School: Taobh Breac (roll number 15227)

Location:
An Taobh Breac, Co. Dhún na nGall
Teacher:
Donnchadh E. Mac Congáile
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1098, Page 225

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1098, Page 225

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  1. XML School: Taobh Breac
  2. XML Page 225
  3. XML “The Gray Stone on the Heath”
  4. XML “The Wild Raparee”

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  1. Missing (before The Gray Stone On the Heath starts:

    The Wild Rapparee (continued)
    5. But who be those horsemen so late in the storm!
    And what seems that glare? 'Tis the King's uniform!
    God grant that awake and not sleeping he be:
    There are hounds on the track of the Wild Raparee'
    6. 'Tis morn, and the horsemen return from the heath
    But the sword of the foremost is not in its sheath,
    Ah, no! on its bright point, all gory to see
    Is the head of the outlaw, the Wild Raparee.
    FINIS
    III The Gray Stone On The Heath.

    1. O, have you been to Coal-pit Hill
    Wheres the hares and moorcocks ‘bide,
    And the huge gray stone of a coffin shape
    Sleeps on the brown hillside
    Near the Giants Seat with the print of feet
    Down in the rock beneath?
    O some monster Celt of the olden time
    Hath made his home on this heath!
    2. They are relics these of a giant race
    That ruled ere Fionn held sway,
    In a distant era that finds no place
    In the pages of history.
    But they tell a tale of the ancient Gaedhal
    Though in letters it be not told
    It is written deep on the dark hillside
    And those relics the secret hold.
    3. Mayhap some giant shepherd dwelt
    Below in the valley there,
    Who oft at morn on the brown heath knelt
    To his heathen gods in prayer.
    And all day long his flocks among
    Caroll’d some ancient lay
    That told of valour or love or lore
    In the days when his sires held sway.
    4. And when at eve his flocks were penned
    In some quiet grassy spot
    Betook him, the quiet hours to spend
    To a neighbouring shepherd’s cot
    Or sought yon stream by the last faint gleam
    Of sunlight still caressed.
    While his wanderings disturbed but the patient flowers
    Or drove the coot from her nest.
    (continues on next page)
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