver complaints, and the milk too, which the stem contains is very good to cut away warts.
The marshmallow root was boiled, and the juice was mixed with linseed meal, and used as a poultice.
The clover is used for coughs

fair and they were hired as servants for the coming year.
This hiring fair lasted for some years, but it was done away with owing to drink, about the year 1900.
The servants used to get holidays on the 1st May, when they were paid off, until the 12th May, and during this time they spent their time drinking, and merrymaking.
However the Bishop of Waterford put a stop to the hiring fair, altogether, but it is still held as an ordinary fair.

The important fairs in this county were held in Waterford, Portlaw, Dungarvan, and Kilmacthomas.
Of these Portlaw is the one that has been discontinued.
An old fair is still held in Waterford on the 4th May. This used to be a bull-fair, when there were no bull shows.
Another of the old fairs is the "onion fair", which is held on the 25th Oct.
The farmers used to bring onions to the fair to sell them but this was discontinued some years ago.
The Kilmacthomas fair is held on the last Tuesday of every month.
This fair is noted at this time of year for sheep, because it is a little village at the foot of the mountain.
Another fair which was called a hiring fair was held in Kilmacthomas on the 12th May.
Boys, and girls used to be at this

I noticed in my district that no marriages take place during Lent and Advent. They usually take place during Shrove that is from the twelfth of January to Shrove Tuesday. It is said that May is an unlucky month for marriage. There is a rhyme about marriage here it is
Monday for health
Tuesday for wealth

years ago. Some years ago strawboys were very popular here. Crowds of young men used to dress themselves in a very funny way and visit houses where weddings were taking place. These crowds were known as strawboys. They would enter a house and dance and sing and make all sorts of jokes to the great amusements of the company. The people used to give stock and goods to whoever would be getting married instead of money because money was not plentiful at that time.

The marriages take place from Ash Wednesday until Christmas. No one could get married during Lent. Matches are not made in my district. Money is not always given to the Bride. My grandmother told me that they used to get married in the houses about seventy

place in my district in May because the people say it is an unlucky month. On Shrove Tuesday most marriages take place in my district because it is the last day of the marriage season. The making of matches is not very common in my district. Money is more commonly given than stock and goods to the bride by her father as a fortune in my district. Some old people remember marriages to take place in the houses but it was over seventy years ago. A wedding breakfast is held on the wedding day usually in the bride's house but sometimes in a hotel. On the wedding night an allnight dance is held.

Marriages most commonly take place in my district during Shrove which is from the sixth of January to Ash Wednesday. There is a rhyme made about the days of the week for marriages.
Monday for health
Tuesday for wealth
Wednesday the best day of all
Thursday for losses
Friday for crosses
Saturday the worst of all.
Most marriages take place on Wednesdays because it is a lucky day. I notice that marriages do not take

church on horse back but come in a motor instead. I was once at a wedding which was held in Carriganure. The married pair went to Mount Melleray for their wedding breakfast. There was a fiddle and a melodion played there that night. There was people singing there during the night.

for that day. The friends of the married pair tie old shoes to the back of the motor that they go in. They also play some music on the way going and coming home as well. When they come home that night they have an all night dance. Strawboys do not come because the custom was done away with. People used to get married in the houses long ago but they do not now. Strawboys used to dress in women's clothes and they used to blacken their faces with soot or polish and they used to come to the wedding to make great fun there. There is a rhyme about marriage which is supposed to tell the lucky and unlucky days to get married in here it is
Monday for health
Tuesday for wealth
Wednesday the best day of all
Thursday for losses
Friday for crosses
Saturday no day at all
People do not as far as I know challenge each other to race on horse back coming from weddings. Husband and wife do not come home from the

Marriage is most commonly celebrated during Shrove. On Shrove Tuesday lots of marriages are celebrated. The father of the bride do not give any stock but gives money instead. Some of the people go to Mount Melleray

people do not remember marriages in their own house. The people tie a shoe on the back of the motor car before going to the chapel. When the people get married they come home for breakfast and then they go off on their honeymoon. They stay away about a month. When they come home they usually have a nights dance. They have melodions and fiddles at the dance. All their friends and neighbours and a lot of other people are at the dance. Their friends play fiddle and the melodion. During the night some of them would sing a song.

are Ban Acrinn Bán Ard the billeans Bána billere Pairc na Muca Bán na gCapaill. The reason why "Bán Acrinn" is so called is because a lot of trees grew there long ago. The reason why Bán Ard is so called is because it is on the top of a hill. There was a church in the billeans long ago and that is the reason it is called the billeans. Bán billere is called the quarry field because there are two holes in the field and the old people said that they used to get stones there long ago. Pairc na muca is called the three corner field because there were pigs reared there long ago. The reason Ban na gCapaill is so called is because there were horses kept there long ago. There was a hole in Mrs Power's farm called Poll na Muca a priest used to say Mass there every Sunday. One Sunday the priest was saying Mass there the soldiers came and they killed a pedlar instead of a priest. There is a rock in Mr Cheasty farm Knockaderry Co

There are many names on fields in my district. The names of the fields

Pairc Mór. I heard from that farmer himself that it is called Pairc Mór because of a number of cows that were killed in it. I heard of another that is called Paddy Dunn's field which is in Michael Murphy's farm about two miles from my house. It got its name from a man of that who used to live there. There was a priest found saying mass in Poll Na Mona and his head was cut off and it rolled around three times. There is a tree in Mrs Whelan's farm of Kildarmody and a priest used to say Mass there every Sunday and since then it is called the Mass Tree. Priests used to say Mass in Lahardan in Penal Days. There were seven men hanged on Foleys farm of Ballyduff. The tree on which they were hanged is called the hangman's tree.

There are many names of places in this parish. There is a field in John Walsh's farm which it is called the Liss Field. My father told me that there were three small men seen there one night. There is also a field in Michael O Regans farm and it is called

and litter and they never went near it since. There is a rock in Tom Sullivans farm called Carraig A Madra. The reason this rock is called this name is because a wolf lived there long ago. There is a field on Mrs Phelan's farm of Kildarmody and in that field there was a church. In that church there was Mass said in the Penal Times. There is a bush called the Mass Bush in a field near the Master's house and Mass was said under this bush in years gone by.

There are many special names in this parish connected with ancient times. There is a farmer living not far from me and there is a field in his farm the name of which is the Poney's Field. The reason it is called the Poney's Field is because there were a lot of ponies reared there long ago. There is a man by the name of Michael Carroll and in his land there is a big stone. Mass was said on this stone in years gone by. There is a lios in Tom Stephenson's farm. This man lives in Kilmagemogue. In this lios there is supposed to be money and people went looking for the money in the night but when they went there they were hunted by a sow

Whelan's Bridge called the Cows Rock. This rock got its name because a cow was there long ago who would give milk to any-body.

name because there is a spa well there. There are a couple of fields in Cullinagh owned by Mr. Connolly namely the Tip, Sparry Annco Queen Ann, and the Innch. I could not find out how the Tip, Sparry Annco and the Queen Ann got their names but I found out how the Innch got its name. It is because there is a river at each side of it. There is a field opposite the Kilmeaden Creamery called the Big Field this field got its name from the fact that it is twenty acres in extent. There is a stream running from the Spa called the Spa Stream. There is also in Oldcourt a stream called the Giants Stream I could not find out how that stream got its name. In the land of Mr. Stephenson of Kilmeaden there is running through a wood a stream called Tóbar a Caoch. There is a bush near Ballyduff school at the master's house under which Mass was said long ago in the Penal times. There is a rock in the land of Michael Hickey of

There are three graveyards in this parish:- Knockeen, Lisnakil, and Butlerstown. Butlerstown is the only one that is in use at present. The churches at Knockeen and Lisnakil, are in ruins and there are graves inside them. Sometimes a funeral goes to Lisnakil. There is a Cromlech in the graveyard at Knockeen. it is very old there are stones dating back to the seventeenth century in it. There are trees growing in both graveyards. There are shrubs growing around some of the graves. There is a strangers' plot inside the gates of most graveyards for people who die in the parish and are not belonging to it.

and when they would come in they dash against the rocks and be wrecked to pieces.

Long ago there was a man coming home from work one night and he met the Leipreacáin and all the fairies. They asked him to hurl with him, and he did. When he had hurled with them they beat him, and he was sick for weeks. When he got alright he went off to work again and he met him again. He was very strong man and he caught the Leipreacáin. When he caught him he told him he would give him the pot of gold if he looked behind him. He looked behind him and when he looked again the Leipreacáin was gone. He is a very clever fellow. He is a little man, with a red cap and a yellow coat on him.
A Gormúdhach is supposed to be seen in the back strand in Tramore. He had a little house with a bright light where ships come in,

very miserable. He took refuge in a chimney. There was great many people gathered around the fire telling stories. A man was just finishing a story when the hawk came. When he had finished, he asked for the price of his story. Immediately all the people said, "God be merciful to your seven generations." So the next day when the man asked for the price of his story the boy said, "God be merciful to your seven generations." "Well," said the man, "if you did not know it today you would be a hawk forever." So he changed the boy back into his human form.

Once Upon a time there lived a little boy who was very inquisitive. One day he met an old man, and he asked him if he had heard any strange news. "Well," said the man, "If you will come along the road with me I have a very strange story to tell you." Of course the boy went immediately. When the man had finished the story he said "Now give me the price of my story." The boy did not know what to give, so the man changed him into a hawk for a year and a day. When the time was up, the man came and asked him for the price of his story. The boy did not yet know what to give him. So he was changed into a hawk for another year and a day. The same thing happened at the end of the second year. The third year was nearly over. The last day was raining there was a great gale blowing. So the poor hawk was

vants. In Ballybricken all the animals were sold together.

Long ago the fairs were held on the fair-green of Ballybricken. The buyers always went around from house to house. When the people were going in to the fair long ago, they had to pay a half-penny for themselves, and a penny for every beast they had. But if they had twenty beasts they got them in for one shilling and sixpence. Before the fair the buyers went around, and if they wanted any beasts, they went to the man who had them, and paid him one shilling eirnist money. Then the man could not sell the beasts to anyone else. Afterwards the buyer paid the man the rest of the money. When a man was selling a cow he gave away the halter to the buyer. The Ballybricken fair was always held on the first Monday of the month. The hiring fair in May was used for hiring ser-

barley bread, pea bread, and potato bread. The woman of the house made it. The farmers sometimes had tea. In a good house the servant girl got tea when the master and mistress had finished their breakfast.

The old people always had three meals, breakfast, dinner, and supper. While the potatoes lasted they had them for every meal with milk. When the potatoes were gone, they had three meals of yellow-meal stirabout. They had meat once a year, when the cows calved. They then ate the little calf. In the Summer the men worked before their breakfast, but in the winter they did not. They got up when the cock crew, as they had no watches or clocks. The tables used then were called hanging tables. Two legs were stuck in the ground, near the wall, with an iron bar between them. The table was on hinges on this iron bar. When not in use the table was put up against the wall. The bread used was yellow-meal bread,

when Latouche came along, to see how the work was getting on. The agent asked some of the farmers what they would do to a man who would steal a cow, and a man who would steal a horse. They said they would put him to gaol. He then asked them what he would do to a man who would steal his daughter. They said nothing. "Well" said the agent. "I would bury him in that drain." At this the young man jumped up and caught the agent by the neck. "There's not a man from here to where you came from would do that to me. So in you go yourself" he said. He would have thrown in the agent only the farmer came to his rescue. From that day out the agent was afraid of the poor boy and a few days after he gave him a present of fifty acres.

The landlord who owned the district of Kilronan was named Mr. Pigeon, and the landlords who owned the district of Ballycashin was named Mr. Lane-Fox. The usual price of the land was thirty shillings or £1 an acre every year. Then if a man wanted more land, he went to the agent and said he would give five shillings more than his neighbour, and a fat goose every Christmas for every acre of his neighbour's land. So the poor neighbour was evicted, and the other man got the land. Mr. Lane-Foxe's agent was Mr. Latouche. He was a very cruel man. The people had to dig drains to drain all the water into the Kilbarry Bogs. There was a poor man named Power, who had married a farmer's daughter. He was digging drains one day

They scooped out a potatoe and boiled it to make starch. They mixed potatoes with flour to make bread.

