landlady what was her 'charge'. She told him, mossa, an' said "I hope ye liked the tea." "Wisha" says Paddy "Gra mo chree" [unclear] "the Congo tay" but may the devil sweep the "sweeten to yere likin'". 'Twas worse with ould Nell Collin 'begorr'. Ould Nell bough a half pound o' tay from a 'tay-man'. They used be goin' round the country that time tryin' to sell it. Poor ould Nell never say 'tay' before, an' she didn't know no more than the man in the moon how to make it; an' another thing she was too 'damn' grand an' big in herself to ask the "tay-man" how to make it. She only pretended she had the 'devil' of a bargain an' that she knew more about it than the 'tay-man' himself. Well, why, she said to herself she wouldn't touch it till ould Sean would come in from work in the evenin' an' they would have it for their supper instead of the stirabout. So she got the 'skillet' ready, 'scorpe' [unclear] an'

"Will ye have some tea" "Mossa fein" says Paddy "I often heard of 'tay' but i never tasted it! so I'll try some." Well, why, he wasn't long waitin' when in comes the Landlady with a cup o' 'tay' an' bread an' butter. The tay was sweetned an' coloured an' all "Here" she says "this is the best Congo tea I hope you'll like it." Poor Paddy drank it; tasted 'damn' nice he though; an' when he had it finished he asked for another cup. So, mossa, she brought him another cup, but there wasn't milk nor sugar in this wan. "Here now" she says, "ye can sweeten to yer'e likin" So Paddy was lookin' at it; Begorr he says to himself that is like porter. But anyway he took a good sup out of it; an' if he did, it nearly roasted the mouth out o' him. He got ashamed, begorr, but sooner than throw it away he drank it; yerra, what did the poor 'omadhaun' know about milk or sugar So when he was finished he asked the

and the shop was never built there. The curate's house is there now. But before that a long time I remember when the priest had no house of his own at all, but lodging with people above in the village of Castlelyons.

Clifford and the Shop. There was a man be the name of Clifford going to build a shop above at the chapel gate where the curate's house is now and he had it partly built but some of the people didn't like it to be there at all. Wan night there was a crowd coming from the fair at Bartlemy and they half drunk and they went in and pulled out every board he had inside. Next day he put them in again, but they tore them out again, and as fast as he'd put them in. In the end he gave it up altogether

Wisha, 'tis long 'go ould Paddy McChey [unclear] went to [unclear] of a day. There was no trains that time, an' indeed the people didn't want 'em 'either' for 'tis they were able to walk. The journey from this to [unclear] wasn't much to Paddy McChey, although he was ould at the time. But anyway when he had his bit o' business done, he felt hungry. An' in with him to a 'cook-shop'. He said to the Landlady he wanted something to 'ate'. 'Very well' she says

Father O'Donovan. He is buried inside in Ahiohill chapel. Yes, there was a lot o' quare old characters lived here from time to time. A lot o' funny yarns could be told about them. it was always a quiet sort o' place. There may be an occasional squabble, but it would pass away. Nearly all the old people, the old families I mean, are gone out o' the townland. Some have removed to other townlands, others have sold their farms an' gone to America, others to England; they're scattered here an' there. So 'tis hard to get old local history now, my boy. It should be collected, 'tis a pity to let it die out.

for a Druid'a altar. So you see we can trace our history from out pagan forefathers. The only games I ever remember or hear the old people talk about was running, bowling, an' cardplaying. Bowling an' cardplaying were the two favorite games. Yes, there was some good runners here too. I know the names of a lot o'fields in the townland. There's Markie's field, where the ould people said Bill Markie had gold buried. There's the Pedlars field, where they say a poor ould Pedlar was murdered long ago an' buried where he fell. There's [unclear], [unclear], [unclear], [unclear], an' a lot more o' Irish names but I can't think o' them now. Yes. Cill Colmáin was in the ancient parish o' Desertserges, 'tis Enniskean parish not. The last Parish Priest o' Desert Serges was

the people around built a hut for him in the chapel yard, and he never went into another house to live but that. He stayed there till he died. There's part of the hut there yet in the chapel yard but they're knocking it down now to make room for the piece they're adding to the curate's house.

served his time at it in Cork for a bit. Anyway, the day the soldiers came to evict Fr. Ferris, Murry closed all the windows of the chapel and went into it and locked himself in and he started to ring the bell for all he was worth to call the people around. The soldiers were mad looking for ladders to get in through the window after him but every ladder in the place was ahide and they could not get at him. If they caught him that day they'd shoot him. I was alone near the sacristy door and I afraid of my life to stir, and ould Mrs Kent was there and she having a big horn under her shawl and every now and then she'd pull it out and blow a blast on it. Twas a great fashion then to be blowing horns under the people that were boycotted. When the priest was put. out, all

surnames. The name, Martin occurs in the name of the highest summit among the hills of the district, - i.e. Shielmartin ("Shellmartin") but no one knows or indeed cares, whether it means St. Martin's Hill or it is called after a "local Martin". In the Malahide District, I knew an old ploughman, now deceased (R.I.P.), who held - "St. Martin's Day's Feast, 11th Nov. was a lucky day to begin your ploughing, especially, if you are breaking up virgin soil".

ritual. About the disposal of the flesh, no-thing is known, for the reason above stated. I have never heard any local stories about St. Martin, or such phrases as Martins Cloak or Bull. There was, as far as I know, milling ever done in the Howth District - the apparent reason being, the soil generally is poor and agricultur-al persuits not followed. The harvest of the sea - fishing, seemed to be the more natural per-suit, hence for years, fishing was the chief industry. There is no local well, dedicated to the honour or name of St. Martin. Re- Christian, or surname, from inquiry, there appears to be six persons bearing the name-three being Christian names, and three

Subject St. Martin Some people know of St. Martin's Day and say "the 11th day of November is his feast day. Locally, there are not, and in living memory, there were never any special celebrations, acts of honour, or special prayer or devotion or special reverence for the saint. I have never heard of people re-fraining from such things as fighting or avoiding work in-volving wheel-turning on the Saint's Feast Day. There seems some latent knowledge of "Martin's Cock" but no knowledge of the kill-ing of it or any animal, or the sprinkling of the blood of any victim, about the house, doors, etc. and hence no local reasons are assigned to such acts, or whether ill luck follows neglect of the said

never make it too hot. Your own common seuse should be able to tell you how warm it should be when it is going on. If there was a poultice put on any part of your own body and it was too hot you wouldn't like it. You know the way it would make you suffer, and it is just the same with a horse. A poultice is often put on cold. If you want a poultice to cool down whatever part of the animal that's heated up one of the best poultices that you could put on is bran and cold water. Get as much bran as you want; put it in a basin, and put as much cold water in on it as will make the size of poultice that you need. You'll want to put water on it now and then because its liable to get dried up, and it would be no use if it got dry. The water will keep it damp and soft.

Sprain: The best cure for a sprain is to pull the persons foot by holding it by the heel and toes and while pulling the foot you say the following words : [?] The person with the sprained foot lies on the ground while the other one is pulling his foot. Scab: The sap of the mountain ash is the best cure for scab. To be bathed in, and a cloth wrapped around it as a poultice. Miorror: The mirror or looking glass the people had long ago was a pot of clear water and to see their shadow down in it. Polish It is the polish they had was to scrape the dust down off the pot with a knife and holding a lid with the other hand under it.

few times in the water would soften the corns and then you could pull them out. Sore-eyes To wash you eyes in blessed water is the best cure for sore eyes. A sore-ear They say the juice of a raw onion would cure a sore ear, and also would cure chilblains. If you found a horses front shoe lost anyplace they say it is very lucky to keep it, and another saying is that if a horses shoe or a donkey's be nailed on the threshold it wouldn't let the devil into your house. Bread that would fall from your hands. They say if a piece of bread falls from your hands it is not right to eat it, because the fairies are watching to take it. Yawning: People make the sign of the cross with their thumb before their mouth when yawning, for fear the devil would enter them. That was their belief long ago, they thought the devil couldn't enter their souls in any other way.

is to take off your right stocking at night when you are going to bed, and to put hot salt into it, namely to put some-salt in a pan and heat it on the fire, and then put it in the stocking, and put it around your neck when you go to bed. Hair-cut : They say it is not lucky to get a hair-cut Monday or Wednesday. People in the country where there is no one barber, dont like to burn the hair in the fire. They say if it lights, you will go to heaven, and if it doesn't you will go in the other place. They old people used to put the hair in a wall where no bird can get it, because if the birds took your hair for making a nest, you would be complaining of having a head-ache all the year again. A boil: They say soap and sugar and linseed-oil mixed together would cure a boil. A cut : To cut a rib of hair from a black-dog and twined arount it would cure a cut. Corns To go to the bog and wash your feet a

house the first school was. There is no trace o' the auld school now only the spot where it stood an' the five big trees. 'Tis many the fine summer's day the scholars gave under their shade. The school was small an' the attendance big. Then there lived in the townland a grand Catholic gentleman, Ned O'Brien. He was one of the O'Briens of Mallow. He was a smuggler, but that was no crime. It was only depriving the English revenue of duty on imported goods. He gave a lot of employment an' in times when there was great want in the country. His mother too was a grand an' charitable lady. His palce came into the possession of the Longfield's as did all the O'Briens property around Mallow. The Longfields are gone now too, 'tis in other hands. The mansion is in ruins. It was burned in the last trouble. It will be of interest in days to come. Well now, I could show you a big stone in Cill Colmáin that was used

be 'stirring' for the road, they'd 'gout' an' see what way would the wine be, for they'd never start off without having the wind to their backs. I remember wan morning they were starting off, an' the jennet had a shoe lost an' the same morning the smith was out. So wan o' the young lads gave under putting on the shoe. "Well," says the ould lad, "did ye put it on Paddy?" "Begorra, I did" says Paddy. "I drove four nails alright, but the fifth wan came out on me." Oh no. I don't remember to have the first National School be built. It was built between fifteen an' twenty years before my time. The teacher in my time was John Deasy. There was two teachers before his time. The [unclear] was the first national teacher in Cill Colmáin. The next was the Humpy. The Humpy was the first to teach when the school was built. It was in an old workman's

They used to gather up the metal in their travels from place to place, broken pots an' any old scraps of broken disused things they'd come across. Yes, they'd get them for nothing or maybe they'd do a little job, such as soldering a bucket or a gallon. Another job they used to get a lot to do at was stitchin' the milk pans. The farmers used be setting an skimming that time an' there was big earthenware pans for the purpose. They were dear I believe. If one got broken, 'twas only put it aside till the tinker would call round an' he would stitch it together an' make it as good as ever. He had a little brace an bit for the purpose an' he'd stitch with wire or tin. He had a paste made from curds an' lime to rub along the crack, an' not a drop would leak after him. Yes. Yes. the tinker was a busy man them times an' as well off as any man. I remember them. They were Driscolls. There is some o' the clan knocking around yet, but they're more beggars than tradesmen. Every morning when the auld lads would

Sore-eyes: They say if you rub cold tea of sore eyes it would cure them. The tea to be drawing first in the tea-pot, and letting it to become as cold as it could be. (also to look through a golden ring) Rheumatism: If you want to avoid rheumatism dont eat salty-meat. Warts: To tie a worm to a thorn-tree cures warts. But you must put the worm out or I should say you must put the thorn out through the worm and leave it there bending and turning until it dies, and dries up. Sore-throat: The best cure for a sore-throat

travelled away for days an' days, an' nights, spendin' money an' everythin' else; but all the money got run out in any case, an' this night he had to take [to] the woods. Got up in a big three where there was great shelter, but in the middle o' the night what lands but a lion, a parrot an' a greyhound. An' they had a carcass along wit them, an' they began to quarrell wudher the three about the carcass, an' who'd get the best of it. The greyhound spoke up an' he says "Yez oughtent to be quarrellin'." "Well" says the parrot, "it's not a lot of it I'll ate." "Well" says the greyhound, "there's a man above there in the top o' this three, an' if he comes down an' divides it, we'll all get a fair share". Poor Jack was on [on] top o' the three an' he didn't know what to do. He was in a horrid fret. But he come down thrimblin' anyway

t'yer promise". "Oh it is", he says, "but sure ye weren't in earnest". "But you were in earnest", she says, "when ye got all the fish that ye did". "Sind him down to me" she says, "sich a day". The king wint home very onaisy an' up an' tells what happened wit the mermaid. "Well", says he, "I'll never go wit yez to the mermaid, I'll go an' seek me forcin' [fortune] when the time comes." Well the king started down to fish agin, an' the mermaid put up her head. "Well", she says, "did ye bring me yer son?" "Oh not for a while", says the king. "Well" she says, "sure I'll have you in his place", dashin' the water an' takin' him down; so he never returned. Well, evenin' come - the son began to get very onaisy; he says "I'll start, for I'm in a nice predicament. I'm sold to her an' I'll have to be taken". So he started away - got lots o' money -

evenin' he had all that he could carry home wit him o' fish. The lady says to him when he come home "Oh! ye done horrid well today." "Oh begad I did" he says, "horrid well". "An' I'll do as well tomorra" he says. "Oh that's great" she says, so begad tomorra come an' he had another go o' fish home wit him, an' he fished an [on] anyway, every day for twelve months an' every day he was peggin' them out. An' at th' ind o' twelve months wasn't the lady likely to have a young child, so it happened to be that she had a young son. So the king began to get very anxious; young in himself, an' he forgot about the fish, an' only used to go an odd day to fish. But in any case it wint on like this for eighteen years an' this day the king went out fishin'. "Well" she [mermaid] says "it's comin' near yer time to keep up

Well, long 'go it was, there was a king an' a queen lived in this country, an' it chanced that they had no family. They [had] lived together for about tin or twelve years. The king was very fond o' fishin', an' there was a lake an [on] his land, an' he could make no headway at all. He ketched ne'er a fish, an' he was everyday out. An' this day the mermaid put her head up out o' the lake an' she says to 'im, "I see you here", she says, "fishin' very often." "Well" he says, "I'm every day at it." "An' ye ketched nothin'" she says. "No" says he, "I never had any luck." "Well", she says, "if ye give me a promise, ye'll ketch any amount." "What's that?" says he. "Well, yer eldest son", says she, "when he's eighteen years of age." "That's all right", says the king; for he wasn't expectin' e'er a wan. So begad that

it doesn’t happen in all cases, but it does in some cases. Small farmers in Meath don’t sell out their stock but Protestants that have big farms do. PREDESTINATION There are people who believe in “predestination”. They believe that at the time of your birth the time of your death is “left out for you”. They say that “if you were born to be hanged you will never be drowned”. COMPARISONS BETWEEN SUCCESSIVE GENERATIONS PHYSICAL QUALITIES Every generation is deteriorating in stature, and in many a way as well as in stature. Naturally, they are not as strong as they were long ago. They were big men long ago, and they were strong. You could get no man now a days to carry a forty-stone sack of corn up the Market-House steps the same as they did sixty years ago. ENDURANCE That is a wide expression. As far

the morning than at any other time. We call it “The Zero Hour,” in this country. RAVEN - A DANGER SIGNAL A raven flying near the home of a sick person was looked upon by the old people as an omen of approaching death. CATTLE DIE - PLANTERS’ SUPERSTITION After “the head of a house” died the cattle on his or her lands were said to pine away and die, therefore, when the owner of the place died all the stock were taken out and sold as soon as possible after the death took place. That is NOT so in this locality, but it is very common among “the PLANTERS” up in Meath. It is not so much in East Cavan, but in a number of cases in Meath they would sell out the whole stock and buy in new stock. It happens around Cavan town and parts of West Cavan, but it is not general in East Cavan. I mean

Four corners on my bed Four Angels on it spread Mat and Mark Luke and John God bless the bed that I lie on

As I lie down on this bed to sleep I pray the Lord my soul to keep If I die before I wake I pray to God my soul to take

of the whole. So to shorten the story the dealer paid the man two thousand pounds, and was nearly robbed by it. Thats how Daniel O'Connell's cleverness won the case for the Ballycastle man.

Can you give any information, or written guarantee towards selling the tobbacco. No said the tobbacco dealer unless this man produces the piece I gave him. Well said the high judge can you be able to get the piece of tobbacco this gentleman sold to you? No your worship [?] said the man for most of it is gone in blue smoke by this, and when I havent it all together it is no proof. Well I am sorry said the judge to the dealer you come under the leash and if you cannot get the amount of tobbacco he wants you must give him the value of it in money. The distance between those two places is roughly two hundred and eighty miles, and, a mile of tobbacco will amount to a big sum, let alone two hundred and eighty. Well said the tobbacco dealer I hope you wont be hard on me, as I didn't understand him right. I pity you said the high judge, but I have to settle the case, and being fair and reasonable with you I order you to pay two thousand pounds to your client, which is only a fraction

told him to measure it, and when he came to his toe he found that it was cut off, and he asked him was it anyway bigger than the other toe, and he was told it wasn't, and then the dealer told him he hadn't any more tobbacco, and this man said if he wouldn't get it for him, he would take proceedings against him. So here he is to-day to demand his right by law. Well said the high judge the law must take its course straight and true, and in considering this case I am come to the conclusion that the mean game planned by this man on the tobbacco dealer is unfair? Well said Daniel O'Connell I stand for this man here to day, and bargain is bargain anytime, so while this man can produce his receipt and the words paid me for tobbacco lenght from right hand thumb to right toe of foot, and signed by the tobbacco dealer himself I must say that the man has more proof of his case than the tobbacco dealer has by the word of his mouth, which to your knowledge might be false and misleading.

yourself was so bad-minded to think of it. Good and well brother of my heart, everything went off quietly until the day of the court, and the tobbacco dealer had him bound on each way by his solicitors as he thought, and sure he thought nothing of the other man. The trial was on by this and both men were present. The judge was silent listening to what they had to say, and who came in to appear for the Ballycastle man but Daniel O'Connell so he had no need to say anything except what Daniel would say. Well said Daniel O'Connell I have taken this mans case in my hands, and I have heard about the other man's case as well. Your worsip [?] said Dan. This man came into this man's shop (pointing to the dealer) and he asked for as much tobbacco as would go from the thumb of his right hand to the toe of his right foot, and also asked him the price of it, and he told him, and then he gave him a receipt (which he can produce) paid for the said amount, and this man told him it wasn't long enough, and he (the dealer) said it was, and this man

of tobbacco, and began judging it. At last he said to the dealer that it was not long enough. Why? What kind of talk is that on you? I will measure it for you if you like. So he began to measure it and when he came to his foot he told him to take off his boot. He did so, and the tobbacco dealer then asked him where was his big toe, and he said it was down in Kenmare in the County Kerry at his uncle in a box. And said the tobbacco dealer was your toe in anyway bigger than your left toe? No said the boy, but I want to get a piece of tobbacco from my right hand toe to the toe of my right foot? You cannot get that said the tobbacco dealer. Well said the man I must get it, as I have paid for it. What can you do when you haven't your toe? Well unless you get me the required piece of tobbacco I will take proceedings against you. You can if you wish said the tobbacco dealer but you will find out you wont be anything the better of it, beleive me, as it was

And he will measure it for you, and find out that your toe is cut off, and tell him he must get the required lenght of tobbacco for you or else that you will take proceedings against him, and then leave the rest to me says Daniel O'Connell. So the man did as he was told. He went home to Ballycastle, and went to the richest dealer in town, and asked for the said lenght of tobbacco, and the man inside the counter judged his height without measuring him, and the traveller (as we will call him) asked how much would that be namely from the thumb of his right hand to the big toe of his right foot, and the man said it would be something under one pound. So the boy told him to give him a receipt paid for the said amount of tobbacco, and the dealer gave it to him written from his own hands the following "Received with thanks" the sum of eighteen shillings and ten pence, for tobbacco lenght from right hand thumb to right toe of foot, and then he signed his name to it. The traveller took the receipt and put it in his pocket. Then he looked at the piece

right big toe of your foot and put it into a box and bury in a place you can easily find it again if necessary, and dont you worry over anything. When you have done so, go home to Ballycastle and ask as much tobacco on the richest dealer in the town as would go from (your) the thumb of your right hand to the toe of your right foot, and he will judge your height and hand out its length and ask him before he gives you the tobbacco how much for it, be sure and ask him. I will give you this pound and you can pay the tobbacco out of it, and keep the rest for yourself. The dealer of the tobbacco will think you have your toe on you, and he wont have enough tobbacco to give you. So whatever is the price of the piece he will give you hand him the pound and tell him to take it out of that. Then you will say is that enough, and he will say it is, and tell him to give you a receipt paid for tobbacco lenght from right hand thumb to right toe of foot, and measure the tobbacco again your self and tell him that it isnt long enough namely from the right hand thumb to the toe of your right foot.

