Athruithe le déanaí

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18
near Kesh here he settled down and his people are there today. The Foleys remained in Tulon and your grandfather Pat Flynn of Drumlkara; whose father Bartley Flynn was evicted from Drumlowan married Maggie Foley foTulon so there you are.
And I can tell you that during the Famine yeas here were 11 houses at Pat McGin's rock in Drumlara and a great many died because the Famine was in the air (?) and a lot were buried in Mikey Kavill's field along the road now and ever since, that field is called the "Graveyard"
IS your information good I ventured ask."Sound" says he I heard it from my father and the old people, and they all went through it.

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18
year 1812 he was a Lord Conway who was married to one of the Nesbitts of Derrycarnewas a landlord and a man named HarryConley (?) from Rooskynamona got a sub-lease of 105 acres of land in the downland of Killamaun and the tenants were paying 16/- (shillings) an Irish acre at the time and Harry when he got it raised to 50/- an accrete tenants refused to pay and he had nine evictions and the Foleys and all the Wards you know were out out. Gortvacan (?) was vacant at the time and Dr Bradshawwas dead. The Foleys and Wards took Gortvacan from James of Headforrd and 4 families of them lived in Bradshaw's waste house which was in Frank Boland's "street meadow" now and twas there Anne Foley a daughter of Jemmy Foleys- a sister of your grandmother was born in 1814 and a had agent named Councilolor Slandy evicts them from Gortavacan and gave it over to Captain Stack as a grazing farm The Foleys and Wards went into Tulcon (?) where they are today and took Tulcon from Minor OBrien of Drumrahan at 30/- and acre and got a lease of it. James Ward built McConnell's house Tucon but he left it and went to Englis (?)

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17
at his work in the morning you'd never see him again. There was 31 houses in Drumlara at the time and there was a Boiler in Drumrahan in '47 at Minor O'Briens and Thomas Conlan f Drumriggan & Frank Reynolds Corrigeen drawing meal to it (and selling it along the road)
There was a good many people living on roods of land and acres, and 2 acres in Drumlara and Bonnymore and getting stir about from the Drumrahanboiler until the British Government passed the "quarter acre" act and that knockout any person owning a
1/4 acre of land from getting relief, so they threw the land there and continued on relief and got their stir about.
Three was 45 houses and families living in Drumdoo on the old road which went up by Mick Boolys and out at John Flynns and that's not a half mile and there are 4 houses there today and some of them are getting it hard enough. I'll go back farther for you now and tell you something that'll interest yourself. Very good off with you. Well in the

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17
Trditions of the Famine times as related by Owen McGann Killamaun Mohill to J. Flynn Drumdart Mohill early in 1936.Owen heard it from his father - Big Stephen of Drumlara Mohill. Owen is now 75 years of age and married in Killamaun, Mobil. His father's about 30 years old when the famine came.
My father was born says Owen in 1814 the year before Waterloo and in the Famine years he was working below at Sheemore making the road from Sheemore through Ballingaving (?) and Sheffield into the village of Leitrim. He stayed down there for 9 months because he was a sort of a ganger. There were 150 men working there twos the relief work in '47. He told me he often saw 4 or 5 corpses coming to the work every day and he had to dispatch the men to Kiltoghent to bury the corpses
Some of the corpses were brought in "Bull rush" mats and "straw mats" because there was no tinker to make coffins. You know there was no timber a selling in towns at he time except balks which had to be carted from ships. And the man that wouldn't turn up

411
at night when the children gather together and one of them puts a cloth across his eyes and starts after the rest and when he catches one he puts the cloth on them.
See saw is played by getting barrel and leave it lying down then get a flat stick and put it over it then two children get one one on each end and weigh up and down.
High windows are played by a crowd of children standing a circle with their hands joined and two get out and play tig in and out among them and when they are tired two more get out and so on.
Round the green gravel is played by a crowd of children standing in a circle and the say a poem which is round the green gravel the grass grows green how many ladys fit to be seen; washed in milk dried (is) in silk last hops down and the child

The Vaughans who built what is known as the Castle close to the Castle Bridge were very heartless and uncharitable. One day a tramp came to the door When the man was asked what he wanted he said he wanted something to eat as he was hungry. However he got nothing but was told to clear away and never be seen near the place again.When the tramp was walking down the avenue pulled a leaf off a tree and began to chew it. The owner of the Castle saw him and became very angry. He ran out, caught the tramp and nailed him to a tree by the ears. Soon afterwards the tramp died. This particular tree was there up to a few years ago when it was cut down by Mr. Kelly the present owner of the Castle.

37
to the farmers of Irishowen as they got all the slag for top-dressing. This slag was very good because it was the pure sea-weed ground up. There were about thirty men employed in the factory. Finally, Campbell, the owner, could not get enough kelp so the factory had to be closed down.Mr H Arnour
Main St
Buncrana

35
The Old Mill.
The old mill situated outside the town on the bank of the Crana river and which is now almost in ruins was built by a man called Alexande at the end of the seventeenth century. This was the time when the linen industry was none of the most important industries in Ireland.
Some time afterwards Alexander took in as partner a man called Richardson owing to financial difficulties he and to borrow large sums of money from Richardson. Being unable to pay him back he gave up all his interests in the mill and Richardson carried on until his death.
Then one of his sons took over the business and it remained in the possession of the Richardsons until the year 1870 when the linen trade failed. The mill carried on with half-time until he year 1876 when the Richardsons gave it up all together.
The manager at that time, a Mr. Mc Causland carried on himself for another year but in 1876 he had to close down completely. All the machinery was then auctioned and nothing was left but the bare walls. It was not

James and Mary used to live in a small thatched house near the green. In the middle of the green was a rock these people had no cow so they decided to buy one. First of all, James had to build a byre and he thought the green was the best place for it. So he blasted the rock and built the byre on the green. All the neighbours told James not to touch the rock as the green was a fairy fort but James paid no heed to them.
Next James went to the fair and bought a cow but he had not the cow a week until she died. He bought four more cows, one after the other, but they all died.
James went to the fair to buy another cow. When he was away at the fair a strange old woman came into the house and started to talk to Mary. When she was in for a while she asked Mary where where was James and Mary told her that

31
house. He paid no heed to the warning given him but the fairies but carried on building. It was not very long afterwards until he died. The house was never finished.

30
"The Bonnie Wee Green" in Ballynarry
There was a man named Edward Bonner living in Ballynarry. Near his house was a small green called he "Bonnie Wee Green". In the summer time when the Scotch people were over the holidays Edward and his family and the Scotch people used to go out every night and dance on the green. The grass on the green never showed any signs of being trampled upon and no tracks were sen on the green at any time.
One night when they were in the house a strange old woman came in and told them to stop dancing on the green. They took no notice of what the old woman said but carried on dancing every night as usual. After that Edward Bonner and his family had very bad luck. They lost all their cattle. Some of them died and one was drowned in a river close by.
Mrs. Cutliffe, Lisowen, Buncrana
At one time a man decided to build a house on the green. He got all the stuff ready ad proceeded to build when he slept the first night he dreamt that the fairies told him to stop building the

29
One day, two men ent our hunting with dogs. They were not long out until the dogs ran after a white hare. The hare was too fast for the dogs and it managed to elude them.
The next day the men went out with guns. Again they saw the white hare and they fired several shots at it but they were not able to shoot it. Every time a show was fired the hare turned round and looked at them.
Then, one of the men said it was impossible to shoot it but the other said that there was only one way to kill it and that was with a piece of silver so he put a bent threepenny bit into the cartridge.
Soon, they saw the hare again. One of them fired the specially prepared cartridge and shot the hare in the leg. The leg was bleeding so they were able to track it by means of the trail of blood.
The trail ended at a small cabin. When they went into the cabin they saw an old woman bathing a wounded leg in a basin of hot water when the men saw this, they left and never again bothered about white hares.
Mrs. Doherty
Illias

18
One night there was an old woman coming home from midnight mass in the town. It was about two oclock on Christmas morning at it was very dark. There was a well at the top of the Pillar Park ? in a small glen and this old woman had a habit go going to the well to get a drink.
This night she went to get a drink out of the well. Next morning it was discovered that the old woman had not come home during the night so a search party was sent out to log for her.
One of the men went into the glen and found her lying dead in the well. After that midnight mass was discontinued. Every night afterwards a person was to be heard crying in the glen.
The people of the district became very uneasy when they saw that the crying was not going to stop so they went to the priest and told him about it. The priest went to the well and read at it for a while. The crying ceased then and nothing was ever heard in the glen since.
Mr. Willie McLaughlin
Carolina
Buncrana

Once, a ghost was supposed to be seen in Gortygargan in Desertegney. A man from that place said he would go out some night to the field in which the ghost was to be seen when he was coming home from a big nightie crossed the fields in order to find out what it was. Next day, he was found lying behind a ditch half-dead and shortly afterwards he died.

27
There is a well in Desertegney said to have been blessed by St. Egney. There was a man living close by who would not believe that it was a holy well at all. He said he would take his horse to the well and make the horse drink out of it. The people advised him not to interfere with the well but he persisted when he reached the well the horse went down on its knees and refused to drink. Then the man believed that the well was holy. The tracks of the horse's knees are still to be seen at the well.
Mrs. Fraser
Railray Rd.
Buncrana

27
There is a well in Desertegney said to have been blessed by St. Egney. There was a man living close by who would not believe that it was a holy well at all. He said he would take his horse to the well and make the horse drink out of it. The people advised him not to interfere with the well but he persisted when he reached the well the horse went down on its knees and refused to drink. Then the man believed that the well was holy. The tracks of the horse's knees are still to be seen at the well.
Mrs. Fraser
Railray Rd.
Buncrana
Once, a ghost was supposed to be seen in Gortygargan in Desertegney. A man from that place said he would go out some night to the field in which the ghost was to be seen when he was coming home from a big nightie crossed the fields in order to find out what it was. Next day, he was found lying behind a ditch half-dead and shortly afterwards he died.

25
In the penal days when there was a price on the head of every priest there lived a priest in Buncrana by the name of Fr. Hegarty. To escape from the soldiers he took refuse in a cave outside the town.
Information was given to the English as to his whereabouts by a man named Doherty, a native of the town. A body of soldiers under Colonel Vaughan made for the cave at night so as to catch him unawares.
Fr. Hegarty however was not caught off his guard for he heard the soldiers coming and he knew he had been betrayed. There ws no time to escape by land and so the cave was at the very shore the sea seemed to be his only hope for safety.
Having first of all lit a fire which was a prearranged signal with the people on the other side of the Lough Swilly to let them know that he was in danger he jumped into the water began swimming about, intending to keep floating until a boat would come from the other side and pick him up.
Colonel Vaughan saw that his quarry was not going to be captured so easily as he thoughts he shouted too Fr. Hegarty that f he came

One time a light appeared in Brigid Loughrey's in the Rockytown. This light shown through the house for five minutes and then disappeared. A few days afterwards the man of the house took sick and had to go to his bed. A few nights afterwards the light appeared again. This time it went round the bed where the old man was lying. It went round the bed time and then disappeared again. About two or three days afterwards the old man died. This light was supposed to be a warning that the old man was going to die.

119
the wedding. She will be lucky if she wears white, blue ir grey. It is unlucky for two brothers to get married the same year.
An Doineann
Pupil's name:
Andrías Ó Larcháįn
Lahard
Told by
Michael Larkin.
Lahard
Age: 54 years
There was a great storm in this part of the country about forty years ago. The storm commenced on a Friday night in the year 1897. It lasted all day Saturday. On Friday evening the sky looked very cloudy and dark. Some people said that a great flood was coming . It started raining on Saturday night and continued raining during Sunday. The flood broke down many bridges including Listry bridge. The waters of the rivers rose to great height, and overflowed their banks. The flood destroys crops which were growing near the river. It lasted for three days. It knocked houses which were built near the rivers. Many cattle were drowned. Many boats were

118
Pupils name:
Tomás O
Muncarsa,
Mallymalis.
Told by
James Murphy
Mallymalis
Age: 62 years.
The lucky days of the week for marriage are Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. The other days are supposed to be unlucky. The unlucky months for marriage are March, August, and December. When a man and a girl are to be married one of them must have a farm or kine, and the other must have a fortune. The man usually has the farm. On the night of the wedding straw boys come to the bride's house They are welcomed and given drink there. The bride should not wear black at the wedding, as it is unlucky. If a wedding party meets a funeral it is supposed to be an unlucky omen.
Pupils name:
Miceál Ó
Draorn
Lahard
Told by
Tom Breen,
Lahard, 52 years.
The usual time for marriages is shrove. The lucky months are January, February, March, May, June and July. When people are married rice is generally thrown at them for good luck. The bride will be unlucky if se wears black, red or brown at

117
at the day of the marriage the
marriage would be unlucky. After the marriage the married pair go for a long drive. On the night of the wedding straw boys come to the house. They wear straw hats and masks. If the bride wears a white dress on the day of the wedding it is said that she will be lucky.
Pupils name:
??ronias Ó
Lancáin
Lahard
Story told by:
Michael
Larkin,
Lahard
Age 34 years.
In olden times people got married in their own houses. It is different nowadays. It is hundreds of years since they got married in the houses. After the marriage the couple went in the drag with some friends. A few horse men led the way, and after these came side-cars. It was a great sight to see them passing along the road. That night after returning they had a merry night of dancing and other amusements.

The butter is gathered together on the top of the buttermilk with a wooden trencher. It is lifted into a wooden butter tub with the trencher. The buttermilk is then squeezed out of it. Then it is rinsed and salted. After that the salt is beaten through the butter with two spades. It is then weighed out in pounds and prints. My churn is 24 1/4" long and 18 1/2" wide. (Gretta Dalton - 13 - from father Thomas - 51 - of Bracklins Kilbeggan)

The churn is ten years of age. There is a number on the lid of the churn 809. (Michael Boland - 12 - from Mother Julia - 55 - of wood of Tullamore)

130
are able to get back the utter by that means. (Celia Dalton - 12 - from her father Thomas - 51 - of Bracklin Kilbeggan)

Our churn is fourteen years of age. There are beliefs connected with churning. Some people are able to take butter from other people when churning. They have a straw rope in their hand and they use magic words and by that means they take the butter. The people who are missing the butter can take it back by putting the coulter of a plough in the fire and boulting the door. The person who is taking the butter will come to the door and shake it and the woman of the house when she hears it is to say "I will burn you longer" and they

129
the churn. It is said that if they do not take it, there would be no butter in it. (Alice Daly - 12 - from Joseph Scally (53) both of Ballykeague, Daingéan)

The vent is for letting the air out of the barrel. There is a piece of metal on the bottom of the churn to balance it. The churn is twenty five yers old. The housekeeper does the churning. When strangers come into the house during the churning the always take

128
Churning
25-5-'38 The various parts of a churn are the handle, lid, screws, barrel vent and stand. The churn that we have at home is about three years old. There is no mark on it. The butter milk i used for making bread. It is used for wetting the flour when a cake is being made. It is given to young pigs sometimes. (Thomas Scally - 11 - from Joseph Scally (53) of Ballykeague, Daingéan)

People like to put down eggs on Friday. The sign of cross is put on hatching eggs.
(Vincent OConnor - 12 - from Mother Mary (45) of Kilmurry, Daingéan.

The call for a calf: suck
The call for a cow: pug
The call for a horse: hug
The call for a pig: hurrish jhoh
(Celia Dalton- (12)- from father Thomas 52. Bracklin Kilbeggan.

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The Care of Animals
The pigs have not got names. The pigs are always kept in the pig sty. The pigs get a bed of straw every day. The pigs eat boiled potatoes and turnips for their meals also. The pigs get the milk after their meals. (Bill Byrne (13) from father Thomas (54) both of Bracklin Kilbeggan)

When driving horses you say "go on Moll, gee up, hop off" The fodder that horses get is hay, cracked corn, grains, turnip, mangolds, potatoes, oats. The horses are brought to a blacksmith to be shod. He pares the hoofs and then nails on an iron shoe. The horses would be lame without shoes. The horses are clipped every Winter. A machine is used to clip them. They are clipped to keep them from sweating. (Gretta Dalton (13) from Thomas father (52) of Bracklin, Kilbeggan.

If a cow is not milked out well she will soon go dry. It is not right to milk out a cow after she calving or she would get the milk fever.
(Thomas Scally (13) from Joseph Scally (53) both of Ballykeagne, Daingéan.

126
The Care of Farm Animals
"Cow things". People sometimes hang up palm branch in the cow-house to bring luck. (Maura Kinnearney (13) from Patrick (49) father both of Wood of O. Tullamore)

We tie our cows by the neck at home. The things are made of iron chains attached on to a piece of black loured down in the ground and the chains are tied around the neck of each. The local mar name for them is

The cow house is a big house with a galvanized roof. There is a long manger inn it, and the manger is divided into many different parts, so that each cow may have a part for herself. There are chains tied to the manger and the cows are tied to them. They are tied by the neck. (Alice Daly (13), both from Joseph Scally (53) of Ballykagne. Daingéan.)

125
The Care of Farm animals.
38 Names of cows
Fanny, Pansy, Doilly, Daisy, Molly, Kitty, Snowdrop, Shiela, Patty. When driving the cow in or out you say "hou, hop on" The same is said to the calves. When calling calves you say "suck suck"
(Rose Bracken (13) from her mother Mary (49) of Bracklin Kilgebban)

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Written by Thomas Quinn
Told to him by Mick Galvin,
Tubberdaly,
Rhode,
Offaly,
The following story relates to one of the Fianna, Fionn Mac Cumhail. One day as Fionn was out hunting he saw what appeared to him golden windows a far off on the side of the hill.
He left the other hunters and went in the direction of the golden windows. The hill which I am speaking about is believed to be that of Clonin Hill situated in the land of Mr Smith Coolcor about a half mile from our house. When Fionn Mac Cum-hail reached the hill the golden windows which he expected to find were not there but in their stead were two rocks known as the "Sugar Stone" Fionn was delighted to find this stone for he had never seen one with so many colours in it before. Fionn said that however precious it was he would not bring it on horse-back. He placed it on the top of the hill with the intention of giving it a kick that would send it to Tara. When he was about to kick the rock he slipped so that the rock was unable to cross Croghan Hill. The rock struck the hill and fell back into, part of it moulded away and the other portion is still to be seen a field not far from the

334
Written by Dan Sheerin.
Told to him by Pat Sheerin
Tubberdaly
Rhode,
Offaly.
A story is told dealing with Finn Mac Cumhaill and his wife. Finn was threshing at this home his wife was on her holidays at Cashel. When the night came after the threshing Finn's wife knew that Finn needed butter for the mens supper.
She went to the dairy and she got fifty three pounds of butter. She went to the nearest hill and she got the butter in one hand and the meaning to throw it to Finn's house, she put it into a field. The butter turned into a stone and the marks of her fingers are on the stone.
The stone is in a field belong to a man by the name of "Ned Stones."
Finn sent word to his wife and told her not to go near him again over not sending the butter. To prove that she sent the butter she brought him to the filed and he believed her.

333
loaves cried; take us out or we will burn.
The girl took out the loaves and went on until she came to a house, where an old woman lived. The girl was at first afraid to go in, but the old woman called for he and engaged her to shake out her head every day.
At last the girl said she would go home lest her step mother would be looking for her. The woman led her to a gateway and as she was going under it a shower of gold fell on her and gave her a dress of golden colour.
When she reached home and told her step sister what had happened, she too thought she would gather and get a golden dress. She went to the well, and to the house but said the work was too hard for her and when she was going under the gateway a shower of pitch fell over her dress. She ran home and told her step mother, who was very angry, and this made her hate her step daughter more.

332
Written by Maurice OToole
Told to him by John OToole
Killure
Rhode,
Offaly
Once upon a time there lived a step mother who had a step daughter and a daughter of her own. She was very cruel to her step daughter and made her do all the hard work and would not allow her daughter to do any work.
Every day the step daughter had to go out and spin beside a well. It happened one day that the girl was so tired spinning that she let the thimble fall into the well.
Filled with fear, she ran home to her step mother who sent her back to look for it. The girl leaned so far over the edge that she fell in but was not drowned instead she fell into a beautiful green field She walked along and came to an apple tree, all the apples cried out, pull us down or we will go bad, the girl pulled them, ate some and left the others under the tree. She walked on again until she came to an oven, the

330
Written by Thomas Quinn.
Told to him by William Quinn
Killure
Rhode
Offaly.
The following is a story told to me by my father, it relates to a man named Patrick Kearns who left his home to earn his living.
He went to the King of Connaught and asked him for a job the king refused him the job, and Patrick was very angry. A few days after the departure of the king all the wells in Connaught went dry. After that if a well went dry in Connaught the people would say "Kearns has came to it"

329
Written by Willie Mulligan, Told (??) to him by W Mulligan
Rhode,
OffalyThe landlord that ruled over this district in olden times was Mr Dames.
He was a very strict man and his evictions were numerous. He evicted a family called Birmingham who lived in Greenville (woll) wood, for not paying the rent. After being evicted they went to America where they are still living at the present day.