Every Spring the farmer sets the potatoes. He harrows, grubs and makes drills. Long ago the farmer made ridges. He made them with a spade, but now he make them with an iron plough. My great-grand-father used a wooden plough. The potatoes are cut in to what are called sciolána. In each sciolán there must be at least one eye. They put manure on the land either lime, farm yard manure or super-phosphate. They spray the potatoes to keep away the blight. Long ago potatoes were dug with a spade, but now they are dug by a plough. They are stored in pits or houses. When in a house they must be turned every month. The potatoes now are:- May Queens, British Queens, Irish Queens, Champions and Kerr Pinks. Long ago Black Bulls, White Rocks, Ashleaves, Skerry Blues, Pinks, Scotch-Downs and Flanders.

There are Cross roads at the Head-off Tramore road, Butlerstown Cross and the Hall's road.

There are many roads in this parish. Barron's road was called after the Barron's who resided on it. The Castle road is so called from Butlerstown Castle. There is a tarred road, called the Cork road, and another, called the Tramore road.
The Knockeen road, Ballycashin road Green road, Hall's road the old Cork road behind Hearn's of Killottern Grassy road and Killronan road are names of others. Barron's road and the Tramore road lead us to town or Tramore. All those roads are still in use. Pierry Walshe's lane was made by King James. There is a Mass path going from the back of Joe Power's house to the Holy Cross. There is another going through the lios. There is an át near Hayes's house, in Whitfield. There is a road crossing it. It gave water to the people around.

side. They died both of hunger and cholera. They ate grass, and many of them were found dead with it in their mouths.

Long ago there was a big famine over all Ireland. It affected this parish badly, as the potato was its chief food. There were twice as many people in this parish then, as there are now.
In 1846 there was such an amount of potatoes in the land that the people threw them by the wayside to rot, and kicked them along before them. The next year 1847 the blackness came on them. The seeds were Black Bull, White Rocks, Ashleaves, Skerry-Blue, Scotch-Downs and Early Pinks. Once the potatoes blackened the people had scarcely any food. Queen Victoria gave them £5. If they gave up their religion. They got a bowl of soup every day from the soupers. The people died thousands by the way-

across the yard. Before his eyes, the bottom fell out of it and the milk went around.
The time the Danes were in Ireland they made lioses. They were big forts in which they burned fires when invaders were coming. This was to give a signal to Danes in other forts. There was a lios in Ballyscanlan, which my grand-father ploughed. He then set potatoes in it, but very little grew.

There is a lios in Hally's bog. It is called Raher's lios. It is situated in Kilronan. There are two lioses in Widger's fields, one in the big field below Sugar Loaf Hill, and another opposite Power's gate. The lios in the bog and the one opposite Power's gate are of round shape. The lios in the big field is ploughed now, but it was a three cornered shaped one. There is a clay band round Hally's lios. There is no hole in the middle.
There is another lios in Castletown. One morning the owner of it, Mr Shanahan went out to the field near the lios to bring home the cows. He heard a child crying in the lios. He drew nearer and heard the mother saying "Hush, Hush by Leanbhín, Shanahan's cows will be milked soon." Mr Shanahan went home, and when he had the cows milked, he told the milk-maids to carry the tub of milk

as that they beg. First they want bread, then milk, a match, sugar, and a copper.

From time to time certain men and women come to our door begging alms and selling articles. Very often the same people come to us, such as, Doughlas Carthy, Dotto, The Missioner, The Pedlar, Limerick Bill, Long leg, Short leg, and the Gipsy. Dotto sells books and the Pedlar gathers rags, bones, and old bottles. Doughlas does a day's work here and there and when pay-time comes he often asks for a piece of tobacco. Dotto never does a day's work, but goes in to houses looking for tea. The Missioner is very religous, and when he comes to the door, he tells us about the sermons the priests preaches each Sunday. Limerick Bill is supposed to have money. They say prayers when they get anything such as, "May you never be in want", "May God and Mary bless you.
The Delaneys are tinkers. They make mats and sell them. As well

Long ago the little girls used make their own rag-dolls and their clothes. In the Summer they made daisy-chains. They played skipping, knucks, swinging, thread-the-needle, weigh-the-buckety, rounders, cabbies, tig, high-gates and see-saw. The boys used play the different games of ball, marbles, tug-o'-war, snaring rabbits with snares, leap-frog, climbing trees, hand-ball, sack-racing, doing cat's turn, duck, cat, and chinas. Some bad boys used rob birds' nests. In Winter they had their favourite games of hurling and football. Both boys and girls used play battle-door or shuttle-cock, with a bat and a cork. When the long nights came they had other games such as rabbits and marbles and they make boats, boxes, hats, fans, and flowers. All these were great Irish games, and are being carried on till this day. They had no bought-made toys as we have now.

are the names of the knocks. There are two rocks in this parish Sugar Loaf Hill and Gahan's rocks. Some roads have got names from people who lived on them, such as Barrons' road, Cummins's cross, Jordons hill and Hartrys' lane.

There are some fields around this parish known to all the people by nicknames. There is a field in Ballycashin belonging to Mrs Carroll called Siobháneen's field, and two fields in Butlerstown, the property of David O'Keeffe Kilronan, called the Church field, and the Glebe field. The Church field is so called, as years ago the monks of St Ronan had a monastery there. In the Penal Days the best of all the farmers' lands were taken from them, and given to the English settlers. Since then those fields are called Glebe fields. Lough Bawn is a field belonging to Widgers Knockeen. This receives its name from a big pond of water, which was in it years gone by.
Ác-a-wada, Lisnakill, The Thóchar Butlerstown, and the Ách Whitfield are the names of the streams. Kilronan knock, Carraigean a gun, Carraigh Cataill, Carraig-a-cáta Pembrokestown, Carraig bhao Ballinaclough and Cnoicín in Knockeen

he reached his home and although suffering, he started on the washing - shirts and socks and towels and the like - which he was destined never to finish. When about half-way through with his work he became violently ill and had to stop. He went and threw himself upon his bed and lay there for some time moaning with pain. There was no help near at hand for this old man lived all alone in the quarry house. After some hours when the cows in the neighbouring farm were milked and the workmen were returning to their homes, they heard the moaning as of someone suffering. They went in and found the poor man lying on his bed and he very ill. He told them his story of his visit to the well for water to do some washing as the day was so fine. Of course they knew then that this sudden illness and lameness was a "leidín" or terrible visitation or punishment inflicted on him for his sacreligious use of the sacred waters. Next day he was taken to hospital where he was attended to, but all the care and skill of the doctors was of no avail. He lived in great pain for some days and finally passed away; his next visit to Stradbally took place when the little funeral passed through the Square on its way to the graveyard; and the people whispered of the bad luck that comes to those who respect not the Holy Wells.

situated, not impressed with the sacredness of the well or its traditions, saw close to Tobar Cill Fiadh, near the shore of the well a large flat stone which suited his purpose. Without hesitation he removed the stone and had it placed elsewhere as he needed it. No sooner had he done so, however, than he was stricken with a very sore hand for which no cure could be found and which grew steadily worse and worse as time went on. The disease of the hand spread until finally the soreness reached the spine; the poor fellow's sufferings were acute and in great agony he finally passed away.
Yet another instance of the misfortune that befell those who failed to treat these Holy Wells with proper respect occurs in the following story:-
A poor simple man lived in the quarry house and as there was no water, except the well, available nearer than the village of Stradbally, and as this was a considerable journey for an old man, because it entailed carrying the buckets up-hill for over a quarter of a mile, the poor man took his buckets and made for Tobar Cill Aodha. He required the water to do some washing, He got the water and turned homewards. As he wended his way slowly along he found himself becoming lame. He rested for a while and started off again; he found himself much worse; a severe pain attacked him and his lameness increased. At length

Close to the village of Stradbally there is a well whose waters have for generations been believed to have miraculous curative properties for almost all diseases but particularly for diseases of the stomach such as vomiting. Strange to say nobody ever faced this well for water for household purposes. But numerous indeed were those who visited this holy well to drink of its waters and they never failed to leave some small gift or token in return for the water they had drunk or were bringing away with them. For miles around the inhabitants of this district firmly believed that three mouthfuls of the water of Tobar Cill Fiadh could cure them of any complaint; they had much more faith in the water of this well than they had in doctors' medicines. The people who now throng to a dispensary if they lived in those days would have gone to the well instead. So great was the respect that old and young had for these waters that not even the youngest child would touch a button or a ribbon that had been placed there. The well was as sacred to them as the Church of God.
Time passed on and visits to the holy well continued and many were the cures that were worked there. A few people, however, ridiculed the traditions and laughed with incredulity at the "simplicity" as they called it of the inhabitants. We come to later times. A recent owner of the field in which the well is

About sixty years ago or more my grandfather was returning from Dungarvan along the road that leads from Dungarvan to Sceacha Cruinn. As he was passing the Catholic graveyard on the sea side of the road and before he reached the ruins of Dún na Mainstreach, he became aware of the presence of some person close by him. He heard the breathing and could distinctly hear the footsteps of this strange companion who preferred to remain invisible. The moon shone clearly on the sea and on the sand and made the night as bright as day. He hastened his footsteps towards his home, and getting afraid, he thought he would allow the stranger to pass. So he stood into a doorway about a hundred yards from his home; he was so weak from fright that he could scarcely go a step further. But when he halted the ghostly presence halted too and in a moment my grandfather could feel him at his right-hand side. In mortal terror my grandfather summoned up all his strength and made a desperate rush for his own door, but there was no escaping his ghostly visitor. With shaking hand he grasped the latch and pushed open the door. Then, still trembling violently, and with cold sweat bursting from every pore, he attempted to close the door, but some unseen force seemed to prevent him. Exerting all his remaining strength, he gave one more strong push and this time he succeeded.

About sixty years ago or more my grandfather was returning from Dungarvan along the road that leads from Dungarvan to Sceacha Cruinn. As he was passing the Catholic graveyard on the sea side of the road and before he reached the ruins of Dún na Mainstreach, he became aware of the presence of some person close by him. He heard the breathing and could distinctly hear the footsteps of this strange companion who preferred to remain invisible. The moon shone clearly on the sea and on the sand and made the night as bright as day. He hastened his footsteps towards his home, and getting afraid, he thought he would allow the stranger to pass. So he stood into a doorway about a hundred yards from his home; he was so weak from fright that he could scarcely go a step further. But when he halted the ghostly presence halted too and in a moment my grandfather could feel him at his right-hand side. In mortal terror my grandfather summoned up all his strength and made a desperate rush for his own door, but there was no escaping his ghostly visitor. With shaking hand he grasped the latch and pushed open the door. Then, still trembling violently, and with cold sweat bursting from every pore, he attempted to close the door, but some unseen force seemed to prevent him. Exerting all his remaining strength, he gave one more strong push and this time he succeeded

Long ago there lived a man who caught two fishes alive and reared them as two great pets. He built for them a tank, and each day he came with food for his pets. One day as he was going on a long journey he ordered his wife to feed the fishes at a certain time and for her life, not to neglect them. His wife was a very jealous woman and did not wish her husband to have his pets. When he had departed his wife went to the tank and killed the fishes, which made for her a beautiful dinner. Just as she was finishing the the meal her husband arrived. She became terrified as she had no place near enough to hide the bones of the fishes, so she hid them up under her hair. Her husband never noticed her but went in all haste to the tank to see the fishes. He called them but not a trace of his pets could be seen. He ran in all haste to tell the tale to his wife. While he was relating it to her he noticed one little bone of the fish which she had not properly hidden. He then guessed how matters were and in a rage he drowned his wife in the tank. Afterwards it was said that her ghost was often times seen standing by the tank.