A Story Many years ago a funeral of fairies came from some fort in the parish of Cloone. The party crossed Graffy hill and they continued to march on the "Fenagh road" until they came to Fenagh. When the procession reached the burial ground at Fenagh the last of the procession was only Cloone side of Graffy hill. The procession was four miles long. On their way to Fenagh they met a man and he said "God Speed Ye" and he got past them safely. When they were passing by a corn mill which was situated near the place where Pat Tiernan is living, a man named Sean Gasta was drying oats in the kiln and he stood looking at them without a word. They wanted to give him a fright and to put him from looking at them, so they laid down their

A Story One night about nineteen or twenty years ago three young men were coming from a dance and about half a mile from Foxfield chapel they met a priest dressed in the clothes he dresses in when he is saying mass running towards the chapel. They became frightened and they never stopped running till they came home and from that day to this neither of the three men ever went outside the house after sunset. When they came home the three went to the same house and and the one who lived in the house lit a candle to get something for them to eat and when one of them saw the light he fainted and it was over four months before he was able to go out by himself.

towards DEGGAN BRIDGE, on their way home they saw the same woman standing at the bridge. My father said to Martin: "This is the same woman, and she is going to kill either of the two of us this night." They passed on quietly, and she didn't interfere with them. But the very next night my UNCLE was drowned in a SHOUGH of water a few perches from the bridge. And it was thought it was this woman killed him.

They came up the town to see if they could get in anywhere to get a drink to cure them. When they came up as far as the Market Square they saw a woman standing in the Square. And says Martin: "That must be Bridget coming to look for me. I'll go over and have a chat with her." My father stood where he was, and Martin who thought it was his wife was in it, went over toward the woman and said: "Good night, Bridget." The woman had her back to him, and as soon as he spoke she turned round and blew a puff of wind from her mounth into his face. And when he saw her face it was like a lump of lead. He dropped in a faint on the street, and it was almost ten minutes before he "came to." The woman walked slowly away, and they couldn't tell where she went to. But that wasn't the last of her. When they came

County: Cavan Barony: Clankee Parish: Enniskeen (Kingscourt) Date recorded: 1st December 1941 Informant: Terence Tinlay Age: 48 Occupation: Farmer Townland: Cornamah Native of: the district District: Kingscourt Writer: P. J. Gaynor Address: Bailieboro', Co. Cavan One night my father and a man named James Martin, a neighbour of his own, were in Kingscourt, and the two of them were arrested for being drunk. The were let out of the Barracks in the small hours of the morning, and

There is one thing I want to tell you about pulling on a poultice on a horse. If you are putting it on the leg you should never tie it on too tight, for if you did, the blood wouldn't be able to get down to the foot. The way that I'd put a poultice on the leg is as good a way as any. I'd cut the "food" off an old stocking, and pull it in over the hoof and pull it up to the

There are cures for that, but you won't be told what they are.

A useful dose to give him would be an ounce of powdered Catechu, two drachms of Cascarilla Bark, an ounce of Alum, and as much Trestle and Liquorice powder as would make a ball. Give him a ball of that twice and day till he gets well.

melt the two together, and you put in half a drachm of powdered cantharides and stir it through the mixture when it is getting cool. Put it on as hot as the animal would be able to bear. Cover it over with pieces of tow. They will stick to it and keep it in its place. If you haven't any pitch you can use resin instead. Either will do. Some people, before they put on this plaster, rub over the part with two ounces of Canada Balsam - This is the pure Turpentine - and a half ounce of Arnica leaves. The two are melted and mixed with some spirits of Turpentine - not very much - just a little. They put on this rub lightly, and then they come on with the plaster that I'm after telling you about.

Sometimes you will see a horse passing blood through his urine.

strain is. You should give them all the rest you can. I wouldn't walk a horse till the strain was cured. If the strain comes in the back sinew you must get the black smith to put on a high-heeled shoe. The part where the strain is could be blistered or you could put on a rub. A good rub is made up from even quantities of oil and harts-horn. A real good think when you find them first is to put out a poultice of linseed oil. You should give him a change of feeding, and you should keep him idle for a fortnight or three weeks or a month or more if necessary. A yard covered with straw or a loose box would be a good place to put him till he gets well. The high-heeled shoe should be taken off when the strain is gone. There is an old remedy for a strain at the back of the sinew: - Five ounces of pitch and one ounce of yellow wax. You

Some people bleed a horse that is suffering from strains. They bleed them about the part where the

There is many a horse that's not doing well - it's not "Taking to its food," and you often put that doon to debility or weakness of the stomach. For the like of that you couldn't give much better than this dose: - Twenty grains of Calomel, one drachm of aloes, one drachm of powdered ginger, one drachm of powdered Cascarilla, mixed with three drachms of Castile Soap. You would have to add as much syrup as would make it into a ball. You can give one of these balls every second night, but if the horse isn't too bad twice a week will be enough.

If you can't get this soap in a medical hall they'll tell you some other thing that may do as well.

The 'Bay' is a part of the sea that is very rough and is near Rossbeigh Strand, Glenbeigh, Co. Kerry, no boats ever cross at the 'Bay', because the people still believe of that great danger, which is supposed to exist there.

She went out the door like a march hare, and gave a laugh that could be heard over the whole bay. He followed her as far as the strand, but she was gone out too far to sea. [She laughed back at him several times] but it was of no use for him. He had to return back home broken-hearted. Any one of that name (O'Séaghdha) could never cross the bay but would be drown'd. Three persons bearing the name O'Séaghdha were drown'd a short time after her going away, (mermaid's going out to sea). Any member of an O'Séaghdha family could never go fishing on the place called the "Bay", because they would get drown'd. Even that belief still remains firmly in all the families bearing the name O'Séaghdha.

were the three loveliest little children that were ever seen on land or on sea. Every morning a Rón (seal) used to come to near the shore, calling, but the mermaid used to hear his calling, and she used to say, "Dia linn! éirigh, seo rabh? é um' boig, 7 marbhóchaid sé mé." The Rón used to go back again to his home when he could not see his partner or "wife". The people also used to wonder, or could not know what was the matter with the Rón every morning, but they thought that he was in trouble. In a few years later, O'Séaghdha was cleaning down a lócra, and of course he had forgotten about the mermaid's cloak. He was cleaning away all the dust, and he struck against the cloak, and down it fell in the kitchen. The mermaid snatched it immediately, and on with it went

One day a neighbouring woman called for the loan of a pot to boil potatoes for her family. (It was the custom in those days to ask the loan of a pot from a neighbour, as pots were very scarce in those days, and people were not able to afford to buy one either.) The mermaid was throwing her own potatoes out of the pot on the table, so she offered some, small amount of the potatoes to the woman, in order that her children would not be ocraċ (hungry) until her own were boiled. The woman refused her, and as she was going out the door with the pot, she fell and broke her leg. The mermaid then gave a very big hearty laugh, and that was the first time she had laughed since her marriage to O'Seaghdha (O'Shea). (This happened on a monday morning). The mermaid gave birth to three children, and they

her, he stooped down from the horse's back, and snatched the cloak from her. He then turned around the horse and made for the land as fast as it was in his horse's legs, but the mermaid raised the tide with her power, and the waves began to roll in after him, but before O'Seaghdha could reach dry-land, the tide swept half of the horse from under him, still, he got safely in (on land) with the cloak, and half of his horse while O'Seaghdha was making for the land the mermaid was beside his side. He went home and the mermaid beside him. His mother asked him where did he get the beautiful woman (bean deas). He told her all that had happened, and said she was delighted with her new visitor. O'Seaghdha put the mermaid's cloak between the scraws and the thatch of the house, so as she could not get it anymore. He then married her, but strange to say she never laughed or even smiled from that day out.

“In the olden days gone by a mermaid used be seen by people at Rossbeigh Strand, Glenbeigh, Co. Kerry. This lovely woman used be seen combing her beautiful golden hair, on every May-morning. A man called O'Seaghdha said he would make every endeavour to get this lovely woman for himself. On a certain May morning, O'Seaghdha rode out on horse-back to where the mermaid was. The tide was out, and the beautiful woman was sitting on a stone combing her hair, so he was riding on the strand he noticed something glittering near the mermaid. He approached her and neared slowly, and found out that it was a cloak belonging to her. As he was quite close to

fear uasal slán agus beannacht aige agus d'imthigh leis agus fuaidh'n t-iascaire na bháile agus bhí a bhean amuigh roimhe agus d'fiaffruigh sí dó goide rinn sé le Dómhnall Beag nó nach rabh se leis "Níl" ar seisean "Acht béidh se níos fhearr na'n mhaighistir blíain ó 'ndiu. Rinn me dearmud de" ar seisean "A iarraidh air castal orm blíain o 'ndiu acht sílim" ar seisean "Go m'bhéidir go dtiocfad se fhéin" Bhí go maith agus ní rabh go h-olc; fuaidh a bhliain agus a lá thart agus fuaidh a t-iascaire go dtí an talamh céadhna nuair a bhí a t-am thuas. bhí se na sheasamh annsin ag órc amach ar an fháirrge do dtí go rabh neóin agus deireadh'n lae ann agus ní rabh duine a bith a teacht. Fuaidh se na bháile agus thoisigh a bhean a caoineadh agus a tarraingt na gruaige as a cionn. "A bhean na gcarad" arsa'n t-iascaire "Bíodh cíall ugut, b'féidir go dtiocfad se i mbárach" Fuaidh se lá'r na bhárach arais agus d'fann se ag órc amach ar an fháirrge ins a talamh chéadhna go rabh neóin agus deireadh'n lae ann agus ní rabh duine a bith a teacht. Fuaidh se na bháile an oíche seo arais agus bhí sé fhéin a toisiu ag eirigh imnidheach go m'b'féidir nach dtiocfad se nuair nar iarr se e. Thúsuigh an bhean a gáireach agus a caoineadh ní ba mheasa. An treas lá fuaidh a t-iascaire go dtí'n talamh chéadhna ag órc amach ar na tonna go raibh neoin agus deireadh'n lae ann agus ní rabh duine ar bith a teacht. B'eigean dó dhul abháile teacht

between them, and he bade him farewell. So he started out for home, and he was not gone far when he met a young man. The young man was Daniel O'Connell and he was very clever and keen. He knew by looking in the face of you were you in trouble or not. So he recognized this Ballycastle man very wild looking and uneasy. He spoke to him first, and then he asked him was there anything troubling his mind. He told him the whole story. Daniel O'Connell paused a moment and then said I think I can help you poor man he said. How? said the man. Well said Daniel you will suffer by it, but it will be the cause of you getting more money. Have you any one related to you here in Kerry? I have sir said the man an Uncle? Lucky enough said Daniel O'Connell. And tell me do you live far from here? Oh I do said the man, I am from Ballycastle in County Antrim. More the better said Daniel O'Connell. Now all you have to do is to cut off your

last night, or about the debt being on him. They drank more than they thought, and the bill amounted to one pound ten shillings. His friend came to him the next day and after a nice conversation he asked him back his money, for said he it was found out on me last night I was one pound ten shillings short and if I dont pay it or give it to them before I go in to my dinner I am to get a clear warning from them not to taste drink again. And how will I be able to pay you when you know I havent it, and I wont ask my Uncle, because I have denied everything on him about where I was last night. Well said the friend I am just as bad as you and if I dont pay the one pound ten shillings I am ruined. I cannot drink anymore, and its hard luck on us. (Sure he was afraid he'd go home). Well said the man from Ballycastle be roaming about for yourself until I come back and pay you. I will get the money from my Uncle right enough. So off he went to the Uncle and told him he would be leaving for home. The uncle knew nothing about what was happening

with her all the time, and he shouted to him to come over and explain the situation. So he did and his friend was mad with him when he didn't tell himself first about it. Sure I had plenty cash with me here said he and I will pay the whole transaction. It was alright to say that, but where did you leave the proudness of man, and now all was found out, he had to borrow money from him whether he liked it or not, because the barsmaid wouldn't let him go on credit. She might if she knew him, but he a stranger in Kenmare, she never met him before. Then the friend handed him the money due for the drink, and he was square with her. They left immediately and went out. The friend went home his own way and the man from Ballycastle went to his uncle for the night, and lucky enough they were in bed before him, so he opened the door and went in (there was no lock on any door long 'go). He had no need to eat anything for he was full at the stout, and they didn't notice any sign of drink on him in the morning, or never told his uncle where he was

of it, so they went in to a public house, and called for pints (big pints too mind you). The friend called for the first round, and your man for the second round. Your friend again and your man after him. They were like that all night until there were drunk, and sure the bars-maid got uneasy about the money and she asked it. The friend paid out his own expense and then it was the mans turn (Ballycastle man). He had not a copper to give her and he felt ashamed before the other man. He got up and went over to her and whispered into her ear. Miss, he said it was this friend that brought me in, and I havent a half penny in my pocket. I didn't bring any-money with me from home for I had no thought of coming in at all only for he brought me. Sure as the usual answer is that makes no difference to me, the stout must be paid for whoever pays for it. So she kicked up a row and told him to get it on credit or else where. When his friend heard her saying this he wanted to know what was the matter. He was half drunk by this and thought he was only making an appointment or love

There was a man once living in Ballycastle in the Country Antrim, and he had an uncle living in Kenmare County Kerry. It happened one day as he went down to see him he got into trouble and this is how it occured. This man that lived in Ballycastle was one night along with a friend of his, a gentleman as we will say, and he got him into a trap, but he couldn't help it. Anyways the man from Ballycastle hadn't a penny in his pocket the same night, and he wouldnt let on to the other man but he had tons

would say that that was their own mothers and fathers used to use and would say that it wouldn't be bad when they used to believe in it. So they wouldn't mind the doctor in the least. And of course in the old times people used to depend more on priests than on doctors. If a person showed any signs of death at all the priest was the very first man that was sent for. And also in the olden times when people actually would die the rest of the household wouldn't take it so bad at all. They would say that it was all the will of God or something like that. Now when people die especially the young people you'll hear their people all going mad and they'd nearly be flying in God's face. They would be quite reconciled to die and all too and wouldn't have a murmur

my own mother saying that the old cures that the poor people used to have were far better than some of the wans that are going now. For instance in the olden times people used to do a lot of the curing themselves for they weren't able to pay doctors and used to find out a lot of ways of curing by that means. Now when a person would be dying they would get a cup of milk and heat it over the fire and then before they would give it to the sick person they would put some whiskey into it and give it to them and by that means they would be able to "keep the life" in them a good while longer. Probably the doctor wouldn't agree with that at all and tell them that they were doing this at their own risk, but they

In the olden times there used to be an awful lot of superstitions things about sickness and death and there used to be a lot more work attached to it than there is now. People used to depend more or less on there own way of curing people more so than they would on a doctor or anything like that. And I well remember

he went and stood at the door and called the boy he had driving the horse in . . . (Deireadh Fíreáin 92) Tosach Fíreáin 93. He asked the boy to come in to have his dinner, and when the man in the bed seen him eating the food he had prepared, he let three laughs, bursted the lump and was cured.

he went and stood at the door and called the boy he had driving the horse in . . .

of her eye, and came out back again and went with the man on horse-back to the say again to the steamer. So he had the best doctors book of all that could be found. So there was a lump in a man and he saw in the book the ways it could be to cure him. An inwardly lump, and if he could knock a laugh out of him it would be broke. So the doctor came and he gave him the book, and he was in the room, and he ordered a fire down and a pan o' meat. So he was in the bed overnight the fire and he thinkin what he was doing. So when the meat was roasted he took off his trousers, and eased himself down on the pan, and he was looking on out of the bed. So he mixed it up with a fork, and

out then, and he took a pocket-knife and opened it and he struck it in the mermaid's eye. So he was taken back into the steamer again and after two or three days' journey the man and horse came to the steamer and demanded the foolish young fellow to come out. So the captain said that he had the promise made as God was his judge to bring him back to the man in Queenstown as he got him. So he said that he'd give the same promise, that he had nothing to do, but that the woman could n't her baby to be delivered without (the knife) he to take the knife he stuck in her eye. So as he went in he saw five (five) books left on the table and he put one under his over-coat, and he went in and took the knife out

There was a man in Queenstown and he had a foolish young man, and the Captain of the Steamer asked him for the fool to bring him to America, and he'd bring him back safe and sound to him again. So he would n't give him to him without promising as God was his judge that he'd bring him back to him again. So they went on and the Mermaid followed the steamer. They said they should cast lots to see who'd be thrown out to her. So it fell on the fool. So the Captain said that the lots were n't casted right, that they should be casted on again. So it fell the second time in (on) the fool. So before he was goin to be thrown

So before he said that it would be a great thing to catch her. So he went this evening at dusk to get at the woman at "Cloc na Gruic" and when he came to the place he saw no one. He waited on there for some time & if he did the Gruic did not come & he never saw her after. He told me that he had very good luck after seeing her on the bank & that he used to catch a good lot of fish & that when he used to be going along the river he used to hear sweet songs near Cloc na Gruic but he never saw the Gruic from that day on.

I used to hear my father to say that when he used to be fishing along the banks of the Suir he used to see this woman & he used to be looking at her. She was half a woman & half a fish. The upper part of her was a woman & other part of her was a fish.

The fox's tongue was used for taking a thorn out or a needle. They used have the tongue in the house for that purpose, cured in salt and dried up. Some people keep it always. They put it up to where the thorn is and bandage it and when they are finished with it they send it back home.

Get some sweet cream and the white of an egg and a little oaten meal and you boil them to a froth. You should soak the oaten meal first and take off the shells if there are any shells in it. When you boil it to a froth you put it in a bottle and cork it and use that then as much as you want of it at the time for a burn and it is a great cure. The white of an egg is very good too for a burn if you put it on immediately. The white of an egg and bread soda is very good too.