328
Written by Mary Hickey,
Told to her by Mrs Hickey
Dunville,
Rhod,
Offaly.
There are several pretty stories told concerning the Holy Family. Once the Flight into Egypt, Our Divine Lady stayed overnight in a house to do some washing for the Infant Jesus.
When she had the little garments washed she spread them out on the hedge to dry. On resuming their journey next morning the neigh-bours found the most beautiful roses growing on the hedge.

327
Written by Willie Mulligan Told to him by William Mulligan
Rhode
Offaly
The story I know relating to the Holy Family is this - When they were going into Egypt they happened to pass a robbers cave, so the Blessed Virgin said to St Joseph that they should go inside, St Joseph agreeing to go they went in.
When they were inside a spider came and wove his web upon the entrance, in a short time they heard the sound of the soldiers coming near them, they been afraid to go and stayed outside, and they heard one soldier say to another shall we go inside, but the other seeing the cobweb on the entrance said, It would be of no use going inside as this web seems to be unbroken, so they went on thinking that there was no now inside.

326
Written by Philomena Murphy, Told to
her by Mrs Murphy
Tubberdaly,
Rhode,
Offaly.
In this and every other district I think every person has stood in a forge as it is supposed to be a place for local news. There are two forges (sit) in this parish and both of them are situated at the side of the public road. The smiths are John Cronly and Michael Cox. Those two smiths shoe horses, and asses. They also repair broken tools such as ploughs, harrows, mowing machines and other broken articles.
I often heard it said that the forge water cures warts. There is a small place outside the forge which is used for shoeing wheels. Michael Cox's forge has a door shaped like a horse-shoe, a slated roof and stone walls. This forge was built in the year 1880 and it cannot be expected to be a very good one at the present day.

325
Care of the feet
The water that the feet is washed in is supposed to make rose-bushes grow, and it is also said it kills the flies that eat the leaves of the rose-bushes.

323
Written by Edward Lenehen. Told to him by Joh Lenehen,
Rhode,
Offaly.
Care of the Feet
Seldom nowadays do we see people, children especially going in their bare feet. This goes to prove that people in olden times were in better physical condition and better t withstand the cold than the people of the present time. In recent years the young people as well as the old wear boots and shoes, but this might be due to the inclement weather that is experienced nearly throught the whole year. In years gone by people would not think of wearing footwear until they came at least to the age of eighteen, but more often it was at the age of twenty that young people experienced the pleasure of wearing their first pair of boots. Many people could make their own footwear in this locality, but those who plied their trade here are now extinct and there only remains one or two who can repair boots or shoes.As those are few it follows that they have much work to do.
Clogs were also made by a man named Patrick Ennis who now resides at Rhode Bridge. He travelled most of Ireland and was an adept at the trade. Another man skilled in

321
Written by Philomena Murphy
Told to her by John Murphy
Tubberdaly
Rhode
In this part of the country farmers pay great attention to their farms anim (ab) which are cows, calves, horses, sheep, pigs, hens and ducks. In the Summer all those animals are left out except the pigs the ducks and the hens. But in Winter they are put into comfortable stables in the farmyard. The farmer gives them a box of sliced turnips or mangolds and a quantity of hay to eat during the night.
When the farmer threshes his corn in the Autumn he generally preserves the straw for the use of bedding his animals. Usually the horses get oats to eat instead of (corn) turnips and mangolds The horses also get carrots and parnsips to eat. The sheep are never brought into the stables. They are out in every sort of weather. But at the same time they get enough to eat. The farmer puts out turnips and mangolds in the field. It is seldom the pigs are left out grazing.

320
Eve." On that night (con) a number of young people dress up in torn clothes and go round from house to house singing and dancing. Sometimes they get apples. Those people are called "Huggadas." "Hallow Eve" is celebrated on the first of November. People also put apples into a dish of water and try to get them up with their mouths.
On St Stephen's day it is a custom in my district for boys to go round from house to house with a little bush in their hands decorated with ribbons sing the following rhyme. The wren, the wren, the king of all birds,
St Stephen's day he as caught in the furze,
Although he is small, his family is great,
Rise up landlady and die us a treat,
Up with the kettle and down with the pan,
A penny or twopence to bury the wren,
A pocket full of money, a barrel full of beer
I wish you all a happy Christmas and a bright new year.

A custom celebrated in my district on Shrove Tuesday, is, to procure three plates one filled with clay, another with water, and a ring placed on the other.
A person is then blindfolded and sent over to put his hand on one of the plates. If he puts his hand on the plate containing the clay, he will be buried before the next year comes. If he puts his hand on the plate containing the water he will be drowned before that time twelve months. If he puts his hand on the plate con-training the ring, he will be married before that time twelve months.
Another festival held in my district is "Hallow

319
Written by Maurice O'Toole,
Iggary Biggary Buy some liccary.
Bumble aor ? jig.
Any man who wants a wife.
OUT. spells out,
And out you must go.
Pop.
Written by Mary Rourke, told to her by Mrs ORourke,
Newtown,
Rhode
Offaly.

318
Written by Sean Kelly, told to him by Teresa Mooney
Rhode
Offaly
The following are a list of old words and proverbs, used in this district.
"It is as light as two people in a rug"
This is often said when men are tying hay or straw on a cat.
"That wind would shave the whiskers off a rat" There is often said about the North Castle wind.

317
Written by Francis Rowan, told to him by
Lizzie Smullen
Rhode
The following are a list of Proverbs and old sayings which I heard at home :-
"A burnt child fears the fire."
"As heavy as lead."
"As light as a feather."
"As big as a house"
"As cute as a fox."
"As high as a mountain."
"As strong as a horse"
"He was as black as soot."
"It was a blue as the sky"
"As cold as ice."
"It was as sweet as sugar."
"You might as well be trying to make a racehorse of an ass"
"It was as salty as the sea."
"An open mouth never catches flies."

316
Written by Philomena Murphy. Told to her
by Mrs Murphy
Tubberdaly.
One day a man went into a public house and asked for a glass of whiskey. The shopkeeper asked him which would he have the twelve-year old or the twenty one year old. The man said the twenty-one year old as he thought it would be the biggest. and when he got it he said "its very small for its age.
I have my way and you have your way and every way does like the woman washing the churn. A man went into a house one time and the woman of the house was washing the churn. The man said that is not the way my wife washes the churn, well said the woman "I have my way, and you have your way and every way does

315
hundreds were cured from the disease called "Black Fever" by drinking some of this water. A priest named Fr McCabe made the people drink this water. When old people come about the place they always get a drink of this water especially if they have a sore throat. because the "Black Fever"was a disease in the throat. Before Fr McCabe died he got a drink out of the well, and when he had it drank he said that the people of Tubberdaly would never suffer thirst. Fr McCabe's dying wish was to be buried beside this well.

Holy Wells
Written by Philomena Murphy. Told to her
by Mrs Murphy
Tubberdaly
Rhode
Wells are very numerous around this locality. There are three within a hundred yards of each other. They are called by various names such as the "mount well" "the horse pond" and the small well is called the "spring well"
In the years of the famine

314
Written by Willie Mulligan. Told to him by Mrs Mulligan
Rathney
Rhode
There is one well in my district which is situated in Ballyshall. It is called Tubberáran. It is visited by people on the last day of April to cure headaches. It is called Tubberáran, because a man named Áran is believed to have dug it. When the people go to the well to get cured, they stick pins in the thrunk of a tree nearby, and they also leave old rags there in order to get cured. This well has cured a great lot of people. It has cured a man named Peter Nevin.

313
Written by Teresa Bergin.
Told to her by James Scully,
Rhode
Offaly
About two miles from my house, there stands a Castle in a high field. When the Danes were in Ireland, they built this castle, and used it as a grinding mill. It was decided to make a road in to this mill, so that people could get to it easily. This road was made from "Wakeley's Hill" in Bally shall in through a bog, by a number of men who resided in that district. It is now called the "Black Castle.

93
Hidden Treasure
There is money supposed to be stored away in Mr. Boland's field called Timber Moor Colehill. The money consisted of gold. By the Danes it was placed there It is not know if anyone looked for it. Mr John Mack told my mother of this buried treasure. It is hidden about three miles and a half from where I live. It is thirty year's since it was talked about.
Story repeated by John Mack, to Mrs. Gilligan, Macklin, John Mack, (70) farmer, Colehill, Tullamore. Retold by Mrs. Gilligan (58). John Mack, native of above address.
Written 22th Nov '37.

At the side of Mr Carter's house in Ballycommon there is a hill called Castle Hill and in it there is money stored away It is not know how much money is hidden In Ballyteague lane there is the mouth of a tunnel and this tunnel goes underground to Castle Hill from the lane. The mouth of the tunnel is blocked up with stones.
Some years ago sfour men attempted to get the gold. The names of the men are Patrick Birmingham, Patrick Bricklin, Thomas Bolger, and John Feery. The men are still alive. They opened the entrance of the tunnel and two of them went some way but they got afraid and they turned back. They then blocked the entrance and no attempt has been made since to discover the gold. It is not known by whom the gold was put there.
Written 20th Nov '37
Related by Mr. Dunne, Ballyteague, Ballycommon, Daingean, Also by Mr. J. Scully

of an old tree, which was blown down by a wind storm. He found the crock when he was cutting up the fallen tree for firewood.
Above story related by Mr Joseph Gorman, Derrygrogan, Big, Ballycommon, Daingean, Age 73. Farmer. Told to him by Jack Devoy, Ballinagar. Written 11th Nov. '37.

They taught the children reading writing and arithmetic.
Told by Joseph Smullen,
Ballybrittain,
Edenderry,
Offaly.
Written by Sean Glennon,
Greenhill,
Fahy,
Offaly

Rgode, offaly. The children wrote with chalk on slates. The best boy or girl was put at the top of the class and the bad ones at the bottom. The teachers made arrangements with the children to meet them at a certain spot.
Told by Sean Killeen
Greenhill,
Fahy
Offaly.
Written by Sean Glennon,
Greenhill,
Fahy,
Offaly

33
1
Hedge Schools
Years ago before the National schools came into existence, the only edu-cation the Irish people received was from learned men who travelled from place to place. These men were called hedge-school masters because they generally conducted their classes in the open air. They taught reading, writing and arithmetic. The teachers depended on the scholars for payment, but this amounted to very little as the people in most cases were poor. The hedge-school master used used to stay in a farmer's house for one night and the next night in another.
In years gone by the old people said that there was a hedge-school in Mr Moore's stable near

32
man in my locality who owned a stable which was blown a mile away from his house.
Told by Joe Flynn,
Ballykillen,
Edenderry,
Offaly.
Written by Sean Glennon,
Greenhill,
Fahy,
Offaly

31
3
According to local belief the worst storm in this century occurred on the night of the 23rd of February 1903.
The majority of the thatched houses of the country were stripped of their roofs while slated houses also suffered considerably. The farmers suffered considerable losses as all their hay and straw was blown away.
All roads leading to Eden-derry were blocked with fallen trees. Many people were killed with fallen branches. In the wood of Ballindoolan there ere three hundred dead crows found the next day. Many people were knocked down by the wind.
There was a certain

30
drifts of snow on every road and people found it impossible to go to the town for food. Many sheep were covered with snow and many farmers were at the loss of their flocks. The cattle were in a bad condition and the farmers were not able to bring hay to them. The snow stayed on the ground for a week (leaving) then it melted away leaving many indications of its fierceness.
Told by Michael Gorman,
Ballinla,
Edenderry,
Offaly.
Written by Sean Glennon,
Greenhill,
Fahy,
Offaly.

29
2
It is seldom we have very bad storms, but on 23rd of February in 1903 there was a terrific storm.
It started early in the evening and all through the night until the next morning.
There were many roofs blown off houses. There was considerable damage caused by flying slates. Many people were struck by them and were either killed tr severely wounded.
At eight in the morning the storm abated and the people were very much relieved.
In 1832 there was a big fall of snow. It snowed for two day and two nights without ceasing. There were big

Many people were rendered home-less on that awful night.
Told by James Conroy,
Greenhill,
Fahy,
Offaly.
Written by Sean Glennon,
Greenhill,
Fahy,
Offaly.

18
When it is going to snow big flocks of crows fly about from field to field.
Told by Michael Gorman,
Ballinla,
Edenderry,
Offaly.
Written by Sean Glennon,
Greenhill,
Fahy,
Offaly

17
2
When it is going to rain there are many signs to indicate it. A dog eating grass or drinking water is a sure sign of bad weather. When swallows are flying high it is a sign of good weather. When they are flying low it is a sign of bad weather.
People say if goats are high on the hills it is a sign of good weather. If they come down it is a sign of a storm.
When a cat scratches a tree it is also a sign of a storm.
A rainbow in the middle of the morning is the shepherd's warning, a rainbow in the night is the shepherd's delight.

14
Q What kind of dog is always three feet long?
A A yard dog.
Q When is the farmer cruel to his corn
A When he threshes it.
Told by Jhonny McNamee,
Clonmore,
Fahy,
Offaly
Written by Sean Glennon,
Greenhill,
Fahy,
Offaly

13
3
Q What is it that goes up when the rain comes down?
A An umbrella
Q As round as an apple, as plump as a ball, can climb the church over steeple and all?
A The Sun
Q When should three black hen's make three white ones?
A When they are plucked.
Q I have a little red cow she eats all I give her but drinks none at all?
A A fire
Q When is a ten-shilling note of no value
A When compared with a pound it is worth-less.

11
A. A magpie
Q. What comes twice in the week and only once in the year?
A. The letter E.
Told by Joseph Hanbury,
Ballybrittain,
Edenderry,
Offaly.
Written by Sean Glennon,
Greenhill,
Fahy,
Offaly.

11
2
Q. What can a white hen do that a black one can't?
A. She can lay an egg the colour of herself.
Q. Every-thing has what a tongs has what is it?
A. Its name.
Q. What wig can no hairdresser make?
A. An earwig.
Q. How many balls of twine would it take to reach the moon?
A. One if it was long enough.
Q. How far can you go into a wood?
A. To the middle?
Q. A house-full and a roomful and and you could not lift a spoon-full?
A. Smoke.
Q. As white as milk as black as silk and hops on the road like hailstones?

10
as a pan one side a woman and the other a man.
A A penny
Q As I looked out on my window I saw a wonderful thing the dead carrying the live and wasn't that a wonderful thing.
A A train.
Told by Patrick Malone,
Greenhill,
Fahy,
Offaly.
Written by Sean Glennon,
Greenhill,
Fahy,
Offaly.

9
Riddles.
1
Question. Which house is never dark.
Answer. A lighthouse
Q. What is it we often catch but never see.
A A passing remark
Q Why is a dirty boy like flannel
A Because he shrinks from washing
Q Why is a school-boy so much like postage stamps.
A Because he is so much licked first and then made stick to his letters.
Q I have a little man above in the field when I pull his leg his nose will bleed.
A A pump
Q Patch upon patch with any stitches.
A Ahead of cabbage
Q As round as an apple as flat

8
disappointed but followed this advice and found it was a good one.
Told by James Mooney,
Fahy,
Offaly
Written by Sean Glennon,
Greenhill,
Fahy,
Offaly.

7
3 †here is a field at the back of my grandmothers house; it is called "Peters Field." It is said that long ago there was treasures hidden in it. A man once once caught a "lepreacan" there. The man told the "lepreacan" that he would let him go if he told him where the treasured was hidden. The "lepreacan" told hi it was under a tree in "Peters Field." The man dug under the tree and found in it was a pincers and a hammer. There was a note in the pot and written on it was "I you use these you will get all the gold you deserve."
The man was

6
dug any more for it. The walls of the castle around which lights were seen are still standing.
Told by Michael Gorman,
Ballinla,
Edenderry,
Offaly.
Written by Sean Glennon,
Greenhill,
Fahy,
Offaly.

5
2 It is said there is gold hidden on the hill of Carbury about four miles east of Edenderry. There is a tunnel from that hill to Carrick Hill which is said to be full of gold. It is in the cave of a black cat. One life has to be lost before it can be taken.
All the hill is covered with firs and bushes.
Late every night lights are seen about the old castle. Men were engaged by Mr O'Toole of Edenderry to dig for the gold. They were not long digging until they found skeletons and bits of swords. The said that they were about two hundred years old. No gold was found because the men got afraid and they never

312
Barracks before that night or they would be burned in it. They left immediately and when night came a crowd of men came and set it on fire.
These men did a lot of damage, they cut down a couple of trees which they placed across the road to prevent anyone passing until they had the barracks burned and they also tore up the road for about three or four yards.
There is also an old ruin in Tubberdaly which was once the residence of Mr Nesbit and which was also burned down and he had to leave the country.

311
Written by Kathleen OToole
Told to her by John OToole
Rhode
Offaly
The district in which I live is called Rhode. It is situated in the north-east of Offaly. The district is divided into ten or twelve town lands: Tubberdaly, Rathcobican, Cooloor, Rathmoyle, Dunville, Clonnin, Coolville, Fahy, Sragh, and many others. The Barony is called Warrenstown. One time, it is, believed a man named Warren lived in their Barony, and it was from him the Barony got its name.
There are some old people living in the district who are over seventy years of age. All of them tell stories in about olden times in English (Irish) but none of them tell Irish stories. They said that they never knew any Irish, as there were no Irish Teachers when they went to school.
All over the districts there are big houses and small houses, she of these houses were either burned down or fallen down because they were only made from mud. Beside my house there are the ruins of an old R.I.C. Barracks, which was burned down during the troublesome times in this district. One day the policemen got a warning to leave the

309
Written by Willie Mulligan
Told o him by William Mulligan
Rathmoyle
Rhode
Offaly
A man named Mr Kerr who lived in Coolcar, told his men (or) one day to go out and draw in the mangolds, but when they went out there was nothing left but the skins.
There is a story told about a man named Joe Malone who refused to give his corn to the landlord he was so hungry. But on account of this the landlord evicted him out of his house.
After this he was seen eating grass on the side of the road where he died in a few days. I also heard of another story about a man named Patrick Swords who put his (?) turnips and mangolds safe in a barn, but when he went to look for them they ere all rotton.

308
The mother then sends the other girl, but she returns even more frightened than the first girl. Then the mother gets the children behind her back and goes out to the witch in the garden, and the following dialogue takes place.
Mother:- "What are you going to do with the knife.
Witch :- "Get me some sand."
M: "What do you with the sand,"
W :- "I want to sharpen my knife,"
M :- "What do you want to sharpen your knife for,"
W :- "To cut your throats"
Then the witch runs after them, and pretends to cut their throats.

307
Written by Mary HIckey
Rhode Offaly
There are numerous games played by the girls in my school such as "Cat and mouse," "Frog in the well", "Mary", "Lance and May," "Tip and Dig", and "Ring a Ring a Roses." My favourite game is "Witch in the Garden."
To carry out this game there are to be a mother, two children and a witch. The witch is in a corner of the garden under the shade of a pear tree.
Then the mother sends one of the children out to the clothes line, which is in the garden to fetch her father's tie. The girl on arriving at the garden gate saw the witch, and she was so terrified that she was not able to ask for it. She ran back to her mother and told her that there was a witch in the garden, but the mother says that it is only a head of cabbage.

303
Written by Philomena Murphy,
Told to her by Mrs Murphy,
Tubberdaly
Rhode
Offaly
When the potatoes were put in pints they all rotted away. When the people saw this occurrence they tried to mind them as best they could, in this way they saved a few. They were so scarce they could not afford to eat them and a plan was thought of that they should cut they eye out of the potatoe and sow it. Then they could eat the remainder. Many people from this locality died with the Famine Fever, and many people were cured, the man who cured these people was a priest whose name was Fr McCabe. When he was curing he people he told them that one more would have to die, but sad to say that one was himself. He cured the people with ordinary spring water. Since that time the people say that the wells in Tubberdaly are blessed. Many people believe that there is a cure in this water.