Through the mist a man was driving, unable to see more than a yard or two ahead when suddenly his car broke down and refused to move.
On each side of him the road stretched lonely and vague, but every now and then a car crept along the road, and he had hopes of stopping one for assistance. The cars appeared like ghostly shapes but not one car stopped.
Another car approached slowly and paused beside the motorist. He was delighted and opened the door and climbed into the spare front seat. Then the car moved slowly on. He then turned to thank the driver but the driver's seat was empty. The man was paralysed with fear. He could neither speak nor lift a limb.
Then a hand came groping through the window. It grasped the wheel. The car started to bump over the rough road. For a moment it rocked perilously from side to side and then stopped. The passenger immediately jumped out and ran away when the calling of a human voice stopped him.
"Hi you! What on earth do you think you are doing? Do you mean to say you stole a ride and sat inside while I've been shoving from behind. You have a bit of a nerve haven't you?"

all went like the wind over marshes and bogs and hills and glens for miles and miles. But what was their mission or what he saw on those nightly rides the man could not remember or if he did he never spoke of it. "That is three years ago," said he, "that I first started on my midnight ride on that white horse, and I have been going hard every night since." Then he said to his sister, "If your attempt to save me to-night had failed you could never make another attempt and no one at all could save me; if I had ridden to night I should ride for ever."
In this way the three poor people talked for hours and a great happiness in their hearts at the way everything had turned out. They were so happy and excited that they never even thought of sleep and so the night passed away and morning dawned. When the first glimpse of daylight appeared they all three went down on their knees to thank the Almighty Providence for all his mercies and then they began to think of the duties of this new day. That day passed and so did another and another but nothing strange or disturbing occurred and so the two brothers and their sister lived many years, once more contented and happy, in their little home and so ends the story of The Búisín Beacht.

the latch and he looked around him in a dazed way, then he fell unconscious on the floor. He was put to bed where after a while he seemed to be sleeping peacefully. After some hours he woke and began to chat with his relatives quite naturally. After a little while they began to talk of the events of the night. The sister mentioned the when the younger brother had his hand upon the latch of the door, about to go out and the door partly open and she herself with the bottle in her hand she saw a white horse dash away from the door riderless and that he went with great speed in a westerly direction towards Rathenscolloge. The young brother then gave them some account of what had happened to himself. It was one night that he went up the hills to see if his sheep were all right. The night was cold but the moon was shining and it was almost as bright as day. All at once a great heat came over him and he got so tired that he sat upon a rock and after a while he fell asleep. He was awakened by a horse walking around him. It was a white horse and there was a saddle upon its back. The horse came close up to where he sat upon the rock and something seemed to tell the young man to mount upon his back. He did so and immediately numbers of horses appeared on every side with riders upon their backs and they

sister and told her to put a little of it into a glass of water and to get her brother to drink it, but at the cost of her life not to mention a word about their visit to the wise man nor about the bottle. At midnight when the young man would attempt to leave the house she was to sprinkle the contents of the bottle over him and call his name three times.
"At that moment," said the wise man, "the white horse will be waiting for him, your brother will attempt to go but your third call will be more powerful than "they" are; your brother will struggle hard, and he will be very angry, but do not mind, for he will be saved."
When midnight came the sound of hooves was heard and everything happened as before. The sister, remembering the words of the wise man, said to her brother the she would go and open the door. But he caught hold of her, crying out that if she went outside that door she would not live. Then she said "if you take that glass of water there I will not open it." So to please her the brother took the glass of water and drank it and was going towards the door when she called his name. He stopped then put his hands on the latch when she called him again. He turned and looked at her, a look she never forgot. He was just about to open the door and go out when she took courage, and, drawing out the bottle, she sprinkled the contents upon him calling him out very loud for the third time. His hand fell from

lies on the ground at your feet and keep it safely." The young man did so then the crow went on, "You may continue your journey without fear, for though many trials await you, the sound of that whistle will always call us to your aid." Feeling much heartened by these words, the young man started off once more and at length reached the borders of a wood and being exhausted, he flung himself down in the shade of a tree to rest and was soon fast asleep. When he awoke he found an aged and withered man seated beside him. The stranger spoke, "This mission you are on is a dangerous one but you will succeed. You seek your brothers who have travelled this way before you." The youngest son became very much alarmed on hearing these words and earnestly begged for tidings of his brothers from the stranger. The old man told him of the fate that had befallen them. "They have been set to do impossible tasks by the inhuman monster that inhabits yonder castle," said he, "and when they failed he punished them horribly for he has turned them into two pillars of stone and there they stand to this very day." "The tyrant will set you those tasks, too, but where your brothers have failed you will succeed for you have made friends who will stand by you, if their help will not be sufficient I will be with you if you cry "Come to my aid old man of the woods". And now if you are sufficiently rested hasten on your way towards yonder castle where the tasks await you." So saying the stranger disappeared and the young man hastened joyfully on his way

Meanwhile in the house of the sick man the two brothers watched and prayed for the return of the eldest son but all in vain. At length they gave up hope of ever seeing him again and so the second son sallied forth in search of the apple from Gáirdín na Ríoghachta and the father still lingered on. When time passed and he did not return the youngest son asked his father's permission to go out into the world. With a sad heart and very reluctantly the father at length yielded to his pleadings and allowed him to depart, wishing him God speed on his journey. So the youngest son started out on his search and journeyed all day and when evening came he sat by the bank of a stream, opened his pack and began to eat. No sooner had he done so than the crow flew down beside him; next moment the poor, half-famished-looking dog appeared and immediately after the little robin perched fearlessly upon his knee. Now this youngest son of the sick man possessed a very kind heart, and so, unlike his brothers, who selfishly ate their food and threw no morsel to the hungry creatures that waited for it, he shared his lunch with the crow and the dog and the robin. Then he refreshed himself with a long draught at the stream and was about to resume his journey with a light heart when he stopped and turned round on hearing a voice. What was his astonishment to find that it was one of his newly-found friends that had spoken. "Young man," said the crow, "you have a kind and generous heart and so you shall not go without your reward. Pick up that little whistle that

and continued his journey. When night fell he threw himself down in a sheltered spot and slept soundly till morning broke when he started on his way once more. Day followed day in this manner but though the young man had travelled many miles, nowhere did he get a glimpse of the wonderful garden in which grew the wonderful healing apples. But he had not yet lost heart; he tried to get work as his little store of food had given out. In this he was successful; away in the distance he saw a big house with many outside buildings like a very large farm place. He made his way to it and asked the master if he would give him employment. The master consented, telling him that he could rest that night and that he would be given certain tasks on the morrow. When morning dawned the master roused the young man and having allowed him to take some food, he told him of the work which he required him to do. There were three tasks. If he succeeded in the three he was to be given a rich reward, but if he failed he would meet with some terrible punishment. The first task set him was the cleaning out of some stables and to do this he was only given one hour. He began at once and worked with all his might but made no progress, for, as fast as he threw out each forkful, three forkfuls were hurled in by some and unseen. When the master came along at the end of the hour he flew into a frightful rage and turned the young man into a pillar of stone. Then the master laughed a horrible laugh and returned into his house gloating with satisfaction.

to health and strength is an apple from Gáirdín na Ríoghachta. The young men were glad and there and then they made a firm resolve that, cost what it might in toil and hardship, this wonderful fruit should be procured. They sat long into the night consulting as to what course to pursue, and finally decided that the eldest son should go forth at dawn on his perilous journey, but that if he did not return within a stated time, the second brother should set out after him, and if they did not return the youngest should then try his luck. At break of day the eldest son, carrying a little stock of provisions, bade his father and brothers a fond farewell, and, vowing that he would not return without the object of his search, set out upon his journey. By evening he was many, many miles from home and he was footsore and weary; he seated himself by the bank of a stream, and, opening his pack, he began to eat. At that moment a bird resembling a large crow flew down from a tree and perched beside him as if he wanted part of the food. Next moment there appeared, though the young man had not seen him coming, a lean and hungry-looking dog which whined and looked pitifully up into the young man's face as if begging for a crust. Then a little robin hopped fearlessly upon the wanderer's knee expecting a few crumbs. But the young man took no notice of the poor creatures; he went on contentedly with his meal and threw neither crust not crumb to bird or beast. Having finished his meal, he took a long drink at the stream

There once lived a man and his three sons. Day in and day out they worked diligently on their farm and were contented and happy. Years passed by and at length the old man fell ill. He took to his bed and slowly but surely he began to fade away. His sons became very uneasy; they tried many and various cures but all were of no avail. There dwelt in the valley a few miles distant an aged and venerable man who had a wonderful knowledge of plants and herbs and of how they were to be used in case of sickness. When their father showed no signs of improvement the three sons set out one night to the little hut in the lonely valley to consult the wise man. When the wise man saw them approaching his dwelling he knew for what purpose they had come and when they drew near he called out to them, "My friends, you wish to know what will cure your father, hasten home and he, himself, will tell you what you wish to know." They turned and hurried homeward fearful that they should find their father dead on their arrival. To their joy, however, they found him no worse than when they had left him. He welcomed them joyfully and they gave him an account of their visit to the valley and they repeated the words of the wise man. "My sons," answered the sick man, "the wise man of the valley spoke truly, I know what it is that will cure me but I have not told you of it because I can scarcely hope that you will be able to procure it for me; the only thing that will bring me back

Once upon a time a man got a loan of a haf-crown from his neighbour but never repaid it, for he died soon after. Every night when the man who lent the money used to pass by the graveyard where his friend was buried he used to call out, "Give me the half-crown you owe me." One night a man heard him calling out and decided to dress himself in white and bring half-crown with him to the graveyard, to frighten the man. Next night as the man was passing the graveyard he called out, "Give me the half-crown you owe me." Here it is" said the man in the graveyard, and ran out to the gate. No sooner did the other man see him than he ran as quickly as he could home. He never called out when passing the graveyard again. The man who played the trick got a broken leg and, soon after died. It is said that if anyone imitates a ghost or banshee some calamity is sure to befall him.

cock-crow. This man disregarded the warning or else he did not know the significance of it and so he met his death.

Once upon a time where was a certain man and he was the owner of a threshing machine. It was a custom at that time to have a cock over the door. One morning this man was going out very early. He was going out the door the cock flew down in front of him and began to crow. The man took no notice of him but went away. An hour afterwards the engine rolled over him and he was killed. It is said that it is not right to go our until after

One night a few men were assembled together in a certain neighbour's house. Each one of them told of his adventures with ghosts and evil spirits and said that nothing had ever happened to him. There was a certain man in the assembly who said that he would give any reward to the person who would nail the door of a house near by which was supposed to be haunted. One of the men who had boasted about their bravery said he would undertake the work if he should be well rewarded. The man promised he would give him any reward he should demand if he succeeded in nailing the door. Next night the man appointed proceeded towards the haunted building, armed with nails and a hammer. When he reached it he began to nail the door, but the end of his coat caught in the door and held him tightly. He never suspected what had happened, and when he was about to start for home he found he could not move. The man became terrified, thinking it was the ghost who had caught him fell in a dead faint and was found unconscious in the morning.

Many years ago there lived a woman all alone. All her relations had died some time previously so she felt very lonesome with nobody to talk to. One day she went to the city to buy provisions. It was a very long journey so it was well after nightfall when she neared her destination. She saw a light and heard great noise as of people talking. As she drew near, all the lights vanished, and not a sound could be heard in the vicinity. As she was going in the door a ghost clad in white garments passed her out. The woman became terrified, so she ran to a neighbour's house and asked leave to sleep there for that night.

beings with whom he had been merrymaking.

There was a certain man coming home from a distant neighbour's house. On his journey homewards he had to pass by a certain liss. As he approached it he saw a beautiful castle in front of him. He became astonished at this strange sight and drew near to survey the building. As he did so he heard singing and dancing inside. At last he found courage to enter where he got a royal welcome. He enjoyed himself during the night, dancing and singing and feasting. At last he fell into a deep sleep and when he woke in the morning, he was lying on a fence nearby. It was only then that he realised that it was no human

One night two fairies came in to an old man and told him that there was money buried in an old ruin near by. The old man set off, and walked until he came to the ruin. He found a book, from which he read, there is money buried here, but anyone that looks for it, will die of exhaustion, for he can eat no food. The old man said, "This can't be true. He dug a deep hole until he found a box. He ran home, for he had found the money. Next morning he was getting his breakfast. All the bread turned into water, so he had no food. Three weeks after he died of starvation, so the money was of no use to him. What was written in the book was true.

One night a man was coming home from a neighbours house. He went through a lios to make a shortcut but suddenly he saw a host of people dancing about the fort. He followed them around for about two hours but still he couldn't find a way out. At length he threw himself against the ditch from sheer exhaustion. Suddenly a girl in a blue dress stood beside him. She asked him if he would like to go home. He was so speechless with fright so he could only nod. She led him to a gap which he could not see before and he went safely home.

bread. When the man returned and heard the story he was very vexed. He followed the men with a wand and changed them into three big rocks and three little rocks. The rocks remain there to this day.