Nearly every second townland in years gone by they'd have a half-tierce of there Patrick's Night and they'd have a dance all night and a supper. I suppose tis the half-tierce they'd call the Pora Naoim Pádraig

They must have bloc na noolag in the fire always on Christmas Eve, a good block of fir and where the fir wouldn't be they'd have a block of oak and where they wouldn't have oak they'd have ash. They'd be talking a week before-hand of the bloc na noolag and getting one.

the said debt if he appeared in public on any of the six first days of the week. On the seventh day of the week, Sunday, the law allowed a 'Sunday man' freedom from arrest to attend his Religious duties, Mass etc. such a man was known and called A 'Sunday Man'. Captain Lynch having acquired those lands ALLOTTED 'HOLDINGS' of about SEVEN acres to the families who had been evicted from their houses on other properties and who had come and built themselves daub houses, clustered together, forming a village in the upper part of Brackla. Once again those FAMILIES SEPARATED and they again built themselves new DAUB houses on their allotted holdings, and IN FUTURE paid a certain rent for said holdings to their Landlord, - Captain Lynch.

rafters were left - much attention was given in choosing the rafters - the big wind of 1821 and the great hurricane of 1839 had taught people a lesson viz to sink the foundation of houses and to use heavy rafters, the sunken foundation and heavy rafters would prevent the house from being blown down by any storm in the future, consequently trees were cut down and without much paring were used as rafters in roofing houses. The rafters were not split, round as the tree grew. These heavy, round rafters are to be found to the present day 1938 in the old houses built during that period which still exist in country districts. Over those heavy rafters were laid brambles or wattles, then a layer of bog scraws - the latter were kept in place by being stitched with a thatching needle and straw rope to the wattles and rafters. When the scraws were well secured to the wattles and rafters a coating of thatch of heath was put on and secured in place with scallops, over this was a thatch of straw secured with scallops

was wet there was some chopped up rushes straw or sedge added by the men to the wet clay and all well mixed together - A layer of this mixture was shovelled into the foundation when one, two, sometimes three asses with halters round their necks were led one after the other over this soft mixture in the sunken foundation, to tramp mix and make it firm - it was then left to dry for one day or two days before another layer of the same mixture was laid on, which was in turn tramped upon and mixed by the hooves of the asses and again allowed to dry before a third layer of the daub mixture was laid on. The hoof of the ass in those gone by times was neglected not pared or shod: sometimes the hoof of the ass was found to be nearly a foot long - the owner of the said ass was not brought up in court on the charge of 'Cruelty to Animals' as is the law at the present time. When the walls were about eight feet hight, in many houses six feet high, the

Cleeve after cleeve of yellow clay over ditch and drain did the women carry on their backs and in their bare feet all day long until a pile of yellow clay accumulated beside the sunken foundation, then in pitchers, wooden pails carried on their heads. (a pad of flannel was placed over the crown of the head on which rested the bottom of the pitcher or wooden pail) or in any other vessel that would hold water, such as a pot, there was no 'tin cans' or zinc bucket at this time: the women carried water from the bog holes and set to mixing the daub clay with spades but their poor hands sometimes took the place of the spade and shovel - for spades and shovels cast money and the people had no money with which to buy them and as all their neighbours were equally poor and short of farm implements there were very few people to borrow from, so they practised the philosophy of the 'poor' - by making use of what they had at hand. When the daub

This yellow clay, called daub, the women carried in cleeves on their backs, through fields, over drains and ditches to the spot where the foundation of their house was dug. (There were no roads through villages and very few Public Roads until after the famine in 46. No ass carts or horse carts, no passages through fields for walking on. In some places a long log of wood found in a bog was laid across a deep or wide drain on which to step over the drain - this was called a "Kish". Very often the log forming the kish was of pure Bog Oak, but the poor uneducated people did not know its value. Bog Oak was often burned for firewood. A Dublin gentleman visited the Brackla bog and said, "that the value of all the bog oak logs strew around this bog and to be found forming kishes, across drains was very great, and if sold, the money received for it would buy out the whole property of Roseberry and Bog of Brackla". All those logs were burned for firewood)

a foundation was sunk. Experience gained from seeing the destruction caused by the great hurricane had taught them a lesson - from this time on foundations of houses were sunk, houses were built in hollows, low lying lands, and for the big houses one story was built underground etc, trees were also planted around houses, high ditches built around the garden. Elder trees planted in front of the house. The houses were wide but low, windows small. In the roofing of houses the beams used were very thick and heavy, sometimes the beam used was round - not split, just as the tree grew. Only one entrance door into the house, namely the kitchen door into the house, (kitchen and room), was from 6-12 inches lower than the street (a foot or 1/2 ft) chimneys were low, no chimney pots. "Women played an important part in the building of the "daub houses," Continued the woman who relates this story. "the men quarried a sort of yellow clay on the margin of the Brackla bog

In this second attempt a more substantial hut or house was built - called the 'Daub House'. For the daub house,

on the night of the 6th of January 1839. The most violent that was experienced for centuries past swept over Ireland. The mud houses were blown down, thatch and scraws strewn around or swept by the hurricane into the rivers and bogs. Men with their wives and families took to the open for safety. Naturally superstitious, terror seized them, they found themselves in sorry plight, houseless and homeless once more. The night of the Big Hurricane had made history, people spoke of it as as visitation from the Almighty and its memory remained ever green. With their thoughts centered on the havoc wrought by the hurricane and their affections centered on family life the people set about to build themselves another hut to dwell in.

lower end of the kitchen, the pig nearer the fire. Over the cows the hens perched on beams of bog wood running cross wise from wall to wall. The crowing of the cock told the time as did the rays of the sun playing on the kitchen door, on a certain stone on the garden wall, a certain spot on the street etc. Even the children, were able to tell the hour of the day from gazing at the sun. When the sun's rays played on the kitchen door it was time to call their father to his dinner - when on a certain stone on the garden wall it was 3pm, on a certain spot on the street it was 4pm etc. The clock and watch were not known. The majority of the poor people never saw either a watch or clock - and yet they could tell the time of the day exactly. The great storm that swept over Ireland on the night of the 5th December 1821 brought havoc in its train and so did the great snow storm on the night of the 15th of February 1838 but now a great hurricane

wide were dug and placed one on top of the other. The fibres of heath in the scraws kept the scraws together and from crumbling away with time or from the heat from the turf fire. There were two apartments in each hut, kitchen and a sleeping room. There were no windows in the huts or at least, what could be called by the name, 'window', merely a hole in the wall. One hole in the front wall to allow air and light into the kitchen, another hole in the back wall of the hut to allow air and light into the sleeping room above the kitchen fire. There was no glass in these windows or openings a board or bag stuck through the hole kept out the rain and cold. The room above the kitchen fire was the sleeping apartment of the parents and family. Irish families were large, nine, ten, eleven and up to fourteen or fifteen children. If the parents were fortunate enough to possess a cow, ass, goat and hens the said animals were housed in the

My mother was born about the year 1828, at Cloonahara in the Parish of Castlerea, Co Roscommon. When my parents were evicted from their house and small patch of land they came, journeying on foot, to Brackla, parish of Ballymoe where they built themselves "Mud Huts". About the same time eleven more families evicted from their houses on other properties came on to Brackla. On the brow of the bog opposite the hole of the big fish, clustering together, each family built themselves a 'mud hut'. These mud huts had no sunken foundation, just mucky bog scraws about two feet long by 1 1/2 ft

was at this time monarch of all Ireland. I remember when a youth hearing the old people of the neighbourhood relating the following romance: - A certain Lord Carbery lived at Fanningstown Castle Carass. He had a beautiful daughter, and a young local clergyman proposed marriage to her, and was refused. He felt the refusal so terrible that he hanged himself, from the rafters of his church, the walls of which are still standing close to the footbridge at the waterfall. It is about 18 foot long, and 14 feet wide, and it seems to be built long before the Reformation. A song or lament was composed on the tragic event. I only remember a little of it, some of which is: "Come all young men beware, a warning take by me, never build your nest on the top a yew tree, as the green leaves they will wither, their roots they will decay, And the beauty of a maid will soon fade away. - P. Mac Dómhnaill

According to the old traditional tales this certain game of chess was the cause of the famous battle of Clontarf 1014 by which the power of the Danes was crushed. Maelmorrough King of Leinster was on a visit to Brian Boru at Kincora, and whilsh Mourrough, Brian's son and a companion were playing a game of chess, Maelmorrough advised the companion to make a certain move by which Morrough lost the game. This angered Morrough who said to him - "The Danes by following your advice lost the ball of Glenmama." This made Maelmorrough feel angry who then replied - "the next time I counsel them they will defeat you." The Morrough said - "you had better get the yew tree ready." This was a taunting allusion to Maelmorrough, as he was by Morrough hiding in a yew tree after the battle, and so angered him that he left immediately for Leinster, and roused his people and those of the Danes to action to make war on Brian Boru. Brian

his sins to the priest, and he went away to live in the wild mountains. Away from Mass and the Confession, away from the bustle and noise of the people, away from talking and back biting, away from cursing and swearing, away from cause of vexation and anger, and he lived a quite lonely pious life, until one day he was found dead in the mountain lying full lenght on his back stretched on a bare rock, with his hands joined across his chest in the form of a cross, and his eyes up-lifted to heaven, and like as if he murmured a prayer upon his lips, for they were partly open, but strangest of all it was not known how long had he been there, and yet nothing touched his body. He was clear and spot less same as if he died yesterday. The body was removed and put in a coffin. His figure size and form remained in the rock. They buried the body beside his own people (whom they found out after much enquiries) and they took the rock in a place convenient to the public, and thousands used to come on pilgrimage to it. The blind got there sight at it. The lame came home walking and all dreadful diseases were cured in it. So there is my story now.

And said the Priest have you practised that life ever since. Did you get in company with other people during or since. No said the boy I never met a man or woman until three weeks ago, and it is that man that told me about the mass. And said the Priest you must have done something out of the way this past week. Well said the boy I cannot tell you. Were you listening to people talking that was indecent, or did you join in with them. Well I did this week father, but never before that? Oh I see now said the Priest I have you. If you led your life as usual, and not to join in with anybody your coat would not fall of the sunbeam, and now you are in sin. You must go to confession and confess your sin to a Priest, and try to live in the mountain the rest of your life. But said the boy I lived long enough in the mountain, and I would die of hunger. Ah no fear said the Priest as you lived during those long years you will live for ever in it. So to shorten the story the boy confessed

There was a boy once and he was serving his time alone in the wild mountain where no human being was next or near him. This was a place owned by a rich gentleman and he had thousands of acres of rough land. The heather was so thick and long that you couldn't see a rabbit or a hare running through it. They were as plentiful in it that you would pass no notice of them. He had so many sheep that it was impossible

bil-berries, strawberries and such things. I used to drink the clear, pure, sparkling water that used to rush down the mountain, and I never got a cold since the first day I came there. I used to sleep at night in a bed of ferns, and never wake until next morning. There was nothing troubling me from morning till night, except to count the sheep and see that they be there. And said the man if you were as comfortable as you are saying what put the thought in your head to roam and leave the mountain? Well said the boy some sudden thought came into my head. I thought of my poor father and mother, and some thing like home sickness came on me. I wished to see them once more, before I would die (though I never dreamt of death to this minute) I got kind of sorry and thought there was some thing wrong with me, and nothing would put it out of my head. I couldn't stay or wait any longer. Looking round they saw three more men walking off there own way. They looked, but passed no remarks only went their way. Two more came after them, and they were two women.

a sermon, saw the coat on the seat, and he knew at once that something was wrong. He didn't say anything but after Mass, he went down the chapel with his vestments on and told the boy to wait a few minutes, as he wanted to talk to him. So the boy waited as he was told, and the Priest went back, and took off his vestments in the Sacristy, and came back again to the boy. Well said the Priest I notice you are a stranger to me and I didn't see you before going to confession or communion, and I saw you hanging your coat on the Sunbeam with the last two Sundays, and you could hang it on today. What is the reason? I dont know said the boy. Well said the Priest who are you and where do you live before I go any further. I live in the mountain with the last ten years or more and I dont know is my parents alive or dead. I didn't hear from them since I went away herding sheep for a gentleman. I didn't taste bread nor strong drink, but eating blackberries, and straw-berries that grew on the mountain.

but didn't say anything until the Mass was over, and the people went out. He went out through them and went his own way, and when the Priest went to enquire for him he was gone, and couldn't be found. So he said to himself he would watch him better the third Sunday. This week the boy met more people including women and men than ever before, and he was getting more stiff on them and talking to them. He hadnt so much to say, but what was worse he wasnt taking great interest in their conversation, and sure some of it wasnt good and there was bad talks too, back-biting and talking about there neighbours, and saying this and that. He used to meet them very often during that week, and when Sunday came he went to Mass as usual and sat in the same seat, and sure as it was real-warm in Summer he took off his coat and flung it up on the sunbeam and to every ones surprise that was looking at him it fell down on the seat and he left it there. The Priest when he turned around to give

did this gradually - he let the corp- se down bit by bit, just the same as if he were coming down the chimney, himself. The room was well lit up, and the lady and gentle- man were keeping a close watch for his arrival. When he heard the first sound above in the chimney, the gentleman said to his wife: "whist! Do you hear anything ?" "I do," said she, "and it must be Jack." The gentleman watched carefully, and the first thing he saw was the feet, and then he saw the legs. He was taking aim and was about to shoot when his wife said to him: "Don't fire yet. Wait till he comes down further and you can shoot him in the body." "I will wait," said he, "till I get him in the heart." Jack was listening to all this, and he kept lowering the rope till the [mistake] breast was visible.

minute you put your nose into the room." "Don't worry about that," said Jack; "I'll do it; all night." When night came Jack went to a graveyard where a dead man was after being buried. He opened the grave and lifted the coffin and took the corpse out of it. He then dressed the corpse in an old suit of clothes, boots and all. When he had that done he put the corpse on his back and started off for the castle. He knew the place so well that he had no difficulty in finding his way about - there wasn't a room in the castle that he didn't know the chimney that led into it. He got a ladder and got up on the castle, taking the dead man with him. When he came to the chimney leading into the gentleman's bed-room, he let the corpse down the chim- ney by means of a rope. He

to the castle and delivered it up to the gentleman. "So he managed it!", said the gentleman. "He did," said the father. "I see," said the gentleman, "that he has his trade pretty well off, but I'm afraid I'll have to hang him after all. I'll hang him unless he comes into my bed-room to-night and steals the sheet from under my wife and myself in the bed. I'll have a loaded pistol in my hand, ready to shoot him the minute he comes into the room. And if he doesn't do that I'll hang him." The father went home roaring and crying, and said he to Jack: "I'm afraid you're done at last." "How is that?" said Jack. The father told him what he had to do, and said the father as he burst into tears: "You will never do it, for he'll have a pistol and he'll shoot you the

when young ducks come out of the shell, they are taken out of the nest and all the old shells thrown away. The next day they are taken out and put on the floor, and a saucer of water given to them. They are very easily made to taste the water because it is their nature. They are then fed in a few crumbs of bread for a few days after that they get some meal meals. People are very careful about young ducks when they are left out doars for the first few days because they have a great habit of going into holes in fences, and it is very often they are lost in account of that because the most of the fences are full of weasels, or rats, and if they caught them it would be the last of the young ducks. Young ducks are very fond of water and if the person who owns them is living near a river. They must be very careful not to let them

one of them; "We should get a SCRAP- ER and scrape some of the dist off him." "I'll go for it," said the second fellow, but when he went a little bit to stumbled across the keg of whiskey. "What's this?" said he, and when he picked it up he found that it was a keg of whiskey. He called his comrade and told him what he had found, and the two of them took the keg back to the stables. The pair of them and the fellow that was riding the horse in the stable, started drinking the whiskey, and they drank and drank away till the rider fell off the horse and the two guards lay "stupid drunk" at the stable door. When Jack got them all drunk he went to the stable; took out the horse; opened the yard gate, and rode the animal back to his home. Some time during the day the father took the horse

As Peig was driving the cows along the field, whatever look she gave there she saw a girl, and she milking a cow on the brink of the fort. She said to herself that the cow looked to be the dead image of [Cocaí?], but sure that it could never be her, as they had a good deal of her ate. So the following morning, Jer was going to [Cill-Aila?] bog again cutting turf. AS usual, the two of them rose with the break of day. Peig went to drive in the cows to be milked, and there again she saw a cow on the brink of the fort, and a girl milking her. This time, she went nearer to the fort; and to her great surprise there she saw that it was their own cow [Cocaí?] for she had a bunch of curls like on the top of her forehead. That was the reason that they used to call her [Cocaí?]. Poor Peig was trembling with the fear of her life to talk to the girl, who was milking [Cocaí?], so she continued on home with the cows. That night when Jer came home from the bog, Peig told him all the news, and

The Plan of Campaign I came here from Limerick, and no one did me [loing?] I gave some cheers for the plan of campaign, which made the courthouse ring, The shout he gave in Bray, that day, was heard in Dublin town, For Father Ryan might well know, that he should go to gaul, Long like unto that policeman, he wouldn't me arrest, I know the country all around, will see him better dressed, He tendered in his arms, his cap and jacket too, He would not me arrest, or such dirty work to do. The Priest referred to was Father Ryan who was curate in Hospital, Co Limerick. He took part in the Plan of Campaign at Herbertstown, Co Limerick. The cause for the rising there was that the farmers wanted to lower their rents under the landlords. Con Hannon ( Fear [S?]) Feenagh, Co Limerick.

If three magpies appear before you on the road, fence or fly from a hedge is supposed to be a sign that a wedding to which you will be an invited guest will take place in the near future. If you happen to fall backwards off a stool is a sign you will not be married that year. If you happen by accident to put on your dress in the morning wrong side out is a sign you will not be married that year. No girl should act as bridesmaid twice the same year for if she does, she will never meet her fate and die unmarried. Think twice before you refuse an offer of marriage for it is well known that he or she, who is hard pleased will surely be easily jilted.

My Grandmother, Moll Looney one time got a sore leg. We didn't know what was wrong with it. It must have been some kind of a fairy stroke you know. The leg was sore for about three months and hadn't a sign of getting better. One day she called in the ould fellow (his father) and told him to tackle the best horse they had and to go and find Moll Buckley and not return without her. That time ould Jack (his grandfather) had three great horses for he owned three farms at that time. The ould fellow

from his mother for all now depended on that cow as the other had died in the meantime. Jack set off for Brosna keeping a sharp look out for anyone who might be out for doing him out of his cow. As he was going past Curtin's glen, which is a very lonely place a small little man came across the ditch and out on the road to him. "Good morning Jack", he said, "where are you going with the cow." "I am going to Brosna fair to sell her". "How much do you want for her on the spot" said the manín. " I want enough to pay the rent for my mother." said Jack. "Well I haven't any money, but perhaps we

was told but if he was looking until day he couldn't see any other penny. "Done" said Jack. "you are the only man in the fair to put up a penny". "Here is the highest penny at the fair for you" said the jobber. "and give me the cow". Jack got his penny and being a careful lad he rolled it up in a big ball of paper before he might lose it. Jack came on home and his mother met him at the gate. "Tis alright mother" said he. "I got the highest penny at the fair", and he gave the penny to his mother. When Jack explained how he got the penny the poor woman nearly got the fits. There was nothing for it but send off the other cow to Brosna fair in four days time. On the morning of the fair Jack got very special instructions

the fair for the cow. "For Jack a gradhgil[?] will want it all. As he was going down the fair he met an honest jobber who offered him a good price for the cow. Jack not knowing whether the price was good or not would not take it. "In one word how much will you take." said the jobber. "I'll take the highest penny in the fair", said Jack. When the jobber heard that he knew that Jack was a kind of a fool or anyway he didn't know much about selling a cow. The jobber stuck the top of his stick into the mud. He turned up the stick and placed a penny on top of it. Then he lifted the penny high into the air. "Now a mic[?] look around you and tell me if you see any penny at the fair higher than my penny." Jack did as he

mother crying in the corner. When he walked in the door she looked up and only said, "Wisha is that you" Jack was a kind of downhearted at the welcome he got so he guessed there was something else troubling his mother besides he being away. After a while his mother told him that she was summoned for the rent. She had not any mony, so there was no way out of the difficulty but sell one of the three cows. Next morning Jack was sent off to Knocknagree fair with one of the cows. His mother was advising him because Jack had not left the ashes with[?] long and would not know a whole lot about buying and selling. Her last advise to him was to get the highest penny at

Jack, "that looks very like the eagle I used see flying over Crohane. As he watched the eagle was coming nearer continuing till he landed on the ground near Jack. "Is that you Jack" said the eagle. "How in the world did you get here". Jack told the eagle what happened to him. "And how will you get back". "That is what I don't know and at the rate I'm going I'll be an old man before I'll be back in Cordal, if I ever get there at all". "Get on my back" said the eagle. Jack did as he was ordered and as straight as the barrel of a gun the eagle went for Cordal. Jack arrived home safe and sound with the ten stone of potatoes still on his shoulder. When he got home he found his

and shovels and it was not long until Jack was once more standing on the solid ground again with the bag of potatoes still on his shoulder. They took him home and gave him plenty to eat and drink, and of course a suit of clothes for the people were amazed when they heard how he came to be fixed firmly in the solid rock. After a couple of days he set off for Cordel. He was travelling along at his ease, "at this rate of going" said Jack to himself, "I won't be back in Cordel to finish the thinning and my mother's mangolds and turnips would go for nothing." He looked around him and what ever look he gave up at the sky. "Um" said

As his head was turning round he noticed a fox a bit away from him. Jack fixed on his head in its proper place again. The fox watched the operation of turning the head and when Jack and[?] finished the fox walked over to him. Jack explained how he was caught and that he should be back in Cordal to finish the thinning because his mother was very poor and could not pay anyone to do the thinning for her. The fox thought for a while then saying, " I'll get you out." Off went the fox and in a few hours time he passed Jack going like the devil was after him. A few minutes afterwards the huntsmen and dogs came on. When they saw Jack the hunt stopped and all the huntsmen came over to have a look at Jack. They went for spades

hard that he was buried up to his shoulders in solid rock and the ten stone of potatoes in the flea's skin over his shoulder. All Jack could move was his head and as you know it's not easy to turn your head completely around. Jack looked around and considered how he was to get out of the rock and be home in time to Cordal to finish the thinning. He couldn't look behind him he thought there might be someone in that direction. He took his head by the two ears and turned it completely around for though Jack was only a widow's son from Cordal he was sometimes able to do the most wonderful things.

For staggers I would give six ounces of ordinary salt, six drachms of Barbadoes aloes, and one ounce of flour of mustard. This is mixed up in two pints of water. This is one of the best drenches you could give a horse, and it is used by a good many people that keep horses, and they all say it is very successful.

Horses often get sore-heels from one cause or another, and you would want to put an ointment on them. There is a couple of good ointments that I know to be used, and they were both successful. One of them is made up of one drachm of super-acetate of

put it in a bottle. Cork the bottle and keep it ready for use. And when you find a horse with splints mix a pint of it with two drachms of Biniodide of Mercury, and when you cut the hair short enough put it on the part where the splints are. You want to rub it in well. You should wash the legs after that every day till the animal is better. A good wash is tincture of arnica mixed with water - anything from a dozen to fourteen or fifteen ounces of water. This wash should be put on with a brush.

There is a good blister that is often used for splints, and it makes the horse sweat, so you have to make sure that he is in a warm house and that he won't get cold after it. Get a half pound of what they call Spanish Flies. This in a powder and steep it in olive oil - three quarts of olive oil for three weeks or so. Strain it off at the end of three weeks,

Some horses take gripes, and you can cure them with five quarts of gruel mixed with half a pound of Epsom salts. Or, if you like, you can put in a pound and a half of ordinary, common salt instead of the Epson salts. Have it 96 Fahrenheit, and syringe it into the beast.