302
Written by Gerard Hickey,
Told to him by John Hickey,
Dunville,
Rode,
Offaly
A man named Hugh Wheleh??? lived in the neighbourh of Derryarken who had a small farm on which were fifteen cattle, three cows and six pigs. When the feeding for pigs got scanty, he (desio, decided upon killing the pigs. The people heard tell of him killing the pigs.Immediately they swarmed around him begging for some part of the pigs. He distributed all six pigs among them. After (afe) some time he had no food for himself. After two weeks without any food, he was determined to go and seek food somewhere. To fast (an) any longer would mean a lingering death for him. He went to the houses begging alms and favours. Yet he could not get a living. One day he fainted by the roadside, where he died.

301It is said, that a man while coming home from a fair of Kinnegad, sw a Ghost on the side of the road, with bleeding whip weals across his back and shoulders. no doubt this was the poor peasant who was whipped to death years before. Stories like this, ought to excite our pity for those poor peasants who died during the famine.

300
Written by Sean Kelly.
Told to him by Patrick Kelly,
The Mill
Rhode
Offaly.
About the year 1845, '36 and '47 a great famine raged in Ireland. It was also called the Black Famine, because when the blight fell on the potatoes they turned black. It was no unwanted sight during those terrible years to see the decent labouring people dying like bestial mendicants in the ditches.
One story of those ghastly times will always remain in my memory. It was a story of how a man named Patrick Tyler of Corbetstown, Garr, was whipped into unconsciousness by his Landlord's servants who lived in a castle near the Boyne Bridge.
When his potatoes were all consumed by the hungry fangs of the famine, he went up to the castle and asked for two turnips, whereupon orders were given for his arrest. He was then tied to a stake and three men whipped him for 15 minutes.
When he hung loosely on the ropes he was cut loose, and was let fall to the ground.
He was unconscious for some time, and when he got better, he found out that he couldn't walk, from loss of blood. He then crawled away and died like a dog under a nearby hedge.

298
Written by Gerard Hickey.
Told to him by Patrick Hickey,
Rhode.
Offaly
I often hear my m
I often hear my mother speak of the great fort which is situated in Ballybrittain. Beside the castle stands a huge castle. This castle was built by the Danes. It is said that when they came to Ireland they routed the fairies out of the fort. They succeeded in finding the entrance door, but, they never succeeded in finding the gold. For minding the gold is a dog, whose hair stands out like bristles (or) on his back. It is said that at night-fall a light, something like a spurt of flame can be seen going around the fort, then it disappears into thin air. Immediately after wards a dog starts howling. After a while the Danes (as) used the fairy fort as an arsenal.

295
someone else. Long ago the people used to shoot an animal like this. This custom is told to the present day but the people do not shoot the animal as it would be too big a loss.
Long ago a child that was born on the first day of May was dressed up like a queen. This child was also supposed to be lucky.

294
Written by Sean Kelly. Told to him by
Teresa Mooney
Rhode
Offaly
It is said that April borrows three says from March to bury the "old cow" It akses nine days in all :- three days to "kill her". three days to "skin her" and three days to "bury her." But this is only a story. It is always remarked that the borrowing days are very cold - so cold that it would nearly "skin a cow."
The day thought lucky for planting potatoes and cabbage was Friday. Tuesday was (is) counted lucky to sow wheat and oats.
It is said if people have not their potatoes soon before the 14th of March they will have very bad crop. It was thought unlucky to change from one house to another on Friday. It was also thought unlucky to apply remedies to ailments on Wednesday.
If Candlemas day be fair and bright
Winter will have another flight
but if Candlemas day be dull and
grew, Winter is gone and Summer will stay
If a foal was born on Whit Sunday it was supposed to kill itself or kill

293
Written by Mary Rourke Told to her by Mrs ORourke,
Newtown,
Rhode,
Offaly
The people long ago held Friday a lucky day to go into a new house. They also planted potato-onions on the shortest day and of the year and took them up the longest day. They also said if it rains on Candlemas day (St Stephen's Day) it will rain for forty days and forty nights.
"If Candlemas day to be fair and bright
Winter will have another flight
But if Candlemas be dull and gray
Winter is gone and summer will stay."
The first three days of April are referred to as days of the "Old Cow." The story of the old cow so, there was once an old cow and she was very thin. She was also perished with the cold wind of March. But when was out she licked up her legs and said "I am safe now." It happened that March heard her and got vexed and borrowed three days from April to skin the old cow.
Another (is) remark is March will search, April will try and May will call you whether you will live or die.

286
Irish Place Names
Written by Gerard HIckey told to him by John Hickey
Ballyburly
Offaly
John Pope who lived beside a well in Ballyburly. His house was surrounded by a large wood. He had a habit go going out at night-time to see the weather. This night he went out as usual about nine o' clock. He never stayed out any later than half past nine. This night there was no sign of him returning home. Five o' clock in the morning came and there was no sign of him returning So his wife went out in search of him half heart-broken. It was still dark, so that made it nearly impossible for her to find her way about. She managed to find her way to the well, because it was the first place she suspected. When she came near the well she saw a black thing by the side of the well. She rushed to the spot where she saw the black thing. On arriving at the well she found out that the black thing was her husband drowning. But in her hurry to see him her foot slipped and she fell into the well. She shouted for help, but it was all in vain. It is recorded as the worst tragedy that ever happened in my district. They were buried in the one grave. So ever afterwards the well was called Pope's Well.

285
A Story
Written by Mary Rourke told to her by Mrs ORourke,
Newtown
Rhode
Offaly
A story is told in my district of a man named Mr Smyth, Ballycolgan, who saved a priest during the penal times. He hid the priest and when the Yeoman came to look for him, he told them he had gone another direction, and they went off. Mr Smyth then dressed the priest in Mrs Smyth's clothes and got his horse and he and the priest went off on horseback. When the had gone a long distance from the house, the priest got down and Mr Smyth came back.
The priest said Mr Smyth would never be without a good horse and dog, because the dog beaked when the Yeoman were coming, and the horse left him to a place of safety.
When the Yeoman ere at the door of Mr Smyth's and when they were not let in, one of them struck the door with an axe,
A man named John Byrne, Ballyfore, has the door still. A man named Mr Leonard betrayed the priest. A place called "Mass Lane" is in Carback, so called because mass was said in the lane.

284
A Story
Written by Tim Murphy, told to him by Dick Cannot Tubberdaly Rhode Offaly
During the penal times there lived in Tubberdaly a priest called Fr McCabe. Like all priests of the penal period there was a price on his head. He lived in a small house in middle of a field known as Mc Abe's field.
Last year while Dick Connor was ploughing the field (now his property) he sloughed up bits of the house and later unearthed turf mould where Fr McCabe had his turf.
One day as Fr McCabe was going to attend a man who was dying on the road-side he became very thirsty. He knelt down closed his eyes, clasped his hands and began to pray. When he opened his eyes to his amazement but delight he saw a well of clear sparkling water before him.
He blessed it and prophecised that the people of Tubberdaly would never suffer thirst. About a month ago the same man discovered this well while seeking shelter from a shower.
It was Dick's grannie that complied with the Priests wish to be buried next to the well. So Father McCabe was buried under a holly tree beside the well.

283
Local Marriage Customs
There are no old customs with regards to marriages in this district, the only one is, straw-boys visit the houses

282
Hedge Schools
Written by Tim Murphy, told to him by John Murphy, Tubberdaly, Offaly
In a field now the property of ThomasTaylor a hedge school was carried on there about the time of the 98' rebellion.
The teacher's name was Hugh Foy and he often walked twelve miles to in-struct his pupils, who at one time numbered no less than 100. According to tradition his end was a tragic one as he drowned in the canal near Kileen Bridge while coming to teach his pupils in Taylor's field.
Other hedge-schools were held at Rhode Bridge and Garr. The one in Garr was held down an old boreen.
The teachers name is unknown but it is said he had over 50 pupils to instruct.
The boreen was afterwards called "???" The one in Rhode Bridge was attended by 30 pupils. The teachers name was Jack Rourke a well educated man who came as often as he could to instruct his pupils at Rhode Bridge.

281
They were not able to get a stir out of the stone, and so he told them that he would try and lift the stone. The men let him try, he got a grip on the stone and lifted the stone up into the cart. The stone was so heavy that it broke the bottom out of the cart. He got a present of a suit of clothes from "Father Turner" for such strength.

279
It is a sign of rain to hear aeroplanes making a ?? crackling noise.

278
continued:-
4. When the stars sparkle it is a sign of frost, and it is a sure sign of lightning when the sun rises pale. (??) You may expect rain when the frogs turn black, and when frogs turn a (big) bright yellow. It is a sign of frost when the moon rises red. When (a) dogs eat grass it is a sign of rain. It is a suer sign of good weather when a fog goes up a hill, and a sign of bad when a fog goes down the hill. When you see a sea-mist it is a sure (sigh) sign of rain.
5. It is a sign of a storm when crows fly very high in the sky, another sign of a storm is when goats come down from the mountains. You may expect rain when you see soot falling down the chimney. Another sign of rain is when the ducks begin to quack. It is a sign of snow to see the clouds turn red. It is a sign of good weather when hill seem far away. We may expect bad weather when the rains leave the bog. It is a sign of rain to see frogs come into a house. It is a sign of snow to see a large number of birds collected outside a door. You may expect cold weather when you hear the cattle lowing in the fields.
6. It is a sign of rain when the waters turns black. When Pheasants are heard crowing loudly it is a sign of thunder. It is a sign of rain to see snails come into a house. It is a sign of rain to hear water-falls far away. When the Wild Geese are hard singing it is a sign of hardship.

277
Weather lore
Written by Gerard Hickey, Rhode, Offaly
Told to him by Mrs Hickey, Rhode, Offaly
Here are some of the local beliefs with regard with weather-
When a red cloud appears before the sun, when rising, that is a sign of rain. When a large circle appears round the moon, it is a (sing) sign of broken weather. When stars shoot from the sky that is the sign of spills of rain; and when the clouds look very black it is the sign of rain. A rainbow is the sign of showers.
When the wind blows from the North it is the sign of hardship; and when it blows from the East it brings snow. When the wind blows from the South that is the sign of rain; and when it blows from the West it is the sign of fine weather. When the seagulls fly inland that is the of a storm on the sea, and when clouds rush across the sky that is the sign of a coming storm.
When swallows fly low it is the sign of rain,
and when swallows fly high it is the sign of fine weather. When cats sit with their backs to the fire it is the sign of hardship, and when they begin to tear the trees it is a sign of rain. It is a sure sign of thunder when great heat comes from the sun.

146
Names of Villages and Townlands round Castlecoote National School
Castlecoote
Creemully
New Road
CoLiachtar
Aughagad
Far Aughagad
Curragh
FarneyKelly
Buckfield
Muff
Passage or Tubberaraddy
Parkmore
Corderryhugh
Castlestrange
Fuerly.

81
The herd said that he had covered the cow before he went for him. The Caudie put on a few papers and then a few sticks, then the pound of corks and a few coals. He put the hold gallon of ale and the sugar and ginger in a skillet-pot. He got the bottle of whiskey and said to the herd "give me over a cup" The herd thought he was going to miss it through the other stuff. The "Caudie" filled out a glass of whiskey and gave it to the herd. The herd was going to put it in the pot but the "Causie" said "no, drink it." Then the "Caudie" filled out the other half and drank it himself. Then he helped to boil what he had in the pot. The herd went out to see the cow every chance he got and every time he went the cow was the same way. No matter what he said to Caudie, he (Caudie) would not go out to the co. He took up what he had in the pot and tasted it to see if it was sweet. Then he stirred it. "It is not cool enough yet" said Caudie, give me a vessel. The herd had a big long necked bottle for dosing cattle and a jug for filling it The "Caudie" said "that won't do, give me a mug." The herd had no mug. The Cause said "give me a saucepan." The herd gave him a quart saucepan. He, Caudie, filled up the saucepan and put his feet upon the hob and

80
In Boylan of Hilltown there was a prize cow that the Bylaws thought the word of. The cow was after calving and she lay down and could not get up. Boylan sent his herd over to this man, this cow-doctor "Caudia McGuire" (the same man who made the pudding while his mother was at mass) It was ten miles of ground (with a good trotting pony) from Boylan's to Walterstown, and would do the journey in 2 hours with the pony. When they were going through Duleek, "Caudy"told the herd that it would be better for him to get the medicine that was wanted in Hickeys. The herd had asked him what medicine was wanted. "He said, a half gallon of ale, two pounds of sugar, 2d worth of ground ginger, 1 lb. of corks and a half pint of whiskey. When the herd was getting all these, the "Cause" filled a matchbox full of ashes from Hickey's fire and put it in his own pocket. When they were traveling along, he asked the herd, if there was any out-house in which he could warm the medicine quickly. The herd said there was a harness-room and that it would do for the purpose. When they went into the yard at Hilton they unyoked the pony, and the herd said "will you come over to see the cow now." "Caudie" said "no, not until I have the dose ready"Go over" he said, "and cover her with a few sacks The Caudie then went to light the fire, for it was out.

79
Johnny Maguire, nicknamed "The Caudy", lived in Derby's Lane. When he was young, his father and mother went to Walterstown Mass one Sunday morning and left "The Caudy" and his little brother at home. Caudy often saw his mother making a pudding so when he had the house to himself he started off and made one of bread, eggs and whatever else he could;d get He put a pot near the fire, a three-legged pot) and put into it some boiled water. He had no cloth to put the pudding in when it was made, so he tied it into the tail of his little brother's shirt. The he brought him over to the fire and put the pudding into the pot and left his brother standing with his back to the pot at the fire. Some time shortly afterwards he went over to the door an saw his father and mother coming and he shouted "here they are" and ran. The brother ran after him with the hot pudding still tied in his shirt. They ran through the fields and over hedges and gaps. The backs of the little brother's legs were all scalded.
Written by
Mary B. Kelly,
Monkstown, Brownstown,
Navan,
Given by.
John Byrd (farm-worker)
Monkstown, Brownstown,
Navan
2.March.1938.

her when she was jumping in through the windows. Then Doolin, the man of the greyhounds, went and looked through the window and he saw an old woman crying inside. Whatever fright he got, he never hunted again after that day. Doolin lived in Walterstown where Thomas Donnelly lives now.
written by
Alphnsus G. O'Kelly
Monkstown, Brownstown,
Navan
Given by
John Byrd (farm-worker)
Kentstown,
Navan.

23 November 1937
Paid Wheeler, a man who lived about Walterstown, was in Somerville one day. (Somerville is in Kentstown Parish) and he was rambling near Somerville, catching fish, rabbits or anything he could eat. He was going down one of the walks through the woods when he found five eggs on the side of the walk. He put them in his pocket. He then went down to Kentstown Public House (McGuinis are the people who own it) He went in to roast them on the pan. The woman of the house asked him where he got them. He said he got them in Somerville Woods along the side of one of the paths. She said that the gamekeeper (Daly) had set them with poison for foxes that were eating pheasants and pheasant eggs. Paid Wheeler was a native of Walterstown Parish.
Written by
Alphonsus G. O'Kelly
Monkstown, Navan.
Given by
John Byrne (farm-worker)
Monkstown, Browntown,
Kentstown

22 November 1937
Peter McDonald and Joe Hoey have the cure of the "filthy mouth". Neither of them ever saw his own father. Neither of them was born when his father died. (Peter McDonald is now living in this parish. Joe Hey also lives in Kentstown Parish) Each of them has only to blow his breath into the sick person's mouth and it gets cured. Peter was born in American and his mother brought him home when he was three years old. They lived some time in Ardee. They are a long while in this parish and now live in a newly built house in the Green Road. Joe Hoey's father died before he, Joe, was born. His mother died when he was a few months old. His grannie left him his present place in Rynahan.
Written by:-
Alphonsus G. O'Kelly
Monkstown.
Navan.
Given by:-
John Byrd (farm-worker)
Kentstown,
Navan,
22 November 1937

460
If you give scissors as a present you will lose your friend.signs of trouble:-
When a rat crosses your path and you on a journey.When you meet a red-haired woman early in the morning.When a robin comes in the window.When you find two knives crossed on a table.When you spill salt on the floor through accident.Two spoons in a cup a marriage.Bad luck to bring hawthorn into a house.There will be a fight in the house if you have a boot on the table or an umberella opened indoors.

410
10-1-38
The Enchanted Lake
There is a pond in the village of Turlough. It is situated to Mr. Fitzgeralds dwelling house. Tradition holds that the pond is the home of some mysterious serpent that keeps vigil over a treasure of gold that is hidden in the unfathomable depths below. It is not known how this pond came to contain this enviable treasure but here is one of the many tales enfolded about it.
Some years ago there lived an old gentlemen in Turlough or one of the surrounding districts. He was very wealthy and a miser. However he knew he was soon to depart from this world so he said to himself he would hide his gold lest anyone might spend it when he was dead. So one day he put all his niches into a pot and sealed it well and flung it in the pond just a a point where to look at it from the land it seems bottomless.
When he had this act accomplishment he began to feel sorry for what he had done. He thought that through time his action might be revealed and that somebody would take up his fortune out of the lake. So he said

About ten years ago a man and his wife were going home from town in their cart. Both of them were drunk but it happened that the man was the worse, and he fell out of the cart and got caught in the reins. He was dragged along by the horse which was running.
The horse stopped outside a house in Ballyhane, and the man was taken in but the people. He died a few hours later.
A few years afterward four boys were on that same road, and they saw a white horse in a field. They said they would go for a ride on him. He ran a round the

425
told him all that had happened.
The priest went with him to the grave and left a coat and a stick on it and then went away. On the following day they went back again, and the coat was torn in small bits. From that day onwards Cresham was not haunted again.
Rode Dunne
Received from my mother Mrs Dunne, (30 years)
No 71. Mc Hale Road,
Castlebar,
Co Mayo.

Ghost story
About twenty years ago there lived in Castlebar a man named Cresham. The man had a horse a cart, and one day as he was going along the road a little boy came over and got up on it. Mr Cresham was very angry, and he gave a blow of the whip to the little boy, who fell out on the road and was injured on the head.
Immediately his mother came out, and said to the man "I swear by my oath I will haunt you dead or alive for injuring my only son" Afterwards the little boy died, and his mother did not live long after, and she fulfilled her promise. She came back and haunted Mr Creshma by day and by night. Turf, stones and everything was flung at him, everywhere he went. He often was severely cut, and had trips to hospital. Once he was badly injured, and he had to stay in the hospital for a few weeks. When he came out it was as bad as ever again. One day she appeared to him, and told him that if he went to the grave the next night she would not haunt him any more. He went to the priest and

424
I got this tory from Thomas McHale, (55 years)
Milebush.
Castlebar
31-3-38

114
Carbury
a considerable portion of the east north. and south walls are still standing. The window in east gable is round headed and deeply splayed within; two other narrow windows appear in south wall of chancel.
A Gothic doorway is placed the south with a sedelum recess Gothic also, is in the usual place and also provision for the cruets, etc.
In the grave-yard is a stone having the imprint of a human foot, said to have been made by St. Brigid.
This is believed to be the ceac Mic Neecain where Aech Rain, Ling of the Failje was slain A.D 604.

114
Carbury Castle
attention of our modern antiquarians. It appears to have been the Tara of Leinster. At the top we find a small sepulchral mound & to the North West of this, two military forts or raths both very perfect and one of considerable esclent they are marked on Ordnance Map. South of Castle towards Edenderry road, is the old church and grave=yard of Templedoath or Cull probably site of ancient church of St. Mandrat Virgin. The Festival of this saint who lived in 6th century is on Jan. 6th.
Chapel of Carbury of the penal times was built in the reign of George Int on the opposite side of road from present one A holy-water font belonging to it still remaining at parochial bears the initials J.D & the date 1731.
There are reasons for believing that John Delabunty was P.P. of Carbury as his initials J. D. with the date 1733 appear on an old Holy-water font still in existence at Carbury. Tickrevin - The remains of an old church consisting of nave and chancel are here, of which

113
Carbury Castle
Carbury Castle was built by the family of Birmingham, one of the early settlers in Ireland.
Red Hugh O Donnell, when laying waste Meath and Leinster in 1475, demolished and burned Castle Carbury and the neighbouring castle of Ballymeyler (Mylerstown)
As late as 2546 we read that the plains of Cairbre and Castle Carbury were plundered and burned by some of the Irish insurgents - the O'Kellys, O'Maddens and O'Connors.
In 1541 Sir W. Bermingham was created Baron of Carbury. In 1561 the death of Sir Walter Bermingham the castle passed to Sir Robert Preston Chief Baron of the Exchequer brother-in-law of Bermingham and ancestor of Lord germantown. In Elizabeth's reign the castle basin possession of Sir Henry Cowler, ancestor of the Duke of Wellington and was for several generations the seat of Sir Henry's descendants.
On the hill of Carbury are some pagan remains which seems to have escaped the

249
Weather Signs.
Signs of Rain - Crickets singing
Curlews screaming
Swallows flying low
Soot falling
Salt getting damp in the cupboard
Signs of fine - A clear sky
weather cock crowing
wind from the North.
Swallows high in the air.
Signs of hardship - wild geese going for
the Shannon.