There was once a man who said that nobody ever left or would leave his house without food or drink. One day he was away from home and three strangers with three dogs came to the house. His wife gave them some drink but she had no food in the house. She told them to wait while she was baking some bread and they did. The three men did not like the appearance of the woman as she was very untidy and they would not eat the

there shaking with fear, his teeth chattering, and his hands trembling. The light shone for what seemed half-an-hour and then vanished. The man then gave way and fainted, but he soon recovered. He ran home as fast as his legs could carry him. When he told the other woodcutters next day they could scarcely believe him. He never stayed out after midnight from that night out.

There once lived a man who was a woodcutter by trade. He dwelt on the edge of a great forest. One night he went to see his uncle who was ill and he did not return until very early on the following morning. When he was near his home he got a terrible fright. He saw a great red light which made everything as bright as in daylight. He stood

The stepmother however proved very cruel to the little boy and wished to harm him in some way unknown to his father. One day as the father was on a long journey, the stepmother killed the son. When the father came home she told him that the son had died suddenly. The man, with a broken heart sat by the dead child that night. At midnight a ghost appeared and left a piece of paper on the child's face. The man read the paper and what was on it was "It is the stepmother who who has killed him." Seeing this, he immediately died brokenhearted.

There once lived a man and woman who had one son, whom they loved with all their hearts. When the child was three years old his mother died, so in order to have some one who would love and care his son, the father married a second time

that he was not guilty. She then thought it was the daughter who did it, but she also swore that it was not she who did it. Next day she went to an old wise man and related to him her trouble. The old man said that he would stay by the money himself and he would defend it. That night he slept in the room where the money was, but he remained awake. During the night he saw a woman coming down the room and taking away a few pounds, but the man watched her and took notice of where she hid it. Who should the person be but the woman herself, and it was she who always stole it in a dream. Next day the man went to where he saw her hiding it, and found all the money which was supposed to be stolen.

There was once a woman who lived with her son and daughter, who possessed great wealth. Every morning when she counted it there was always a few pounds missing. This went on for some time until at last the woman became suspicious, thinking it was the son who stole it. She brought him to court, but he swore

Late one night two men were coming home from a fair. They were on horseback. They were in great haste and in order to shorten the way to their they made a shortcut through a thick wood. No sooner were they in the wood than the horses began to tremble. Then they stopped dead and would not go another inch. The younger man began to beat them but the older said "Stop that; let us see what made them shiver." One of them looked up and what should he see but a horrible figure up on a tree its arms writhing. The man who saw it fell in a faint. The other got his Rosary and blessed himself with it. The thing immediately disappeared.

shot there and another man was found lying dead by the roadside. On another night a man was coming home from a fair and as he was late his relations began to get anxious about him. Just then they heard a noise in the yard and on looking out they saw a man on horse-back. The man tapped at the window with his whip and this alarmed the people of the house. They set out to look for the man who was coming from the fair and they found him dead on the road.

There was once a man who committed suicide by hanging himself from an oak tree. When the body was found on the tree the people cursed the place and many people who passed the place died or were killed there. One night a man was

"Well, if you do not believe me, go up to the tree," said the younger. The brother obeyed. He went up to the tree but stepped back almost at once with an awful look on his face. Then he fell to the ground unconscious. The object, which was the Devil, rushed towards the younger brother, but he blessed himself. The Devil gave a frightful roar and then disappeared. The younger brother rushed to the nearest house and roused the people in it. They went to where the man was lying and carried him to his home. There was a horrible mark on his neck. He never recovered fully from the wound and died a few years after as the result of it, to the bitter grief of his brother and his friends. It was the Devil's left horn that gave him the terrible wound.

Once upon a time there lived two brothers who used always stay out late at night. One night, later than usual, they were coming home from a circus. As they were passing a tall oak tree which grew on a very lonely stretch of road the younger brother saw a huge, dark figure with horns, hooves, and a tail. The younger brother asked the elder what was the object, at the same time trembling with fear. "What object," said the man looking around him. "The object standing at that tree," said the younger brother. The man took a step nearer to the tree but still could see nothing. "You are only fooling me," said the elder man.

Once upon a time a man was coming home from a pub. The night was very dark and there was a fog in it. He heard something coming along the road after him. It was making terrible noise and there was a chain rattling. When it drew near the man the man started running. He did not run far when he fell and he started to shout for help. It was only a fox hound and a kettle tied to his tail. The man stayed alongside the roadside that night.

Long ago there lived a gentleman in a beautiful house. He lived happily for some time, but each night he used to hear terrible noise and could not sleep, so it was supposed to be haunted. He wished to get rid of the house in some way but failed for some time in doing so. One day a man and his three sons came to buy the house. The gentleman gladly sold it to them, but he said the only fault was that it was haunted. The man said that he never feared anything, so they departed, both well satisfied. After a few years the man and his sons became very wealthy. One day as the gentleman was passing that house he went in and asked for lodgings for a few nights. That night the man of the house showed him his bedroom. At midnight the gentleman felt himself being carried out and left outside the door. Next day he told the guards what the sons had done so they received imprisonment. Next night the same thing happened so the father was imprisoned. On the following night he was carried out also, so now, he had fully realised that it was no human being who did it. He then left the house, and the father and sons were set free.

Long ago there lived a gentleman in a beautiful house. He lived happily for some time, but each night he used to hear terrible noise and could not sleep, so it was supposed to be haunted. He wished to get rid of the house in some way but failed for some time in doing so. One day a man and his three sons came to buy the house. The gentleman gladly sold it to them, but he said the only fault was that it was haunted. The man said that he never feared anything, so they departed, both well satisfied. After a few years the man and his sons became very wealthy. One day as the gentleman was passing that house he went in and asked for lodgings for a few nights. That night the man of the house showed him his bedroom At midnight the gentleman felt himself being carried out and left outside the door. Next day he told the guards what the sons had done so they received imprisonment. Next night the same thing happened so the father was imprisoned. On the following night he was carried out also, so now, he had fully realised that it was no human being who did it. He then left the house, and the father and sons were set free.

Once upon a time there lived a man all alone. One night as he had just gone to bed, he heard somebody rattling at the door. There suddenly entered the room a priest who had died some time previously. He pointed to the picture which was hanging on the wall, but the man fainted and when he recovered, the priest had disappeared. This happened for three nights, until at last the man became courageous, and when the priest pointed to the picture, the man looked behind it and found a piece of paper on which was a written confession. He handed it to the priest without reading it. The priest then told him that when he was alive he had received that confession and had placed it behind that picture intending to destroy it at the first opportunity. Unfortunately however he had forgotten to do so, and he had died soon after. For years he had been guarding it lest anyone should find and read it, and the seal of confession would thus be broken, but now that the matter had been put right he could rest in peace.

Once upon a time there was a man who had a little farm. One morning when he went to see the pigs, one of the animals ran at him and hunted him out of the house. Every time the man would come to the pigs' house the pig would hunt him. The man brought the pig to the fair to try to sell him The man failed in selling the pig. Then he said that he would kill it. Then he hung up the pig and left him there until morning. When the man came out in the morning to get the pig, the pig was alive again. The man died with the fright when he saw the pig alive once more.

almost had him. They could only cross the lake one by one so he shot them as they came. A few days after that his friend invited him to a feast. Now this friend was a traitor and he had the house surrounded with soldiers. He also damped the powder in Crotty's weapons so that the were useless. At the appointed time the soldiers rushed into the room and ordered him to put up his hands. He pulled out his pistols but he could not use them. He was helpless. The soldiers brought him away triumphantly and he was hanged soon after. He had so much gold that he buried it in the mountains and around the land. The place where his cave was is now called "Crotty's Rock" and it can be seen at the present day.

Crotty the robber robbed and murdered for a long time but at last he was caught. His downfall was brought about by a false friend who wished to get the reward offered for his capture. Crotty had a cave in the mountains to which nobody could enter except himself. There was a lake in front of the cave and his horse was trained to swim across it. Whenever the soldiers were after him he used to turn his horse's shoes the wrong way in order to mislead them. But once they tracked him to his lair and

Once upon a time there was a man who was very fond of playing cards. One night he let the the joker fall under the table. The men were playing away, until it was getting late. At twelve o clock the man said it was time for all the players to be going home. He was gathering up the cards when he remembered dropping the joker. He bent down to get it, but what did he catch, but the devil's leg. He started to shout. The men were surprised and they looked under the table to see was after happening. The saw nothing but the joker on the ground. The man told them the whole story, and at the same time he burned the cards. He never played a card after that.

When returning from a neighbour's house after midnight and alone, it is believed that if salt is put into one's pockets, it will ward off evil spirits and the journey will be made in perfect safety.

Once upon a time a certain man was cutting grass on a grave. He saw a flat stone where he was cutting. When he was going home he brought the stone with him. When he looked towards his home he saw the house burning. He went back with the stone and then ran as fast as he could to his house to quench the flames. When he went to his house it was not burning at all. He went back for the stone and brought it home. When he went home his house was burned to ashes.

buried between the three rocks in Killelton. The gold is there still and many people have tried to find it but they have failed because they do not know the exact location of it.

There was once in this county a robber named Crotty. He used to rob people of their gold on the lonely highway. At last he was caught and sentenced to death for murder. Before he was hanged he said that if there was any of his friends in the town he would tell them where to find plenty of gold. As none of his friends were there he said that a bootful of gold was

One night a man was passing Glen Bog which was said to be haunted. He saw a dim light in the middle of the bog. He went in and walked towards the light. When he came to the light it suddenly went out, and he was swept off his feet. Two men dressed in white came up to him and bound him with cords, so that he was not able to move a leg, or stir an arm. He was carried to the place where the light had been burning. There he saw two other men digging a great deep hole in the ground. When they had finished, the poor man was thrown into the whole, and the whole was covered in. Soon after that he heard the terrible rooting above him. Soon after that he heard the terrible rooting above him. Soon he was being tossed around the bog by a fierce bull. He was tossed on the bull's horns half-way to the clouds. At last a tall man dressed in white from head to foot, and accompanied by a dog as big as a calf, came

One night a man was going home from a dance. He had to cross a field. He heard the voice saying, "Follow me, and I will bring you home." So the man followed. He was going all night, until he grew tired, so at last he sat down, and fell asleep. In the morning when he woke he was above in the middle of the wood in Stradbally. He followed the fairy, and the fairy led him astray. He never went through a field at night, after that.

There once lived a man with his parents in a cottage, in the midst of a thick wood. He boasted that he feared nothing on earth. One evening he went to a publichouse which was some miles away. Though it was almost midnight when he left the publichouse he was only slightly intoxicated, for he seldom took much. When he was about a mile from the publichouse he almost fainted on account of what he saw. A few [perches?] from him at the right hand side were four men clad in white. Following those four men were a great many men and women and children. The man stood among the trees trembling with fear. He was so frightened that he could not move in fact, so he waited until they passed by. Then suddenly he heard three shrieks, so horrible that he fainted and fell unconscious to the ground. Next morning he was found, not by his parents, but by some passers-by who knew him. One of them had a pail in which there was water, so he flung the water over the man's face. He recovered at once and foolishly told them the whole story. Whenever he was seen by people who knew him, after, they mocked him on account of his cowardice.

One night a man was coming home from town. As he was passing by a graveyard a woman came out and followed him. She had long hair which she was combing. When the man reached his own house the ghost disappeared. He went to bed but just before he fell asleep he heard the cock crowing. Next morning the cock had'nt a feather on him and he before traces of a fierce struggle. The man then knew that he owed his life to the cock for he had defended the house from the ghost.