You add as much syrup as will make sixteen balls, and give one of them every night.

is good for skin-disease. It is a half pint of oaten meal, a half pint of linseed meal, four ounces of powdered charcoal, all mixed with as much old ale and bran as would make as big a poultice as you need. Some people put on a poultice of linseed meal and a table-spoonful of yeast mixed with boiling water. You may use as much of the linseed meal as you wish, and if you haven't linseed meal you may use oaten meal. This is a good poultice. Some horse dealers use a poultice of seraped carrots, and more of them make a poultice of turnips. They boil the turnips first and then mash them up, and put this on as a poultice. Here is a recipe that I got for skin-disease: three ounces of powdered ginger; five ounces of emetic tartar, and an ounce of opium.

If you have a horse standing out in the winter time, and if the weather is cold, and you bring him and put him in a very warm stable, he will take greasy-heels, or if he is working or drinking hard and at the end of the day or the end of the journey you bathe or wash the legs with cold water, the same thing will happen. There are different ways of treating a horse that has greasy-heels. Some people treat them with a solution of nitrate of silver - eight or nine or ten grains to the ounce - in distilled water. You apply this to the affected parts, and if you don't find an improvement you may after a little time put on a

to send for a vet, and he'll soon tell you whether anything can be done for the horse or not.

If a horse gets a bad bruise, or a kick from another horse, you should also foment it. And when you have that done you should was it with warm water and poultice it. A good poultice can be made from bran and warm water. You use as much bran as will make a fairly thick paste, and you add as much linseed meal as will make it sticky. You then mix all together in one or two ounces of sweet oil.

the legs the same mixture may be used, and you'll have good results from it. A first class remedy for saddle-galls or galls caused by the harness is to foment it. If you find an abscess you should open it, and make sure that it is kept open till the last of the "badness" is gone from it.

it isn't what you'd call chronic, dissolve two ounces of gum arabic in a pint of boiling water; add an ounce of laudanum, and twenty five drops of oil of pepperment, and bottle it into him every night and morning till he gets better. If it is a ease of chronic diarrhoea put an ounce of gum arabic, an ounce of poudered chalk, and half an ounce of laudanum, in eight ounces of peppermint water, and give this night and morning till he is cured.

If a horse takes diarrhoea, and

into his own haggard and returned with a slashers. He made one might swipe and cut the starter clean through. Jack was only just started for home and at the swipe of the slashers himself and the started was travelling the air falling towards the end of the earth. Jack was a fellow who was not easily frightened and though he was falling he kept an eye on the country. When he was within a few miles of the ground he found out that he could move[?] the starter from side to side[?] As he got nearer the earth he saw that he was falling into the sea somewhere between Europe and Asia. "The dry land for me" said Jack giving the starter a mighty pull. The dry land it was then but Jack hit the solid rock so

into his own haggard and returned with a slashers. He made one might swipe and cut the starter clean through. Jack was only just started for home and at the swipe of the slashers himself and the started was travelling the air falling towards the end of the earth. Jack was a fellow who was not easily frightened and though he was falling he kept an eye on the country. When he was within a few miles of the ground he found out that he could move[?] the starter from side to side[?] As he got nearer the earth he saw that he was falling into the sea somewhere between Europe and Asia. "The dry land for me" said Jack giving the starter a mighty pull. The dry land it was then but Jack hit the solid rock so

into his own haggard and returned with a slashers. He made one might swipe and cut the starter clean through. Jack was only just started for home and at the swipe of the slashers himself and the started was travelling the air falling towards the end of the earth. Jack was a fellow who was not easily frightened and though he was falling he kept an eye on the country. When he was within a few miles of the ground he found out that he could move[?] the starter from side to side[?] As he got nearer the earth he saw that he was falling into the sea somewhere between Europe and Asia. "The dry land for me" said Jack giving the starter a mighty pull. The dry land it was then but Jack hit the solid rock so

was forecoming. Jack scratched his head and out jumped a flea. That was no wonder for Jack hadn't left the ashes until that day and when a fellow is all the time stuck in ashes there is bound to be one of those lads knocking around. Anyway Jack caught the flea and skinned him, he blew into the skin and made big enough to put the ten stone of potatoes into it. He put the bag over his shoulder and started off for Croghan. All would have been right if some else hadn't seen the starter. John Carmody was kening[?] and noticed the starter. "Be gor that's a powerful long starter, let me see if there any top to it. I'd like to know how far it would stretch if I cut it down." He crossed the field

He set about thinning and weeding the mangolds. He clawed and tore the weeds with his fingers and toes and never was there a better man to work than Jack with his quilt around him. He worked away until he came to a starter and what ever look he gave up he couldn't see the top of the starter. He moved out a bit and still no top. Off went the quilt and Jack commenced climbing. Up he went and he never stopped until he arrived right up in heaven. There he found them turning potatoes and when he saw the potatoes he thought they would make fine seed for his mother. He asked them for hand full and they gave him about ten stone. Jack hadn't any bag. So a search was made for a bag but no bag

went off to Mass. When they went in the chapel the man went in a seat for himself and the boy went in another seat. The day was very hot and he (the boy) was sweating. The window was just behind him, and the sunbeam was shining on the wall beside him, and he took off his coat and hung it on the sunbeam, and it hung there without falling, so all the people around him was watching and wondering when they saw the coat hanging on the wall without any nail. The Priest noticed it too when he turned around to the people at the sermon, but didn't say anything until Mass was over. Then he went to have a talk with the man, but he was gone, and no one was able to tell him where he went, or who he was. So bedad the same thing happened the next Sunday namely he went to Mass and sat in the same seat and the sun was shining in the window and its beam on the wall beside him, and as he felt very warm and hot he took off his coat and threw it up on the sunbeam and stayed there, and the people were watching and wondering at the same as the first Sunday. The Priest when he turned around to give a sermon saw the coat hanging on the sunbeam

outside the door hitting the ground so hard that he knocked thirty stone of ashes out of the quilt. "Is it mad you're getting" said the widow when she saw that caper - "Och God blesses". Jack was feeling so well that he gave another jump and landed right in the middle of the garden, shaking off another thirty stone of ashes. He never stopped till he gave another jump shaking a few more stone out of the quilt. He felt so lively and good after each jump that he never stopped jumping until he had shaken one hundred and twelve stone of ashes and soot out of the quilt and himself. Having lost that much weight no wonder he felt light and in good form to work.

a strapping young man with a stubble of beard growing out through his face. Well the spring came round and the poor widow started to get ready to set a bit of a garden since Jack was of no use to her. She put down a few sedges of potatoes and a handful of mangolds and turnips. They grew well enough until the time came to thin the turnips and mangolds. The poor woman could not afford to pay anyone to thin them so she spent the whole day grumbling and grousing and saying how useful the neighbours' sons were. Jack listened to this for a couple of days but in the finish he couldn't put up with it any longer. He took one jump and landed clean

was a fine helper of a man but his mother was so poor that she could not afford to put the clothes on him. Jack spent all his time sitting in the corner in the ashes and the only clothes he had was a worn quilt. Now in any house where there is only one poor woman to attend to everything there are a lot of jobs that will not be done at all and it so happened that the ashes in the widows cabin was hardly every thrown out. The ashes being very plentiful stuck on to Jacks quilt and the quilt stuck on to Jack so that between the ashes and the quilt Jack was carrying a very big load. That did not trouble Jack because he was now

Do you see that piece of land over there on the side of Croghán, just over the glen near the bank of turf on the left. Well with years no rates or rent are paid for that patch of land and this is the reason. Long years ago when my father was a young lad there lived on that poor patch of land a poor widow. She was very poor because the land on the side of Croghán is not very rich and what with rent and rates she hadn't enough to eat. She had one son Jack and for his age he

bil-berries, strawberries and such things. I used to drink the clear, pure, sparkling water that used to rush down the mountain, and I never got a cold since the first day I came there. I used to sleep at night in a bed of ferns, and never wake until next morning. There was nothing troubling me from morning till night, except to count the sheep and see that they be there. And said the man if you were as comfortable as you are saying what put the thought in your head to roam and leave the mountain? Well said the boy some sudden thought came into my head. I thought of my poor father and mother, and some thing like home sickness came on me. I wished to see them once more, before I would die (though I never dreamt of death to this minute) I got kind of sorry and thought there was some thing wrong with me, and nothing would put it out of my head. I couldn't stay or wait any longer. Looking round they saw three more men walking off there own way. They looked, but passed no remarks only went their way. Two more came after them, and they were two women

However said he as I came so far I will go to talk with him. I am long enough in that lonely mountain now, and it is time for me to leave it, so off he went and came up to the man. The man was terribly frightened at first when he saw the look of him, and sure it was no wonder. His hair was like a horse's mane of tail rather falling down behind his shoulders. Then the beard was down to the knees. He was a queer looking bloke, and when the man saw there was no harm look in his eyes, he spoke to him, and asked him who he was. He told him ups and downs about how he came to be a herd in the wild mountain with over ten years, and that he never laid eyes on a man or woman during that time, and that he was kind of tired or fed up of such lonely life, and was longing to see more of the world. And tell me said the man how did you live all that while without food. Oh said he (as he moved aside part of the beard) I was never hungry. I used to be eating all kinds of fruit like black-berries, goose-berries

to count them, but this boy had a name for each sheep, and he used to call them, and they would come to him same as a dog would. He used to know then if there was anyone missing. He spent many years on this mountain and he used to pick the black-berries and bilberries and eat them when he felt hungry. At some kind of a longing came over him, when he saw no man or woman to keep company with him. He said to himself he would walk around and see. This day he walked a great deal and came to a place he never was before. He drove the sheep along, and very far from him in the distance he saw a figure like himself. So bedad he travelled ever, ever until he was within a stones throw of him, and then he was afraid to go any-father. He looked at himself and then looked at the man. The man was nice and clean-shaved but he was almost unknown on account of the long beard he grew, for he didn't shave himself, or get a haircut with ten years or more. He was like Rip van winkle when he came back after being twenty years in the fairies.

There was a boy once and he was serving his time alone in the wild mountain where no human being was next or near him. This was a place owned by a rich gentleman and he had thousands of acres of rough land. The heather was so thick and long that you couldn't see a rabbit or a hare running through it. They were as plentiful in it that you would pass no notice of them. He had so many sheeps that it was impossible

An Bheirt Driothár agus an Donas. Bhí beirt driothár ann; má bhí riamh, is minic a bhí, tá fós agus beidh go deo. Bhí ceann acu agus bhí sé bocht agust bhí ceann eile acu agus bhí sé chómh bocht san an dinbhar do nár dhein poll sa talamh nair ná raibh aon rud ná aon ní san oidhche go n-íosfaidh sé dho féin ná dhon a leanbhaí agus má sheadh ? sé ? ann agus má ? do tháinig an Donas os a chionn i n-áirde agus- "Dein mo ? ? leis ann," ar sisean. "Cé hé tú féin," ar sisean. "Ó! Mise an Donas ," ar sisean, "atá ag ? i do dhiaidh," ar sisean, "agus leanfaidh mé beo gur marbh tú," ar sisean. D'éirigh sé aníos as agus dúirt sé leis dul síos ann féachaint a raibh a ? ann agus nair a chuaigh sé síos ann ? sé siar ann ? thug sé a bhéál agus aghaidh i náirde, agust ? sé seo as an serathín is mo bhi ann

it hanging in its place on the wall. He brought them out and harnessed the horse. The cart was there too, and he wheeled her out and put it under the horse. Everything was ready now but to go up on the house, and start throwing down the slates. So he moved on the horse until he came to the big house. He got a big plank and leaned it up agin the house so that the slates would slide down on it and wouldn't be broken. The plank was set firmly by this, and he went up on the house. [?] the second slate wasn't slipped down when an old witch came out, and she looked around to see what cause the noise, then she looked up and saw the man above on the house. He didn't let on himself did he see her at all but kept on sliding down the slates. Come down here said she until I tear you to pieces, havent you the neck to go up on any person's house and taking of its slates. But he took no heed to her. When she saw that he didn't, she began throwing up the slates again, and every slate

bring a cart of slates from Beelzabubs [?] house. There is an old woman there and she wont let you to bring them, and if you could kill her you can bring all you can. And what is my reward if I bring them to you said the man? I will give you a bag full of gold said the King, but on condition that you will roof my castle with them same as it was before. Very well said the man, and how am I to bring the slates? where is the horse and cart? You will get a horse in one of my stables and you will get the cart at Beelzabubs' house and also the harness. There is only one big stable in it, and you will have no trouble in finding them. Very well said the man I will bring you the cart of slates without difficulty. So off he went to the stable, and brought with him the horse and mounted her and sped over fields and hills until he came to Beelzabubs' house. He saw the big stable, and he went in to search for the harness, and he found

to happen. One morning he set out bringing with him a hand-stick, bigger and heavyier than an ordinary walking stick, and he never rested until he came to a big castle. This was the King's castle, and he walked in and up the avenue to the hall door. The King saw him coming and came out to meet him, on account of his bulky person and appearance. a big storm had come the night before, and most of the slates on the eastle was blown off and broken, so he intended if this man was come to serve his time he would employ him and tell him to go for a cart of slates from such a person. The man walked up to him and bowed his head. The King thanked him in return, and asked him where was he coming. I am come in search of work your Majesty and I can do work a man every did he said. Well said the King do you see the state of my castle? I do said the man. Well I should be pleased if you would

Great was his grief on seeing her, but he would be worse only for he knew this was going to happen, and he took it bravely and left her remains along with her people in the cemetery. He was a rich man and he brought in a nurse to look after the child and rear him up. He grew up fine and strong and according to the old woman's prophecy at the age of fourteen he was able to wrestle any man in the parish. When he was twenty one he was full-grown, and the strongest man in the locality. His fame soon spread all over, not alone in his own place but miles and miles apart. all the famous champions when they heard of him came to have a wrestle with him, but sure he thought nothing of them. He didn't even thow off his coat with them, and had little difficulty in stretching them on the broad of their back. at last no one came to wrestle him, and one day he told his father he would go out to earn his fortune, and the father didn't object for he knew what was going

He came along and stumbled ac- ross a dung-hill, staggering all the time as if he were a drunken man, and finally he fell from the top of the dung-hill and "spra- wled in a heap" on the foot [mistakes]. When falling, he let the keg of whiskey drop and it rolled through the yard. The guards saw the "drunken fellow" falling and they could smell the whiskey before they went near him at all. "who is he." said one of them to the other. "Oh," said the other fellow, "he's some poot drunk- en devil that staggered into the yard before the gates were shut, and he fell asleep in some corner and is only after 'waking up." The two guards went over to where he was lying and saw that he was covered with muck and dirt. "He's in an awful state," said

The father went home crying and told Jack what he had to do. "I'm afraid you're finished this time," said the father as he sobbed till you'd think his heart would break. "Don't worry yourself," said Jack. "It will be no trouble to me at all." He went into a neigh- bouring village and bought a small keg of whiskey. During the night he disguised him so well that his own father or mother wouldn't know him. He satur- ated part of his clothes with some of the whiskey so as to make the guards who were minding the house, think he was drunk and that he had a considerable am- mount of drink taken. He set out for the castle, taking the keg of whiskey with him. There wasn't an inch of the premises that he didn't know, and it was an easy matter for him to get into the yard where the stables were situat- ed.

sound, and ye will both live happy afterwards. I must be going now said she, but one word I am to tell you that is not to tell your wife until the child is born. Then she vanished and was seen no more. The husband went home and whiled away the time as best as he could. He kept the secret though he nearly lost his health over it. Week after week passed away month after month until the year had flown. The husband got very uneasy by this, but he didn't let on anything to his wife. However the child was born safely and the wife was overjoyed, and she noticed her husband wasn't as happy looking as he should be, and she asked him what was troubling him? He said nothing but only I am not troubled. The husband knew the future, what the wife didn't. Everything passed on for a few days, and sure what was alotted could not be blotted, the little grey woman's talk came out true, and the husband coming in one evening for the third day found his poor wife had passed away from life to the land of dreams.

third rabbit. The man saw it and pursued it into the next field. When he got the three men out of the field Jack ran up to the plough, unyoked the horses, got up on the animals and gallo- ped home. The father took the horses and brought them back to the gentleman, When the gentle- man saw the horses he said: "He did very well - better than I thought but I'm afraid I'll have to hang him after all. He will have to steal the best horse out of my stables on tomorrow morning. There will be a man, with a loaded pistol in his hand, on each side of the stable door, and riding on the horse there will be a man with another loaded pistol. And they will have orders to shoot immediately he makes his appearance in the yard. If he doesn't steal that horse I will hang him."

He waited till the plough-man had gone some distance down the field with his "SCORE", and then he let out one of the lame rabbits. The man who was guard at the head of the [mistake] field saw the rabbit and pursued it. It ran into the next field, and the man ran after it. Jack slipped along by the butts of the bushes till he came opposite to where the ploughman was proceeding with his score. He then let out the second lame rabbit, and when the ploughman saw it he left the handles of the plough and tried to catch it. The rabbit went into the next field and the ploughman went in after it and chased after it through the field. Jack stole [mistake] along towards the foot of the field and when he got close to where the second armed man was on guard, he let out the

One evening as the father (or the husband I should say) was out walking for himself he met little grey woman on the way. He looked at her, and looked very closely trying to make out who she was, and yet he could, she was a real stranger to him. He couldn't remember ever seeing her before, and after a while he spoke to her, and she answered him. I am trying to make out with the last quarter of an hour who you are, and I couldn't. I dont remember ever seeing you before. Well said she it is true for you, and you never met me before, but I am related to you. I am your great-grand mother namely your fathers grand-mother, and I came to you with a glad news. A year from to-day your wife will have a boy child, but something will happen after his birth. The child will live and will grow up big and strong and he will be famous for his strenght and noted for his figure. He will earn a big fortune, but he will go through a lot of adventures and in the end he will conquer and come home to you safe and

each end of the field, ready to shoot him, and if he fails to steal the horses out of the plough and bring them out of the field without being seen by the men, I will have him." The father went home crying and said he: "Oh, Jack, you are done now, anyway." "How is that?" said Jack. The father told him all that the gentleman had said, and when Jack heard it he wasn't one bit annoyed. "Don't let that worry you," said he; "I can do it easily." Next morning he got up early and set three traps and cuaght three rabbits alive. He broke a leg in each of the three rabbits, and when he had that done he crept along cautious- ly till he came to the fence opposite the head of the field where the man was ploughing and the two armed men were guarding the plough-horses.