247
Home-made Toys
Children always find amusement in making toys. Little girls string flowers into a chain. They are always fond of making dolls. They get odd pieces of cotton and stitch it up in the shape of a doll. Boys make toys out of thread spools. They point one end of it and put a piece of stick through the middle of it. They made cribs for trapping birds. They were made out of sallies. Skittels was another game played. There were five small sticks cut about three inches long. There were three longer and heavier pieces cut about seven or eight inches long. The small ones are numbered and four of them are placed the shape off a square and number five placed in the middle. Then they stand back about four or five yards and throw the three heavy sticks one by one and try to knock down the small ones. There is a game called first and whoever knocks out

246
"A crooked cake makes a straight
tummy"
"Half a loaf is better than no
bread"Every little pig myst root for"
himself
"It's a cure for sore eyes to see you."
"He watches you as a cat would
watch a mouse"
"Facts are stubborn things"
"Set a beggar on horseback and he
will outride the devil"
Once bitten, twice shy

245
Proverbs from Mrs. Monahan
Corbetstown, Castlejordan,
Edenderry
She is aged 60 - makes the ointment for cure of burn.
"The full pig in the sty never thinks
of the empty one going by"
"A life of pleasure is the most
unpleasant life in the world"
"Laugh and the world laughs with you
weep and you weep alone"
"Feast and your halls are crowded
fast and the world goes by"
You can fool all the world some of
the time, and some of the world all
the time, but you cannot fool
all the world all the time
I stood by its cradle and followed
its hearse.

244
Buying and Selling
Shops were not common in olden times. People had to go to the nearest town to make purchases. There were no vans going round as there are now. Buying and selling is carried on after Mass anywhere there is a shop. In olden times people exchanged goods. Labour was often given in exchange for goods. It is considered unlucky to make a bargain on Sunday. Markets were held in the streets long ago and are still held there. Pedlars and Dealers still come round looking for rags and feathers.
Maura Walsh of Carrick gave most of this.

243
are foddered with hay and oats. They are clipped in November. They are brought to the blacksmith to get shod.
From several pupils homes - Groomes, Nolans, Carrolls etc.

242
Care of our Farm Animals
Our farm animals are horses, sheep, cattle, pigs and asses. Our domestic animals are cats and dogs. The names of the cows are the "White Cow, the "Red Cow" the "Blic Cow", and the "Roan heifer" We say "how up" when driving cows anywhere. When we are calling them we say "Pruggie"
The cow stable is built of cement. It is divided into sections each can hold two cows. There is a cement manger for each cow, in which the fodder is put. It has a brick floor. Each cow is tied by a chain which is hooked round the neck. Tying round the neck is the local form for tying cows and horses.
The horse stable is also built of cement with a loft overhead for holding the oats. The manger is made of wood. The horses

241
putting a bit of mud on them or by marking them with a raddle. When a horse is sold the halter is generally given with him.
Cattle, sheep and horses are all sold at the one fair, but there is a special fair for bon hams and other pigs.
From Edward Carroll Carrick, Castlejordan, Edenderry. Offaly. Aged 55.

240
Local Fairs
The local fairs are Edenderry, Kinnegard, Daingean, Tullamore and Mullingar. They are held once a month. There was a fair held in Ballyboggan up tp five or six years ago. It died away because it was not attended and it was not convenient to a railway station. It was held on the fair green on the twenty fifth of September. People say now that after that date there would be worms in the blackberries.
Fairs are mostly all held in the streets now. Mullingar is held in the green. There is a place in Edenderry called the "Market Square" and the fair is held there.There was another fair held in Rochfortbridge long ago.
There is luck money given still. It is called "luck penny". It is calculated to be one shilling given for every ten pounds. They strike hands to make a bargain. The cattle are marked by cutting some hair off the flank or

239
McCabes in Knockdrin to play a fiddle. Many people called to hear him. Murphy used to play a Flute going around from place to place.
Most of the children seem to agree with this entry - gathered from their different homes. - from Carrolls, Nolan, Groomes.

238
Travelling Folk
Traveling folk still call to our homes. They are mostly the same people that come every year. Some of them are very poor and live on whatever food people give them. They sell small things like pictures and combs and delphiniums and slides and so on. More of them are rich and they deal in horses and asses. They camp in a ditch in a caravan. They stay for one night at a time. They travel in families. They gather near when there is going to be a fair so that they won't have too far to go.
The best known of them are:- jack Luby and the Moloneys, the Kielys and the Scales and the Mc Donalds. Moloney deals in horses. Long ago there were travelers called Quirkes. Delaneys Gallaghers and Sir Ryan an old man who lived by himself. "Jack the point" was another.\There was a family called Connors - a man. his wife. and his daughter. They used to call to Paddy

237
in Knockdrin called "Ryan's house" because Ryans lived in it long ago. There is another ruin there. "Terry Groom's house" a man the name of Terry Groome lived in it long ago.
Maureen Nolan got this information from her father who is now 65 and lives at Garr, Rhode, Offaly.
(Oct 1938)

236
Local Place Names
The names for the local fields are Troys craft. it is called that because people of the name of Troys lived in it long ago. The "Path field" is so called because there were paths going through it leading from one house to another. "Paidins craft" is so called because an old man named Paidin Groome lived-in it. The "Moat Hill" because there is a moat. There is a sandpit in the field and when this was being opened about ten years ago there were skeletons of a man and a boy found in it. There is a field called the "Raheen" it got its name from a lone bush that is growing there. There is a stream called 'Bunny's drain' and there is a bridge over it called 'Bunny's bridge'. It got its name because there was an old girl living beside it called Kate Bunny. There are rocks in an old drain in a field called Leunaguibla.
There is an old house

235
and teased. One card was drawn through the other. Then it would be very clean and fine.
Gleaned from Jack Groome Sallybog Rhode who is the oldest resident of the place. He is 74 now in Oct. 1938. (There are men older but they seem to be able to ? no particulars)

234
Old Crafts
Long ago the people made candles out go grease and rushes. They made the grease ones in a mould, - a long piece of iron. Some people made baskets out of rushes too, and some make them still. There were forges where they made the gates and ploughs and cranes. Some of the old people had spinning wheels with which they weaved the wool. Margaret Manus did a great deal of spinning long ago. There was a man who made nails living in Rockford Bridge. His name was Murphy. He went by the name of "nailer Murphy". Lime was burned in kilns long ago, many people had them. Traceys, Mulligans and Sheridans had some.
When the people were spining the wool, the first thing they did was to oil it. Then it was carded with two cards. They were two pieces of timber with teeth in them, and handles on them. The wool was put in between the two cards

233
Coolmoyne House Clonsilla. The agent came to one house in the district & the tenant's brought the rent to him.
This information was given by Patrick Nolan Garr in Sept 1938. He is then 65 years of age.
John Groome was born in Sallybog & spent his life there.

In 1881 Mr. Elms was landlord over Garr. Gave reduction of 4/- in Ł rent from 1881. HIs agent was Kilpatrick. Mr. Elms lived in London. He had no titles. Mr. Kilpatrick lived in

232
In the Penal Times
Masses were said out in the open long ago. There was mass said under a bush in a field which now belongs to Denis Collins. There are places still where priests hid long ago. There is an underground tunnel from Monasterroris to Carbury. They went along under that. There was another tunnel from Ballyburley to Clonmin hill. In Philipstown, there is another in a place called Cherry Garden. The priests used to say mass in old monasteries that time. There are the walls of one old monastery in Ballyburley still
From John Groome Sallybaog, Rhode, 1938.

231
get a bottle of whiskey. When a widow and widower got married they are sounded for a few nights after the marriage. Horns are blown or the bottom is taken out of a bottle and is blown through.
Rosie Daly Corbetstown
gave us most of this She is about 6H yrs now (1938)

230
Local Marriage Customs
There are no special times of the year for marriage in this district. Friday is supposed to be an unlucky day for getting married. There are no matches madden this district. Money is generally given as a dowry. A wedding feast is held in the bride's house after the marriage. Huggadahs or Straw Boys visit the house during the wedding feast. They are all dressed up. They stay and get a drink and dance for a while and then they go home. The hauling home is held. It is a dance held on the night that the bride and bridegroom are coming home. The people long ago went to the weddings on horseback. When they would come out of the chapel, those on horseback would race to where the wedding feast was being held, and whoever would win would

228
certain graveyards although they may be farther distant than the local graveyards.
This is a summary of the different accounts brought by children.

227
Graveyards.there are four graveyards in this parish - Garr, Kilkieran, Castlejordan and Ballyboggan. Each of them has the name of the downland in which it is situated. "Gorc a Cample" was an old Irish name for Garr long ago. They are all still in use. They are all either square or oblong in shape. Garr is raised in the middle and low at each side. There are trees growing in all of them. There are four yew trees and a laurel tree growing in Garr. There are plenty of headstones in them. They are mostly made of stone.
There is an old ruin in Ballyboggan yet. It was a Monastery long ago. The Monks were hunted out of it. The people are not buried in the ruin, they are buried around it. Local families still use

225
Bread.Bread was made from wheat and oats. The wheat and oats were grown at home. There were no mills closer than Clara. There is a grinding stone at Gaffneys. Potato cakes were made in olden times. They were baked on a griddle. Boxty bread was made also of grated potatoes and flour and milk. A cross was cut on top of the cake so that it would bake well. An oaten cake was baked front of the fire on the griddle laid against sods of turf. It was baked very hard.

224
Old Houses
The houses long ago were thatched with straw and sometimes with rushes.
They had a be doin the kitchen called a settled. The walls of the houses were built of clay and wattles. The floors were generally made of clay. There are several old half doors in this district yet.
Rush-lights were used at night. They were made by drying the rushes and rubbing grease on them.

The Dandelion and Yarrow boiled together and made into a drink is a cure for the yellow jaundice.
Long ago they used to boil the heath and dye the

The most harmful weeds are – docks, chicken-weed, praiseac, which grows in oats & wheat; thistles; cockles – with a thorny head which fastens itself of one's clothes, black-heads, & "buacalláins" or tall yellow weeds, & "red soldiers" or wild poppies which grow in corn.
They are harmful both, because they spread rapidly & because they impoverish the soil.
Buttercups & clover grow where land is rich, and daisies where land is poor.

216
The Care of the Feet
Long ago no boots were worn until the age of sixteen eighteen or twenty was reached.
As regards water used for washing feet one was supposed o throw out his own foot-water.
The number of shoemakers now is very small compared with what it was thirty years ago - the only local show-maker we had is dead. - Our(?) Kavanagh of Color, who died 1938 aged about 69. Clogs were sold in edenderry at Atcheson's shop.
Mrs Daly of the Fens wore clogs always & bought them in Kinnegad. - She wore her first pair fromScotland. James Treacy of Garr also wore clogs & his son wears them still - they can be bought in Mullingar.

108
A collection of prayers\When gong to bed at night:-
Here I lay down upon my bed to sleep,
To God I give my should to keep,
There are four corners of my bed,
There are four angels to light and spread,
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,
God bless this bed that I lie on,
If any evil comes to me,
I pray Blessed Lady waken me,
And if I die before I wake,
I pray to God my sold to take.
Some people say the end of the prayer different they say:
If any evil spirit comes to me,
I pray to God my woes to see,
And my right hand to bless myself. Amen.
When a person would be going a journey he would say:- "God grant me a safe journey" and on the rest used say, God grant or Amen. When going past the graveyard they used say, "God grant eternal rest to them".
Kathleen Carey,
Clonsast,
Rathangan,
Co. Offaly
Gor from
Mrs. Thomas Carey,
Clonsast,
Rathangan,
Co. Offaly.

109
The care of our farm animals
The farm animals are pigs, cows, calves, horses, donkeys, hen, geese, ducks, turkeys, chickens. When they are calling the hens they say "tuk tuk". When they are calling the geese they say "gash gash" and when they are calling the ducks they say "weedy weedy" and the turkeys they "yib yib". When they are feeding the chickens they say "chick chick" When they are feeding the pigs they say "hurrish hurrish" and the calves :suck suck" and the horses "pyup pup". The horses eat oats, cracked oats, turnips and hay.
The cow stable is a big house with a zinc or thatched roof, with cement walls or wooden ones. The manger is sometimes made of cement or wood and there is a little wall separating them. There is a chain attached to the manger and each cow is tied by the neck with it.
They put the date that they were laid on the hatching eggs. They also mark the good Friday eggs.

121
Historical Tradition
There was a bush at the western side of Millgrove Bridge, Rathangan, Co. Offaly, called the Priest's Bush. During the Penal Days a priest used say Mass under it but it was cut down later.
There was a battle on the hill of Kilmantic long ago between the Irish and the English. There is a field in Clonshannon, Rathangan, Co. Offaly, known as the Race-Course where racing used be held long ago.
A lot of families in this district died during the famine. Some were found dead on the sides of the road from hunger.
Brigid Ryan,
Ballynowlart,
Rathangan,
Co. Offaly
Got from
Mr. Thomas Ryan,
Ballynowlart,
Rathangan,
Co. Offaly

122
Stories of the Holy Family
They were journeying along a village and all the houses were full. but this poor woman who had a child that was covered with sores The Blessed Virgin asked the woman would she give her water and a towel to wash Her Child. She gave them to Her and when she had Him washed the woman said she could wash her child in the water after the Pure Child had been washed in it.The minute she put him into the water his sores left him. It is said that he was the thief that said to Our Lord on the cross, "Lord remember me when you goest there".
Another story about the Holy Family. Some people say the reason the robin has a red breast is because when Our Lord was crowned with thorns the Robin picked them out one by one.
Kathleen Carey,
Clonsast,
Rathangan,
Offaly
Got from
Mrs Thomas Carey
Rathangan
Offaly

123
Story of the Holy Family.
When the Holy Family were flying into Egypt they fell among thieves and the thieves did not harm Them because they were poor. The Holy Family stayed with he thieves that night. There was a woman there and she had a child all covered with sores. In the morning the woman noticed the Blessed Virgin washing Our Lord. The woman washed her child in the water that Our Lord was washed in and he was cured. It is said that the child was the Good Thief on the day of the Crucifixion.
Christopher Dolan,
Brackna,
Rathangan,
Offaly
Got from
Edward Kavanagh,
Brackna,
Rathangan,
Offaly

124
The Local Patron Saint
Years ago there lived in Clonsast a very holy St. Brochan was this saint's name. It is believed that by the power of God he built a church in one night. While he was building it a man passed by and didn't say "God bless the work" and when he went home his house was on fire. It is said that the mark of a cow's foot wising field in Clonshannon, and water began to spring forth, and that is where St. Brochan's well is now. A man tried to fill in the well with stones and the water still sprung up. It is said that the man was on a load of stones one time after and he fell off it and broke his back. St. Brochan also built a monastery in Clonsast. People came from all over Europe to learn in it because during that time there were very little saints in the world. St Brochan had a blessed stone near his monastery. The impression of the

125
saint's head is on it. When people get headaches that live near the place they generally go to the well they always leave a beads or something holy in it. St Brochan made a road across the bog. There is a graveyard across the church and a parish priest is buried in it. A load of stones were put over it and not even a blade of grass grew over the grave. The four walls of the church are to be seen still. There are fourteen little bushes around the well to represent the fourteen stations of the cross.
Kathleen Carey
Clonsast,
Rathangan,
Offaly
Got from
Mrs Mary OGrady
Clonshannon,
Rathangan,
Offaly

226
The Local Fairs
The local fairs are held in Portarlington, Rathangan, and Monasterevan. The town fairs are held on the streets. Luck money is given when an animal is sold and it is called the "luck penny" When a bargain has been made the parties concerned show agreement by striking hands. When an animal is sold he is marked with an X or some people just put a stroke on its hip. When he is sold the halter or rope is generally given away with the animal. The big fairs are held in Tullamore, Portarlington and Edenderry.
Brigis Ryan,
Ballynowlart,
Rathangan,
Offaly
Gor from
Mrs Annie Walsh
Clonsast,
Rathangan,
Offaly

There was a man one time and he had a son. When the son was about sixteen years of age he used go to a neighbouring house to mitch every

313
An old story
One time there was a woman, and her son was after dying, this night she went to pray over his grave. She was old and she brought a stick with her. When she reached his grave she caught her shawl with the stick and fell into a grave. At twelve o'clock her other two sons went to look for her. When they saw her white shawl they thought it was a ghost and ran home again. The next morning they went to look for her again and they got in the grave dead.
James Conlon,
Parkmeen,
Rathangan,
Offaly
Got from
Mrs Mary OGrady,
Clonshannon,
Rathanagan,
Offaly.

132
night. The father didn't want to see him doing this, because it used be late when he would come home and he used have to stay up until he would come home. Th4e boy used have to go through a graveyard. This night the father said he would put an end to this.
So one dark night before the boy went to this house, his father started out before him. The boy didn't know where he was going because it was very seldom he went out. The father went into the graveyard and ugh a grave. It was not long after until he heard his son coming. So he got into the grave and when the son was going by he began to say aloud " I am not happy here". He said it three times thinking he would frighten his son.
Then the boy came up to the grave and said "how can you be happy and you not covered. He got the spade that his father dug the grave with and began to

There's a little dancing in your laughing Irish eyes,
And the little devil's dancing right into my heart
There's a little bit go mischief in your laughing Irish eyes,
And its telling Mr Cupid to sharpen up his dart.
I can swear on my honour
I'm a lad who is a goner and to prove what eyes can do
You can put it in the papers
That the friend by sabers,
Really wants to marry you.
Christopher Dolan,
Brackna,
Rathangan,
Offaly

138
James Conlon,
Parkmeen,
Rathangan,
Co. Offaly.
Got from
Joseph Conlon,
Parkmeen,
Rathangan,
Co. Offaly.

139
Summer grove may loose their gladness,
Winter winds may wander by.
Cares may come and weary sadness,
Must we then for ever sigh,
Brave the storm with firm endeavour,
Let your feign repinings go
Hopeful hearts will find for ever
Roses under neath the snow.
II
One by one the links that bind us,
May be severed here on earth,
But the sun will surely find us.
Through the winter's gloomy death,
Cheerful hearts around us beating
Waiting ever Summer's glow.
Ah! we know your always meeting
Roses under neath the snow.
III
Never joy that earth can send us
Can't for ever leave us here,
Every flower that spring can lead us
Bloom again another year,
Cares may come but never mind them,
Joy's may come and joys may go,
Look around and you will find them
Rose under neath the snow.
Got from,

141
ago to-day
He shook me warmly by the hand
And he asked me home to tea
Arrah Pat says he I am glad to see
You looking so fine as that
And all the time he kept sorewing,
at my old scolaire hat.
Anthony Quinn,
Clonsast,
Rathangan,
Offaly
Got from
Patrick OGrady
Clonshannon
Rathangan
Offaly

The old scolaire hat
I
Oh Patsy Byrne brag about the hat his father wore,
No doubt it was a great capin
The very days of yore
But now it's a little bit out of date
And let me tell you that
It wouldn't hold a candle to my old scolaire hat.
II
It was worn by my father at the patterns and the fairs,
And all the boys and pretty girls were sure to be all there,
It was built a hundred years ago
And little the worse by that,
And a regular lady dazzler is my old scolaire hat.
III
I met the king of England a week

140
Thomas Quinn,
Clonmore,
Rathangan,
Offaly
Mrs Quinn
Clonmore
Rathangan
Offaly

143
the Cush.
If I happen to win the sweep of my boys I will not be a fool
I will follow my dear Betty across to Liverpool.
For she's a gentle girl you know and always wears a blush
And she draws the lads attention to the place we call the Cush.
Come all ye lads on Friday night and wear your Sunday face
And don't be like a petticoat without a bit of lace
Come all ye lads on Friday night from Dublin and Kilrush
And we'll give a farewell party in the place we call the Cush.
Composed by Christopher Ryan, Ballynowlart, Rathangan, Offaly and Thomas Brereton, Brackna Rathangan, Offaly about three years ago.
Brigid Ryan, Ballynowlart, Rathangan, Offaly
Got from Christopher, Christopher Ryan, Ballynowlart, Rathangan, Offaly.