This went on until all the old woman's ill-gotten gains had vanished. At last she was penniless. Once more her daughter was buried, and this time she remained at rest.

her with all kinds of meat, and also warned her to listen to what the monks were saying. The box was taken to the monks' monastery, who said that they would take great care of it, until she would return. She then departed well satisfied with her plan. It so happened that two monks were praying in that room, and suddenly one said to the other "What are you thinking of?" he answered "I am thinking of God and my prayers." Then he said to the other "What are you thinking of?" and he answered "I am thinking of what the old woman has in the box." So as to satisfy himself he unlocked the box and looked in. The girl began to scream, so the monk caught a bone of the meat, and pushed it down her throat and choked her. Soon after the woman came, and thanked the monks for minding the box and took it home. When she opened the box and saw the girl dead, she ran in all haste back to the monks, and confessed all about her stealing, and said she could not have better luck for playing such a mean trick. Next morning the girl was buried. When the woman opened the door next morning what was her surprise and terror to see the corpse lying outside. So she had to pay for burying her again, but on the following morning there was the corpse lying before the house once more

Many years ago there dwelt a number of monks in a monastery. They always kept a few pigs, and always kept an abundance of food for them also. There lived in the neighbourhood a woman and her daughter who fed the pigs for the monks. The woman seeing all the food which they had for the pigs, thought that if she herself should buy a few pigs, and steal some of the food which the monks had for theirs, it would be a great advantage to her. Next day she bought a few pigs, and each day she took some of the food which was for the monks' pigs home with her. This was going on for some time, until at last the woman became uneasy and troubled for she was thinking whether the monks had any suspicion on her, or whether they noticed the food rapidly decreasing, so she resolved to find out. Next day she made a box and put her daughter into it, while she was shopping. She pretended it was a valuable treasure, and would trust it with nobody only the monks. Before closing the box she presented

Mass for a woman who asked me to do so and who gave me an offering, but now I shall be at rest."

There once lived in a parish a young priest. He fell ill and died. Some time before his death a woman asked him to offer a Mass for her husband's soul. She gave him a little offering but the priest died before the time came to say the Mass. There lived in the parish a very pious boy who used to go the Chapel every night. One night when the boy was praying in the Chapel the dead priest appeared to him. The priest said to him. "Is there anyone here who will serve Mass for me." The boy answered "no." Then the priest disappeared. The boy went to one of the Curates and told him everything. The following night the priest accompanied the boy to the Chapel. The dead priest also appeared that night. One night. He asked if there was anyone to serve Mass. The priest answered "Yes." The dead priest said Mass and the other priest served him. when Mass was over the ghost said to the priest and the boy. "I have been in purgatory for some time for I did not offer up a

and the house was called the Grandmother's House.

Once upon a time, many, many years ago there lived in a tiny mud cabin an old man and his wife. Their children had all left them and gone to earn their living in other lands so the old couple often felt very lonely. Close to their house there was a deep well and near by a tall tree. After some years the man died and the old woman was very lonely indeed because she had no friends near by. After a time no one knew exactly how it happened, the place got the name of being haunted. The figure of a man used to be seen very often near the well. One night the old woman herself saw a man walking around the well. He had a Prayer Book in his hand and a Rosary Beads around his neck. The woman screamed when she saw him and he said to her "Do not fear me old woman," and he began to talk to her like an ordinary man. When she saw him so kind her fear left her. She asked him what he was doing when she met him. He answered her saying, "My dear woman, it is a sad story. I was a priest when I was living and a crowd of selfish men killed me and burnt me on that bush there. I am praying for those people now," then he disappeared. The woman made known the story far and near and the bush was called the Fairy Bush; the well was the Holy Well,

Late one night a man was returning home from a certain village. When he was a mile outside the town he had a most terrible fright. A few yards from him at the left hand side was a figure of tremendous size. It was dressed in white robes, had a huge black beard and fiery eyes. "Let me pass," said the man. The ghost did not reply in words but stepped in front of the man to let him know that he (the ghost) was not going to let him pass. The man was so terrified that he jumped in over the fence, intending to get away but the ghost was there before him. The ghost grabbed the man by the throat almost choking him. "Do you know who I am," said the ghost. "No," said the man, for the ghost had now released his throat. "I am the spirit of your father. You made my life a hell upon earth. I shall now do the same thing to you by appearing to you every night from this night out." With that the ghost disappeared. Every night from that out he appeared to the man who being not able to stand it died.

There is a little island near Bonmahon called "Joy's Island. There was once a house on this island and a family of the name of Joy lived in the house. That is how the island got its name. It is situated in the little strand called Tráigh na mBó and is a very very small island.

There once lived an old woman who was a widow, all alone in a cottage. Late one night, when returning from the village, a stranger overtook her. He entered into conversation with her at once. Strange to say he knew the age and whereabouts of her. When she was near her home she said, "You bear a great resemblance to my husband who is long since dead." The stranger replied, "I am the spirit of your husband. I have come here to warn you that you will die tomorrow." With that he disappeared leaving the woman very troubled in mind. She rose very early next morning, and sent for the priest. The priest arrived and she told him the whole story. The priest gave her the last Sacraments for by the time she had finished the story she had fallen to the ground unconscious and died an hour afterwards.

inside in the skull rolling it around. The man took the skull and threw it in over the wall of the graveyard. It was no sooner in that it was out again. Then the man saw a white object jump over the wall, seize the skull and disappear.

One night a man was passing a grave-yard. He heard a noise behind him. He looked around, and saw a skull rolling around the road. He began to kick it, and everytime he kicked it he heard the squeals. He got a stick and he started to beat the skull. He heard the squeals all the time. He gave it another kick and he saw something run out of it. He made a dash at it with his stick and hit it a mighty blow and stopped it. He then saw that it was only a rat that was

Long ago there was a man in Bonmahon who was not very steady. One Sunday he was sitting by the sea-side. He ran out into the sea, and dived into the water, intending to drown himself, but he did not succeed. He came in and filled his pockets with sand, and went out again, but the water only washed the sand, and he came in a second time. Next time he filled his pockets with stones, and when he went out, he dived into the water, and he did not come up again. His body was that night by two Coast gards.

One dark Winter's night, two men were coming home from a dance. It was nearing midnight. As they were passing by this certain part of the road which was supposed to be haunted, when all at once what should they see approaching them but a ghostly funeral. One man said to the other that the best thing they could do was to go inside the fence until it had passed. They did so, but one of the men was very impatient and wanted to look over the fence at the funeral, but the other man tried to persuade him not to. At last he lost all patience and looked out just at the funeral was passing. As he did so, what should be outside the fence but a ghost who put his finger into the other man's eye and blinded him, and from that night onwards he had not the sight of his eye.

Once upon a time there was an old woman sitting by the fireside. All at once she heard a noise at the door. She was not able to be going around for she was feeble and she was all bent up with pains. So she called out "Come in," but no-one came as she called again and again. At last she said to herself that there must not be anyone there. About an hour afterwards what do you think came in but a fairy. The fairy said to the woman "My good woman, what do you wish for?" The woman did not answer for a long time; then she said. "I am here forty years suffering with pains and I would rather be dead than be suffering here."
Three days after that the woman died.

he find but the two-shilling piece with which the farmer had wounded the hare.

There was once a farmer who had a herd of cows. Every morning and evening when he drove them home to be milked, he noticed that one of them had been already milked. This was going on for some time until at last the farmer became angry, and resolved to find out, who was doing it. He remained awake for some nights watching, but he did not see anybody coming. This certain night as he was watching as the previous nights, he saw a hare hopping through the field, and when he came to this certain cow he milked her. When the farmer saw this, he got his gun and put a two shilling piece into it acting as a bullet. He then pulled the trigger and wounded the hare. The hare then ran away but the farmer followed the drops of blood which came from the wound. The hare ran into a house. It was only then that the farmer knew that it was not a real hare he had [?] wounded but a woman who transformed herself into that shape while she was doing the harm. Next day the old woman living in that house was found to be very ill. The doctor was sent for. He found she had been shot at and that the wound was very deep. When he probed the wound what should

One day a man found a comb which belonged to the Banshee, in a hole in the wall he found it. That night as he was sitting by the fire all alone he heard a tap at the window. He looked out and saw the fairy woman outside. He was greatly frightened. He got a shovel and put the comb on it and reached it out through the window to her and she took it. Just then the shovel broke in two. It was lucky for the man that he reached out the comb on the shovel. If he reached it out in his hand, his hand would have been broken in two. Something put it into his head not to stretch out his hand and you may be sure he was thankful to himself ever after that he did not do so.

appeared behind him. It followed him for about a mile and then disappeared again. As the man was about to open his gate leading to his house, the hound appeared again. It was larger and fiercer than ever. This time the man was terrified, and as the hound was about to spring at him he blessed himself with the Cross of his Rosary and the object instantly disappeared.

One night a man was coming home very late. As he was going up a hill, which was very steep, he beheld a terrible sight. There before him was a hound of tremendous size, with fiery red and green eyes. The man scarcely knew what fear was, and instead of calling out, he aimed a blow at the object with his stick. It instantly disappeared but

Once upon a time there was a man who had a lot of gold. He had one son in America. The man died, but he had the gold buried under a hawthorn bush. The son dreamt one night about the gold, and where it was buried. He wrote a letter to a friend of his, and told him to try his luck for the gold, he told him that there would be a turkey-cock minding it. One night the man got ready to go to the place to see how he would get on. He got a gun, spade, and shovel, and started off. When he came to the place, he saw the cock, he got ready his gun. He went up to the place, and he let a shot at him, and killed him. He began to dig away until he had a big hole dug. He saw a big rope go around him, and it tightened on him. He was carried off and let down his own chimney. He never went looking the the gold after. The old man that was dead, took him away from the gold.

Once there lived a woman and her husband. The husband got very ill and he died. Then the woman was all alone in the house. The woman was all right for a long time; then one night she got ill and no one knew it. She could not get up to call anyone and she did not know what to do. She started praying. Her husband's photo was hanging on the wall and she kept looking at it and she said, "If my poor husband was alive he would go for the priest for me now." It wasn't very long till she heard a knock at the door. She could not get up to answer it so she said "Come in", and who do you think came in but the Priest. He said to her, "I was told that you were very ill and that you were dying and so I came in to see you." Of course the woman was very glad, but she was terribly surprised, so she asked the Priest who told him that she was dying. The Priest was looking at the photograph on the wall, and he asked her who it was. She told him that it was her husband who was dead with a long time. It was then that the Priest was surprised and said, "Well, that is the man that came for me and told me you were ill." So it was the ghost of her dead husband who had gone for the priest for the sick woman.

Once upon a time there was a woman used to be seen in a field. There was a public house not far from this field. There were some men in the public house on this certain night. They began talking about the person that was to be seen in the field. One of the men said to another. "We will give you all the money we have if you will go the the field and ask that woman what does she want." The man agreed, so off he went. When he came to the bush he saw the hand going out, and he looked to see what was in the hand. It was a handful of snuff she had. The man took a pinch of the snuff and he prayed for the souls of the dead and he prayed for the soul of that woman who was haunting the field. He was turning away when the ghost called him back to take another pinch. So he did and prayed again. For the third time he went away but came back again when she called, took the pinch of snuff same as before and prayed for the dead. Then the ghost spoke and said, "I have been waiting for the past fifteen years for those three prayers." Then she disappeared and she was never seen again. From that day out the field ceased to be haunted.

After a while when the man looked to see was she gone, he saw her combing her hair, and she sitting on a little heap of stones by the side of the road a little distance away. Next day the man found the banshee's comb on top of the heap of stones. He picked it up and brought it home thinking to keep it. Often during the day he laughed to himself and he thinking of the treasure he had found. He was sure it would bring him great luck. But that night as he sat by the fire he heard a sound as if someone moaning outside. Then he heard a very soft rapping upon the pane. He went over to the window and looked out but he did not open the window. He thought he noticed a white form moving slowly away in the distance. He came back and sat down again by the fire. No sooner had he settled himself comfortably and was beginning to fill his pipe when he again heard the moans and the rapping on the pane and he again went to the window but did not open it, and again he saw the white form disappearing in the distance. He returned once more to the fire but he did not bother with his pipe; he was feeling a bit nervous. The thought came to him that it might be the fairy woman looking for her comb. When he heard the sounds for the third time he got up, he picked up the comb with the tongs and put it out of the window which he had opened a tiny bit. A hand came and seized the comb and disappeared. The man never saw the comb or the fairy woman afterwards.

One night a man was going home from a dance. It was very late and also dark. As he was walking along the road he saw, sitting by the side of the road, the fairy woman, or banshee. He passed her by. But after a while he turned and looked back. The fairy woman was following him. It was as if she was floating along the road. The man went quicker and quicker. At last he reached his own house. He dashed in and closed the door behind him. But the fairy woman came up to the window and stood there looking in. The man picked up the broom and made as if to chase her away with it. But she came to the window the second time and the third time and each time the man chased her away.