There was a couple long ago, and they were married for a long number of years and they had no children. They would give anything to have an heir to inherit their property.

and another with the stolen valu- ables and put them on the back of one of the horses. He then got up on the other horse and rode home with the two horses. When he arrived home he took in the sack of gold and the sack of valuables, and said he to his mother: "We have as much gold now as will do us for the rest of our lives." Next day the gentleman who owned the castle, drove up to the grand gates, and when Jack's father opened the gates for him he said that Jack was home again. "Has he learned his trade yet?" asked the gentleman. "Oh, he has," said the father. "Oh, well," said the gentleman, "we'll have to test him. On tomorrow he'll have to steal the horses out of the plough where the ploughman is ploughing in my field. There will be a man with a loaded gun at

The horses tied to a tree a short distance from the hut, and he recognised them at once. He stole up to the hut and peeped in on the window and saw the two thieves counting a big heap of gold inside. They appeared to be dividing it between them. He went to the door and gave it a punch with one of the horns. One of the thieves looked at the other and said: "who is that?" "may- be it's the devil," said the other fellow. Jack gave the door another bang, and one of the thieves took courage and went to the door and opened it a little bit. When he saw the man with the horns on him he gave a wild roar and dash- ed out and away as fast as his two heels could carry him. The other fellow fainted, and Jack had the place to himself. He filled a sack with gold.

big horns attached to the hide, and Jack arranged it so that the horns seemed to the growing out of his head. He came up to the kitchen and started to make all the noise he could. When the men heard the noise one of them came down to the kitchen and shouted: "who's there or what are you?" "I'm the devil," said Jack, "and if you don't open the door and let me out I'll bring the house away on my back." when the fellow saw the horns he was sure it was the devil was in it, and he opened the door and let him out. When he got out Jack who still kept the bullock's hide on him, was able to track the horses of the two thieves that deserted him when he robbed the castle, and he followed them on till he came in view of a hut in the middle of the wood. He saw

fire with me." The girl at once jumped up and opened the door and let him out. He tracked the horses to a wood, and after he had gone some distance in the wood he saw a house. There were two men skinning a bullock outside the house, and he concealed himself and wat- ched them. When they had the beast skinned they went into the house and threw the skin in the scullery. Jack stole into the house and concealed himself in the scullery. After some time the MEN locked the door and went to bed, taking the key with them. JACK lay down in the scullery and fell asleep. Coming on towards morning he awoke again, but the difficulty was how to get out. He got up and dress- ed himself in the hide of the bullock. There were two very

up the sack, and when they had that done they'd let the rope down again for himself. Jack filled the sack with gold and silver valuables, and when he tied the rope to the mouth of the sack and gave a pull to the rope the [mistake] two boys at the top of the chimney drew up the sack, but they didn't let the rope down again for Jack. They went off and left him in the castle. He made his way from one room to another, and when he came to the kitchen he saw the servant girl sleeping in the settle-bed. He picked up the fire-irons and started fling- ing them through the kitchen. The noise 'wakened the girl, and she began to scream and shout: "what's that?" "I'm a spirit," said he, "and if you don't get up and let me out I'll bring the side-wall of the house on

The father was crying, and the two horseman stopped and said one of themL "where are you going with the lad?" "I'm lookin' for a master for him," said the father. "what kind of a master?" said they. "I'm goin' to apprentice him to a thief," said the father. "We'll take on with him," said they. So the father turned back for home, and Jack went [mistake] off with the two thieves, for that was what they were. They took him [to] a castle, and the three of them got up on the roof and came along to one of the chimneys. They gave him a sack and let him down the chimney by means of a rope. They told him that when he had the sack filled with all the valuables he could find, to tie the rope to the mouth of it, and that when he gave a place to the rope they'd pull

came and chased him from about the place. Jack (for that was his name) went home and told his father and mother what was after happening. The father was very angry and annoy- ed, and he went up to the castle to apologise for his son's conduct. The gentleman said: "I intended to train him to be good and honest and decent, but apparently I can't do that. It seems that he has a leaning to be a rogue, and that is about the best trade he can be put to. It is the only trade he has a taste for, so you will have to apprentice him to a thief." The father went home and told the mother, and she began to cry. "Oh," said Jack, "don't bother your heads about that, Sure, I won't be long learnin' that trade." Next morning early the father started off along with him, and as they were going along the road they met two horsemen.

grand castle, and they had a man and woman and their son living in the gate-house. After the gate- keeper's son had grown up a bit the gentleman said to his father: "send that boy of yours up to the castle and let him be working there and earning some money for you. There are useful jobs that he can be doing about the place." The father sent him up the castle where he got boots to polish and other light work to do. He was constantly in the kitchen with the cook, and the cook gave him knives and spoons to clean. There was a lot of gold and silver spoons about the place, and he was slipping an odd one of them into his pocket and bringing them home with him. After some time they were missed, and the cook watched him and caught him stealing them. so she reported him to the gentle- man who

One time there was a very wealthy gentleman who lived with his wife in a

Many years ago there was coal found in the LOUGHINLAY mount- ain. It would be the south or south-west side of the mount- ain, and a man named McMAHON burned the coal for five or six years.

didn't need me any more I got up and left. On my way home I had to go by the NUT-WOOD BRAE, and when I came as far as THE WOOD DIT- CH I heard a KETTLE-DRUM a beating outside the ditch in the wood. There was no music, but I never heard better drumming in all my life. I thought at first that it might be somebody who had a drum and was trying to frighten me. I crossed the ditch, and when I did so the drumming stopped, and I could find nobody about the place.

One night when I was living at LEAR, the far side of the castle wood, I was asked to go to a house where there was an old woman dying. I was wanted to sit up with the people of the house. She did not die that night, and when I was there a while a number of neighbours came, and as I knew that they

There is a fort in the Townland of DRUMBANNON, not far from THE REBEL HILL, It is known as PORTER'S FORT, and when old Mrs. Porter lived beside it she would not let any- body go into the fort without cleaning their boots or shoes. She would say to people when they entered the fort: "we are up among the quality now." She would not let anybody pick up a stick or a twig or anything else in the fort.

In 1798 there was a battle fought at or near the VALE (about two miles the Cavan side of Bailieboró). It was fought between a party of Insurg- ants and English soldiers, but I never heard which side won. The place where the Insurgents en- camped is known as "THE REBEL HILL". It is the Cootehill side of the Castle Lake. There is a fort on the hill and the rest of the hill has been planted with trees by the forestry branch of the Dep- artment of Agriculture. In older times a battle was fought in a field of the late Jack Donn- elly's of GLANADARAGH, near TIERWORKER. The field is called CROC-A-CRAWEY or CROC-A-CROUGHEY. There is a whinny hill there, and over a hundred years ago old coins and old war- weapons were dug up in it when it was being laboured.

home and dress yourself for the procession and come back and join in with it." The two orange- men with whom he was working, told him to stop where he was or he would never be employed by them again. He took their advice and remained on work- ing with them in the bog. He went to Bailieboró on that night, and next morning his dead body was found on the road between the town and LEAR bridge. He was attacked and beaten so badly that he died on the side of the road. My father carried me on his back as far as PARKER'S bridge on the morning of the walk. I remember seeing the contingents forming up and seeing the flags and hearing the bands playing. I heard afterwards that the sashes that they wore cost from eighteen shillings to twenty two shillings each.

on to Bailieborough where the pro- cession was formed up. They mar- ched on to Shercock where they were joined by contingents from Kingscourt, Shercock, and else- where. They turned round at Sher- cock and came back by KNOCK- BRIDE to Bailieboró. It was a wonderful sight and every man wore a green sash. I was five or six years old at the time, and I remember my father taking me to a cross=roads where some of the contingents were meeting. My father was wearing a green sash and joined in with the parade. This was not a Home Rule meeting -it was a Green Walk. On the day of the Green Walk a catholic man named Reilly - I think his name was Phil - was working with two Orangemen in a bog. Two fellows jumped across the fence and sad to Reilly: "Get up out of that MUD-HOLE, and go

The first "GREEN WALK" was held at Bailieborough about the year 1872. The contingents from the different parishes met at diff- erent points, and with their flags flying and bands playing they went

Many years ago the Orangemen put up a union jack on the Protestant church in KNOCKBRIDE. It was placed high on the steeple of the Church, but one night a crowd of RIBBON-MEN arrived and took down the union jack and burned it. The union jack was never put up on the church again.

He continued to roar all the way home and he could be heard a long distance away. He died shortly afterwards, and there was a stench from his body that "would stifle the air." He was buried in the [mistake] lawn near his place of residence.

He sat down but soon jumped up again to renew his appeal. [mistake] The landlord again ordered him to sit down, and he sat down, but after a time he jump- ed up again and [once] more started his appeal on behalf of his needy [mistake] flock. The landlord then said: "If you don't sit down I will be obliged to have you put out." The priest continued to speak, whereupon the landlord called on a few hefty Orangemen, and they seized the priest and threw him down the steps leading up to the place of meeting. After a short time and while the business of the meeting was still going on, the landlord started to roar and he roared and roared, and they could do nothing to stop him. His head started to swell and he appeared in awful agony. He was carried out and put into his carriage and driven home.

(2) 252 ballad created great indignation at the time, particularly as there was no justification for them except that Dick had the whim to enlarge “his parks extended bounds”, or perhaps to prevent the “mere Irish” from living too near him and thus “coming between the wind and his nobility “ Flecton was boycotted during the Land agitation in the early Eighties and when he died in Liscolaean No hearse could be obtained to take him to his burial ground in Donard, so that a gun-carriage had to be requisitioned from the Curragh to bear him on his last lonesome journey. The Dr Gowing mentioned was the Rev George P. Gowing. D.D, afterward

[*Contibution for Béaloideas from Edward O’Toole, Rathvilly, Co. Carlow.* 16.2.29*] (1) 251 The Fedden Evictions The townland of Fedden is situated near the village of Kiltegan, Parish of Rathvilly, Barony of Upper Talbotstown, County Wicklow. The county road divides it from the demesne of Humewood Castle, the residence of the Hume family who took the name of Dick in order to inherit very valuable property in England. The Fitzwilliam Dick mentioned in the following ballad was the grandfather of Walter Long, afterwards Lord Long, who was at one time Chief Secretary for Ireland. It was to an ancestor of Fitzwilliam Dick’s - the Hume of Humewood in 1798 - that Michl Dwyer surrendered The evictions described in the

above on their shoulders and there was some of the neighbours that was after being dead, I knew a few of um myself but he knew um better an' he was lookin' at um an' he takin' their names but wan of um walked over an' he hit him a blow of t' a fist into the eye an' he had a black eye up to the day of his death and I often saw the black eye wit' him myself.

fresh it was an' tis unknown how long it is down but a corpse it stop a long time in a bog before it decayed away. So they took up the corpse and they got a coffin and everything and they laid it up on the tip of a ditch for to take it to some place to bury it. There was a Yankee after comin' home from America. They laid the coffin down on top o' the ditch and the kid wasn't on the coffin at all but the corpse inside it an' there was a man that was after comin', he hired a car in Anda (?) over an' he driving back an' when he see the crowd he jumped off o' the car to go over an' see what was up and as soon as he went over he looked in at the corpse and the corpse bursted blood up in his face an' he was arrested and he was taken up on the spot and that man was found guilty and hanged after. Hartnett from Athea. Oh yes. He was and about thirty himself. He was here masoning for ourself and that's the reason that I know all about the story. 't is about that linth o' time. An ' thoin what occured to himself after that. He was comin' from Athes wan night himself an' he met a funeral goin' along the road an' they having a coffin

There was people cutting turf in the bog wan time and they found a dead corpse in the bog and they wondered how

brought him into the fort. When they noticed the hump on his back one of them said that they should give him the hump of the man they cured so that he should have two humps. They then left him home and the man was pleased enough to get away with his life. This incident happened about one hundred years ago. _____________________ A man named Casey was cutting oats one evening. His wife was helping him as she was binding it. It grew dark and they still kept working. In the same field was a fort. They worked as late as this on various nights but on this very night a black dog came out of the fort and lid[?] down on a sheave. Casey's wife saw the dog and as a black dog was considered to be an evil omen they gave up the work. This happened about 60 years ago.

Wednesday. All the fairies rushed out to see the man who said this word. They invited him into their place and in he came. There was great rejoicement because of the addition of another word to their song. They were deciding as to what they should do for the man who had improved their song. All of a sudden one of them jumped down from his seat near the roof and said that they should take the hump off his back and make him walk like the ordinary people of the district. They all agreed to this and they took the hump off his back. He want home and all the neighbours were astonished because the hump was gone. He explained to them what had happened. Another man who was a neighbour of the above mentioned man heard all about this and as he had a hump also he made up his mind to go to the fort. He listened outside the fort for some time and heard them sing " Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. "Thursday" says the man outside. Immediately they all rushed out and said that their song was spoilt. They found the man outside and said that (their song was spoilt) they would kill him because of what he had done. They

In Toorbona are two forts which are to this day in perfect condition. The people in this neighbourhood could not remove the forts for any money as they would be afraid something would happen them. A story is told that a certain man with a hump was walking one night near one of the forts in Toorbona. He heard the singing inside and they saying - Monday, Tuesday. They kept at this for about 30 minutes and then he said from the outside

were of a pink colour. They used cover the wooden frame and all over witch the coloured cones and corks and put the uncoloured ones in between. When it was finished it was very nice. no. 3 In olden times how they used feed their cattle and horses was: They had'nt much hay on account of their farms being so small. They used cut a lot of [purge?] ; when it was cut they used collect it together and make an ['oċesōge'?] When five of these

fit for the seat of a chair. They used put the chaff into the bag. Then they used get all the waste pieces of cloth that used to be left after the sowing during the year. they used cut these into diamond shape and sow the pieces together. When they were big enough to cover the bag, they used sow the cloth on the bag and then place it down on the seat of the chair. When they used have a station in most places they used have a chair of the kind prepared for the priest.

oil. The doors of the houses were made of heath how they were made was to get two sticks one on top and one on bottom and find the health on the sticks with a ['súgán.' ?]

cording and some times they used dye the the wool in order to put different colours in the flannel, because it was the only cloth they had to wear at that time. Every day they used to wear the plain grey flannel and for Sunday they had suits of the different dyes. They did all their work by night from the light of the fog. [dale?] for they had no lamps or

were two. the custom at that time was to have a bed near the kitchen fire. Bog deal was the most thing they had for firing at that time. By day the men were most of their time fishing and the women working on the farms. By night the men used mend their nets, the women were kept busy too knitting, sewing, spinning, and

of tin and hole it with a nail, then there was a piece of timber nailt on one side. Then they got potatoes and grated them. When they had enough for a cake grated they got a bag and squeezed the water out of them. then they left the water rest and after a shell they would throw the water and get the starch that would be rested in the bottom of the vessel. Then they would get a little salt and mixed it with the potatoes and starch. Then they made it round and flat

was brought to hear on the Govern- ment to give them relief, and it was distributed to them. But in County Leitrim there was a landlord who was given charge of the dis- tribution of the relief in his area. He held a few meetings for the purpose, but none of the Catho- lic tenants on his estate got any of the relief - it was the Protest- ant tenants that got it. The meet- ings for arranging the distri- bution of the relief were held in an old castle. The catholic curate heard of the way that the relief was being distributed, so he made up his mind to go to the next meeting and make an appeal on behalf of his people. He went to the meeting, and when he went to appeal for a share of the relief for the poor of his congregation the landlord who was chairman of the meeting, ordered him to sit down.

Many years ago there was a lot of poor people in Donegal and Sligo and Leitrim, and they were in a starving condition. Pressure

Ghost ~ I remember wan time when we were young at home. We left the house we were in and we came on to another wan, about a mile farther on. Me father was sick in the hospital at the time. He was in ill health, We shifted on to this house, anyhow, and it bet all, all the noise, and tearaway that was in it the first night. There was three or four of us in it, and we were all young and soft. Twas so bad that we were all terrified. "ah children" says me mother if I can get the morning, I'll not stay another night here." There was chairs going, and boards sawing, and doors opening and slapping, and foot noise running up and down the stairs. The morning came on, anyhow, at last, and me mother said she'd take us away and sleep out by the ditch with. She made the remark to a passer by what she was going to do. "Don't me poor woman, do any such thing" says the person, "but go and acquaint Father Walsh of Terrath about it, and you will find that he'll do something for you." So she came in and put on her shawl, and she walked it to Terrath, about four miles away. She met the priest and she told him her story. The priest told her to go on home, and that he'd be [mistake] over after her. She walked it back again, and she was only just in when the priest was an the step of the door after her He took out his book and he read some prayers in

9. All kinds of sickness generally 10. Not applied externally. Carried away in bottles and drunk. 11. No. 12. Yes. 13 Coins, beads, images, vessels, medals, chains, buttons, pensils [?], nails, crosses of wood. No distinction between offerings of men and women. 14. On the stone shelf shown. 15. No. 16. One tradition is that a man once took away objects from the well, and he was punished by being stricken with a disease which ate away his flesh. Another person who took small objects found them later all turned into bees, which flew back. 17. Nothing known of antiquity of pilgrimage. No tradition as to suppression. 18. Photograph herewith 19. Marked on 6" map (see 2) 20. Jeremiah Desmond 21. Muine Cluic [?] (Mumiffuigh N. School) Carraic [?] an Ime [?], Mazcromes [?] 22. Hannah Buckley, Maulnahorna, Ballinagree, Macroom 23. 29th August, 1934

1. Saint John's Well (called in Ordinance Survey Map "Mushera Holy Well") 2. Townland of Knocknagoppul, close to summit of Musheramore [?] Mountain about 2000 ft over sea-level. No old church near, no tree nor bush. There is a rough protection of stones around and over the well (See Sketch) Marked on 6" Ordinance Survey Map, Cork Sheet 48, one -fifth mile SSE of summit. Front to Back Outside 7'-0" Height to this 4'-0" Height 6'-4" Total width in Front 7'-4" Width of Opening top 2'-3" bottom 2'-0" Opening, back to front 2'-11" Stone Shelf inside 2'-6"x11"x1" Height of Opening 3'-7" Opening at chamber over the well is semi-cylindrical. Wooden cross at the back. Stone shelf as shown on which are placed offerings (see 13-14). Photograph also herewith. Flagstones. 3. Saint John the Baptist 4. - 5. 24th June, Nativity of John the Baptist. On this day each year a Pattern is held at the food of the mountain, formerly, it is said, at the summit. Many people climb the mountain to the well and perform rounds there on this day, but people visit it for this purpose at all times of the year. 6. Fore cure of sick friends 7. Three times round above well and round well, each time 9 Our Father, 9 Hail Marys, 9 Glorias [?]. Finally a Rosary (5 decades)is said coming down to the well, finishing at the well. No stones or pebbles used to mark rounds. 8. Prayers as in 7

Donoaghmore [?] and Aghabullogul [?] is a large circular mound. This mound is in the Donoughmore side of the stream, and in the lands of Mr. Michail [?] Lane. It has about the same circumference as the ordinary fort or rath [?], and is about from 15 to 20 feet high. It is called Crocán-an- Cárac (the mound of the Winnowing ). Tradition gives us the following. St Eolan patron of Aghabullogul [?] Parish, and Saint Batt Patron of Donoughmore arranged that they would fix the boundary between the two parishes. It was agreed on, that each would start from a fixed place in his parish and then go directly to meet the other Saint. Where they would meet should be the boundary. We are told that St. Batt ran, and St. Eolan walked, and of course the former had covered a broader stretch [?] - hence Donoughmore is the larger parish. It is also said that they argued at Crocán-an-Cárac, and that each cursed the other's parish. St Eolan said Donoughmore should never be without a mad dog - and St Batt said that Aghbullogue should never be without the bed of a thief. The Crocán in itself is rather an unsightly mound - composed of a dry, coarse reddish gravel, and totally devoid of verdure save furze and heather

to keep Eoghan for the night. A bed was prepared and he got every comfort and went to sleep. He was delighted at the way the trick was working. He got up early out of bed and of course the priest thought that he would hear all about the money. The priest began to talk to Eoghan about the hard times and asked him how much money he got. Eoghan said that he did not get any but wished to know what he should do with any money he would get loosing. The priest became angry but Eoghan had got first to the door and quickly went from the house. He went back to the men and got his bet. Eoghan must have many meetings with priests in his day. This is another yarn about himself and a priest. He wished to get his confession heard and of course the right place to go to would be to the church. Eoghan wanting to play a trick on the priest brought him along to a river. They had to cross this river and when they were in the middle of the river Eoghan said to the priest that he should hear his confession or else he would throw himself into river. The priest being afraid that Eoghan would drown himself

One day in late September Eoghan and some others were out digging potatoes. They began to talk about the local news and especially the Parish Priest. Somebody said that the priest was very mean and was never known to give anything for charity. Eoghan said that he would get something out of him and so the owner of the farm put down a bet with him. Eoghan set off towards the priest's house and thought out his plan well. He knocked at the door of the Priest's house. A servant came and asked him what he wanted. He said that he wished to see the priest. The priest came to the door and spoke in a rather rough manner to Eoghan and asked him what he wanted. Eoghan replied that he wished to know what he should do with money that he got loosing. "Come in" said the priest and "sit down my dear man". Of course he did not know who Eoghan was. The priest got very nice to Eoghan at the mention of money. He did not ask Eoghan how much money he got nor neither did Eoghan say directly whether he got money or not. After some time there was a big dinner prepared and Eoghan and the priest sat down to a big meal. Eoghan kept talking about many things and made sure to keep all mention of money out of the topic. The night got very bad and the priest decided

Eoghan Ruadh spent most of his life around this neighbourhood an died in Knocknagree one of our local villages. He had the name of being two good for everybody and as the stories go it seems that nobody (was too good for him) even got the better of him in an argument or deed. He worked as a farm labourer as he prepared this type of work and wanted to mix with ordinary people.

362 An Fear agus an Bó. Bhí fear Ann fadó ages lá amháin churadh sé go dtí an xx aonach shun bó a cheannach. Do Cheannaig sé í agus nuair a bhí sé ag teach abhaile leí do chonnaic fear eile é agus dubhairt fear file leis nách deas an bó í. Annsan xx d'imig sé leis abhaile agus sar-ar chuaidh sé do dtí an tigh ní raibh an bó abalta ar siubhal, agus do thuic sí. Do chuaidh sé do dtí an fear file agus dubhairt sé leis bail ó Dhia air a rádh trí huaire agus dubhairt sé agus bhí an bó go maith airís. Pádraig Mac Gineadha, líos - Deargáin líos-Poíl Fuaireas é seo 'o'm airir Séamus Mac Gineadha

(11) 135 a week at the house and slept on the "settle bed" as usual. One night before she had fallen asleep the (dead) farmer, who had often befriended her appeared to her in tears and grief and said to her, "what a pity I did not leave your wish (about my term in Purgatory) go as you said to me twice; had I done so I would have ^only to spend in Purgatory, a time equal to that while I was handing you my frieze coat; but now, on account of the remark I ^ then made I must remain 7 years suffering in Purgatory". He then disappeared // John Wm. Fitzgerald: "Southern folklorist": I heard this tale from an old woman now deceased) who said she heard it from the poor woman named herein.