142
the Bush
Come all ye lads and lassies and listen to me awhile
I'll sing you of the nicest place in dear Erin's isle.
The lads go there night and day and there's a terrible rush.
To see those English ladies that are visiting at the Cush.
Those ladies came from England their holidays to spend
And I want all ye kind gentlemen your cheerful heart to lend.
To make those people happy and take away the hush
That has always been lingering over the place we call the Cush.
Now every night when I go there and when inside I look
The first lad I see dancing is the fellow we call the "tuck"
For he's a gentle lad you know and always wears a blush
And he plays his own mouth organ in the place we call the Cush.
Miss Betty she is a nice young girl her age is just sixteen
I bet in all the worldly boy no finer girl is seen
And every night after six I'm in a terrible rush
To go and get one glimpse at her in the place we call

71
A priest and a bishop lived in the same town and they had one work-boy between them. The boy used to be late every morning. Some mornings he used be late so late he could not go to the Bishop. One morning luck for himself he went to the Bishop's house for when he came to the Priest's house he was waiting for him by the gate. When he saw him coming, late, late, late again Johnny, he said, run to the shop for sugar. The boy when he heard this said, Eh, Father, what causes legs to swell and a break down in health. The Priest tuned on him a severe look and said, staying out late at night, gambling, and dancing. The boy went a little distance when the Priest called him and said, If you are bad you may go home. Oh no father I'm not bad but I was up with the other old man and he is in bed bad with them, said the boy starting to run for his errand.
Kathleen Carey, Nahana, Rathangan, Offaly
Gor from
Mr. Paul Carey,
Nahama, Rthangan,
Offaly

Another funny story
One time a man was working with a priest and he was not getting good wages. This dy he went to the priest and asked him for more money a he wanted to buy early potatoes to sow. The priest old that no matter what sort of potatoes he got if he sowed them early he would have them early.
Christopher Dolan, Brackna, Rathangan, Co Offaly.
Got from, Edward Dolan, Brackna, Rathangan, Co Offaly

70
stuck in his roll of butter, laid by for the threshing. Bill returned and wore he would go mad the way the girls ha him annoyed. Bill is after picking up with the nicest girl from Kildoon and would have nothing to do with the Whipsters from around.
Brigid Ryan, Ballynowlart, Rathangan, Co. Offaly
Got from Stephen Connolly, Ballynowlart, Rathangan, Co. Offaly.

69
A funny storyBill was one of a large family and what they called a hard chaw. His mother reared I'm up no way soft that's what I mean. Anyway he got as far as setting out on his own - got a nice little place, a grand new House and a tidy bit of ground. Well he came to live here about nine years ago and eve since he hadn't a peaceful hour. You see he wanted a housekeeper badly and someone to look after him but the girls from Rathangan and Kilnantic had more of the looking after.
One night as I was down at the cross looking for a blackthorn stick when I heard a car coming along and it was fairly dusk. I stood in, and here if it wasn't a load of women and I said to myself they are let down. Bill is gone off with the key in his pocket. One of the girls jumped a big 18 st weight and walk right in and pushes in the room window and in she steps. I heard great laughing and said I would have a peep and he wasn't the heel of her

68
64
Ainm an aithriseora:- Wm Donegan
A sheoladh:- Ballyshane, Rathangan, Offaly
A Aois:- 74 years
A dara ar a sgriobhadh e seo:- Marca 8ad 1935.
Te banshee is believed in.
The banshee cries after the Quinns, Dunnes, Hanlons, Cassidys, Doolans, Kennedys, Cramptons, Connollys Conlans and Morriseys.

Ainm an aithriseora:- Mrs Mary Ann Lawlor
A sheoladh:- Clonsast, Rathangan, Offaly
A Aois:- 37 years
A dara ar a sgriobhadh e seo:- Marca 3ad 1935There was a woman in Cushina & every morning she used get a two shilling piece on the hearth. She was delighted when she used get the money She was told not to say a word about it to any one & she kept the secret to herself. After a couple months she was taken by the fairies.
Her husband didn't know what to do, but after some time he was told that his would pass by Donaher's ford (in Cushina), and that if he was here to take her off a gray horse he could bring her home. He went there good enough, be he hadn't courage enough to take her off the horse when he saw he and she passed on out of his sight for ever.

Ainm an aithriseora:- Wm Donegan
A sheoladh:- Ballyshane, Rathangan, Offaly
A Aois:- 64 years
A dara ar a sgriobhadh e seo:- Maria 1 ad 1935.
Wm Donegan's grandfather lived in Clonsast and he had 3 cows and a horse. His cow stable was too small and he built an addition to it. The following morning he went to milk the cows & they milked blood. In a few days time one of the cows was drowned & after a few days another. He went to Moll Anthony ( ) and she told him that his cow stable was built on a fairie's pass. He came home and knocked down the stable but all the same his stock were all drowned.
The house where this happened was about four fields from Mr Dunne's in Consast.

64
60.
Ainm an aithriseora:- Mrs Mary Ann Lawlor
A sheoladh:- Clonsast, Rathangan, Offaly
A Aois:- 37 years
A dara ar a sgriobhadh e seo:- Feabra 12 ad 1935
When a girl is getting married she is supposed to wear something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. A friend of the couple ties a 'blog' to the motor-car or car in which the bride goes to the church. (for luck).
People say that Wednesday is the luckiest day to get married.
People throw rice on the bride & bridegroom coming out of the church.
It is said locally that whoever is the first to kiss the bride's ring will be the next to get married.

63
57
Ainm an aithriseora:- Mrs Mary Ann Lawlor
A sheoladh:- Clonsast, Rathangan, Offaly
A Aois:- 37 years
A dara ar a sgriobhadh e seo:- Lanair 19 ad 1935.At wakes in this district the people 'wake' the corpse in the house one night. There is snuff left on a table in the 'wake' room - each person that comes in takes a pinch of it and says "the Lord have mercy on the dead. The people of the house buy clay pipes & tobacco and give one to each man at the wake. Some people call them Lord have mercy pipes. A relative of the dead person never lights he wake cables as people count it unlucky. On the second day after death the corpse is brought to the church and placed in the front of the church near the altar.
Mass is celebrated the following morning in the church or the repose of the soul of the red person & at 2 p.m the funeral starts for the churchyard. before it leaves the church offerings are collected (varying from L1 from relatives & friends to a half-grown from non-relatives). Then the funeral proceeds & the priest having read the last prayers the coffin is intrude in the usual way.

61
51
Patrick Daly died 1775 - he used live in Clonmore.
Rose Heffron " 1820 - she " " " Clonsast.
Rose Quinn " 1832- " " " Clonmore.
Margaret Cassidy " 1837- " " " " "
John McEvoy " 1838- He " " " Clonsast.
James Merryman " 1878- " " " " Clonmore

60
Ainm an aithriseora:- Pupils & myself.
A data ar a sgriobhadh e seo:- Langair 15ad 1935

57
43.
Ainm an aviriseora:- William Donegan
A seolao:- Ballyshane, Rathangan, Offaly
A airs:- 64 years.
An dara ar a sjriobao e seo:- December 6th 1934.
St. Broughan who lived about the 7th century in Clonsast is the local saint.
He had a monastery & church in Clonsast. Tradition tells us that the school was built in one night by unknown people.
St. Broughan's ell & stone are also there - the marks of his head and one hand are on the stone. There is a pattern held every year in Consasat in his honour - it is held on the last Sunday in June.
There is a graveyard near the church and it was in use in St. Brochan's time - not used now.

57
43.
Ainm an aviriseora:- William Donegan
A seolao:- Ballyshane, Rathangan, Offaly
A airs:- 64 years.
An dara ar a sjriobao e seo:- December 6th 1934.
St. Broughan who lived about the 7th century in Clonsast is the local saint.
He had a monastery & church in Clonsast. Tradition tells us that the school was built in one night by unknown people.
St. Broughan's ell & stone are also there - the marks of his head and one hand are on the stone. There is a pattern held every year in Consasat in his honour - it is held on the last Sunday in June.
There is a graveyard near the church and it was in use in St. Brochsn's time - not used now.

55
41. Managers of the present N.S.
Schoolbuilt in 1910.
Rev. Fr Kennedy C.C. (now P.P of Killeigh, Offaly)
Cloonbullogue,
Kildare
Rev. James Breen C. C. (from 1926 to 1936)
Clonbullogue,
Kildare.
Rev. P.J. Hogan P.P. (from 1936 to present time).
Clonbullogue,
Kildare.

51
33. Discarded foods
Ainm an aicriseora:- Mrs Mary Ann Lawlor
A seolad:- Clonsast, Rathangan, Offaly.
Aiois:- 36 years.
Dara ar a sjriobao ?) é seo:- October 26th 1934
Flumery was a food used long ago. The shells of the oats used be got from the miller when getting the oatmeal in winter - steep shells in water for 2 days - then strain and boil juice until it became thick. Then you take it & eat it with sugar.
Oatmeal cakes used also. Made same as an ordinary cake - no flour in it. It used be baked on a gridiron. It used be very hard too.
Rye meal bread even also long ago, it was very dark & hard.
one people used boil nettles & water-cress and eat it instead of cabbage.

50
32 cod.
Ainm as aviriseora:- Patrick Ennis
A seolao:- Clonmast, Rathangan, Offaly
A aios:- 55 yrs
An ??? ar a sjriobao é seo:- October 19th 1934
"Rosie the Jiggers" is a place in the bog in T Clonsast, P Clonbullogue, C Offaly. Rosie used come to Brackna every Sunday morning to sell sugar sticks which she made herself.
Thinna's (Tenna) fields in (T Cushina, P Clonbullogue, C Offaly) also called Rath of the fairies. Some people say they often heard the fairies singing & playing music in it.
Thinna's gap leading from Thina's field to another field.

T = Townland; P = Parish; C = County:
49
32 ctd
Path field in T. Clonart (P. Clonbullogue, C Offaly) - path going through it (Mr Carey's farm).
Kitty's rushes field in T Ardra, Clonbullogue, Offaly. So called because Kitty Grattan lived there. (Mr Grattan's farm).
Cute's craft - name of field in T Clonshannon, P Clonbullogue, C Offaly, because a man of that name owned it (Mr Dunne's farm).
(Craft = field).

48
32. Unofficial names - fields
Ainm an averiseora:- William Donegan.
A seolad:- Ballyshane, Rathangan, Offaly
A aios:- 64 yrs.
An eaca ar a sjrioliat é seo:- October 12th 1934
Cosh Pullough - (Ballynowlart Downland, Clonbullogue Parish, Offaly County) consists of some good land and some bad land, and there is a small road leading to the high road from it known as Cosh Road. (It is the farm belonging to Messrs. W. Donegan, J. Brevets, P. Kavanagh & P. Behan.)
Race Field - at the cross of Kill (T. Ballynowlart, P Clonbullogue, C Offaly) There used be races there long ago, very level (Patrick Behan farm)
The dairy - bán at Arda bridge (T. Ardra, P Clonbullogue, C Offaly) There used be a dairy there. (Mr Walker's farm)
The handkerchief is the name of a field in T Clom?? (P Clonbullogue, C Offaly) it is the shape of a handkerchief when same is folded (Mr Heffernan's farm).
The church field - (T Ballynowlart, P Rathangan, C Offaly) ruins of old church there (Patrick Kavanagh's farm)

346
lot of bushes.

345
Place names.
The names of some fields are, the mill, the race field, the near scrub, and the far scrubs. There is a place in Allenwood called the beggar-man's hill. A man named Carroll was going with a load of flour to Mc Nally's. The horse frightened and ran away. He fell from the cart and was killed. A cross was made on the place where he was killed.
A place where you see furze and rushes growing is called a cush. There is a field called the bush field. It is surrounded by a

344
dream that there was money between two apple trees in an orchard and the man also dreamed that he would meet a man on the bridge. The man knew that the orchard was his own garden so he went and dug for the gold and found it. He told some girl and she came to the place at midnight and got twice as big a pot under where he got the pot.
Told by Mrs Julia Ward
For Maggie Ward age 14
Allenwood.

A Story
Once upon a time a man had a dream that here was a pot of gold hidden under a bridge. He went to the place where he thought the gold was. He met the man on the bridge that he dreamt about and the man told him that he had a

343
Three more and ten. Will I be there again candle-light yes sir and back again, gop gop a little horse gop gop again."
The school boys play hare, and running races, and catching birds with cribs, and skittles and pitch buttons.
(Frank Dowling Allenwood Middle from his mother)

Games
The rhymes to amuse small children are "Here's where the Coach-man sits, here's where he cracks his whip. Eye winker Tom tinker nose dropper mouth eater chin chopper chin. This little pig went to the market this little pig stayed at home this little pig got bread and butter this little lad got none this little lad said squeak squeak all the way home.
Got Gee up" a little horse Gee up again how many miles to London town

342
the lesser she grows. Answer: A lighting candle.

341
little thing and it sleeps in the hall if you touch it, it will roar and bawl. Answer A bell. What is it that you own and every one else uses it more times that you. Answer your name. Hink hank under the bank ten drawing four. Answer a woman milking a cow. What has an eye and cannot see. Answer a needle. Why does a cow look over a hill. Answer because she cannot look under it. Why does a hen pick a pot. Answer because she cannot lick it.
What is smaller than a midge's mouth. Answer the bit that goes into it. I (har) have a little sister and she has a red nose the longer she stands

Riddles
What is it that you had and God had not. Answer A beginning. There is a

340
Place-names
The names of our fields in Allenwood Middle are the Mill-field and the race-field and the Little-field and the Bush-field and the first-field and the Second-field and the near Scrubs and the fa-Scrubs and the bottom and the Bush and the Slang and the Lawn.
Francis Dowling. Allenwood
Robertstown, Naas Co Kildare

A Prayer
"Thanks be to God. I have eaten my fill. But if I had more I would keep eating still. But for the times they are so bad. Thanks be to God for what I had." Some people say this prayer after meals.
Tom Regan Allenwood Middle from his father

it is said that if a spider crawls on you coat it is a sign of you getting a new coat. It is unlucky to kill a spider for when the Jews were looking for Jesus the spider made a web and the Jews did not get him.

339
the harrow.

Old people say why the hills and mountains are there now is (because) that Noah harrowed the round when he came out of the ark and that is where he let all the dirt come of

338
Scotch man were drawing a plan of the railway on the counter. Then the three of them called for three glasses f whiskey. The shopboy put the whiskey on the rail??. Paddy drank the whiskey.Then the Scotch man said "Why did you drink the whiskey" And Paddy said he would rather drink it than let the train go over it.

Paddy the Irishman and an English-man and a Scotch man were making a railway in London. And this night they were drinking in a pub. The English man and the

337
the brother that was dead stood before them, but the man said nothing. Then the priest asked the dead man "Where were you the first time I called you" and he said "I was in hell" And where were you the second time The devil was loosening the chains. And the third time I was coming up through the ground. So the priest and the live man went home. But no one knows where the dead man ent after that.

336
did not come to him. The next week the priest met his brother and asked him how was his sick brother And he said that he was dead and gone to heaven. But the priest said he was not in heaven. And they were fighting like that for a long time till the priest said "Meet me tomorrow in a certain place." So the next day they met and the priest said "Do you believe still." "I do" said the man. Then the priest began to read prayers and after a while he said "Brother come hither" And he did that three times. The third time he said it

335
of porter and he Cockroaches will get into it and be drowned if you put the porter into a dish and put it on the floor. The woman did so. That night when all the people were in bed, the workmen got up and drank the porter. Next morning when the woman got up she said "Paddy what happened to the porter "The Cockroaches drank" it he said. I think it was the right old cockroach that drank it" she said.
There were two brothers and one of them was sick for some time, and the priest was attending him. One week the priest

332
farmer told him when he had his supper eaten he could go to bed. When he got up the next morning he got his breakfast and then he called for his dinner and super he said would have all his meals at the same time. And when he got his super he said he would go to bed.
A tramp came to a house begging the woman asked him where did he come form and the said that he came from Purgatory and said "Did you see Paddy"? And the said he did and that he was in very

Stories
A boy was working with a farmer and the

331
to make it more useless he was married before. He reared seven children both girls and boys and the whole parish knows him and I am telling no lies. The night he is married tin cans they will rattle. The fighting begins with a loud hull a loo. The doctor is sent for lord it is my ribs broken in with a poker by the old widow Gibbs.
Thomas Regan Allenwood
Robertstown, Mass, Co Kildare

318
There is another field called the forge field and there is a little field called the old orchard." there is a field in Mrs Blake's farm called the cobarian well. There is another field called the boat field; There is a little hill and on to of the hill there is a hole the shape of a boat. There is a field in Mrc Nally farm and there is a hill in the field called the hill of Cill Cuana. There was a priest named cua?? shot on this hill. There is a little stream called "the

316
about on a cup of tea it is a sign of a visitor. If it is hard it is a man and if it is soft it is a woman. To find out what day the visitor will come, you put the tea-leaf on your left-hand and hit it with your right hand and count on the days. At whatever day the tea-leaf sticks to your right hand that is the day the visitor will come.
A straw sticking on to a hen's tail is also the sign of a visitor.
When your left hand is itchy it is a sign you will be getting money.
When your right hand is itchy you will be getting a

Lucky ad unlucky
It is considered unlucky to hand a safety pin into anybody's hand because it will part your friends hip. You should always stick it in something.
If two people wash in the same water, one of them should spit in the water to keep from fighting.
When a person is asleep people put their hand in cold water to get them to talk.
If you break a mirror you

314
and it is said if anyone hit the tree with a hatchet blood would come out of it.
Mary F. Kennedy Allenwood ??
Robertstown, Naas, Co. Kildare

313
water in the well.
One day the man closed up the well and the next morning when he went for the cows there was a lovely well up further under the trees. The man brought home the cows and when he milked the cows they only milked blood.
He went to some old witch and she told him to put his cows out in the dun every night and they would be alright. The man went home and he never interfered with the well again. He put a stile at the road for the people to go to the well. Up a bit beyond the well there is a lone bush

302
button tight until I come back to-night. Then he gives the button to one person and he asks all the others, "Who has the button." If they cannot tell him who has the button he slaps them all. Jack's ??live is played with a lighted stick. The first person gets the stick and he says:- Jack's live and and alive he may be he died in my arms he fought for me, three, rocks, three reels, three old spinning wheels, away goes Jack alive in in his heels," and whichever person the stick quenches with will die first.
"Tig" is played with any number of players and one person gives it out. P.I.G. you have the "big." They play it from one wall to the

299
worn once it will be worn three times.
The first snowdrops or the first daffodils are never brought into a house because it is unlucky.
Hawthorn is never brought into a house either. It is very unlucky to look at a new moon through a window. When a person zees a new moon for the first time he should bless himself. There was an old man living in Grangelore West who used to make the Sign of the Crow on his stomach when he saw a new moon. A Saturday's moon is a bad moon. A moon that is full

298
ground. If salt is spilled it is the sign of a row. If a person walks under a ladder he will not get any bigger. If a mirror is broken the person who broke it will have seven years bad luck. If water is thrown on the pieces it takes away the bad luck. If a comb falls the person should put his foot on it and then take it up. If anyone meets a piebald horse on the road he should wish and the wish would surely come true. Green is a very unlucky colour and if worn mourning will follow. If mourning is

If a person's eye is itching it is a sign or crying. If the nose is itching it is the sign of fighting. If the left hand is itching it is a sign of shaking hands with a stranger. If the right hand is itching it is the sign of coming fortune. If the foot is itching it is a sign of walking on strange

297
other out." I sauntered on and I met a beggar who was blind of an eye."One out and God pull the other out." the man gave me such a beating that I had to go to hospital and I only came out yesterday.

a house on fire. I met the man of the house and I said "I wish you a great deal of joy." The man caught me and threw me into the fire. When I got out the man told me that I should have said "Throw water on it." When I went outside I saw a man pulling two bullocks out of the dyke. "Throw water on them," I said. The man threw a rope round me and flung me into the ditch. He stayed ducking me until I was nearly drowned. When he pulled me out he told me that I should have said "One out and God pull the

363
It is said that this passage was erected for the purpose of having the bricks which were used for its erection, conveyed from Dublin is the castle, which is supposed to have been built secretly in one night. Thousands of men lined he underground passage from Jigginstown to Dublin, and had the bricks passed by hand, from man to man.
A Lady in blue is supposed to haunt the place on certain nights during the year. She may be seen roaming around the derelict building.
Claire Higgins
Kilcullen Rd.,
Naas,
Co. Kildare
Information received from
Richard Higgins,
Above address

362
Ruins
Jigginstown Castle is situated about a half of a mile outside Naas town. This castle was erected in the time of Charles I. It is a huge, interesting building and it's walls are completely covered with ivy.
In some of the vaults underneath the castle there is a wishing well and it is said that if a person finds a perfectly round leaf and flings it into the middle of the water and he should wish he will immediately perceive the head of Stafford. It was built by order of this Stafford,- who was an earl, - to be a place of refuge for King Charles I. As Strafford was recalled to England the castle was never completed and the ruins are still to be seen.
Several underground passages lead from the castle to numerous other places in Naas. One leads to the old, unused graveyard in Killashee. The story goes that once, a man was killed in this passage and that his ghost haunts it to the present day. A second underground passage leads from the Moate, Naas, the site of the ancient residence of the Kings of Leinster. A third secret passage leads from Jigginstown Castle to Dublin.