One night a man was going home from a dance. It was very late and also dark. As he was walking along the road he saw, sitting by the side of the road, the fairy woman, or banshee. He passed her by. But after a while he turned and looked back. The fairy woman was following him. It was as if she was floating along the road. The man went quicker and quicker. At last he reached his own house. He dashed in and closed the door behind him. But the fairy woman came up to the window and stood there looking in. The man picked up the broom and made as if to chase her away with it. But she came to the window the second time and the third time and each time the man chased her away

were going round and round and men were throwing bundles into the thresher. More men were picking up the straw into a rick. They were all working busily just as if it was an ordinary threshing day. The strangest part of the story was that a member of that household was shot on the same night. Next morning there was not a sign of a horse or a thresher or workmen or a rick of straw in the yard.

One dark night my grand-uncle and a few of his friends were coming home through a shortcut. On their way they had to pass by an old farmhouse. They were surprised and frightened to hear a great noise in the farmyard at that hour of the night. Making haste they came to the gate and saw a strange sight. One of the old horse-power machines was at work in the yard threshing corn. The horses

her, but though very frightened she paid no heed to them, but continued through the wood. When she had gone a little farther she saw a ghost standing by the side of the wood, the woman smiled and went her way. A great multitude of people were watching for her return for they feared she had been killed in the wood, but to their great amazement what should they see approaching them but the woman and she little the worse for her adventures. She then demanded her reward which was given to her willingly for her bravery.

There was once a woman who was very courageous. One day a great assembly were gathered together speaking of their bravery, but no matter how brave they might be not one of them would pass through this certain wood. There was a woman in the crowd who said that nothing ever frightened her. In reply to this a certain man said that he would give her one thousand pounds if she would pass through the wood after nightfall. The woman gladly consented for the reward was very great. At nightfall she went into the wood. She had not gone far when she saw three spirits dancing about

other side of the road but a ghost, dressed the same as himself. Half dead from fright he immediately rose up and made off home as quickly as possible. He never went playing ghost after that. He suffered from the fright for many months.

Many years ago it was a custom for men to go to the neighbouring houses playing cards. One night as a few men were on their journey to a neighbour's house, they thought of a plan; this was the plan. One of them should leave the house before the others and frighten this certain man. That night as it was nearing midnight the appointed man left the house. When he came to a lonely part of the road, he dressed himself as a ghost and sat down beside the fence. He was there for some time until at last he became tired of watching, he looked out from his white robes, and what should he see on the

uttering a word. The man went down to the bog, and to his amazement what should he find but the missing brother's body. The other brother was sent for, and having come, he had to confess that it was he who slew him.

Two brothers lived alone in a house in the country. They lived peacefully for some time, until at last one of the brothers disappeared and not one person in the district knew of his whereabouts. It was supposed that he had gone to America as he could not be found in the country. There lived a man in the neighbourhood who was on a journey. When he was returning home he had to pass by a certain bog. As he was passing it a ghost appeared to him and pointed down to the bog without

jumped out over the graveyard wall. All around by the wall she went. The man waited until she came round where he was. He then sprang at her. But he fell backwards, dumb with horror, for the woman before him was headless. Many others saw the aparition that night, and they said that is was no other than the aparition of the woman who had died a few days previously.

jumped out over the graveyard wall. All around by the wall she went. The man waited until she came round where he was. He then sprang at her. But he fell backwards, dumb with horror, for the woman before him was headless. Many others saw the aparition that night, and they said that is was no other than the aparition of the woman who had died a few days previously.

Late one night a man was coming home from a fair. He was driving in a horse and cart. A few days previously a certain woman had died. As he was passing by a stream he met a woman draped in white. She asked him for a lift. He obliged very willingly. But scarcely had the woman sat in the cart, when the horse began to rear and shiver, for the woman was an apparition. When they were passing a graveyard the woman jumped out of the cart, and then over the wall of the graveyard. Off with the man after her. Over headstones and graves they went, and then the woman

Loose disappeared at once and she was never seen again. The priest sent the boy for the prayerbook next day. He warned him to bring it back the way he would find it. The boy did exactly what the priest told him, and brought it back safely. It is said that Petticoat Loose is out on the Red Sea ever since making sugans of the sand.

Long ago there lived a woman whose name was Petticoat Loose. She was a farmer's wife. She used to kill children before they were baptized. When she died she was damned. Some time after her death she used to appear at a certain stone every night. One night a boy was going home. He had to pass by the stone and so he saw the woman. He was terrified, and ran back part of the way he had come; to the priest's house. The boy told the priest the whole story. He accompanied the boy to the stone. He asked Petticoat Loose what had damned her. She answered, "I spat in my mother's face." The priest said "That did not damn you." "I used to poison the neighbour's poultry," said Petticoat Loose. "That did not damn you," said the priest. "I used to kill children before thy were baptized," said Petticoat Loose. "That is what damned you," said the priest. He paused and then said, "I will banish you to the Red Sea." "I will sink all the ships that will pass." said Petticoat Loose. "You cannot," said the priest, "because you will be head first." The priest had a small prayerbook with him. He scarcely had finished the word "first" when he threw the prayerbook at Petticoat Loose. Petticoat

Once upon a time a little man lived alone in a house. He had a terrible appetite and he was a miser also. He had a store-room and he had it full of potatoes. He had a tiny pot and the full of it used to do him for his dinner. One day he measured the potatoes with the pot to know would he have enough to do him until the new ones would be in. He found that he would be one meal short and so he did not eat any potatoes that day. He was dead the next morning.

of his belt "Seven at one stroke." Soon after he went to the King and asked a job from him. He got work from the King and everybody in the King's service was afraid of him. They thought him so brave and fierce that no one dared offend him. Everyone thought he had killed seven enemies with one terrible blow. So he became a rich man and he lived happily in the King's service honoured and feared by all.

of his belt "Seven at one stroke." Soon after he went to the King and asked a job from him. He got work from the King and everybody in the King's service was afraid of him. They thought him so brave and fierce that no one dared offend him. Everyone thought he had killed seven enemies with one terrible blow. So he became a rich man and he lived happily in the King's service honoured and feared by all.

Once upon a time a tailor bought a pot of jam and a loaf of bread. He cut a slice of the bread and put jam on it. Some of the jam fell on the table and a great many flies landed on it. The tailor snatched up a piece of cloth and killed seven of them. He wrote along the front

Once upon a time a man had three sons. The house had been haunted but this man was not afraid of anything. One night he bought a half barrel of beer and he invited all his friends in. He had a great big fire and they were all around it, when suddenly they heard a voice in the fire. The people got frightened and they rushed out. The man of the house stood up from his chair and listened to the voice again. He put out the fire and threw the half barrel of beer on it. He saw a little man going out at the back of the fire. The stranger said to the man of the house, "From this day until the day of your death you will never know an hours bad luck for you have done a very good turn for me this night." When he had said this he disappeared, and the man of the house never saw him again, but the little man's words came true for the man lived for many, many years after, and during all that time he was well off and happy.

One night a young man was coming home from a dance, at midnight, when suddenly he saw a black man on the road. He got very frightened and stood up on the ditch and began to roar. His father heard him and ran to meet him. When he came to the young man he asked him what he was afraid of, " and he said "dont you see that big black man there." His father looked surprised. "Foolish," he said, "that is your own black cow waiting for you." The young man ran home before his father, and went to bed crying, he was so ashamed of himself for being so easily frightened. He knew, too, that if the story got around, he would never hear the end of it from the neighbours.

was not to walk that same road again while ever he lived or else he would be killed by that very ghost; but that when he would die that should be the first road he should take. The boy promised to carry out the wise man's instructions faithfully. He soon recovered from his sickness and he thanked God with all his heart for having saved his life from the ghost.

Once upon a time a man was walking the road at night. Suddenly he heard a dreadful noise among the bushes a little distance away from him. When he drew near the place he saw the form of a man among the bushes. What terrified him entirely was that the form which he saw had no head, but still it spoke to him though the young man never afterwards told what it said. He got such a fright that he could not move a step from where he stood. His hair stood up on his head and a cold sweat broke out all over him. He tried to scream but his tongue was dry and he could not utter a sound. He stood there for what seemed to him ages, though really it could have been only a few minutes. He was shaking all over. He made a couple of attempts to pray but he could say no words. Suddenly he saw the headless form draw back among the trees, and he found that he himself could move. So he hurried home and told the story to his father who was very troubled about his son. He advised him to go to bed and try to sleep and he would send for the doctor on the following day. The son did so and early next morning his father sent for the doctor. This doctor was also a wise man. When he came the father told him the whole story. Then he brought him to the room where the boy was sleeping. The doctor looked at the boy and said, "This boy is after fighting for Ireland and the ghost is the spirit of a person he has slain in battle." When the young man woke the doctor warned him that he

There was once a man who wished to catch a fairy. One night he went to a white-thorn bush and lay down and pretended to be asleep. It was not long until the faires came out and danced around him. One fairy came up to him and the man made a grab for him but he only caught the fairy's glass shoe. He went home and put it on the dresser and he looked at it often that night and during the next day. Just before dark on the following day a stranger came to the door. He was dressed like a poor man and was looking for alms. He got a piece of bread and butter. He began to eat it, but all the time he had his eyes fixed on the little glass shoe on the dresser. Of course he was not really a poor man at all but a fairy, the owner of the tiny shoe, who had come looking for his property. He remained standing at the door, eating the bread and butter as if he was very hungry. After a while he said, "That is a pretty thing you have there on the dresser. Will you sell it? I will give you a few shillings for it." So the bargain was made. The fairy took the shoe and straight away he disappeared. The man put the few shillings he had received into his pocket and went into his house feeling very pleased with himself. But the few shillings he had got from the fairy were soon spent and he became as poor as ever. Had he kept the little glass shoe he would have been rich and happy to the end of his life, but he did not know that until it was too late. He never saw a fairy afterwards.

ing the evil of his ways changed his life, and walked thereafter in the paths of penance. Tadhg though ever gay and social and witty never led a bad life, so that his conversion was not from a depraved to a good life, but from an ordinary worldly rollicking life to a life of penance and sanctity. He no longer presented himself at scenes of merriment or bardic assemblies, but could often be seen crawling on the bare knees at places of public devotion such as holy wells in the neighbourhood of the Blackwater. He traversed the diocese of Waterford from end to end, and everywhere gave an example of penance, prayers and piety which it is impossible to mistake, and the memory of which endured for generations after he was laid in his last resting-place. Tadhg was a man of learning and letters. It is said that in his old age he prayed constantly for a holy death, on a holy day, in a holy place: Bás naomhtha, ar lá naomhtha, in áit naomhtha, and that the request was granted in a striking way, as he died while in the midst of his devotions in the Cathedral at Waterford on April the 22nd 1795. Fr. Pierce Power says there is a tradition in Waterford that attributes his being buried at Ballylaneen to an express desire on his part to be buried beside a pious woman who had been kind to him, and who had been filling a grave in that place

became Abbot after some years. Once when on a Visitation of his Monastery in Australia he wrote that beautiful song praising the people and the scenery of the Co. Waterford. - "A Comaraigh aoibhinn Ó". He also got the works and poems of Riobárd Bheldon printed. They were born and reared near each other in Kilrossanty. Abbot Whelan died about 8 years ago.
4. Tadhg Gaedhlach O'Súilleabháin: supposed to be born 5 miles to the S.W. of Youghal. A great portion of his life was spent in the neighbourhood of Youghal, Dungarvan and Cappoquin while he made periodical visits to East Waterford: the Powers Country - a tract of land between Waterford city and base of Comeragh Mountains. Dungarvan was the centre of his excursions. Born in early part of the 18th century, and in his youth led a life of gaiety, and was the soul of the society in which he moved. His wit delighted be bards, and he was a favourite with all classes. But a time came when yielding to his religious convictions he retired from the social throng, and lived as a hermit. Tadhg was low in stature, one story that has come down to us describes him as a Cearrbhach - or gambler, who spent his time in playing cards, and tell how he kept crowds of young men from Mass on Sundays for the purpose of gambling. On one occasion the priest made a raid on the card-house, and Tadhg see-

1. Local Poets: The is a number of poets connected with the district of Kilmacthomas. - Donnachadh Ruadh mac Conmara a native of Co. Clare. He was a very educated man, and he knew all the languages of that time - Irish, Greek, Latin and English. He taught a "hedge school" in Ballymacarberry, Clonmel for some time. He then came to Kilmacthomas where he also had a "hedge school". When in Kilmacthomas he went to Newfoundland where he did not remain very long. When there he wrote that very fine song in praise of Ireland: "Bánchnuic Éireann óighe". He returned to Kilmacthomas where he died at an advanced age, and he is buried in Newtown. There is a monument erected to his honour with an Irish inscription on it.
2. Riobárd Bheldon: a native of Kilrossanty. He was a very poor man. He went to Dublin every year to the Feis, and always won the prize - a gold medal or a cup for his poems, music and dancing. He wrote "A Cumman 'sa Stór" and a number of other poems too. He died in the Workhouse, Kilmacthomas, and is burried in Kilrossanty inside the gate.
3. R. M. Ó'Faolain: Born in Kilrossanty, Kilmacthomas, entered Mount Mellerary Abbey of which he

People in former times were ten years [fe] before they wore a boot. A man named Martin Whelan better known as Martin the Scolips never wore a boot, and he used be up on a load of bushes, and never felt the thorns going though his feet. Children still go bare foot in Summer, but as a rule it is only boys who go without boots. It is an old saying 'it makes them hardy'. The water people washed their feet in was always thrown out by the person who washed his or her feet. If they didn't it was said that fairies would come that night, and do something to the house.
Boots are repaired locally. There are a great many more shoemakers now than were in olden times, because in olden times many people never wore a shoe - everyone wears boots or shoes now. Clogs are worn in the district in the Kilns and the dairymaid wears them too - they were not made locally. Boots were made out of untanned leather, and they were worn locally.