134 (10) thanked him, and said; 'I hope that your time in Purgatory will be as short as while you were handing me your coat". He laughed and exclaimed. "If I escaped with a term of 7 years in Purgatory, I would be satisfied" The same thing happened a few years afterwards, and again came a similar reply from the farmer. The travelling woman went on her way as usual, forgetting all about the incident. Some years afterwards she revisited the farmer's house, and her surprise and sorrow were great when his wife told her that he was dead and xx buried; a fact which was corroborated by several of his neighbours. She stayed for

133 (9) John Wn Fitzgerald ("Southern Folklorist") I knew this man Shawn Ogue` Hannigan, well. He died about 20 years ago. I heard this story from one of his grandsons. (it is said to be true) ___________________________ The Dead Farmer's Purgatory (a Folk-Tale.) In a certain part of the Co Limerick there lived a farmer who was very kind to the poor. Among those whom he often befriended was a travelling woman. She often spent weeks together in his house and used to sleep in the "settle-bed" in the kitchen, One very cold night, before he retired to bed, the farmer gave his frieze coat to this woman as an extra blanket, for the night. She

132 (8) all likewise crossed the road, and went after the fox and hounds xx xx into the fields on the other side of the road "Shawn Ogue" watched them for some time, and he also heard their barking and shouting as the hunt went along until it xx was out of range of his sight and hearing. He then remounted his horse, and the latter went off "as quiet as lamb Next day he came to the spot where he had xx xx met the fox-hunt the night before, and examined it thoroughly; but there was not the least trace of footprints of hounds, or ^ of fox, or ^ of horses, which always appear for weeks afterwards in a real fox-hunt (by day)// 'Shawn Ogue" was never again out late at night after this adventure //

(7) 121 a cloth on the head (over the eyes) of the horse, and tried again; still to no purpose. The animal now seemed much frightened. Hannigan now began to grow afraid, as the hour was late: so he thereupon knelt down on the road took off his hat and exclaimed May the Almighty God, save me this night", at the same time making the Sign of the Cross on himself. He had scarcely done so, when a fox came out of a field at one side of the road, crossed the road, and jumped in and away in xx a field at the other side of the road, Reynard was soon followed by a pack of hounds; and they in their turn were followed by a great crowd of huntsmen, who

130 (6) from my grandfather; and it is said to be really true. ___________________________ Jack Hannigan's Adventure A Folk Tale "Shawn Ogue" Hannigan was out one night in the month of June. He was on horseback and was going home xxx from Drumcollogher village to his house in Gardenfield, about a mile from that place. When he came to a certain part of the road called "Gardenfield Cross" his horse began to "shy". He did his best to get the animal to go forward but failed Then he dismounted and tried to lead the animal forward, but the latter could not be got to move. He put

(5) 120 and when he turned round again to continue his work of filling his pockets with the coins, both heaps coins) had vanished! Ned drove home his cow, a wiser (and somewhat richer) man than formerly. He had pocketed about £10 or £12 worth of the silver coins; and xx until the day of his death he was sorry for looking behind him when he heard the music, as it was in that way he lost his chance (nay certainty) of xx becoming a rich man. He likewise never forgot that the unknown woman had told him that morning he would be rich enough xx before the next evening, if it were not thro' his own fault // John Wn Fitzgerald (Southern Folklorist"). I have heard this tale

119 (4) continued "on the run". Judge of Ned's surprise when on the field through which he was now running after his cow right in front of him, lay two heaps of coins, one of gold & the [[?]] of silver; the silver coins being xx nearest to him, and the gold ones about 15 or 20 yards away. Ned (when telling the story afterwards) said that each heap of coins contained about as much bulk as as a horse-load. He began filling his pockets of the silver coins at once xx they were all new ones. Having taken two pocket-full's of ^the silver coins he now determined to do likewise with the gold ones. As he was walking on towards the latter ones however, he heard the sound of highland-pipes and drums xx behind xx him ; He look xx xx back and saw nothing whatsoever

(3) 118 not lose it", Ned laughed, and asked her where the money was to come from. "Never mind that part of the matter", said she "you will get the money, if you take it". With these words they parted, and Ned saw this unknown woman take the road towards Drumcollagher, which is 1/2 a mile distant. Ned drove home his cow soon after and went to work taking little notice of the promise of wealth he got from the stranger in the morning .In the evening he drove out his cow on the road again and she was not long feeding thereon when she went in on a neighbouring farmer's land and faced down for the glen that is near ^by. Ned followed her as fast as he could. She had the start of him however; and she

117 (2) was "minding" or "herding", his cow on the roadside, a short distance from "Matty Den's Cross", he saw a woman approaching him from the Tullyglen direction. As soon as she came close to him she bade him "Good morning asking him his name, his means of livelihood, etc. He answered all her questions. She then asked him for a smoke of tobacco, and he took out his pipe, lit it and gave it to her. She took it, and smoked away for some time. She then handed him back the pipe, and said that she should be going away Before she did so, however, she thanked ^him for his kindness, and said to him Ned Ryan, you will have plenty of money before this time tomorrow; if through your own fault you will [*Tullyleose*]

(1) 116 The Chance of a Life-time: (a Folk Tale;) Ned Ryan, lived, in the last century,, in a cabin at the end of a short boreen", near "Matty Den's Cross", in the townland of Carraward West, Dromcollagher, Co Limerick. He died about the year 1880. During his life-time he was a poor man, and had to work for his living with the farmers of his locality. He owned one cow, Before his day's work in the morning, and after his work in the evening, he, used to feed this cow on the roadside, and while she was feeding there on he used to "mind" her as, if the RIC caught her alone on the "King's Highway" Ned would be "fined" at the Court in Drumcollagher. Early one summer's morning, as he [*See p. 136 for details - provenance etc.]

Heaven his people could boast about it. The man came away from the house and of course had the bag full of gold. They began to talk about Heaven but Jack told him that he should do some Purgatory before going there. Jack tied the man in the bag and threw him across his shoulders. He also carried the other bag - pulling it along the ground. He now reached the top of the hill where there was some sheep inside in a house and into this he threw the bag keeping the man inside in it all the time. He left the man here during the night and went off and hid his gold. In the morning when the man in charge of the sheep came in he was knocked down by a ram and all the sheep ran out over him. When he got up he found the man tied in a bag in the corner of the house. He opened the bag and left the man out of it. The man then explained what had happened and all about his going to Heaven. After very little consideration the poor old Protestant knew that there was a trick played on him. After one week Jack had enough money made for a life time and so he decided to give up his trade.

Nearby there lived a very rich Protestant who was very old and was always talking about going to Heaven. Jack dressed himself as a priest in very rich vestments and went to the grave-yard which was near the house. In those days it was customary for all rich people to have a graveyard close to their dwelling house. Jack went along to the graveyard and placed candles on all hedge-stones and lit them. He then stood on a big rock and began to sing hymns and say prayers for the man who was going to Heaven. He was not long at his holy work when the old man heard and saw him. The old man thought it was an angel and came out. He enquired of Jack what was wrong and Jack told him how he was going to die and was going to Heaven. The man was delighted and made all preparations for his journey to the next world. Jack told him to bring two bags, one full of gold and the other empty and to lock the door after him. The man did as he was commanded and you may be sure he was delighted and would have brought what was in the house in order to get to Heaven. He had another idea also in getting to Heaven as he always said that the Protestant religion was the right religion and of course by his going to

see him. He thought that surely he would be able to kill Jack this time. Jack started to think as to which would be the best way of doing this hard task and of course he thought of a good plan. He decided to get a corpse in a local graveyard and to let it down the chimney into the room. This he did and when the corpse appeared in the room, the man immediately fired a shot. He put out all the lights in the room and then went to bury the man whom he had shot. He threw the man over his shoulders and went out with him. In the meantime Jack was watching everything from outside and when he saw his opportunity he rushed in and stole the sheet off the man. When the gentleman had Jack, as he thought buried he came back to his room feeling rather satisfied with his nights work. However, to his dismay and anger he found that the sheet was gone off the bed. He knew that Jack could not be beaten as a robber. Jack was only four nights at his trade and was a competent robber. He now decided to make himself rich as quick as possible and again he thought of an excellent plan.

overcome. He was brought before the Baron to answer the charges. He was of course set free as it was the Baron himself who sent him on the errand. The Baron then wrote the following pass for him for future occasions. "This is my servant Denis Deegan. He has no mind to harm anyone. Just let him pass. He is a ignorant as the Devil". Con Kennedy.

Baron Purcell of Loughmore Castle [Luck ma an ainm a bhí aige na sean duine[?] an Loughmore] wanted a message sent to Dublin on a Sunday morning. He had a servant Denis Deegan who was to hurl in a local match the same Sunday. He started off to Dublin on foot and was back in time to strike out the ball for the match. This same Baron Purcell came on a number of Revenue men for the Kings service as there was no police at the time. Denis Deegan was sent on a message to the castle. The revenue men could not let him pass as they did not know him. He attacked them & knocked out a number of them before he was finally

of it for they were ashamed o' their lives to be seen in the same hotel as the tinkers. Nobody would come to board in the hotel, and Mr. Peel was getting nothing to do. Before the month was up Mr Peel had left the hotel, and Daniel and the tinker's had Mr Peel's Hotel to themselves and that is how Daniel O'Connell broke Peel, and if ever you go over to London you'll see that hotel beyant and they tell me that the crows are flyin' in and out through the windows in it and building their nests in it, and that the curse o' the crows is on the place ever since

There was a number of Pikes buried in a ditch at the back of Quinlan's house Garrengrena.

Mickey Delaney had a forge beside the road in Curraglass. It was here the pikes were forged. There is no sign of the forge there now.

Mr Peel came around and asked him for God's sake to hunt the tinkers out o' the hotel. "They'll destroy my business," he says, "and they'll keep away the gentleman and ladies from the place, and this hotel is only for the gentry." "Gentry bedamned," says Daniel, "I bought the use o' the room and paid for it and I can bring who I like in there." All London was comin' to see Peel's Hotel for the news was after spreadin that the tinkers that it bought out from Mr Peel and that they were after setting up business in it, and that there was a big tinker from Ireland in charge of it. All the gentleman and the ladies that were boarding in the hotel ran out

and children and every thing ye have and come as far as Mr. Peel's Hotel and I'll be there to meet ye." "Right O my boy!" says the two tramps and they making off to gather the faction. Daniel was hardly landed when the tinkers were to his heels. "We are landed Sir; says they "and what do you want us for." "Daniel brought them all into the hotel and told them that he wanted them to start right away and make all the cans and pots and canteens they could and be hanging' them outside the door accordin as they were makin them and that they could have the full use o' the room while he was there, and that he'd pay them for the work.

dussed himself up like any tramp. So he was travelling around the city and did n't he see two more tramps like himself and they selling tin- cans and canteens and saucepans, and everything that could be made out o' tin. "Good morrow men," says Daniel. "Good morrow kindly brother," says they. "Are ye doin' much trade with the likes o' them?" says he. "Oh we are doin' a great trade," says they. "And are ye married? says Daniel. "Oh you may but your oath we are," says they. "And have ye a family? " says Daniel. "More than we can count," says the two tramps "Well ye are the very men I want," says Daniel. "Let ye bring your [mistake] wives

The last bit was called the Luidheachán[?] and was cut by the stongest man in the party who generally had cut the most of the field. The honour of cutting the luidheachán[?] was reserved for him. The last bit left to be cut was called the Cailleach and before cutting it the reapers gave a bit cheer to let all the neighbours know they were not the last. It was regarded as being degrading to be the last in the district to cut the corn. The best reaper cut the last cailleach.

The last bit was called the Luidheachán[?] and was cut by the stongest man in the party who generally had cut the most of the field. The honour of cutting the luidheachán[?] was reserved for him. The last bit left to be cut was called the Cailleach and before cutting it the reapers gave a big cheer to let all the neighbours know they were not the last. It was regarded as being degrading to be the last in the district to cut the corn. The best reaper cut the last cailleach.

felt the bottle in Jack's pocket. He took it out of the pocket and found to his amazement that it contained a quart of whiskey. They proceeded to drink this each man in his turn. Jack was watching what was going on all the time and did not pretend a thing. He knew that his trick was working all right but nevertheless he knew that the men had not enough whiskey. He started to roll himself into the fire and one of the men went to save him. While doing so the man found some more whiskey. When they had this drank they were all mad drunk and fell asleep. Now was Jack's opportunity to work. He got up from his position near the fire, untied the horse and went away with it unnoticed by any of the men in charge. He arrived back with the horse and had his task completed. The gentleman again told Jack that he had not his trade fully learned and that he should still do another bit of robbery. This time Jack was to steal a sheet from under this said gentleman and his wife as they were in bed at night. The man himself was to keep guard on the room with a loaded gun & was to shoot Jack if he should

to be beaten this time but nevertheless he started to think. At least he thought of a plan and it was a good one. He was to go to the village and get some whiskey which he put into his pockets. He also sprinkled another quart of whiskey over his clothes so that people would smell drink from him and he could let on to be drunk. He went off to where the men were guarding the horse. Jack found a sow lying into the mud and gutter within a few yards of the stable. This sow was about to have some bonhams and was getting sick. Jack rolled himself in the mud and began to pinch the sow. When de did so the sow began to roar and this attracted the attention of the men who were guarding the horse. Two of them went out and found Jack who by this time was all puddle and also having a great smell of drink from him. They brought him in and put him near the fire as they thought he might die as a result of having too much drink taken and also because of the great wetting he got. As they were turning Jack around to the fire so that his clothes would dry, one of them

By this time Jack had arrived at a corn field and knew that he was being followed. He thought of another plan to get out of the difficulty. He tied the sheep in one corner of the field and then went off himself to the other corner. He hid and began to shout - Bah,-Bah,-Bah. His pursuers heard the noise and went off immediately in its direction. They had no sooner come to the corner than they heard the Bah Bah Bah in the other. When Jack had this done he set off across the fields with his sheep. He soon arrived back at the gentleman's house with his sheep. The latter could not understand how Jack had captured the sheep and began to realise that Jack was a really clever robber. This gentleman was not satisfied yet and wishing to do away with jack he gave him still a harder task to do. On this occasion Jack was obliged to steal a horse. Now this horse was well guarded as there was a man on his back, another at his head, two at the door and two more at the fire. This horse was owned by the man who gave Jack the task to do and on this occasion he was taking no chances. He imagined that he was going

began to examine the gallows and to their astonishment found a man dead on it. They now thought that the robber had hanged himself and that they need not keep a strict watch on the sheep. Furthermore they began to rejoice at what had happened the poor robber. In the meantime Jack had gone off and succeeded in catching one of the sheep. He had much difficulty in trying to move the sheep from place to place. In his endeavours to move the sheep he lost his shoes. The men who were in charge of the sheep went back to guard them. On their way they found the shoes one being about twenty yards away from the other. They were over amazed at their good fortune and began to fit on the pair of shoes. During this time Jack had gone a good distance with the sheep, but, however, not far enough to be out of danger. After some time the men got back to the sheep and began to count them, but to their grief they found that one of them was missing. Now they realised that there was as trick played on them and went in great haste in search of the robber.

a hard task to do in order to get him into a trap. Jack was to steal a sheep from this gentleman even though the sheep were well watched and they who were minding the sheep were fully aware that a robber was to come during the night. If Jack did not succeed in stealing the sheep he was to be hanged in a gallows, which was on the same mountain as the sheep. Jack set off to do this almost impossible task. As he was going along he came across another robber. He told his story to him and as they were on their journey they found the gallows. Jack showed the other robber how this gallows worked and told him that the head should be put on top of the gallows and then a lever pressed at the bottom. Immediately the head was caught when the lever was pressed. In the course of the conversation the other robber happened to put his head on top of the gallows. Jack saw this and immediately pressed the lever. When he did he killed the robber and went away about a hundred yards to watch what would happen. He was not long in this hiding place when the two men who were guarding the sheep

Jack told them that if they did not turn Catholic that he would carry them to hell. They immediately promised him that they would do so. Jack ordered them to open the door for him. This they were delighted to do and in this manner Jack got out of the house. He went to the cave where the other robbers lived as he already knew the way. The robbers had come home immediately and were counting their treasures. They were so engaged when Jack put his horns against the window. The robbers on seeing this ran from their cave leaving all their treasure after them. They said to one another that they could not have better luck because they left the boy after them in the house. Jack went into the cave and found the bag of treasure. He carried this bag home to his mother and so after one night at his trade he was a rich man. His mother was delighted at what Jack had done and said that she was lucky in choosing Jack's trade. The neighbouring gentleman was rather jealous of Jack's good fortune and as he was responsible for proposing his trade to him, he decided that he would give Jack

along to the house having two sacks. With one of these they let Jack down the chimney and with the other they were to pull him up again. Jack was let down the chimney without any noise being made. He was provided with a candle so that he could see what he was doing. Jack proceeded to fill his sack with all treasures he could find and of course was making a great noise. He did not arouse the occupants of the house as they were all fast asleep. Jack had the bag full in a short time and so the two robbers who waited outside pulled up the bag full of treasure. Jack waited patiently for the other bag to come down but alas it did not come. What was poor Jack now to do? If he did not act immediately he would be captured and put to jail. In a moment he thought of a plan. On the wall was hanging a goat's skin with horns. Jack put this around him and to his knee he fastened a chain. He now appeared like the devil and began to walk around the house with the intention of rousing the occupants. Everybody became startled and ran from their beds.

and standing in front of the statue, she enquired of it, what was the best trade for Jack. Of course Jack answered for the statue and said a robber. The poor woman asked this question three different times and Jack answered on each occasion. She thought the statue was answering her all the time. When she went home she found Jack before her, as he had come and gone the nearway. Jack let on to be innocent of what had happened. She told him that she had finally made up her mind that Jack should be a robber. He needless to say was over-joyed at her[?] mother's decision and made all the preparations for his new duties. The mother was crying and lamenting because of her sons departure but he told her that he would be back on the morrow. Jack set out on his journey and began to look for some master robber. On his way he met two robbers. These asked Jack where he was going? He told them and they said that he was just in the right place. The three went to a cave in the woods where the robbers lived and made preparations for the night. On this night they were to rob a rich Protestant's house. They came

Once upon a time there lived a woman who had an only son & her husband was dead. She wanted to give Jack, which was her sons name a career, in order to be able to make his living. Nearby there lived a rich gentleman and this man told the woman that she should make a robber of Jack. When Jack heard this he was delighted, but not so with his mother. She however decided to consult the statue in the church. Jack on hearing this rushed off to the church and hid behind the statue. Soon after the mother arrived.

with a hammar with the result that all the porter came out of the cask. Next he went to the cask of whiskey but the same thing happened. He now realised that the kitchen should not be so wet and thought of a plan to dry it. He shook the flour all over the kitchen but this did not dry up the place. In the corner of the kitchen there was a goose which was hatching some eggs. As this was the only dry place in the kitchen Jack decided to sit into the nest and put the goose out of it. Shortly afterwards Jack's mother arrived and the wedding party with her. Before she came to the door she knew that there was something wrong as she told the crowd to go away as she did not think that Jack was inside. The party went away and of course they knew that there was something wrong inside. When Jack's mother went into the house she saw the damage he had done but she did not in the least appear angry. She began to realise that it was useless to get Jack married and so she decided that they should live together and make the best of things.