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Ruins
The resent convent of "Our Lady's Bower" situated in Killashee ws once the home of the Moores. Attached to their home was a belfry. This was used by the Moore family at a time peace for their workers This belfry is to be seen and is sill in use for the boarders of the convent.
Situated in Naas is a place called Buck Lane. Long ago, where this street is now situated a monastery was erected. The walls now enclose a garden. In one of the walls a small, stone cross is to be seen and people say that it was erected over the grave of one of the monks, who formerly inhabited the monastery. The cross does not bear an inscription.
Near the Canal Harbour is a place named the Old Jail. the Jail was used by the British Government during the Penal Days. People were kept as prisoners there, and more were out to death. In this Jail, also, there are secret passages, and trapdoors, and cells. People explored the Jail and in rooms which they forced open they found parts of iron beds.

The hill of Allen may be seen from the school which I attend. It is five miles distance from Naas. Long ago this old hill was the head-quarters of the Fianna. There was a castle built on this hill. Once every three years a fairy used to come and throw tins of fire on the castle and anyone who tired to kill the fairy were themselves killed. Then they got Finn the strongest and bravest hero of the Fianna to fight the fairy they told Finn to hold the sword on front of his face and on doing so he killed the fairy.
Maureen O'Halloran
24 N the Main Street,
naas
Co. Kildare
Forgoing information received from
Mr Philip Kennedy,
1 South Main Street
Naas
Co Kildare

Near the new Hospital there is an old grave-yard where the people who die in the Hospital are buried. Occasionally some of the Protestants of Naas and the surrounding district hold a meeting there, it is said that they owned it at one time, but they presented it to the Catholics to serve as a burial ground. They still hold their meetings there.
there is another graveyard situated near the canal which runs through Naas. There are monks buried

358
Old Graceyards
There is a big grave with a door on it and it is supposed that Monks and buried there. There is the remains of the Altar in this place also.
This church was blown up by the English two hundred years ago.
Mary Kerwin,
Furness
Naas,
Co. Kildare.
Information supplied by :_
Mr. Jack Burke,
Maudlins,
Naas,
Co. Kildare.

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Old Graveyards
At Kerdiffstown about two miles from the town of Naas, on the land of Mr Alymer, there is an old Churchyard. It is more than a century old. It is a Catholic grave-yard, and there are an number of people buried there. There is an inseription written on a very ancient tomb stone, there is also the remains of an old glass wreath. There are a few trees growing in the church-yard and it is railed in, in the form of a circle. Very few people go near it now.
At Furness on the land of Mrs Synott there is an old Churchyard. It is more than two hundred years old and there are a number of tombstones and inscriptions written on them, but they are so old that they cannot be read.
There are also numbest of Holy Water Fonto there. There are the ruins of a church there too.
Mary Herwin,
Furness,
Naas,
Co. Kildare.
Information received from
Mr Jack Burke,
Maudlins,
Naas
Co. Kildare

Weather Lore
Signs of rain: When dust appears on the door, when soot falls down the chimney. When the mountain tops are very dark and appear near to us. When the smoke from the chimney blows south.
Dolores Hanlon
St. Annes House
Naas
Co. Kildare
Information supplied by:
Mr. Andrew Hanlon
Same address.

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Weather-lore
Although many of the popular weather- signs are not to be relied upon certain items of weather lore are true particularly with regard to the immediate future. There is a real foundation for the old belief that - A red sky in the
morning
To the shepherds warning
A red sky at night is
the shepherd's delight."
A blur or haze about the setting sun is thought to be a token of coming storms, and a green or yellow hue is the sky at sunset is also a bad omen.
A clean bright moon is thought a sign of fine weather while a misty misty moon or one surrounded by a halo is thought an omen of rain -
If the moon shows like a silver
shield,
Be not afraid to reap your field.
But if she rises halved round,
Soon we'll tread on deluged ground"
In Scotland a halo round the moon is thought to foretell cold, rough, weather. The Dutch, however think a hale

335
it was used a a source of refuge for the Irish soldiers when he English would be in quest of them. I have explored the cave myself but only found a rusty barrel of a gun, an old kettle and a few other kitchen utensils, but nothing which would be of any historical value. In a field nearly there is a a large stone, they say that some treasure is hidden underneath it, but the Antiquarians were unsuccessful in removing the stone. It bears an inscription.
Josephine Stafford
Calliaghstown
Rathcoole
Co Dublin
The forgoing information was given by my father.
Mr William Stafford Age 52
Callvaghstown
Rathcoole
Co Dublin

334
priest should be sent for. When the priest entered the room carrying in his hand his breviary, the devil moved towards the heart-stone, the priest then raised his breviary in his hand, and with all the force he could muster he flung it straight at the demon who stooped and avoided (the) it. But it went through the opposite wall with such force that the mark of it is to be seen to this day. The devil then went down through a hearth, making a hole in it and a could of smoke appeared from the hole. Several people have attempted to fill in this hole but without success. The room is locked up now and no one ever enters it. This house is in the parish of Clondalkin, Co Dublin.
There is a mountain in the parish of Saggart Co Dublin. It is known as Sir John's mountain. On a moat on (this) it a gentlemen named O Callaghan found some gold about some eighty years ago. Some beautifully shaped stones were also found here. Very recently a cave was found about one hundred yards distance from this mate. The general belief is that

333
day when he was hunting, there was a stranger riding by his side and he ex-claimed "The Devil must be in that fox," he said this merely because the fox was hard caught. But the stranger shot him a quick derisive glance and said "I don't think he is." Mr. Connolly who was the owner of the castle entertained all the people who were at the hunt in his house that evening. The party mostly consisted of gentlemen. After dinner they became intensely interested in a game of cards, but after some time they all fell asleep except this stranger and Mr Connelly, they determined to fight it to a finish. Suddenly a card dropped from the table, and on stooping to retrieve it Mr Connelly noticed that the stranger had not riding boots like his own, but alas! he beheld a cloven hoof instead of an ordinary-ary foot. A great fear gripped his entire being and he wakened his visitors with a voice that tumbled. The minister was immediately sent for but when he arrived, he said that he could do nothing to banish the demon. Mr Connelly then suggested that the local,

331
in order to hit the castle. Cromwell then knew (you) that this man was a traitor and he said "When he was a traitor to his own side he would also betray me." So he put him between the castle and his firing place and killed him. About a mile from Kill there is situated a house, this was the dwelling place of the priests of Cromwells time and it was in after years the dwelling place of a very eccentric family of people. They are commonly called the Bruntons. Two if their names were Robet and Bridget, I am not aware of any other names. Bridget went to America and it is said that she came home in the form of a black dog. This dog is often seen at a certain gate at midnight, with blazing eyes and bared teeth and on certain nights when people are passing this gate the hair stands up on their head and a cold shiver runs down their spine. When the rest of the family (died)were dead they came back again and torment-ted the people by petty persecutions. A priest out of Saggart sent one of them to the Red Sea for seven years. He put another under a bush in the field which their

330
Hidden treasures
At Kileel, about eight miles from Naas there is situated an old castle. There are many stories regarding the old places.
Long ago there was also a nun's convent. There was a chapel about a mile away from this and an underground channel was joining the two chapels. It seems that when the enemy would be coming the nuns and priests used to go from one open chapel to the other by means of the subterranean channel.
Some time ago the AntiquarianSociety has discovered an iron bog containing some priests vestments and other such articles. They found a large door under the ground at the churchyard in Kill also three large slabs with the figures of Adam and Eve carved on them. A holy water font completed the discoveries.
The top was blown off the castle during the 17th Century by Oliver Cromwell and it is said that a man named Drum who was on Ireland's side betrayed his fellow country men by telling Cromwell the exact position to fire from.

20
builds its nest like a big ball with two holes one in each side and lays about ten eggs. The eggs are white with brown spots. The stave builds its nest in trees or old houses. It is black but smaller than the black-bird. The water-hen lives in canals or ditches. The robin is supposed to have got the red on its breast when our Saviour was killed. The robin flow to the ross to pull out the nails in doing so blood fell on its breast. When the wild geese fly high it is a sign of good weather. When the swallows fly high it is a sign of good weather.
Laurence MacDonald
16 St Francis St
Edenderry.
Offaly

24
Then we go off to pick blackberries in the Autumn and we go for all kinds of wild fruit. Then we tell stories around th fireside in the winter.
Patrick Grey
16 St Francis St
Edenderry
Offaly.

23
hiding. Whoever is caught last has to turn his back the next time. There is another game called town or rounders and it is a very good game. There are two groups of boys picked outing they toss a penny to see who will be in first. Whoever wins gets in first and the other group of boys field out. One of them throws the ball to the first of the group that won the toss. He throws it three times and the third time he hits it real hard with his hand. Then he runs around to the four corners marked out and then he runs bak to the place he started from. But if he is hit with the ball before he reaches the corners he is out of the game. In he winter we make cribs to catch birds and sometimes we catch many. The crib is the shape of a pyramid and it is made of light sticks. Then you put crumbs of bread under it you have it propped up at one side with a piece of stick. Then you tie a string out of the ?? and then you hide an wait till the birds come. When the birds come they hop around for awhile then they go under the crib to eat the crumbs. Then when they are under it you pull the string and the crib falls down on the bird and you have him trapped. The girls play skipping with ropes and they play with a ball hopping it on the ground.

22
rest on that square with his two feet. Another game I play is called marbles. One boy puts out a marble on the road and the other boys try to hit it and whatever boy hits it the boy that owned the marble has to give the other boy one.
Then I play a game called skittles. There are five sticks standing up on their ends in a circle about the size of a motor tyre. There are numbers on the sticks and number 30 is in the middle and number's 20, 15, 10, 5 are around it. There is a circle around them and it is about 4 feet in diameter. Then it is suggested that whoever gets 100 fit=rst wins the game. Then the boys stand about ten yards away and they throw six pieces of sticks one by one at the ones on the ground. Whatever ones he knocks outside the circle are added up and whatever boy gets a hundred first wins the game.
There is another game called turn-backs and it is very good. One boy turns his back and the rest o the boys gathered around. The one boy tips him on the back and he turns back round and he gets a chance to guess who tipped him. If he is right he tells the boy who tipped him to go to a certain place and count so many. hill he is away counting the other boys ?? then when he is finished counting he follows them and he tries to find the where they are

21
Games I Play.
There are many games which the children play around Edenderry. I play hop scotch with other boys and it is a great game. It is made by drawing on the road a large square with it sides about ten feet long. Then at each two for mark draw a line from one side of the square to the other. Then when it is finished there are twenty-five squares in it all together. The four or five boys get a piece of a slate each and the first boy stands about two feet away and throws the piece of a slate into the first square. Then he hops on on one leg and picks up the slate and hops back again. Then he throws the slate into the second square and so on to the last square. But if he throws the slate outside the square he is aiming for he is out. Also if he hops on a line or puts his two feet on the ground he is out and he has to wait until his next turn. When he gets to the end he hops back out, then he turns his back to the game and he throws his slate over his shoulder and whatever square it stops in he writes his name in it. When the other boys are playing they have to hop over that square. When that boy is going around again he can

19
Bird Lore
There are many birds in this Island of ours but many of them are killed throughout the year. They are the cuckoo, Lark, Sparrow, Magpie, Crow, Jackdaw, Sniper, Yellow Hammer, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Blackbird, Thrush, Stave, Robin, Wren, Curlew, Skygoat, Willywagtail, SandMartin, Crane, Woodguest, Waterhed, Wildduck,Spewees, Linnet, Chaffinch, and for part of the year the Swallow, The Magpie builds her nest high in a treetop, and has brown spotted eggs. Magpie's suck hen's eggs. The crow builds it's nest in the trees with it's neighbours and there is a noisy cluster there all day long. The crow and the jackdaw do much harm to crops in spring when the buds are soft an sweet. The jackdaw builds its nest in chimneys and walls and ivy. Shinings things attract he jackdaw and sometimes money has been found in its nest. The snipe is a rare bird who builds its nest on the moor or bog. The yellow hammer is a lovely bird with its lovely head. The gold-finch is a song bird. It has a red head gold tiped wings and builds its nest in bushes. The bull-finch is a nice bird too and builds its nest in big bushes. The black-bird is the best known of all birds and has a nest lined with mud. The wren

16
A Collection of Riddles
If Ireland was drowned what county would be saved? Cork. Around the house around the house and stands on its head at night? A brush. A motor car of people went over a bridge and not a single one in it? They were all married. Up the road and down the road and then I take the road on my back. A ladder. Black and white and read "red" all over? A news paper. What is the difference between twice fifty three and twice three and fifty? Fifty. As round as an apple as deep as a cup and all the men in Ireland would not lift it up what is that? A spring well. If one ton of coal costs twenty five shillings what will five tons of coal come to? Ashes. What comes in a person's arms and goes out as fine as silk? Turf. What three letters would frighten a thief? I.C.U. Riddle me riddle me what is that over the head and under the hat? The hair on a person's head. Round the wood and round the wood and never goes into the wood? The bark on a tree. What goes up into the air comes down wears boots and has no boots? A football. Edenderry, Cork and Derry spell me that without a k? That. What goes up a ladder with it's head down? A nail in a person's foot. What goes up when the rain comes down?
An Umbrella.
Michael Usher,
Derries,
Edenderry,
Offaly

48
24. Faction-fights.
The parish of Arterne was divided into two parts Cootehill and Crossna. The two parts after fought fights at a place known as Crya-nstown. The people at those fights used sticks for fighting as well as their fists. If one man quarreled with another he would not fight with him then but would wait till the fight at Cyrano-Town. Blood was often spelled st those fights. Some men train their sons to fight well. The fights were held on the first of April and the first of October. A man named Glynn was killed at one of the fights. This quite them down a bit.
At one time there was a terrible fight at Cryanstown. It was the first day of April and all the men from Cootehall and Crossna had gathered for the fight. The fight started at about ten o'clock. The men fought with st?-ks and their fists. The fight continued for half an hour and most of the men were bleeding. There was a great boxer in Crossma at the time named James Conway. He was at the fight and was making great progress being everyone this fought with him. In the midst of the fight he met a man named Byrne, from Cootehill,

47
12. Relics of the Brehon Code. There are no relics of this code.
22.
The name Breheny or "Judge" is quite a common one in the locality, but no significance is attached to it.
2. Local Prejudice of one district against another.
The people south of the Clocgher bridge never liked the people of Cootehill, Knockvicar, Cressna or Keadue and this prejudice exists to the present day.
There was constant rivalry in boat racing and football matches. Dreadful fights with lead-laden ash plants used to take place in monacan's field at Foxhill. It was not considered safe for a man to travel alone on the Glooria road to Keadue.

46
19. Names,
The name of the territory of the MacDermotts was maglury and extended from Loch Co to Craughan and Tulsk. The Clann mulcrony was the tribe name.
The territory of the OGaras ws separated from that of the MacDermotts by the River Boyle which flows from Loch OGara to Loch CO and extended into 3 of the baronies of Co. Sligo. Corran, Legny and Coolavin. Traditiin says that the OGara used to Lang malefactors on the tree which grows beside the castle. It is also said that no one of the name will ever be drown in Loch OGara and that all their gold was flung into the lake when the castle was captured", so that the English would not get it.
20. Plantations
There is nothing remember of any of the plantations in the district, apart from the fact that most of the inhabitants were driven into this district from the fertile "plains of Boyle"

Story - (True)
45
The ruins of the castle of the OGaras at Meg OGara is in quite a good state of preservation as is also the Castle of the MacDonaghs at Ballymote.
A daughter-in-law of the OGara was married to MacDonagh of Ballymote Castle. The OGara was visiting his daughter at Ballymote and before he left the castle the following conversation took place between himself and an old retainer of the MacDonagh clan, who was old and blind and was making ridges in the ashes with his walking staff.
The OGara - Fare thee well sir, why are you brooding over the ashes.
Retainer - I am thinking of all the red roads the MacDonaghs made through the fair.
The OGara - ?, the MacDonaghs never made any red roads except through the ashes.
The OGara mounted his horse and rode towards the direction of his home, but the retainer cried with rage and insult. when the MacDonagh returned home soon act wards he retainer told him the conversation. The MacDonagh immediately mounted his horse and galloped at full speed to overtake the old man. He overtook him at the ford where Rook Bridge now is, near Buninadden. He seized the plaits of the old man and with one low of his sword out off with his head and quickly returned with it to Ballymote. He went to his wife room and flung her father's head on hr lap. The woman was overcome with grief and rage. Silently, she went to where their is sons wee=re sleeping. She cut off their 3 heads and brought them her husband saying "See how an OGara avenges a MacDonagh"

40
The Jail - C'k-on-Shannon. (1822)
The jail in C'k on Shannon is now in ruins and is owned by the Leitrim Co. and was built in 1822.
It was a very large building and struck terror into the hearts of the people. There is a tunnel leading from the "old" jail to the courthouse and the prisoners were brought through the tunnel, to "face" the judge who used to arrive in a carriage surrounded by mounted police. The "death" m sentence was frequently pronounced and the gallows may still be seen. There was great rejoicing a few years ago when the old jail was abandoned a man flung the first slate off amid loud cheers.
Mrs Monahan, and old woman, who resides in the yard remembers when the last man was hanged at he "lodge" gates. His people placed his dead on an ass cart and brought him home to Ballinamore to lie buried.
Several are buried in the grounds. Number sought shelter in this old jail during the famine and died there. The new jail which is about 100' high, imprisoned many land league prisoners once escaped in the following way. Heaving permission to enter a toilet he let himself down through the pipe and crept through the main drain until he reached the river. He then swam across the river to where women were watching clothes. The women quickly concealed I'm in a basket of clothes and carried him to safety via the Killneen road.

130
Food in olden times
They ate three meals a day in olden times. They ate porridge for breakfast ad supper and turnips, potatoes and milk for dinner. They had tins and delph mugs and delph plates. They had tin vessels called porringers for eating porridge.
They ate oaten and wheaten bread. They did not eat late at night. The summer when the people were cutting turf they used go out about four o'clock inn the morning and work until eight and then they would combine and get their breakfast. On Easer Sunday they used to eat two and three eggs at one meal. On St. Martins day the people used kill a cock and sprinkle the blood in the four corners of the house.
Brigid Ryan, Ballnowlart, Rathangan, Offaly
Got from Mrs Annie Walshe Clonsast, Rathangan, Offaly

129
of these families went to America.
To torment him, the people would not wok for him and anyone that did so was boycotted.
It was said that when one man was going to pay the rent he had to borrow a coat, as his own was too good, and the landlord might charge him moe.
Those were hard times in Ireland and he landlords must have been the same all over the country, as the old song shows us,
The landlord and the sheriff came,
To drive us all away,
The rents and taxes were to pay,
I could not them redeem.
And that's my boy the reason why
I left old Skibereen.
Margaret Hyland,
Clonbrook,
Rathangan
Offaly
Got from
Mrs Hyland,
Clonbrock,
Rathangan,
Offaly.

129
of these families went to America.
To torment him, the people would not wok for him and anyone that did so was boycotted.
It was said that when one man was going to pay the rent he had to borrow a coat, as his own was too good, and the landlord might charge him moe.
Those were hard times in Ireland and he landlords must have been the same all over the country, as the old song shows us,
The landlord and the sherif came,
To drive us all away,
The rents and taxes were to pay,
I could not them redeem.
And that's my boy the reason why
I left old Skibeeen.
Margaret Hyland,
Clonbrook,
Rathangan
Offaly
Got from
Mrs Hyland,
Clonbrock,
Rathangan,
Offaly.