Labhra, a king who lived in Ireland long ago, had horse's ears. Naturally he was very much ashamed of them, and when ever he came among the public he wore a long hood which covered them.
Once a year a man was chosen to cut the king's hair, and when he had his work finished the unfortunate man was put to death. Thus the king made sure the secret of his ugly ears would not be known among his people.
Now it happened that in a certain year the lot fell on a young man, who was the only support of his widowed mother. With grief, the poor woman threw herself on her knees before Labhra, and begged that her son should be spared to her. Moved by her tears the king consented.
"I will spare your son," he said. "But until the day of his death he must tell no living thing what he will see when he cuts my hair".
When the young man cut the king's hair he saw the horrible ears, and after that he had no peace. He longed to tell someone the secret which weighed so heavily on him, and he soon fell sick.
Then his mother went to the house of a wise Druid, and asked him what she do.
"Your son's secret is the root and cause of

was left an old man worn and old. The steed went back to The Land of Youth, and Oisin was taken to St. Patrick, and he died some years later.

A few centuries ago there lived in Ireland a company of brave and noble young men called the Fianna, and Fionn mac Cuail was the captain. Fionn had a son named Oisin a tall well-shaped youth.
One sunny morning as Oisin and the Fianna and their leader were hunting near Killarney they saw a maiden coming towards them riding a white steed coming from the sea. She spoke to Fionn, and she told him that she was Princess Niav of the Golden Hair, and that she came for the Land of Youth. She also spoke to Oisin, and she asked him to go with her to the Land of Youth. He agreed to go, and he bade farewell to his people, and started his journey.
He travelled with Niav over the sea like the wind for miles. when they came to the palace the King and his attendants came to meet and welcome them. They had a feast which lasted for a week. Oisin got married to Niav, and they were very happy. Oisin got everything to make him happy in the Land of Youth. He spent 300 years in that land, and he thought he had only spent 20 years or so. So one day he took leave from Niav to visit his country and his people. The white steed took him back to Ireland, and he searched every place for his people, but he could not find them. He saw a crowd of men trying to lift a heavy stone, and Oisin in lifting it

There is an old ruined Castle in Barnakill, Curraheen, Kilrossanty Co. Waterford. It is not certain who built it, but some say it was the Danes who came from Denmark. It is over six hundred years old. I don't know how long it is in ruins. It wasn't ever destroyed or attacked.
There is an old Church in Kilrossanty, and it was a Catholic Church. There is old-fashioned writing on some one of the Tomb Stones there. It is called Ogham writing, but I cannot read it.
There are old ruined houses in Gardenturtan, they were called "Taverns". A Tavern is a house built of stone and mud and a chimney made of sally switches covered with mud to keep it from burning. They are about one hundred years old. One of them was owned by Mr. David Organ, Gardenturtan, Kilmacthomas, but he is not living in it now, but he is living still, and his age at present is 83 years.

There are two forges near my home: one is about a mile away, and the other about 2 1/2 miles. Mr. John Barry is the owner of the distant one, and it is situated a short distance from the road leading from Leamybrien to Kilrossanty Cross. Mr. John Harris is the owner of the other, and his forge is situated alongside of the Uain Road: about 2 miles from Kilmacthomas facing the East. The forges are not very large: just a large space for a fireplace, a large bellows, and space for 3 or 4 horses, a window and a large door.
The smith shoes horses and asses, and makes and mends farm implements: ploughs, harrows, spades, shovels, pikes, axes, and other implements. In the middle of the floor is a large anvil, and some boxes with the smith's implements in them. There are numbers of old and new shoes in one corner and coal for the fire. There is also a big tank of water to cool the red iron. People pay the smith for doing any work: either for making or for mending implements, or for putting shoes on horses and asses. Everybody looks to the smith as a great powerful working man in every way.

The last Tuesday of each month a fair is held in Kilmacthomas, and the second Wednesday of the month the fair is held in Dungarvan. The fair in Dungarvan is held on the Square, and on the Fair Green in Kilmacthomas. Long ago the Farmers came to the Fair in Kilmacthomas and hired servant maids. The girls to be hired took their stand on "The Fair Green", and ever since the place is called "The Fair Green".
In some places if people had good cattle on the farm buyers came round and buy them at the house. When animals are sold the buyer gets something for luck: 2/6, 5/-, 7/6 or 10/- or more sometimes. When they are making the bargain four or five are present. One says: "half the pound", or what ever it might be. Then they shake hands, or by striking hands, and are satisfied. They then go together to some house, and get refreshments. When the animals are sold they are marked by clipping some hair, or a red mark is put on the back or flanks. Sometimes the cattle are put on the train, or into a lorry and taken away, or the buyer drive them to his home. Twice a year a Horse Fair is held in Dungarvan, and every month for sows, slips, bonhams, sheep, lambs, calves, cows, heifers and other animals. There is a Fair held in every town every month.

The last Tuesday of each month is a fair held in Kilmacthomas, and the second Wednesday of the month the fair is held in Dungarvan. The fair in Dungarvan is held on the Square, and on the Fair Green in Kilmacthomas. Long ago the Farmers came to the Fair in Kilmacthomas and hired servant maids. The girls to be hired took their stand on "The Fair Green", and ever since the place is called "The Fair Green".
In some places if people had good cattle on the farm buyers came round and buy them at the house. When animals are sold the buyer gets something for luck: 2/6, 5/-, 7/6 or 10/- or more sometimes. When they are making the bargain four or five are present. One says: "half the pound", or what ever it might be. Then they shake hands, or by striking hands, and are satisfied. They then go together to some house, and get refreshments. When the animals are sold they are marked by clipping some hair, or a red mark is put on the back or flanks. Sometimes the cattle are put on the train, or into a lorry and taken away, or the buyer drive them to his home. Twice a year a Horse Fair is held in Dungarvan, and every month for sows, slips, bonhams, sheep, lambs, calves, cows, heifers and other animals. There is a Fair held in every town every month.

I am living in Grawn - in the parish of Kilrossanty about 10 miles from Dungarvan and 20 miles from Waterford City. I am in the Deise without Drum and in West Waterford, There are 10 families in my townland and about 50 people. There are two families of Cunninghams one of Heavers, Brazils, Coynes, Whelans, Currans, Dees and Caseys. Most of the houses are slated with a few thatched ones. Mr. Ned Coyne working with Mr. Coyne, Grawn, and Mrs Coyne, Grawn, are over 70 years, and are getting their pension, and they both speak Irish. Mrs. Coyne was for some time in America.
Some of the land is very good for cultivation and for cattle grazing. There are some bogs. It was in Mr. Heaver's bog that they found the remains of a man some weeks ago. The Comeragh Mountains are about 5 1/2 miles from Grawn and Lake Com-Seanghan the same distance. The river Tae flows into the sea at Stradbally, and is about 1 mile from my home. "A Chomaraigh Aoibhinn O" is a beautiful song and poem that the Abbot Whelan composed in Australia about the Comeragh Mountains and about the people of Comeragh and the people of Co. Waterford.

There lived in Cyclopes a rude and lawless race of giants, and each had but one eye. They never made laws, dwelt alone: each by himself, and one uttered the law to his wives and children. Outside the harbour of Cyclopes was a woodland island with no cultivated land, but only innumerable wild goats and a sheep.
A vessel of Greeks came into the harbour, and Odyssey was the leader. They went into the cave, and they looked around and saw baskets laden with cheeses and pails of milk. Cyclopes came in with a flock of goats and sheep, and he sat down and milked them. When he saw the men he asked them who they were and where they came from. They told him, and that their ship got wrecked. He caught two of the men, killed them, and prepared them for a meal. When he had eaten them, he lay down between the sheep, and fell asleep. Odyssey's men got a big iron bar: red hot and put it into Cyclope's eye, and the eye got burned. Then they drove away the sheep and goats to the ship, and sailed away leaving Cyclope crying for all he was worth. He was so angry that he took a piece of rock, and threw it after them, but they were gone too far.

1. Local Poets: The is a number of poets connected with the district of Kilmacthomas. - Donnacadh Ruadh mac Conmara a native of Co. Clare. He was a very educated man, and he knew all the languages of that time - Irish, Greek, Latin and English. He taught a "hedge school" in Ballymacarberry, Clonmel for some time. He then came to Kilmacthomas where he also had a "hedge school". When in Kilmacthomas he went to Newfoundland where he did not remain very long. When there he wrote that very fine song in praise of Ireland: "Banchnuic Eireann Oighe". He returned to Kilmacthomas where he died at an advanced age, and he is buried in Newtown. There is a monument erected to his honour with an Irish inscription on it.
2. Riobard Bheldon: a native of Kilrossanty. He was a very poor man. He went to Dublin every year to the Feis, and always won the prize - a gold medal or a cup for his poems, music and dancing. He wrote "A Cumman 'sa Stor" and a number of other poems too. He died in the Workhouse, Kilmacthomas, and is burried in Kilrossanty inside the gate.
3. R. M. O'Faolain: Born in Kilrossanty, Kilmacthomas, entered Mount Mellerary Abbey of which he

became Abbot after some years. Once when on a Visitation of his Monastery in Australia he wrote that beautiful song praising the people and the scenery of the Co. Waterford. - "A Comaraigh aoibhinn O". He also got the works and poems of Riobard Bheldon printed. They were born and reared near each other in Kilrossanty. Abbot Whelan died about 8 years ago.
4. Tadhg Gaedhlach O'Suilleabhain: supposed to be born 5 miles to the S.W. of Youghal. A great portion of his life was spent in the neighbourhood of Youghal, Dungarvan and Cappoquin while he made periodical visits to East Waterford: the Powers Country - a tract of land between Waterford city and base of Comeragh Mountains. Dungarvan was the centre of his excursions. Born in early part of the 18th century, and in his youth led a life of gaiety, and was the soul of the society in which he moved. His wit delighted be bards, and he was a favourite with all classes. But a time came when yielding to his religious convictions he retired from the social throng, and lived as a hermit. Tadhg was low in stature, one story that has come down to us describes him as a Cearrbhach - or gambler, who spent his time in playing cards, and tell how he kept crowds of young men from Mass on Sundays for the purpose of gambling. On one occasion the priest made a raid on the card-house, and Tadhg see-

some time before his death. Tadhg is undoubtedly the first of Irish religious Poets, and no history of religious poetry would be complete without an account of his works.