Next day, however, Jack saw a group of men about the place. He walked towards them and enquired of them what they were looking for. "Go away you fool" says one of them "what would you know about it". Jack then told them how his mother had killed the man and buried him in the bog. Then they all marched off to the grave and when they had reached it they set about opening it. After some time Jack asked them had their man horns. The men became enraged and told Jack to be off with himself. After some time Jack's mother decided to get Jack married as they now had a lot of money. She got the girl with the force of money. She got all the necessary articles for the wedding - a bag of white flour, a bag of meat which she hung near the fire, a cask of porter, and a cask of whiskey. On the night of the wedding she went off to meet the wedding party and left Jack in charge of the house. She made sure to lock him in, fearing he would be gone when she would return. Jack began to amuse himself while he was alone. He fried some of the meat and eat it. After doing this he was very thirsty so he decided to have something to drink. He set about opening the cask

of flannel to put around himself. The day was very cold and Jack had terrible pity for the stones. He then put the flannel around the stone and went off to watch the sheep and cattle. When he came back the wind had blown the flannel away but Jack thought that the stone had eaten it. He began to break up the stone as he was looking for the flannel and as he was engaged on this work he found a crock of gold which he took home to his mother. She immediately knew what it was and hid it under the leg of the bed. Next day Jack was out again minding the sheep. After some time he saw a man who was crying and went towards him to find out what was wrong with him. The man told Jack to get away as he would not know what was wrong with him. Then Jack began to tell him how he found a big crock and that his Mam buried it under the leg of the bed. The man followed Jack to the house and enquired about the crock. Mam became angry and hit the man with a spade and killed him. Mam decided to bury the man in a bog close by. She also took with her a goat's skin and horns. These she buried in one grave and put Jack in charge of it, while she went off and buried the man in another place. she did this unknown to Jack.

fair. He was not long at the fair when the first buyer came up to him and asked him how much for the flannel. "It is equal to you", says Jack because my Mam told me not to sell it to the first or the second man but to sell it to the third. The buyer knew that Jack was simple and so he walked away a little distance and came back to Jack again. He however got the same answer from Jack again but came back a third time. On this occasion he made the bargain with Jack and offered him a shilling a bundle for the flannel. The man gave Jack a penny instead of a shilling for each of the bundles as he did not know the difference. Jack made his way home and was delighted with his work. As he was passing a farmer's house a dog attacked him. Jack bent down to pick up a stone but because of the frost they were all tied to the ground. He then threw a penny at the dog. Some small boys who saw what was happening set the dog at Jack until he had all the pennies thrown at the dog. He went home and told his mother everything but she did not take any notice but sent him out to mind some sheep and cattle. She gave him a roll

In this neighbourhood there lived an old woman who had an only son who was the pride & light of her eye. This son was known as "Seán Ó Cúla Bhuachaigh and although being a simpleton, his mother tried to impress everybody that he was a very clever man. She sent Jack out with balls of flannels one day to sell. She told him not to sell the flannel to the first or second buyer so as to get a good bargain, but to sell it to the third and to get a shilling a "bundle". Jack did as his mother commanded and went to the

large crowd assembled to see Carl as his fame was spread far and wide by this time. About a quarter of an hour before the appointed time for the execution. Carl asked the sheriff to grant him a favour - to give him a few minutes to himself. This the sheriff granted on condition that he would not run away. Carl then got three spears and placed them on the ground with the sharp ends turned towards him. The third spear was the only spear which he had put firmly in the ground as he intended to kill himself with this one, and thereby cheat his executioners. Carl ran past the first two spears but jumped on the third one so that it stuck in his back and he died. When the earl's daughter saw this, she ran towards Carl and also jumped on the spear and died. They were both buried in the same grave-yard but not in the same grave. After some time a tree grew out of each grave towards each other. Finally they met overhead and this is known as the true lovers knot. This was how Carl Daly ended his life who besides being many other things was a very famous poet.

Carl got a stick and tied some pans and old kettles around it with the intention of frightening the earl's horses. In this manner the earl was killed as the horses took flight one night, they being frightened by the noise of the cans. Carl was imprisoned for the murder of the earl (but owing) and was to be condemned to death but owing to the entreaties of the earl's daughter the sentence was lessened. Carl was compelled to go foreign for the rest of his life. This he did but joined the army as a ordinary soldier. The earl's daughter sold all her property and followed Carl. She took up her residence in the town where Carl served as a soldier. In this town they frequently met not without the notice of the general of the army. This general fell in love with the earl's daughter and so became jealous of Carl. He could not imagine how she should fall in love with an ordinary soldier. The general tried to gain the affections of the earl's daughter but failed to do so. He thought that the only thing to do was to get Carl out of the way. He bribed the soldiers to prove something false against Carl, as a result of which he was found guilty and condemned to death. On the day of his execution a

do. She said that whoever made the good shoe should make her shoes in future. This job now fell to Carl, and after a time he and the earl's daughter became great friends. At length they fell in love and they decided to get married. The earl heard this and became enraged at the idea of a journey-man shoemaker getting married to his daughter. The earl imposed a heavy task on Carl before he should get his daughter. He thought that by this task he would kill Carl as he did not wish that he should marry his daughter. The earl told Carl that he should ride a deer that had never been ridden before. The earl knew that this deer would run into the ocean and that Carl would be drowned. Carl, however, got on the back of the deer, which immediately ran into the ocean. The earl thought that Carl was drowned and was very satisfied. Next day Carl was back again. The earl was angry and did not allow his daughter to go out to meet Carl. Carl decided to have revenge and resolved to kill the earl. It was a custom at that time that earls and people like them should drive in a coach drawn by about four or six horses.

masons as they were building a house. Carl came along to the masons about dinner hour and felt very hungry. The masons were called to the dinner but poor Carl was not called with them. While the masons were at the dinner Carl drew on the wall with some mortar a cat which had two tails. When he had this done he went away. The masons came back again to their work and noticed what Carl had done. The man in charge of the building noticed the diagram and would give any money to Carl if he worked for him. Of course this man did not know who the stranger was or where he was going. Carl continued on his journey until he came to the town near which the earl lived. He noticed that the earl's daughter got her shoes made by the local shoe-maker and came to visit there. He then decided to work with the shoemaker as he thought it would be a good way to get to know the earl's daughter. Not long after the earl's daughter wanted to get a new pair of shoes so she came to the shoemakers. Carl availed himself of the opportunity and made himself known to the earl's daughter. He made one of her shoes and she was very much pleased with it as he was an excellent shoemaker and could not be beaten at anything he would

About a hundred years ago there was a man living in Claragh near Sráid an Mhuilinn who was vey fond of the ladies especially when he had a drop of drink taken. On a certain night he was coming home from Sráid an Mhuilinn on horse-back and he was in his usual merry mood. He was not gone far along the road when he saw a woman coming towards him. He accosted this woman and made some suggestions to her thinking of course that she was a living woman. She however, disappeared before his eyes and the next thing he knew was that she was sitting behind him on the saddle. She said to him that he had a lot of harm done to women but that he met the wrong one now and that he should spend 21 years with her. With that she disappeared again. The poor man went home in a much soberer mood than was his custom and was sick for several days. From that time on this ghost appeared to him on several occasions and made life miserable for him. She used to attack him and threaten him with bodily harm but he used to defend himself as best as he could.

The Land League. Twas an awful day here the day Father Ferris was evicted for not paying the rent. They all said they wouldn't pay, but the farmers got afraid and they paid it, and who'd blame them, but Fr. Ferris wouldn't pay and he was put out. There were soldiers in plenty here that day, to put out poor Father Ferris. There was a man here be the name of Murray. He was a nailer and so was his father. They used to be making nails in an outside house and shoe- makers and everyone used to come to get nails from them. Young Murray

stand or go on your knees on the earthen floor while mass would be going on. I remember when I was a little thing we used to be running in to be up at the altar rails. There was steps around the rails and we could sit on the steps.

The Chapel. That's a grand chapel we have now God bless it, tis a lot nicer than it was. They raised the roof and put seats in it in my time. Long ago the top of the chapel was just where the roof starts now, and twas only an earthen floor was there, except a few sides down by the wall at the side, and if you didn't get wan of them you'd ayther have to

cuts it and you'd buy it in bundles then at so much a hundred with the leaves and all on it. The leaves would be cut off before they put it up, but a few of them used to stay on and they'd be covered in. The thinner the stems of the spine would be the better, because twould be like twigs but tis hollow in the centre and the thick usen't to be so good. The whaten straw was the best. A good whaten reed would last about ten years on a house.

and you could give the door to them and you going up to mass. Twas all thatched houses were here that time, the most of them had the old thatching with the scollops on the outside. Twas a man by the name of Neil from Coolagown did the most of the thatching around here. The handmade reed is the best, that's to have whaten straw and to skutch it and knock the grain out of it and then pull the straw through a rake to make a nice even reed of it. Twas terrible tedious work. I tell you you'd be tired by the time you'd have enough reed made that would thatch a house. A lot of the houses along the Bride down about Conna and that way used to be thatched with that spine that grows along the banks of the river. It used to make fairly good thatch and was handy for people that usen't have the reed of their own. About September they

When the white fog rises from the rivers at nightfall it is a sign of fine weather. If there is no dew in the mornin' you'd be apt to get rain that day. Another great sign of the weather is to hear the gabhairín, the gabhairín bainne beirithe or if you hear the frogs croaking [great sign means favourable sign.]

youngest of the McCormicks that they wanted to be taken to Loughmore and they were taken to Loughmore. Ned Ryan of Foylenamon was tellin' me that he was inside in Nana at a fair the day they were executed, a fine day, he said, and it darkened as dark as the night. He said 'they' was two priests there an' one of um said to th' other: "They're dead," says he, "an' I'll put um walkin' the streets o' Nana," an' he got black in the face, he was in such a temper and two or three priests gathered around him an' they stopped him. And some of the jurymen were havin' their dinner an' one of um said: "They're dead," he says, "an they're burnin' now in hell for the deed they've done," An' he hadn't the word out of his mouth when the bit o' mate he was 'atin' stuck in his throat an' he died on the spot. Seven that was executed altogether in Nana, the two Wades, the two McCormicks and the three robbers.

They say a widows curse would fall an' 'tisn't on a stick or a stoon [stone] 'twould fall an' if you didn't deserve it it would fall on herself an' her generations after. I heard a widow who cursed a man and it fell on him. The widow's son was workin' for a man and it fell on him. The widow's son was workin' for a man an' he let the fork fall on the widow's son an' he killed him, he pelted the fork down an' it stuck in his skull. The widow cursed the man an' he bought an in-calf heifer a week after an' when he was puttin' her in she ripped him up an' killed him.

they heard cursin' or swearin'

Women always bend the head when they are meeting a priest. They bless theirself when they are passing a graveyard or passing a chapel. They'd bless theirself if

though they were plannin' to put him out of it. 'Twas Quinn said. "My name is Quinn the turnkay. As you may understand I'm the grandest little tacher That you'd get in Paddy's land Too tach me [my] English grammar I always was inclined But to put me out of Upperchurch, The committee combined. John Maher came after him then and Mister Lynch after him, and the next was Mister Jerrdin. "Ill got, ill gone," If you get anything with bad means you won't have any luck with it.

be ripe till September next year. I remember you could name your day that time, Wednesday week maybe, the weather was so fine for drawin' the hay an' you'd have a half-barrel of the lad (stout) an' a big dance that night an' be off the mornin' after to another farmer. They used to thrash the oats that time an' if you hadn't a barn you'd wait till the hard frost id come an' thrash it in the yard. About the first of September they cut the corn now. Constant sun isn't able to ripen the oats as good as showery weather once the oats is filled, you wouldn't have any crop without sun an' rain. They start diggin' spuds about the first of October. When they'd have the pyaties dug they'd be cleanin' up the farm an' thatchin' pyaties an' top-dressin' for pasturs (pastures) an' meadowin'. This (this land) have a nature of havin' no rushes here an' we are never in the want o' water.

oats and spread ryegrass after the oats and have a meadow in it the following year. They might lave it for meadowing' away for a number of years unless it was mountain, for the land gets too wake after. 'Tis generally let out for five or six year then, they wouldn't lave it less for they'd be in dread they wouldn't have the turnips if they broke it any sooner, they'd have finger-an'-toe. They begin to cut ryegrass the last days of June an' from the tenth of July out[?] the old meadowin'. Some put bag manure out on dung when they are plantin' the pyaties an' others spread it when the stalks are peepin'. In ould times, 'twas called The Mower's holiday, the fifteenth of August. They wouldn't begin mowing 'till after the fifteenth of August. They'd (the mowers would) all join on Lady Day an' make a big spree an' make a contract with a farmer be the acre an' be the farm sometimes, to cut it, the farmer himself id save it. 'Twas all oul meadowin' that time. The old people usedn't till anything, they used graze their meadows in May with the cows for if you cut a meadow in September 'twont

I met an old man in Limerick in Barrington's Hospital and he was there when it was first founded and there were two in every bed and they had a special day for pulling teeth and he said it was like a farmer's house when they'd be killing a pig, that day and there were no nurses there but handywomen. There was three in every bed in Nana the time of the fever. The Barringtons in Limerick were silversmiths and they were very wealthy and they started the hospital for charity. They used take so much from the wages of the men and the wage-earners had only to go to Todds and ask for everything they wanted and they'd get it.

Some of the old Irish women were great the time of the fever. I heard my father saying an old woman stopped up a week with him when he had it. Wasn't it terrible to stop up a week with a patient in an outhouse.

"They say God bless us" when a person sneezes. I always heard that you're never as near to death as when you sneeze an' some say there is nothing the matter with your lungs when you sneeze.

goin' over the ditch. I have the remains of a Famine Pit in my land yet where they (the potatoes) rotted in it. I heard the Famine years were grand dry years, there was no trouble in saving hay. You have Cholera pits near Lattera. They are along the side o' the road there, mounds along it, where bodies were buried. Cholera was dreadful in the City of Limerick. 'Twas only four hours illness they used to say and then death. Then there was a 'pock' a good bit after the Famine and you had small pox as late as eighteen seventy. Hadn't Missus Butler in Newport it and she'd be just a hundred years now. Then there was typhus. I always heard that the fever was the worst an' the old people, they'd always bless themselves when they'd hear of it.

The Champions were brought here by the Board o' Guardians and the poor people went to Nana for um. They came about sixty years ago. There was a man giving um out an' when people went for um. "Move away" he used say "ye're stink." a man who was here, Flynn said they (The Champions) were introduced by a Scottish Scientist. The Champions were a great crop the first year, they were

on May Eve to sun-down on May Day. After sun-down on May Day you could borrow any article you wanted, and if they had it they would lend it to you. They would give you milk after sun-down on May Day. The "period of superstition" ended when the sun set.

People collected the dew on May morning as a beauty preparation. They would say that if you washed your face with the dew on May morning the sun would not burn your face during the next twelve months.

Here, Nana is the important place. We had the law an' the workhouse there and a famous one they used call The Spike. Some used to call it the Poorhouse. Nana workhouse was burned one time an' Jimmy Murphy a man they used to call The Fennet saved three out of it. [They were patients (aside)]. No they were paupers. Nana Workhouse was there till twenty two and the paupers were removed to Thurles. They call Thurles Workhouse, The County Home now

Scarriff Fair and buy cattle there. Sure they used to go from Kilcommon to Portumna for horses.

Father McKeogh said mass in Réidh[?] (Rearcross) and he built the chapel there in eighteen eighty eight. Before that was built some of um used go to Toor to mass. Flannery hadn't the license there for a few years after the chapel being built. He had only a small house there. The Flannerys were from the County Limerick. Father McKeogh lectured in the States when they were collecting for the Thurles Cathedral. The local magistrates had the granting of the license when Flannery got it an' Flannery went to a man called Friend near Nana (Nenagh) to use some influence and he got the license an' what Flannery said after to Friend: "A friend in need and a Friend in name." Cook in Borrosoleigh, he had estates there. His wife was a Kerry woman and Cook was of Cromwellian descent. There was a man in Borrisoleigh who used to walk to and from

quarry they were an' the man lost thousands on the experiment trying to get the slates.

Captain Herd from Kinsale, he had a farm where Flannery is living now in Rearcross an' there was a dispute over it an' Flannery swapped with Herd. Herd made an experiment there with slate quarries in Bárnadruimíní an' they thought he had the slates and some of the prime boys of the place were workin' there and the boys went at night to Killaloe slate quarries an' brought slates from there an' showed um to him and told him it was his own.

John Daniel, he was Ryan from Grousehall, he had a stall in Kilcommon sellin' vale be the pound on a Sunday after mass an' the people id take it home for the dinner. Harry Hickey was sellin' quarters of vale at Foylenahoonamora. They usen't rear bull-calves at all that time, they'd kill um after being calved.

I remember when we were goin' to school we'd a bill every quarter an a slappin' the following day if we didn't bring it (the money). 'Twas three or four shillins a quarter I think, whatever class you'd be in, accordin' as you'd be goin' up in the classes the bill id be risin'

I remember a heavy fall o' snow on the ninth o' May one time. Pat Dwyer a friend of mine came here to go to the fair of Cappawhite. He stopped here, he was goin' to go to a friend of his near Cappawhite but when he got up in the mornin' 'twas up to the top o' the dure (door). 'They' was a man beyond here an' he had a stump of a cock o' hay spared after the winter an' people came from all around for an armful of it an' 'twas cleared away

14 (contd) number of years but I take it that they were placed on the edge of the bank over the well, as it is there the bottles, and other lasting offerings are to be seen. Other articles have of course crumbled or decayed. 15. There are no pieces of cloth to be seen on the white thorn bush 16. There is no legend as regards origin of the well, neither is there any foot impression, and there is no mention of a trout or other fish having been seen. My informant told me that it was always an indication for a cure, if the water boiled up in the well in the presence of the pilgrim. The following is the only traditional nan [?] alive regarding [?] the well The well is situated in the lands of Mrs Carroll [?] Rylane. The husband is now dead for a few years. He related that while standing at the front of his house on Whit Sunday (the day of the Pilgrimage to St Abbeys Well at Ballymourney) he say a lady in white approach the well from the south or South West (Ballymourney is roughly west) and disappear into the Well. He called other members of his family to see the figure. Across the stream, called the Glassia [?], already referred to, and which devided the parishers of

3. St Gobnait's (Abbey's) Well 4. None 5. There is no tradition as regards Pattern Day, neither is there any special day to do the Round. The Rounds were generally done on Fridays or Sundays, and on three successive days [?] two Fridays and one Sunday, or two Sundays and one Friday. 6. For cure for ailments or diseases - no disease in particular. The round has not

Evicted Woman Curses Smith. Smith was a landlord's agent, and on a Cahirmee-Fair morning, in July, he carried out an eviction at the house of a poor unfortunate woman in the district. She cursed him and asked that he might not see the sun setting that evening. Smith's steward had gone to Cahirmee Fair, and when all was over Smith also went to the fair. The steward had Smith's horse and soon after reaching the fair Smith mounted the animal : but it reared and fell back on Smith, pinning him to the ground and killing him! So the poor evicted woman got her wish, because he didn't live to see the setting sun!

After puttin' the hay in here they'd have a dance an' they'd always have a half cask o' porter.

I remember I was in a house puttin' in hay an' the girl asked me would I like pyratie-cake an' I'll remember it while I'll live - like to kill me. You'd never be hungry after back -bread if you could ate it at all. I remember scholars to bring back-bread for their lunch to school. An' I remember a priest in Kilcommon an' he'd have no milk on his tay but goats' milk.

Loaf-bread we call the bread we get from the baker an' cake bread the bread we make at home.

They say if you had a farthing you'd never be without money an' sure you wouldn't while you'd have it.

They say if you took your eyes off the leoprachán he was gone but if you could ketch him you had the money.

wedding an' they used be married in the houses that time an' the priest was there an' her brother an' another fellow had to convey the priest home to Upperchurch. Billy Ryan above there was great friends with a priest and the priest walked the road with him one evening. "Father", says he "is it right to be walkin' on the water-table at night?" "Why?" says the priest. "Because they say the good people are there an' for fear we'd walk on um." "Stay within" says the priest "an' you won't touch any of um".

An' mind 'ou a great dale id tell you that priests would be in dread at night. My mother was at a

Some of them big leabas, there is one of um in Knockbrittas in John Dwyer's place, some people say Gráine brought the stones with her in her apron there an' the person that was tellin' me I says to him, "the apron mustn't be calico". At the top of Knockbrittas, there did more than one see two big girls there at night, they were bigger than Josie Carey there (referring to a girl who came in.) Tommy Burke the smith, he was comin' to me grandfather's wake an' he met um above on the top of Knockbrittas Hill at the quarry an' he see um again goin' home. There was a boy above with Jack Berekery with a mare an' he comin' home the horse begin to shy an' lep an' 'twas with great trouble he put the horse past the two girls.

There did a man from Doon took a ferkin of butter off to Clonmel on his back I heard. An' a man above there in Loughile he had a couple o' men diggin' in the Spring an' they had bad spades an' he went off to Tipperary in the mornin' an' brought the spades with him an' he wasn't long out ather.

Then a fool went for tay an' sugar to a shop in Gortahoola one time, that happened [aside] an' when he was comin' home he et the sugar an' threw the tay away with the wind. When he came home they asked him where was the tay an' sugar. "Té to gaoth," says he, 'an' I et the sugar.