128
the roadside. He ould go to the houses about once a year and if he got an altar in the house he would destroy it. He favoured the protestants and he disliked the catholics.
There are some houses at the present time that he put the catholics out of and protestants are living in them. He lived in Co. Galway.
Brigid Ryan, Ballynowlart, Rathangan, Offaly.
Got from. Mr Edward Noonan Clonsast, Rathangan Offaly
Some years ago most of the land was owned by landlords. Some of these were very hard. Evictions occurred even day even though the farmers had paid the rent the day before.
One landlord named Ashtown owned nearly all Ballynowlart, Rathangan Offaly. About forty families were said to have been evicted from his estate around this neighbourhood. Some

127
The landlord of CLonsast, Rathangan, Offaly was Lord Ashtown. Trench was the name of the agent. He was a evil man. If a person got a new coat he would raise the rent. He used come in and search the beds and throw the clothes on the floorIf he thought that it was too good he would raise the rent. No man was allowed to sow the second crop with manning the ground or if he did he would be evicted.
He evicted all the people out of Lower Clonsast and Ballynowlart Rathangan, Offaly. He built a protestant school in Brackna, Offaly and said that he would make the Catholic people go to that school and let their school go to waste but the Priest would not allow it. No person was allowed to sell a load of turf or if he was caught he would be put out of his house. He put protestants into the houses and the catholics were put out and they had to go to the poor house or die by

128
the roadside. He ould go to the houses about once a year and if he got an altar in the house he would destroy it. He favoured the protestants and he disliked the catholics.
There are some houses at the present time that he put the catholics out of and protestants are living in them. He lived in Co. Galway.
Brigid Ryan, Ballynowlart, Rathangan, Offaly.
Got from. Mr Edward Noonan Clonsast, Rathangan Offaly

127
The landlord of CLonsast, Rathangan, Offaly was Lord Ashtown. Trench was the name of the agent. He was a evil man. If a person got a new coat he would raise the rent. He used come in and search the beds and throw the clothes on the floorIf he thought that it was too good he would raise the rent. No man was allowed to sow the second crop with manning the ground or if he did he would be evicted.
He evicted all the people out of Lower Clonsast and Ballynowlart Rathangan, Offaly. He built a protestant school in Brackna, Offaly and said that he would make the Catholic people go to that school and let their school go to waste but the Priest would not allow it. No person was allowed to sell a load of turf or if he was caught he would be put out of his house. He put protestants into the houses and the catholics were put out and they had to go to the poor house or die by

St Brochan's Stone:- This stone is situated near St.Brochan's church - it is very big-. Marks of St. Brochan's head on it. There is a cure supposed to be in it for headaches.The person must put his head where the impression of Saint's head is on the stone & say some prayers. (Prayers usually said are 3 Hail Mary's)

There is a ford in Clonbrock (Offaly) & there was another in Cushina until the river was recently drained (latter ford was near Mc Donaher's house).

41
27
St Brochan had a graveyard near his church & for many years people were buried here, but it is not used now.

The ruins of St. Brochan's monastery are to be seen near a brook in Clonshannon. Students from Europe learning there.

231
Home-Made Toys
by Eva Griffith
Clonshanny
Clara
Offaly
Making toys makes your hands active and light. I made a necklace of daisies and tied the ends to one another. I made clothes for a doll with old clothes. I made a doll with some straw to play with and covered it with old clothes. I just rolled it the straw up and made a doll with it. I made a "dozey ball" with cowslips. I tied a ring to a chair and tied the cowslips on it and tied the two together and I played with it but after a while it broke in pieces.
My Brother Francis can make a catapult and a sling. My Brother Tommy can make a crib for catching birds and I saw it when he finished it. My Father and Mother never made toys when they were small. That is all the toys I made when I as very small.

230
Places around about
By Francis Griffith
Clonshanny
Clara
Offaly
There are a lot of places around about with peculiar names. There is a place named Bailey's gate. There was a man called Baily living there. There are three cottages here now. There is place named Phelan's turn. There was a Phelan living there. There are six cottages here now. There is a crossroads known as the Bolart Bridge. There is a Bolart Bridge there. There is a place mown as Duffy's of the Split hill. When the road was being made the road was split there. There is a Barony Bridge there. It is called the Baroy Bridge because it is dividing the two town lands. There is a place named the Pound near Ballycumber. It is called the Pound because stray cattle were put there. There is a place called the Island because two rivers meet there one called the Silver River and he other the Brosna and the bog is between; that is why it is called he Island.

229
them after the plough. We store them in pits; we put clay and straw and stalks over them. We do not sore them in lofts. We dig the potatoes in the garden. After a few months we bring them into he barn and put them on the floor and the potatoes are turned after a few weeks. We eat the potatoes and when they are nearly all gone we clean out the barn.
About a killing
By Francis Griffith
Clonshanny
Clara
Offaly
Mr Lowe of the Parks went out into his own field. And when he went out he found a dead woman and he got a shock and he wasn't the better of it for a long time. It happened about seventeen years ago. The girl's name was Fahy and the man's name was Fitz Simons. But he was not fined for doing it.

228
17.1.39
The potato-crop
By Francis Griffith
Clonshanny
Clara
Offaly
There are potatoes grown on our farm. There are about three acres under potatoes each year. It varies every year. The workman prepares the ground. Sometimes the manure is sloughed in before the land is turned up. The potatoes are sown in ridges in the garden. Most risked are made by the drilling plough. Woden ploughs were used before the iron ploughs. Tommy Fletcher has a wooden plough; he lives in Ballycumber. There are some of them left. The spade is bought, they are not made at home We help the MInnocks by spreading our potatoes. We raise the potatoes in the autumn. My Father and Tommy and the workman and I pick the potatoes. The work-man ploughs them out with a plough and two horses. We pick

Burning
By Eva Griffith
Clonshanny,
Clara,
Offaly.
The Ballycumber Barrack was burnt about seventeen years ago. The Clara Barrack ws burnt about eighteen years ago. Colonel Eyre's house near Ballycumber on the Ballyboughlin road was burnt about seventeen years ago. Miooruck's house was burnt about seventeen years ago. Minock's house of Cool-rain on the Tullamore road was burnt about ten years ago. That is all Peter Egan knows about burning.

227
There is a man in Ballycumbe whose name is Fleming and he can cure anyone that is scalded. He puts his hand on them and prays and they are cured then.

226
Herbs
by Eva Griffith
Clonshanny,
Clara,
Offaly
Old Mrs Fagan of the Back Road calls convolvolus "the Devil's Garter" It is very common in Clara.
The most harmful weed around here is prasha.
The prasha spreads rapidly and impoverishes the soil. The thistles grow no-where but on good land.
Scutch grass and red poppies grow on poor land. The dandelion (weed) has medicinal properties. The dandelion is used for some disease. The roots of the dandelion are boiled and the people drink it then. The nettles are boiled for turkeys when they are small. Elder berries are used for making ink. The nettles are boiled for curing people too. We think the people make it like tea. My Mother told me about herbs and my father too. They are over forty years of age. They live in Clonshanny, Clara, Offaly.

225
dance and play on mouth organs and a lot more amusements. My Mother and My Father danced in the barn and other people as well because the house was not big enough.

224
Local Marriage Customs.
by Eva Griffith
Clonshanny,
Clara,
Offaly.
Marriages take place more frequently before Lent. Very frequently marriages take place on Shrove Tuesday. Thee is an old rhyme which says -
Monday for health
Tuesday for wealth
Wednesday best of all
Thursday for losses
Friday for crosses
Saturday no luck at all.
There are no briefs or customs connected about Shrove that I know. The made matches are few and far between in my district. Money is, often given to people as dowry. Stock and goods are very seldom given. The straw boys wear kind of straw-hats. Nearly like the wren boys with skirts and jumpers on them and lot of other things. Some straw boys visit the marriage houses they

223
with a pencil in olden times. They sat in olden days. The teacher used to stay in the schools until they died. Peter Egan told me about old schools. He is eighty six years of age. He lives in CLonshanny Clara Offaly.
More about Clara schools - See P. 117. Old Peter (See P. 9) says a man called Matthew Dunty used to teach a night school where the monastery is now. he had a house of his own there. Peter "minds" him well. He wore knee-Breeches and two little tails and he wore a cape sometimes. Father Cochrane got a monk along with him and another and another until there were four in Father Cochrane's time.

222
Old Schools
by Eva Griffith
Clonskenny,
Clara,
Offaly
There was a hedge school in one of our fields. The people were called Donahue. It was a small house. The local names of the schools were Clonshanny, the Island and Clara. Clara is in a town. The children were taught indoors. The monks used to teach in Clara and John Daly used to teach in the Island. The names of the Monks were Brothers Antony Brother Patrick and Brother Leo. They were not strangers. The other schools were carried on in the farmers' houses. The teacher lodged in the houses. The chidden paid the teacher. Irish was not spoken in that time. They were English books were used in that time. The children wrote on a slate.

Old Trades (Contd.)
Thatching -
here were great thatchers in the old days. The thatchers sewn on with straw rope. Peter often helped. The thatcher had a needle, an iron rod as long as that stick (Peters stick). He'd out it in his side (the outside presumably) and you'd pull it out and you'd put it in and he'd pull it out. The top (riggin) was done with "bobbins". They had to be hard. Peter could make a bobbin would cut your head.
Magee (no relation of the Carpenters See P. 69) was the thatcher who kept at it constantly and had no there trade. His thatch lasted 14 years before it let down a drop. Last thatch Peter had put on only lasted a year and nine months. Bill Flynn did it and it cost Peter L22 and 1/2 a 100 for scolls. He couldn't make bonbons at all.
There were any amount of thatchers in old times. Swords of the Hills was a great thatcher. He was hard to attend. He wouldn't have one straw longer than another. He wouldn't use much scolls except at the comb. His thatch would stand.
Stones and his father were thatchers.
Donaghue is the present thatcher but he is not a regular thatcher.

220
Old Trades (Contd.)
from P. Flattery (See P. 9)
Flour - There were Flour Mills in Clara since long before the Goodbody's time. Peter's grandmother remembered them always. The Erry Mills were owned by by Perry's of Belmont. A man called Dugdale also worked the Inchmore Flour Mills. He lived in Father Bracken's house. A man called Brown made flour in the Stocet Mill. Collis made flour there too and then sold to Goodbodys. (N.B. Possibly some of these were managers for Telfords or Perrys. See Miss Goodbody version below) The Telfords were making flour before that again. Peter's mother remembered the Goodbodys coming.
From Miss Goodbody, Beechmount
Wen the Goodbody's came to Clara (See P. 15) hey acquired the site of the Steam Mill in Inchmore . It was built in 1836, burnt & rebuilt 1838 and finally burnt 1918. Later in 1860 they bought the Erry Mill from Perry. The Perrys lived at that time in the Priest's house and the present Mill House. They still kept the Street Mill till 1886 when Goodbodys bought the lot. After the Steam Mill was burnt in 1918 the Erry Mills were extended.

219
Old Trades in Clara (Also see P. 48)
FromPeter Flattery aged 85.
Linen making was carried on in the old days in all the houses. Peter doesn't 'mind" linen being made but there were two looms in his house. He took them down when his mother died. He had two sheets & two towels and his grandmother's name on them. They were as coarse "as be damned" but he doesn't know what happened hem. There was a Bleach Green where Pat O'Hara lives (Tullamore Rd) beside the high road to Kilmucklan. Peter remembers that - used to see ass-loads going by it. He remembers seeing them switching flax. His mother and uncles and aunts wove "in this house." Peter remembers shirts made from hand-woven linen & wore some when he was a lad. They have fine fronts but the rest "as coarse as damnation" and they had no cuffs. Its not 15 years since he saw one on a man cutting turf in the Island. (The Island - a distinct between Bog & junction Broana & Silver River about 2 miles from Clara between Ballycumber & Rahan)
Wool Peter remembers old women gathering wool from the hedges in their aprons. When they had enough they carded or spun it for socks. Peter carded bt would rather not. One woman Ann Flynn of Cornabinnie used to come to Peter's and spend a week or moe 7 carded & spun as much as you'd want. She could make it like silk thread & never stopped jiggin or simpin. She was reared to it she told Peter. Peter says you'd be a warm foot with it.

218
Present Landlords (Contd.)
Armstrongs who were once extensive landlords in Clara, Ballycumber, (Castle armstrong), Kildare and Gallen. Still own one or two sites in Clara (Higgins & Galvins of Church Street. (From J. Allen, Hillside, Clara)
Also from Miss Phyllis Goodbody, Beechmount, Clara. The head rents of Kilcoursey House, Clara still go to an Armstrong. General G.G. Herbert Armstrong, an old man lives in England.
Cromwell gave Kildare House to Armstrong. They were still there in 1895. (in Armstrong married a Baggot & hold a house below the Castle Hill in Kilcoursey - between the Castle and the river. Later Miss Phyllis' grandfather Jonathan Goodbody, when married in 1842 lived in that house for a time. It was taken down later because it was unhealthy. (Old Peter said it was a grand house!)
Bagotts used to come back to Clara to collect rents & lodged in Schools, Kilcoursey.
The Round Tower on the line of hills dividing Kildare from Durrow was built by an Armstrong at in the time of the famine to give work. (Another legend says it was built by a squire who was very fond of fox-hunting and when he was too old to hunt he could follow he course of the hunt from the top of the tower)
Bailey - A Bailey bought the Erry Hills from Armstrong and evicted all the tenants (See P. 52). This Bailey was hated. He was fired at once but the shot hit the iron bar across his gig. They are not landlords now. The last Bailey sold out in 1922 to ???
They lived in Ballycumber.

217
Present Landlords
From Lewis P. Goodbody. Beechmount Clara
The Cox Estate
Abrose Cox (otherwise known as "Old Amby") bought Clara House in 1808. (date still on sundial in Clara House Garden). Formerly Ambrose was a brewer in Dundalk. Married Lord Wolsey's (aunt daughter?? (nicknamed "Beauty & the Beast" Reputed to have been the worst type of landlord. Their son, Colonel Cox turned from the Roman Catholic Church to the Protestant. He had one son who died or was killed and a stepdaughter who is said to have been devoted to him but whom he treated rather badly. Colonel Cox spent most of his time abroad, in army and let Clara house back tot he Armstrongs (See P 18) occasionally . Then Mr Goodbody rented it about 64 years ago. He used to come backfire holidays until he fell out with Mrs. Goodbody about a desk. Mrs Goodbody had wanted him to take this rather broken down desk away but he never did so when one of her sons went business in Tullamore she got this desk clean up & gave it to him. Next time the Colonel came he demanded the desk & Mrs. Goodbody refused to give it after she'd got it all mended. This led to a long drawn out feud and cOlonel Cox revenged himself by making a Will to the effect that when Mrs Goodbody's lease ran out the estate must go to the Church of Ireland & the then Record must o to live in the House- otherwise the estate was to go to the English Church. When the lease was up in1930 Mrs Goodbody left though she was over 80 yrs of age and the present Rector of Clara went to live there. As to the famous desk, Miss Phyllis believes it is still in Clara House.
The Cox estate owns a good deal of house property in Church Street, Main Street, River Street, Bridge Street, Oratory Road.

216
Present Landlords (Contd.)
Ranks Ireland Ltd.
Now since 1930 own the Flour Mill at Erry and the Sweet Mill, Bridge St; the house in Back Road or Frederick Street with exception of Nicholson's, Flattery's &Reck's & Muldoons; (6) six houses in River Street adjoining Mill, the Manager's house & smaller houses adjoining it in Bridge St. Since December 1938 they also own the Old Mill & Factory holding, Charlestown with exception of Charlesown House, Garage & Yard,

215
Landlords.
Present landlords
1. Hoodbodys - Messrs & Goodbody, of the Jute Factory are the chief landlords at present. The Goodbodys are in Clara at least 110 years. The present jute factory was founded in 1865 by J. L. F. Goodbody Ltd. (Jonathan, Lewis & Frederick) Before that there had been some sort of Textile trade in Clara (See Lost Industry P. 19) and that was why they started Jute manufacture here as there were already workers with a knowledge of spinning and weaving. Goodbodys rented the older building first and extended it 1878.
They are considered good landlords.
Their property consists chiefly of worker's cottages which they built in Clashawan and in Church Street Clara, the office staff and foremen's houses.
Mrs. Reginald Goodbody late of Tuchmore Clara now of England & Mrs Richard Goodbody of Howth own the River St houses from the Railway Bridge to the Chapel Corner, both sides of street except Anthony Phelan's block.
N.B. From Miss Phyllis Goodbody Beechmount, Clara.The Goodbodys came from Moutmeelick in 1826. Robert Goodbody was Lord Porlarington's agent. He had five sons, Marcus, Jonathan & Lewis who settled in Clara and Pym and Robert who settled in Tullamore. The first steam mill was built in 1836, was burnt and rebuilt in 1838 and finally burnt in 1918 night of Armistice. They next established a Linen Handweaving Factory in Clashawan (184-) Next the Gashouse in 1859. The opening celebration of the gas house coincided with the coming of first train from Dublin. Midland Railway opened 1866.

214
Old Families (Contd.) Also Landlords
From Peter Flattery (aged 83) Clara.
Telford - The Telfords were in Clara before the Goodbodys. Thy owned and worked the "Street Mills" until Perry bought them out, then Goodbody bought out Perry in 1886. Telford also owned the ruined house on the Tullamore Road known as "King's", and the house in Church St where Dr O'Hara lives and Ballycoughlin House on the western Ballycumber Road and the "Noggin House" in Tully (named from its high narrow shape) on the Kilmonaghan Road. It is nearly down now but there used to be a cellar in it.Peter remembers seeing the marriage coming from it. Also remembers seeing two men in the garden in King's and carriage coming out. A Miss Telford in England owned property behind Peter's house. Telford owned the Bleach ???. They had a loan fund in Dr. O'Hara's house.
There are still some Telfords left in Clara - J. Telford River Str; and his mother Mrs. Telford of Raheen with whom live her son Harry & a daughter; Telfords of Tara, about 3 miles away, farmers. There are also Telfords, owning a wool mill in Athlone. Mora House, Tipperrary also belonged till 1938 to Telfords. The Clara Telfords claim that they all belonged to same family.
Baggot - Captain Bagot, his wife & daughter lived in a house in Kilcoursey (see Goodbody Acc. P. 15). Owned Kilcoursey & some land other side of River. Was going to Buenos Ayres and raised money unhorse & property & the Banks sold him out. Had 15 tenants in Ballycumber & Rahan who have their land for nothing since for Bank couldn't take more than their ow. (Old Peter)
Mr Harold Goodbody bought property. Peter says there was a store for wheat under the old Castle on Kilcoursey Castle. Also see P. ??

213
O'Kieff -
Leap - (pronounced Let) - Peter Flattery mentioned them as having been a long time in the district. I think they were among Bailey's Evicted Tenants (See P. 52)
Mannion -
Marra - or (O Mearra) - The Maras were originally Nailors by trade. Lived in the little house with end to road beside Railway Bridge on River Street. An aunt of Ton Mara's lives there now.
Minnock - In hill. Were evicted by Bisley (See P. 52)
Molloy - A common name for several miles round.
Rabbit - James Allen, Hillside, Clara Who has studied folklore mentioned this family as an example of trace of ancient Totem Worship
Rigney - Rigneys have been in River Street for 5 generations at least. Shoemakers by trade in the old days. One of them is still in the leather trade in Church Street.
Srahan - Farmers in the Hills. Related to Old Peter.
Shanley - near Bog. Among Bailey's evicted tenants. (See P. 52)
Stones - See "Rabbit" above. Stones seem to have been thatchers in olden days. See P. 21.
N.B. Many of above names occur in "Handy's Ball", P. 113.

212
Old families (Contd.)
Geoghegan - (trounced Gah-gan-locally) for some generations back but mostly shoe-makers, very good tradesmen, could make good shoes & taught the trade to apprentices e.g. Flattery. Shoes all sewn with hemp. Joe Geoghegan still lives in Bade Road, Clara & Cobbs. Can also ????.
Dillon - of Church Street, farmer, also owns 2 houses in Church Street
?? he house on the Green & 2 houses in Kilbride
his own & Miss Kellys, Billy Dillon's grandfather. Simon Dillon (known as Coroner Dillon) got this property cheaply off ??? when he was "broke" & had to go to Bankruptcy Jail. (From P. Flattery, Clara. Aged 83)
Gaffy - Farmer in the Hills.
Glyn - McGlyns of The Square 7 Bridge Street. Their grandfather came with the Goodbody's. Used to drive them to Mount Mellick every Sunday
Handy - Many branches of this family. They have been several generations in Clara. (See P. 141)
Handibo - (Joseph) of Bally mac morris, Kilbeggan brought wheat to
Higgins - Used to live in the house opposite Old Mill Gates. They once owned these mills and Drayton. Goodbody's bought Inchmore Mills of the. Old Peter (See P.) always called them "Ogan". He minds them well. He used to fetch whiskey for them. Mrs Lamb of Clara (a mile away) now owns what remains of their property. She was a Miss Higgins. She gets ground rent from Charleston, ???? & Upton.
Kinehan - owned thatched house beside factory. When factory was being built the Kinehan who owned it refused to let Goodbody's demolish it & built a new one. Some of them live up the "New Road." (See P.
Kenedy - any generations in Clashawan. Used to be shoemakers Old house demolished when the factory was built.