ing the evil of his ways changed his live, and walked thereafter in the paths of penance. Tadhg though ever gay and social and witty never led a bad life, so that his conversion was not from a depraved to a good life, but from an ordinary worldly rollicking life to a life of penance and sanctity. He no longer presented himself at scenes of merriment or bardic assemblies, but could often be seen crawling on the bare knees at places of public devotion such as holy wells in the neighbourhood of the Blackwater. He traversed the diocese of Waterford from end to end, and everywhere gave an example of penance, prayers and piety which it is impossible to mistake, and the memory of which endured for generations after he was laid in his last resting-place. Tadhg was a man of learning and letters. It is said that in his old age he prayed constantly for a holy death, on a holy day, in a holy place: Bas naomhtha, ar la naomhtha, in ait naomhtha, and that the request was granted in a striking way, as he died while in the midst of his devotions in the Cathedral at Waterford on April the 22nd 1795. Fr. pierce Power says there is a tradition in Waterford that attributes his being buried at Ballylaneen to an express desire on his part to be buried beside a pious woman who had been kind to him, and who had been filling a grave in that place

became Abbot after some years. Once when on a Visitation of his Monastery in Australia he wrote that beautiful song praising the people and the scenery of the Co. Waterford. - "A Comaraigh aoibhinn O". He also got the works and poems of Riobard [Sheldon?] printed. They were born and reared near each other in Kilrossanty. Abbot Whelan died about 8 years ago.
4. Tadhg Gaedhlach O'Suilleabhain: supposed to be born 5 miles to the S.W. of Youghal. A great portion of his life was spent in the neighbourhood of Youghal, Dungarvan and Cappoquin while he made periodical visits to East Waterford: the Powers Country - a tract of land between Waterford city and base of Comeragh Mountains. Dungarvan was the centre of his excursions. Born in early part of the 18th century, and in his youth led a life of gaiety, and was the soul of the society in which he moved. His wit delighted be bards, and he was a favourite with all classes. But a time came when yielding to his religious convictions he retired from the social throng, and lived as a hermit. Tadhg was low in stature, one story that has come down to us describes him as a Cearrbhach - or gambler, who spent his time in playing cards, and tell how he kept crowds of young men from Mass on Sundays for the purpose of gambling. On one occasion the priest made a raid on the card-house, and Tadhg see-

1. Local Poets: The is a number of poets connected with the district of Kilmacthomas. - Donnacadh Ruadh mac Conmara a native of Co. Clare. He was a very educated man, and he knew all the languages of that time - Irish, Greek, Latin and English. He taught a "hedge school" in Ballymacarberry, Clonmel for some time. He then came to Kilmacthomas where he also had a "hedge school". When in Kilmacthomas he went to Newfoundland where he did not remain very long. When there he wrote that very fine song in praise of Ireland: "Banchnuic Eireann Oighe". He returned to Kilmacthomas where he died at an advanced age, and he is buried in Newtown. There is a monument erected to his honour with an Irish inscription on it.
2. Riobard [Sheldon?]: a native of Kilrossanty. He was a very poor man. He went to Dublin every year to the Feis, and always won the prize - a gold medal or a cup for his poems, music and dancing. He wrote "A Cumman 'sa Stor" and a number of other poems too. He died in the Workhouse, Kilmacthomas, and is burried in Kilrossanty inside the gate.
3. R. M. O'Faolain: Born in Kilrossanty, Kilmacthomas, entered Mount Mellerary Abbey of which he

The Robin, Thrush, Sparrow, Blackbird, Lark, Finch, Yellow Hammer, Canary, Sally-picker, Wren, Crow, Jackdaw, Magpie, Hawk, Seagull, and Stare are seen all the year around, and the Swallow, Cuckoo and Corncrake are seen in the Summer months.
The birds build their nests in the fences, in walls, on the tops of high trees, in bushes, in holes, in the eaves of the house, on the roof of the outhouses and in the grass. The nests are made of - hay, straw, rushes, grass, hair, wool, clay nicely put together. They lay three, four, five, six or seven eggs each year. The mother bird spends three weeks hatching the eggs. Boys are often found robbing birds' nests: breaking the eggs or killing the young birds.
The Seagulls come inland if a storm or bad weather is coming. The Cuckoo goes to Africa before the Summer is over if the weather is wet or cold. The people say that when Our Lord was dying that the little Robin took a nail from His Sacred Head, and in doing so a drop of His Blood fell on the Robin's breast, and ever since the red mark is on the Robin's breast. The Cuckoo builds no nest, but she lays her eggs in some other bird's nest, and when the young Cuckoos come out they pitch out the other birds, and eat all the food that the Mother bird brings to her own young.

come out. Before the eggs are put down under the hen a black cross is made on each with a piece of blackened stick. The chickens get great care for 6 weeks, and then they are able to travel by themselves. At the present time a great many chickens are produced by incubators.

We have cows, horses, pigs, hens, chickens, ducks, turkeys, a goose and a gander at home. We have different names on each of the cows: Peggie, Kitty, Young Woods, Old Woods, Polly bonnot, Briskey, Red Heifer and many other names. When we are driving the cows to the house or to the field we say 'How', 'How'. We have three cowhouses, and each of the cows is tied to a bale by the neck. If the cows kick they are tied by the legs with fettors - ropes or chains. The bales are made with two strong posts with an iron clasp at the top. When a cow has calved the farmer lights a Blessed Candle under the cow's body to have her clean for the milking. They sprinkle Easter Water over the cow. Sometimes a piece of palm is on the[] of the cowhouse to bring luck.
The stable is the house for the horses. They are tied with ropes by the neck. The horses get straw, hay, turnips and oats to eat in winter when inside, and they eat grass outside. The horse is clipped in Summer with a hair-clippers. When a horse loses a shoe he has to be taken to the forge and shod.
Pigs get milk, meal and porridge to eat and when a pig has bonhams she gets drinks of bran. 'Tuk' 'Tuk' is said when calling the hens for their food and when putting them in. When a hen begins to hatch the woman of the house puts thirteen eggs under her and lets her hatch for three weeks when the chickens

We have cows, horses, pigs, hens, chickens, ducks, turkeys, a goose and a gander at home. We have different names on each of the cows: Peggie, Kitty, Young Woods, Old Woods, Polly bonnot, Briskey, Red Heifer and many other names. When we are driving the cows to the house or to the field we say 'How', 'How'. We have three cowhouses, and each of the cows is tied to a bale by the neck. If the cows kick they are tied by the legs with fettors - ropes or chains. The bales are made with two strong posts with an iron clasp at the top. When a cow has calved the farmer lights a Blessed Candle under the cow's body to have her clean for the milking. They sprinkle Easter Water over the cow. Sometimes a pies of palm is on the[] of the cowhouse to bring luck.
The stable is the house for the horses. They are tied with ropes by the neck. The horses get straw, hay, turnips and oats to eat in winter when inside, and they eat grass outside. The horse is clipped in Summer with a hair-clippers. When a horse loses a shoe he has to be taken to the forge and shod.
Pigs get milk, meal and porridge to eat and when a pig has bonhams she gets drinks of bran. 'Tuk' 'Tuk' is said when calling the hens for their food and when putting them in. When a hen begins to hatch the woman of the house puts thirteen eggs under her and lets her hatch for three weeks when the chickens

We sowed about 2 1/2 acres of potatoes this year in well-manured ground. We had them sown the last week of February. At the beginning of January Father ploughed a stubble field in which he intended to sow the crop. My brothers spread the manure - farmyard and artificial manure on the field. Then Father made drills with the plough, and he settled the ends with a spade. Mother and my brother cut the potatoes - making sure to have an eye in each piece. Then they sowed them with their hands, and Father closed the drills with a plough. About a month ago they put up clay to them. I heard Father say he never saw such a good crop this time of the year, thank God for that.
About June or July especially if there is a thunder storm or a fog which brings the blight the potatoes have to be sprayed with blue stone and lime. The blight [ ] the leaves of the potatoes and stops the growth of the potatoes. The potatoes are dug with a potato digger or with a spade. Then they are picked, and brought into some outhouse, and the small potatoes and the bad ones are separated from the good ones. The good potatoes are put into pits and covered with wheaten straw and clay to keep the rain and the rats from destroying them.

and the other is beside the ditch and a stream runs from each.

Holy wells. - In a field below the old cemetery in Kilrossanty are three holy wells. The wells are dedicated to Our Lady, St. Brigid and St. Patrick. On St. Brigid's Feast Say Mass is celebrated in Kilrossanty Parish Church at 8.30, and then the people make "rounds". They go around the old cemetery three times and say the rosary each time. Then at each of the wells are said five Pater Aves three times. At each well people take three drinks, and put in medals, money, buttons or pieces of cloth. Many people get cured of sore eyes, pains or aches, they bathe the parts in the water, and trusting in God they get cured.
About twenty years ago a woman washed her suffering baby in St. Patrick's well, and another woman wiped her sore eye with the cloth used in washing the baby. The baby got cured, and the woman got blind of one eye. The water of the wells runs down through the bogs and out to the road. Tinkers once got some of the water to make tea, and they put it into a kettle, and left it to boil for an hour or longer, and it would not boil. Some boys took buttons out of the wells, and if they did they got sore hands which did not heal until they put the buttons back again, and then they got all right. Two of the wells are in the middle of the field,

Merciful Jesus have mercy on me - my Soul and my Body. I design unto Thee those five bleeding wounds that were nailed to a tree. O Crucified Jesus have mercy on me.

As I walked out the Blessed land whom should I meet but the Blessed Mother with seven Mass books in her hand, seven Priests singing and seven bells ringing. Up came the Jews with the spears in their hands to pierce our dear Lord from hands to heart. Our blessed Mother standing by with weakened heart and a heavy sigh.Infant Jesus meek and mild,
Look on me a little child,
Pity me and pity mine,
And suffer me to come to Thee.
The Heart of Jesus I do adore Thee,
The Heart of Mary I do implore Thee,
Heart of Joseph pure and just,
In these three hearts I put my trust.Mary and Joseph were walking one day,
Where apples and cherries grew on the highway,
Said Mary to Joseph:
"Pull a cherry for your child".
Spoke out gentle Jesus in his own Mother's womb,
"Bend down gentle cherry until my Mother gets some",
The highest of the branches did bend to the ground,
And Mary got cherries that her apron could hold.

the owner of that same house tried to build sheds around his place. Each morning when he would get up he would find any work that would be executed during the day levelled to the ground.

things he could not find anything wrong with the woman. Still she was not able to leave the bed although she could talk and eat as well as ever she did. In that way she lay. for nineteen long years. The neighbours who would go in (on) in to see her saw as it were only a skeleton.
The years went by and a short time before she died a very small neat little woman came to the door. She was a stranger to the people of the house. They invited her in but she would not. As she was going she gave a wee parcel to one of the girls of the house and told her to keep it safe until she would return. She also told her not to open it for a certain time.
The girl put the parcel away on a loft that was in the kitchen. Somehow she forgot all about it. A short while after this her mother died. The girl was fixing up things on the loft and she came across the parcel. She then opened it and what to you think she got a habit and a pair of stockings and a pair of gloves. It was believed locally that the person who was in bed belonged to the fairies and that they sent on the last dress which she was to wear.
Several times

Not far away from here is a place called the burries there was a certain family living. Very near the house there were forts and somewhere very convenient there was a pass called "The Fairies Path". It was counted very unlucky to touch on any of the possessions of the Good People. About a quarter of a mile away in a neighbour's farm was another fort. People used to see them going from fort to fort. Many times the neighbouring boys used to see strange women passing along their way. They usually went very quickly and never spoke to anybody.
This house in particular was counted unlucky. Several different kinds of noises and sights were heard and seen around it. Often ramblers used to gather in at at night. Often the two doors were banged open and still they could see nothing. [As] On a particular day the woman of the house went out as was usual to gather up the eggs. When she was climbing up for the eggs she slipped and fell and when she was found some time later by the children she had to be carried in.
She was put to bed and the doctor was sent for but though he tried several

In the Penal Times the English would give five pounds to anyone who would spy on a priest saying Mass. Captain O Doherty then lived in Hilmore House and he was one of the paid agents of the government for hunting down the priests. It was a well known fact that a priest used to say Mass on a nearby hill, but somehow they could not track him down.
This morning Mass was being celebrated as usual, and a man named Beirne from a place called bloomcommon arrived at Kilmore House to inform on the priest and so earn his money. This man brought O Doherty to the place where the priest was saying Mass but he escaped at that time as on the way O Doherty's horse fell and broke his neck. Then Beirne exclaimed to the Red-boat how "footy" you lost him. (any) The Beirnes were ever called since the "Footy Beirnes" up to the last generation.
Violet heard this story from her Aunt who told it to her mother. The mother is now over 50 years, and the Aunt who was over 80 years is about 10 years dead.