211
Other old Families who as far as I can gather have been in this district for generations.
Coughlin - Owned a little farm where the factory is now. Goodbody built Nellie COughlin's present house when old one demolished.
Colclough - pronounced Coakley
Doorly -
Eivers - There are two families of this name living up the New Road.
Flattery - The Flattery's pride themselves on having been princes in this district in olden times. They say 18 generations of them are buried in Kilbride (See P.3.). There are three families living in the town - Peter Flattery (See P.() Tommy Flattery Oratory Rd (See P.9) and John Flattery (otherwise known as the Sergeant Major) also Oratory Road. Tommy Flattery is a great authority on Local History and is writing a book about it. When I came to Clara first 1926 I went to many places of local interest with him and learnt a lot of old legends. He go them from his father & others, now dead.
Fox - The Foxes used to own all the land in the triangle formed by the Brosno & the Shannon - up as far as Clara. Their chief castle was in Kilcoursey. They were said to have been dispossessed by Many Tudor (Plantation) but re instated by Elizabeth. Miss Phyllis Goodbody of Beechmount told me that there is one of them left - O'Fox in Kilkenny. There are several families of the small farmer class 7 working class still living near Fox of Kilbride & Fox of Rakeen.

208
Ethnographic
Classification of Pupils
Year Names Hair Colour Colour of Eyes
1935 Griffith 4 2 Fair 2 Blue
2 Dark 2 Brown
Williams 3 3 Fair 3 Blue
Whitehead 2 2 Dark 2 Brown
Swan 2 1 Dark 2 Blue
1 Fair
Lowe 1 Very Dark 1 Brown
Steepe 1 Dark 1 Brown
Extra
1938 Allen 2 One Dark 1 Brown
(cousins) One Fair 1 Blue
Craven 2 Both Fair 2 Blue
(cousins)
Jackson 1 Dark Blue
Telford 1 Fair Brown

49
Over 200 men were employed at the time, most of whom were skilled craftsmen - a boy was apprenticed to the trade for seven years. All the principal buildings ad churches were erected from stone supplied by the Tullamore quarries.

48
Old Crafts
The principal industries of Tullamore were Distilling (two disteillers, Manlys and Dalys). It was in the yard at Manly's Distillery. Cornmarket (now Egans Mallings) that Daniel O'Connell addressed a great public meeting. He was entertained to dinner that night in the Charleville Arms Hotel.
Two breweries - Deveralls in Meath Lane and Manly's where Egans carried on brewing up to about twelve years ago. Goodbodys tobacco factory, burnt in 1883 Tanyard brickyard corn mills. (O Flanagan's); chandlery, sawmills, sailmaking, shoemakers, coopers, tailoring and others.
The quarries were opened about 200 years ago, and according to tradition, the first quarry at Muinagh (Collin's) was worked by a man named Jack Horan. Other quarries were owned at worked at Ballyduff by the Molloys, Wrafters and others.

47
Trade and Labour Hall. The first methodist church was built in Swaddling Lane, Upper Bar-rack St. over a century and a half ago. John Wesley was a frequent visitor to this church.

46
Old Churches
Old churches in the parish were situated at Kilbride, Kilcrutten, Ballyduff, dated 1728 and Durrow. the present church of which was built nearly 100 years ago - two earlier churches existed here. Tullamore church, built on site given by Earl of Charleville about 1800 by Father James Murray. It existed until thirty years ago when the present handsome church was erected. St Catherines Church, Hophill, was erected in 1818. The Earl of Charleville contributed L3,000 towards its erection Charleville school was erected some time later and took the name from the Charleville family The previous J.C. Church was in the Shambles There is also a Presbyterian church, about 100 years in existence. A Methodist church was built 47 years ago and an old church existed in Crow Street. Primitive Methodist closed about 60 years; its congregation merged with that of the Church St. It is now the

43
Tullamore Jail
Notable Prisoners
Many notable men were imprisoned her during the early days of the Land League including local men who were called "Suspects" amongst whom were the late Henry Egan and P J White.
The death of John Manderville in the prison caused a great and painful sensation all over Ireland, while the incident of Mr W O Briens clothes is recorded in song and story. I give brief readings from Lays of Tullamore by T D Sullivan:-\"Oh, Tullamore Jail is a charming place
Bang the bolts and clatter the tins
This loyalty's school for the Irish race-
At 6 a.m. the trouble begins:
Rub and scrub and tramp away,
Pull and prick, and hammer all day.
Smash the stones and turn the clay
And mourn for your political sins"

40
stoned the saint. When he reached Ballycowan he said to his pursuers 'Rowdy you are, Rowdy you may be.' The people denied him food and he was given a mug of milk at Ballycowan.
5 St Colmcille's well is situated at Durrow, about four miles from Tullamore. A pattern is held in Durrow each year on June the 9th in honour of St. Colmcille. The owner of Durrow Castle once tried to prevent people from paying visits to the well, by blocking the passage that led to it. The well sprang up suddenly in his dining room.
On a stone over the well is written
'My sloe, my nut, my apple and my well."
Headache is said to be cured by contact with that stone. Votive offerings are left at the well... religious objects or money.

38
Holy Wells
When Saint Patrick came to Ireland to convert the Irish Pagans he did not seek to overthrow completely all their old customs. One of these customs was the honouring of certain wells. Whenever St Patrick came across one of these wells he dedicated it to a Saint, so that the Christians honoured the Saints through the medium of the holy wells.
1 There are seven wells to be found at Killeigh, about four miles from Tullamore. Every seventh year seven bells ring there. The following story is told of a man named Bryan Egan who interfered with the 'wart well" on the border of Malaghans and Killeigh. This man plowed the patch of ground surrounding the "wart well. Almost immediately he had a severe attack of pains which became worse as time went on. At length, a friend on healing the whole story

39
suggested that he should undo the harm he had done, by ploughing back the sod. Being too weak to do so, he sat in a barrow and held the handles of the plough. A local man wheeled the barrow behind the plough and the the plot was restored. Shortly after, the man's pains disappeared never to return.
2 Once, when St Patrick was journeying across Ireland he came to Croghan. His horse was thirsty and he could find no water. He threw his mantle on the ground and caused a well to spring up. On a stone near the well, the imprint of the horse's knees are still to be seen.
3 St Brigid's well is at Ballydrohid at a cemetery called Kilbride. One day the Saint felt very thirsty and no water was available. She spread her mantle on the ground and prayed. Immediately a well appeared there.
4 St Carthage's well is at Rahan. Once, the people of Rahan

38
Holy Wells
When Saint Patrick came to Ireland to convert the Irish Pagans he did not seek to overthrow completely all their old customs. One of these customs was the honouring of certain wells. Whenever St Patrick came across one of these wells he dedicated it to a Saint, so that the Christians honoured the Saints through the medium of the holy wells.
There are seven wells to be found at Killeigh, about four miles from Tullamore. Every seventh year seven bells ring there. The following story is told of a man named Bryan Egan who interfered with the 'wart well" on the border of Malaghans and Killeigh. This man plowed the patch of ground surrounding the "wart well. Almost immediately he had a severe attack of pains which became worse as time went on. At length, a friend on healing the whole story

37
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
God bless the bed that I lie on
Four corners on my bed
Four angels round my head
One to sing and one to pray
And two to carry my soul away.

36
If any evil comes to me
I pray, sweet Jesus to waken me"
"May my kind and faithful angel
With his love so true
Help me at my prayers and lessons
And in all I have to do
That it may be all for Jesus
Prayers and works and sufferings
May he help me to be faithful
May he raise me when I fall
Thou my sweetest mother art
Mary take and keep my heart
Take my heart and fondly hide
Wishing thine (hand) own in Jesus' side.
Take my body Jesus,
Eyes and ears and tongue
Nevre let them Jesus
help to do Thee wrong.
Take my heart and fill it
Full of love for Thee
All I have I give Thee
Give Thyself to me

35
O care for me my Lord I pray
And send me all I want to day
Protect me in they tender arm
That I from hunger take no arm.
The following prayer is said to cure a toothache
St Peter sat on a marble stone
Our Lord came up and all alone
What ails you Peter, what makes you shake
Oh Lord I'm troubled with a toothache.
Get up peter and go away
And everyone who says this prayer.
Three times by night, three times by day
Shall never be troubled with a toothache.
This is another night prayer:-
"Jesus Heart meek and mild
Look on me a little child
Make me humble as thou art
With love of Thee, inflame my heart"
As I lie down upon my side
I pray to God to be my guide

34
Prayers
the following prayer is said before going to bed
God be the branch
Jesus the flower
Jesus be with me my dying hour.
If bad evil tempt me,
O Sweet Saviour waken me
On my right hand God bless me
Matthew, Mark Luke and John
God bless the bed that I lie on.
There are four corners in my bed
There are four angels overspread
And if I die before I wake
I got myself to God to take.
The following prayer is said before going to bed:-
O Angel of God, my guardian dear
To whom God's love commits me here
Ever this night be at my side
To light and guard to rule and guide.
The following prayer is said in the morning:-

33
Q. A wee, wee pony, long and slim
With a long white flowing tail on him
Then a man with a brazen hood
Driving him right through the wood.
A. A needle, thread and thimble.
Q. As I was going across a bridge one day I met a man with a torn trousers, what time was it?
A> Time to get a new one.
Q. Why does a cow look over a fence?
A. Because she cannot look under it.
Q. As I went out a slippery gap
I met my Uncle Davy
I cut off his head and shaved his beard
and left him lying easy.
A. A Bottle fo Porter.
Q. Little Red Nancy with her little red nose
The longer she lives the smaller it grows
A. A candle.

32
Q. What always walks with its head down.
A. A nail in a man's boot.
Q. Black and white and red all over.
A. A newspaper
Q. What goes away between two wood and comes back between tow waters
A. A man fetching water
Q. Hink, hank, under a bank,
Ten drawing four.
A. A woman milking a cow.
Q. What has four legs and cannot walk?
A. A bed.
Q. I had a little house and it would not hold a mouse and it had as many windows as the lord Mayors house.
A. A thimble
Q. Why does a hen pick a pot?
A. Because she cannot lick it.

31
head and break my face and throw me out of my dwelling place.
A. A sod of turf
Q. Twenty sick sheep went out a gap, one died, how many came back.
A. Nineteen
Q. As I looked out through a window I saw a wonderful thing, I saw the dead carrying the live.
A. A ship carrying people.
Q. AS round as an apple, as plump as a ball, can climb over churches and spires and all.
A. The moon
Q. Riddle me riddle me ???
My father gave e a seed to sow
The seed was black and the ground was white
Riddle me, that and I'll give you a pint.
A. Black ink and white paper.

30
Riddles
Q. King Murrooka wrote to Queen Maeve asking for a bottomless tub in which he could put flesh and blood.
A. A ring.
Q. Two thirds of a chicken, three quarters of a cat and half a goat:-
A. Chicago
Q. Mse me well and I am every-
body, turn my back and I am nobody.
A. A mirror
Q. It hangs and bears but never blossoms.
A. A Pot Crook
Q. When I am black I am much admired, they are looking for me until they are tired, when they get me they cut my

28
for two days dispels all bodily pains.
Sty:- Prod with a gooseberry thorn nine times and say each time "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.
Sore Throat
Put a hairy worm and in a bag, tie it around your neck and leave for nine days.
Ring Worm, let a hairy worm creep on it while
saying three Hail Marys.

27
Local Cures
Toothache; cured in some instances by bread soda
The following prayer was supposed to effect a cure_
"St Peter sat on a marble stone
Our Lord came up and all alone
'What ails you Peter, what makes you shake?
'Oh Lord I am troubled with a toothache?
"Get up Peter and go away"
Everyone who says this prayer three times by day, three times by night shall never be troubled with a toothache.
Headache:- A drink of strong tea dispels this.
Sore throat: A stocking filled with salt worn around the throat cures it.
Whooping Cough is cured by putting the person affected under a donkeys legs.
Chapped Hands are cured by rubbling dairy cream on them.
A potatoes carried in the pocket

26
Bread
Boxty
1 lb. of boiled potatoes
1 lb. of raw potatoes
1 lb. of flour
2 sp. of salt
buttermilk
1 sp. soda
Method
Wash, peel and mash raw potatoes. Peel boiled potatoes. Press juice from raw potatoes through a clean cloth, and leave aside for a while. Then drain off the water. Take the starch from the bottom of the basin and mix with flour and mashed boiled potatoes. Mix in salt and soda. Make a well in the centre of mixture and pour in buttermilk, until mixture is of required consistency. Grease pan, and drop spoonfuls of mixture on it. Fry until golden brown on one side. Then fry the other side. Serve with butter and sugar.

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storms as well.
When the wind
shifts against the sun, weather wise folks know that is usually presages a storm. The wind usually moves clockwise, from left to right and this is known as veering. If it goes in the opposite direction the change is called backing.
Colour of the Sky -
is caused chiefly by moisture in the air and is a sure indicator of the weather.The chief effects of color are at sunrise and sunset.

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Weather Prophets.
Misty Clouds.
If you see misty clouds forming on heights, watch them for awhile. would they increase or appear to descend wind and rain is coming. If, however, they appear to arise or disperse it is a sign that the weather will improve.
Yellow Light
A pale yellow light at sunset is a sign that the next day will be wet. If the light is orange or copper-coloured there will be wind and rain. Light, delicate, quite tints or colours with set indefinite forms of clouds show that fine weather is at hand. But gaudy or unusual hues with hard definitely outlined clouds foretell rain.
Morning Rainbows
Are a sign of rain clouds from the west, if it is clear in the east, and the fall of rain at the time of day when the sun should be rising is a warning that rain is driving - and

21
Historical Tradition
Ballyboy, whose old orthography was BAile At the Baithe, the town of the yellow fort is on the Silver River. There are traces in history that it was once of some importance and that money was struck 200 years ago. One of the coins has on it "The Maire of Ballyboy Tennen" and the "Rob Hutchinson of BallyboyMarch" William III is supposed to have honoured this town by sleeping in a small well lighted room, with was said to have been in existence up to a comparatively recent date.
Killoughey:- There lies buried in this graveyard Murrough O'Connor, lord of Offaly, a prince who frequently defeated the English and the Irish according to which party he belonged at the time. It is said in the annals that "having gained the victory over the world and the Devil he died at his own fortress" and was buried in the then monastery of Killachaidh. We find though that it did not take him very long to repent, for only a month previous to his death, he marched into Leise, where he attacked the English and defeated them with slaughter, and his people

20
With wattles into wattles tied
First in the ground on either side
Did like a shaded arbour show
With seats of Sods, and roof of straw
The floor beneath with rushes laid, stead
of tapestry; no bed or bedstead;
no poots, nor bolts, nor hinges in door
No chimney, kitchen hall or window
But narrow dormants stops with hay
All night and opened in the day
On either side there was a door
Extent from roof unto the floor
Which they like hedgehogs, stopt with straw
Or open as the wind does blow,
And though they reach from top to floor
His grace crept in upon all four
Betwixt the door there was a spot
I'the middle, to hang o'er a pot.

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Old Houses
The towns are built in the English fashion but the houses in the country in this manner:- two stakes are fixed in the ground, across which is a transverse pole to support two rows of rafters on the two sides which are covered with leaves and straw. The cabins are of another fashion. There are four walls the height of a man, supporting rafter over which they thatch with straw and leaves. They are without chimneys and make fire in the middle of the hut which greatly incommodes those who are not fond of smoke. The castles or houses of the nobility consist of four walls extremely high thatched with straw. They have little furniture and cover their rooms with rushes of which the make their beds in Summer, and of straw in Winter. They put the rushed a foot deep on their floors and many of them ornament the ceilings with branches.
Built without either brick or stone
Or couples to lay a roof upon.

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Local Monuments
The only pre-fire houses are at Rafter's gate near Colton's. Inscription reads Joseph Flanagan 1775; and the old watch tower in the grounds of acres Hall erected to commemorate the battle of the Peninsular War also Maurice Tyrell's in Bridge St. date 1767.
The battle names are as follows Douro, Talabera, Bessano, Toulose, Waterloo, Badagoz, Salamanes, Vittoria, Pyrnees, and San Sebastian.
At Minnolk's Shop Banaer St there is a stone with date 1762, but it is not known to what it refers.
Inscription at Acres Hall "Spres Tutissima Coelis" "The Safest Hope is in Heaven" (Thos. Acres 1786) and on stone over garden gate "Lord Have Mercy on us."
The German officer baron Oldenhausen who was killed in 1808 is buried in Kilcrutten whee there is a stone pillar with his name inscribed, erected to his memory.

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There was a shambles at ??? of Market Square, Church St.
New St, later Charles St. and now Harbour St.
Pound St. Later William St, now Columcille St.
Barrack St leading to Barracks.
Water Lane, continued over river to Sallygrove, to High St vic Crow St., Meath Lane, and O'Flanagan's lane.
Kilcrutten lane, and many smaller lanes

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Old Roads
Tanyara lane, one of the principal entrances to the own consists of private residences and industries. It connects with road to Geashill, ran at the back of Tarleton's house in the Square, across the old bridge at the back of Methodist Church into church St. and Cornmarket. Dr. Talateau, Surgeon to the county infirmary resided there. He is interred at Lynally.
Wheatley's Lane from Hight St. to Windmill Hill, or Buckley's Hill.
New Road, formerly Bachelor's walk made by Earl of Charleville about 1820 to connect Charleville Castle direct with Church at Hopehill. Not completed owing to disestablishment of Irish Church 1828.
Charleville Avenue, now Cormac St.
Earl St. now O'Moore St. A Richard Moore resided at and probably erected Moore Hall where the effigy of a Moore similar to that in the Charleville coat of Arms, may be seen in the yard, now Seally's private house.
Market Square now O'Connor Square contained the Market House, weigh ???

15
verdict in the dusk of a winter's evening. It was a long time before they returned to court and then only to announce that they had failed to agree. The judge sent them back, and on three different occasions when the foreman repeated it was hopeless to expect an agreement, the judge bade them retire.
On the spoke of midnight his lordship sent for the jury and was once more told they had not agreed. He then discharged them first telling them that the brother of one of the witnesses for the crown had just been murdered. But this was not so, as the mans death was the result of a fit.
The prisoner was again put back but soon afterwards was liberated and went abroad. The counsel who defended the accused, was Mr Dunbar Barton who was afterwards elevated to the bench from which he retired a few years ago.

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the government had taken power to transfer prisoners from the place where alleged offences had taken place to a different venue for trial, the Tullamore venue ws frequently selected.
A Dramatic Scene
In the closing year of the last century a very dramatic scene took place at the close of one of these trials at which the late Judge William O'Brien presided. A young Kerry farmer was put forward, for the fourth time charges with murder. He had already been tied for the alleged crime on three different occasions and in each case the jury had failed to agree to a verdict. The evidence was altogether circumstantial it being alleged that the accused was a party to a dispute in reference to some land., the owner of which had been killed. A number of witnesses including several experts brought forward by the crown, gave evidence at great length and for the defense many witnesses were examined to prove an alibi.
At last after several days the judge having charged very strongly for a conviction the jury retired to consider the

13
Interesting Incidents
The Smuggled Suit
The imprisonment of Mr. William O'Brien called great attention to the local jail when he refused to ear the prison clothes. The many incidents in connection with the protracted struggle were followed by the public with intense interest, and when it was feared that Mr O'Brien health had given way medical specialists from the English prison service were sent over to report on the case. Then came the sensation when it was learned that a new suit of clothes, specially made had been mysteriously conveyed by Mr O'Brien's friends into the cell, and when the English doctor arrived he found the captive wearing these garments.
T.D. Sullivan
Another distinguished prisoner sent here under the regime of Mr. Arthur Balfour was T.D. Sullivan, M.P. Lord Mayor of Dublin who was stricken in years and in health when he was cast into this deeply depressing place.
In the Courthouse many notable trials took place, and for some years after

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I'm constantly dreaming of fairy like feet;
And I sigh for the days when the echo shall wake
To the voice of the cuckoo and harsh corn-crake
For then I'll be taken once more to the grove
And bask in the sunshine of friendship
and love.
Edward Egan