I remember when I was goin' to school, 'they' was no pens but goose's quills an' the master in Foylacleera was great at makin' um (the quill-pens)

'They' was sliotáns in the bog in Foylacleera, logs in the bog there, 'twasn't bogdale, 'twould split for you an' 'twould light, the grandest you ever see. [Someone came to the door. "Cé h-é sin?" says Patsy Devitt]

I remember a time a rush to be pulled and peeled an' dip it in gr'ase and my grandfather an' grandmother doin' somethin' an' you'd hold the rush for um.

of their life of wind while they lived. My father, he said no man was able to stand on the road again' that wind. I heard a fellow saying, but jokin' he was, they were talkin' o' wind, "'tmust be, "says he, "bad, for 'they' was a ship blown to this hill beyond." 'Twas unnatural wind.

Seán na Scuab. They were goin electin a Mayor in Limerick one time and they could get no one that would take the job. The chairman that was over them stood up. "Well;" says he, "the very first man that ye'll meet coming in to Limerick let ye bring him here and we'll elect him Lord Mayor o' Limerick" So they just a guard all around Limerick, and the first man that they met goin in to the city was a poor man from the blare side and he goin sellin' brooms. Seán na Scuab he was called. They arrested Seán and brought him into the City Hall and they made him peel off all his old rags, and they put on the Lord Mayor's suit on him and the big gold

The night o' the Big Wind, me father often talked of it. 'Twas the Twelveth Day. Outside the hill here in Camnarlaghn[?] where you'd think 'they'd be shelter, 'they' were stacks an' never a trace seen of um. 'They' was a house beyond here at Jim Russell's an' they was a man in the house, a friend, he used be comin' an' goin' there an' he was in a room down from the kitchen. He was Jimmy Ryan an' they heard the cadhráns fallin' an' they got up an' they told Jimmy Ryan to get up an' they were only up when the house was knocked. Any ole person that remembered that night were in dread

Horses are liable to take fever.

of clay make a good "filling". Mix them well together and tick the mixture on to the hoof. If there are any wounds or pricks on the hoof you could add a little bit of tar to the clay and cow-dung. Another good "filling" would be two parts of hand grease and one part of oil of turpentine mixed together. In that case you get bits of tow and dip them in the mixture, and pack them into the hoof. And you tie them on firmly with strong strips of cloth or something that will keep them in their place. There is such a thing as fever of the feet, and in that case you apply a mixture made up of four parts of linseed meal, one part of tar, and a half ounce of white vitriol. This keeps down the fever.

in no time. That's near fifty year ago. I remember my father was here and some neighbourin' men an' we had a clutch o' geese an' they went off out in the snow an' we couldn't find um. "Well", says my father, "wherever the gander is we'll find um for hill stay over um". We went off an' we saw the gander an' we dug up the snow an' we found the young geese under.

The first thing to do is to wash them well. Don't delay. Wash them

I remember a heavy fall o' snow on the ninth o' May one time. Pat Dwyer a friend of mine came here to go to the fair of Cappawhite. He stopped here, he was goin' to go to a friend of his near Cappawhite but when he got up in the mornin' 'twas up to the top o' the dure (door). 'They' was a man beyond here an' he had a stump of a cock o' hay spared after the winter an' people came from all around for an armful of it an' 'twas cleared away.

They'd build the wall, when they'd build a bit they'd put a layer o' rushes and then build another bit an' another layer o' rushes. I think they used make room for the dure when they'd be buildin' um. In some houses they had only a rod chimney an' a stone wall for the fire. That time when they'd be passing you an' you worki' in the garden they'd say. "God bless the work". Now they only say "Take it aisy, Patsy".

I remember a good number of houses with no glass windows but an owl board or maybe nothin' stuck out in the window or a woman would put her owl petticoat in it. They used have the half dure on all the houses that time. I remember a time when they had no bails for the cows but tie um with a soogan on the horns an' a stick standin' for 'ach cow an' the soogan around the stick an' after they had an iron loop around the stick and the soogan tied to the loop. Judy Devitt beyond here had no windows on the house. I knew a lot of houses here with no stoon (stone) at all only mud walls. They'd have a kitchen an' a bed-room an' a loft an' they was very warm houses, the mud-walls.

We used buy the bogs here, a "hundred" o' turf, what id do you for the year would cost three pound.

Below in Gleanncurú, there are Gleesons, they call um The Gleeson Helpers. They say they helped Cromwell up Cruiseána[?] Hill.

Biddy went home from this court very lonely all the time thinking of she having to part with her Grandchild Buy after all Biddy could not keep away the card players. The very night of the court Biddy Dreamst that she was liveing in an new house But to her surprise the following day came very stormey and blew half the cabin and also part of the mud wall stable this was now a terrible fate that Biddy had met But that night the card players came again and seeing all had befallen poor Biddy agreed they would build an new house for her in place of the mud wall cabin. So in a very short time Biddys Dream had come true. Thus she was now overjoyed to be liveing in her new house in place of the old mud wall cabin.

on the giving an undertaking not to keep any more whiskey about the place which she promised to do. But still after all this was Biddy finished with her misfortune the very evening of the court she was confronted with another summons from master Wests pupil whom her grandchild had stuck with a pin when master West was about to slap her. Lo now Biddy left all her misfortune on the cards the devil of something not wright is in these cards. So she now made them quit the cards at night. Now this court Biddy was not let off so light as before she was now deprived of her grandchild as the Judge made an order to have her sent to a reformatory. Biddy was no left without clock foul pig and Grandchild

an lá a bhí ceaptha amach aici le na mharbhú d'orduigh sí don chailín bheag teine mhór a chur síos agus abhann mór a bhí aici le haghadh na hócaíde a chur a' téidheadh le hais na teineadh. Rinne an cailín beag amhlaidh. Ní riabh an cailín beag í féin gan a thuisgint céard a bhí fá'n gcailleach a dhéanamh. Bhí aimhreas maith aici go raibh dúil aici an bhuachaill beag a chur chun báis. Cé'n fáth eile a mbeadh sé i ngéibheann sa sgioból aici gan goir aige é fhagáil. Bu gearr go raibh an teine thrí lasadh agus an t-abhann te, dearg. Bhí an tseanbhean an-tsean gan brigh ná neart. Ach bhí sí ós cionn an abhann an pointe seo. Nuair a bhí ní dhearna an cailín beag ach tunc a chur innti agus í chaitheamh síos san abhann nó oigheann agus clár a chur ós cionn an abhann. Sin é an uair a bhí gleó agus a' sgreadach ag an gcailleach agus í dhá losgadh thíos san abhann. Rith an cailín beag amach go gliondrach ag innseacht an ghníomh a bhí deanta aici don bhuachaill bheag agus dhá leigean as géibheann. Ar ndóigh bhí áthas mór ar an mbeirt. Ní raibh fhios aca an 'na suidhe ná 'na seasamh a bhíodar le gliondar is le ríméad. Bhí an chailleach bruithte dóighte san abhann in áit iadsan a bheith marbh bruithte dóighte ag an gcailleach. B’fhada a dul leithi é. Sin é an rath a bhí sí féin a chur ar chuid mhaith. Sin é an rath a bhí sí le cur ortha san ach níor éirigh leithi. Thóruigheadar teach na caillighe agus fuaireadar cuid mhór óir is airgid ann. D’fhagadar an teach annsin agus thug an cailín beag lán aprúin a bhí uirthí den ór is den airgead léithi. Thug an buachaill lán a chapín agus lán a phóchaí leis de. Fuaireadar an bealach abhaile arís agus bhí fáilte an domhain ag an athair rómpa agus bhí an leas-mháthair caillte agus níor bfhearr leis an athair ná leóbh san beó í. Peadar Ó Direáin

or went again(st) him and they blamed Mrs {???} for all the harm and devilment. She's very holy or pretends to be. She's always stuck in the chapel "behind" (siar). She goes to no mass on Sunday now but attends on Monday morning instead, whatever the meaning for that is.

There is a woman living outside the town. 2 1/2 miles out the Ballygoghlan road. Everybody says she's a witch. She was a widow but now she is Mrs. Mac married to Josh Mac. (Was Mrs Biddy Biganne now married to Josh Mac - ) She puts eggs in the hay and buries pieces of bacon in the neighbours' fields and what not. They say she can do terrible harm. Nobody would like to see her crossing their land or even meet her on the road. She was seen crossing a farmer's land some years and all his crops failed that year and all his stock died

Stronghold of the Fitzgeralds. From this castle ran a road to Seonaid (Shanid), 10 miles distant from which they took their war-cry, "Seonaid a bua'" (Shanid Abú!) This road is remarkably straight and for the first 4 miles (from Glín) comes hill and hollow without deviating an iota from the right line (Euclid's) The portion of the castle (1) now standing in ruins was the keep or stronghold of the castle. All the rest of it was demolished by Carew in 1603 (2) or fell and was removed, stone by stone, soon after. Carew placed his guns on Knockaranna ('the hill of the ferns') just opposite and fired away till he had demolished the worn {??} building and made a breach in the keep. For near the top of the present ruin there is a chimney like structure overlooking the River Corbery (3) and known as the "Murdering Window" from which the Geraldines dropped their victims to sure death below on the rocky bed of the River 2 - "The year that Queen Elizabeth died" (Glín) 3 - from which Glín derived its name, i.e Glen Corbery or Gleann Corbraige 1 - described on page

Glin people have their own lingo which they speak with remarkable fluency. Many converse on all their private or urgent conversations in 'Glinnis'. Egg becomes 'e-geg'. jug = jay-gug; fire = fay-gire; cup = kay-gup; man = may-gan; Tom = tay-gom Sunday 25/9/1938 Latest evening news from "Jones' Road" (i.e Croke Park): = "Day-gay fay-goot-bay-gáll fay-gui-ay-gal way-gos ay-ga dray-gow".

Whistling with finger or fingers in mouth. In Glin the sound is produced by inserting the points of the two little fingers in the mouth and blowing hard. Never saw this method used anywhere else. In Carlow whistling is done by inserting any one finger into the mouth, generally the {????}, or by making a "key" of the little finger, inserting in mouth and blowing (Carlow) 'Whistling' also done by using two adjacent fingers or by placing the two thumbs side by side and blowing through the slit between them. (Carlow)

in the old times and is still fairly well observed.

"Don't mind him. He's ignorant. He wouldn't know H in (or on) the side of a bog" (Common) "Ar leath ar gach taobh ar nós aonaigh a' Gleanna" (known by a few old people) and "Split in the middle like the fair of Glen" (Common) On fair days they keep the cattle in near the houses on both sides of the wide {????} or leave a passage in the middle. This was always the rule

There used be terrible races there in Dunmanway long ago, in baile buí, near Dunmanway. They used come from all places there. The races would be on the day before the fair and the fair was on the twenty fifth of August. 'Twas the best place in the county Cork to buy a horse. You could get a horse there from ten shillings to twenty pounds.

the bed. Up jumps the old hag and what was it but an old caillecéín {?? possibly cailleach or cailín}. They jumped on top of her and tore her asunder. They then went to Páidín's house and brought home the baby and reared it up and when she was reared up didn't Páidín marry her and they reared the most beautiful family in the Parish of Foxford, but the fairies never again middled with Páidín Ó'Ceallaig or trusted him with anything in this world. Críoc (the end). Fuair mé an dá scéal tuas ó Tomás Mac An Ultaig. Calad. Béal-Éasa (Mouth of the Waterfall / Foxford) Béal-Anr??? (Likel Béal-an Átha for Ballina) Co. Sligig (Sligo)

certain hour. On hearing this Páidín Ó'Ceallaig made it his business to march over to Seán's house and tell him what happened at this certain hour the night before. "Its not your child that's dead" said Páidín, "I have her beyond with my mother". "Nonsense" said Seán, "whats coming over you at all Páidín or is it mad or out of your {??} you are, come in isn't the child over board." "I will go in" said Páidín so in he went and over with him in the bed. "That's not your child my good man" said Páidín again, "put down a good fire there and a pot of water and I'll soon let you know whether she's yours or not." Seán put down the fire and water and sure enough he got a saucepan and filled it with hot water and threw it in over the corpse in

Páidín Ó Ceallaig & na Sideóga (the fairies) This night very late Paidín Ó'Ceallaig was coming home from his visit and passing this house he noticed a baby in someones hands and it being handed out the window as if someone should be outside to take it. On seeing this Paidín walked over took the baby in his arms and brought it home. He explained the whole matter to his mother and she believing him put the baby to bed and cared {for} it until next day. However the story went out that Seán De Burcás' youngest daughter was dead that she died last night at a

of em. The following days the affairs he had borrowed he went to return now, to send em home and when he went to the field there was a black cow in the field before him, a black cow with [?] horns. He missed a six-foot crow-bar and she had the six-foot crow-bar chawed and an axle as well in as for as the collar. He didn't mention was she an enchanted cow or no but she must be an enchanted cow for the lake is near the place. She must have came from the lake. It was James Cotter that told me that. She was one of the men that was in the crowd. He lived at [?]. He's dead fourteen years now.

Cow eating crow-bar There was a man telling me one time, he said there was a faction of men turning out stones in a place by the name of Shiplough. They call it [?] [?] in Irish. 'Tis near Sunmanway. The day before the faction of men came the owner of the place borrowed crow-bars and [?] of ears and picks from the neighbors for the following day. The following day they went for the stones and they turned out a heap

got his father he threw the egg at the mermaid and she turned into dust. So he brought home his father to the king's palace and he sent for his mother and grandfather and they all lived happy ever after.

and his brother stood up "Oh! you did witch I have you" and John pulled him back and says he "I have an oath not to kill her" "I have no oath" says Tom and he checked the old witch so the two went home and they had two hounds two hawks and two mares and this bull was in the stall and they used have to feed him down though a hole in the roof because they were afraid to let him out for fear he would kill everybody. Tom went to the bull's stall and he began to vex it "If I had a half of bacon" said the bull "I'd fight you" "and if I had a berrell of bee" said Tom "I'd fight you." Who was listening to this but the king and he got the bacon and the beer "have him out now" says he

"we'll take --- with ----- appls so long as we are able to buy the Irish for money" Killin of Sean. With one blow. Well that was a king of a time and he had -- only daughter, and he would not give her to any man but a man that would kill swim at a blow. Several men was gone for to get the daughter but they was all put to death. Sr Be for there was a tailor by the name O. Jack Barry, abs he was sitting this day above in the table, and he spared leg on a liousus making it. Se thus was a bit of a ----- thrown on the table mean him, and before he picked it up and he started to need it. Be for he saw it given down in the paper about the king that had a daughter and would give

There was a man named Condon living in Ballyabrien near Anglesboro. A big huge man, in his young days he was the strongest man in Parish That place down there is nearly all a bog, a shaky bog the most of it People comes from far and near to shoot wild duck on the bog. This Condon anyway had two sons an he sent them to school to Ballyabrien school He was working away this time down in Co Limerick or somewhere and their mother was dead. They were growing up big and rough and twasn't long untill they got the best of the teacher. They would beat him if he

There was a man named Condon living in Ballyabrien near Anglesboro. A big huge man, in his young days he was the strongest man in Parish That place down there is nearly all a bog, a shaky bog the most of it People comes from far and near to shoot wild duck on the bog. This Condon anyway had two sons an he sent them to school to Ballyabrien school He was working away this time down in Co Limerick or somewhere and their mother was dead. They were growing up big and rough and twasn't long untill they got the best of the teacher. They would beat him if he

One day on my rambles Through [?] village I strayed And not being embarrassed With any thing there I Delayed I heard two young warriors contesting in [?] Debate And then funny [?] With candor I now Relate Then Butler insisted by improper rules Are there the manners you formerly thought in your schools If you lay hold on my Pegin I'll certainly break your face Sure that the bottle will end at your own disgrace

took a drink. the milk ran down on his tie but he never said a word. The servant boy was sitting next to him and when he wanted a drink again he reached for Butters [?]. Butter got angry and he snapped the [?] out of the teachers hand Because he was a servant bot Walsh thought he could do what he like to him, but he knew his place, maybe better than the man with all the education. He stood up from the table and made up a song about it and said it overnight the teacher.

Go to a Medical Hall and get two ounces of Nitric Acid and an

Carrots are good for a horse that has a cough. And they are also good for a horse that had fancy or skin-disease. They are mild as a purgatine and keep the animal's bowels correct. They keep to bottle him, and if he has either fancy or skin-disease I would rather give him carrots than oats.

mix them well through the ale, and give the dose as a drench. Another remedy is to get an ounce of Barbadoes aloes; grind it into a powder and dissolve it in warm water. Get an ounce and a half of tincture of opium, and three and a half ounces of Spirits of Turpentine; put these into the water along with the aloes and bottle the mixture into the horse.

mise ort"
B'fíor é. D'fag a fear uasal slán aige agus d'imthigh se fhéin agus a dá ghasur amach ar chlár na fáirrge. Thenaic a t-iascaire na bháile. Thúsuigh'n mhathair a caoineadh agus a tarraingt na gruaige as a chionn agus d'fiaffruigh do'n iascaire goide bhí se bráth a dhéanamh le Dómhnall Beag bocht. "Na leig dadaidh ort fhéin" arsa'n t-iascaire "Béidh se 'rais (ar ais) bliadhain as indiu (inniu) agus é foghluimniste achan uile sheórt a dhéanamh a dearn an duine aríamh agus nach beag is fiú bliádhain" ar seisean "uilig" B'fíor é. Fuaidh a t-am thart agus nuair a bhí'n lá agus a bhlíain istuigh fuaidh a tiascaiare go dtí'n talamh céadhna arais. Ní rabh se ibhfad na sheasamh ar bhruach na trághadh gur nucht a fear uasal agus a dá ghasur. Bhí ubhall óir agus ubhall airgead le achan fhear acu agus iad dá gcathadh 'náirde agus dá gceapadh 'rais. Bheannuigh se do'n fhear uasal agus bheannuigh'n fear uasal dó. "Tcíthear damh" arsa'n t-iascaire "Go bhfuil do ghasur fhéin rud beag níos fhearr go foill na é indhiaidh a rabh tú ráit" "Tá" arsa'n fear uasal "Acht ma leigeann tú liom lá agus blíadhain eile e béidh níos mó foghluim aige na tá ugum fhéin" "Margadh e" arsa'n t-iascaire agus níor smaoitigh se aríamh a iarraidh air a bheith arais blíain agus a lá indiu. D'fag a

A good remedy for colic in a horse is three ounces of spirits of Turpentine and one ounce of tinclure[?] of opium. Put them into a pinto of ale - warm ale;

Me father used put bottoms in soogan chairs with rods an' they'd live forever.

I heard of a boy who was livin' here an' his mother was dying an' the boy went for the priest for his mother and he met the priest at The Cross (Kilcommon Cross) an' he told the priest an' the priest said he could't come that he was goin' to Réi'[?] (now called Rearcross)"'Pon my sowl (soul), "says the boy, "if you don't come to anoint my mother I'll strip the jacket off you".
Do something for th' ole aingiseór

it would be dry. The woman used help to foot and then they'd clamp it.Some would have mahals at the turf according as they'd have the help. They used make hand-turf too.

"Shakey bog" we call the soft place in a bog, that shakes under you when you stand on it.The breast-sleán the most of um use here for cuttin' the turf but they use the wing-sleán up on the hill here. Twould dry sooner after the wing-sleán, the threads are looser. You wouldn't see any thread in the breast-sleán turf. You take the sods off the bank with your hands if the turf is soft but if it is hard you take it with a fork and spread it. They had a wheelbarrow to put it out far but even of late years some of um have an ass an' cart. The turf was spread then an' foot it when

"Rody the Master an' Rody The Master's son an' what I'd call him was Rody the 'Ater."Carr was the fool and when they'd have a wake here that time they'd have pipes an' tobaccy an' he used go to the wakes and fill his pocket of the pipes. The lads they'd be jostlin' an' he'd say: "Don't hit me in the pipes".
He used go around an' he wanted to tell the people, mar dhea, that his father was showin' himself.

Maggie (1), we didn't think of Davey Conway in Jack Collin's bog in Knockbrittas (2) His son is living yet. Ole Davey had a school there ad he used tach there in his own house. Rody The Schoolmaster that was in Doon, he had a son an' they used call him Rody The Master too but he was atin'[?] in a house one day an' 'they' was a tool in the place an' he came in an' the fool says:
(1) Maggie sin í bean Phearsaí. (2) Townland in the parish of Kilcommon.

Seven generations ago Cureenee was an untenanted plain and one woman came there from Emly an' she's the mother of them in Cureenee. She had three in family and you have The Ryan Tadhg[?] Óg, The Ryan Tadhg[?] Géags[?] and the Ryan Rogers in Cureenee since and around the place.There was an established fair in Cureenee by her on the commonage there, it is nobody's land. They call it "The Fair Green."
(1) A townland in parish of Templederry.

Twist was a landlord near Birdhill. He had two dogs, "Parnell" an' "Davitt" and one morning when he went to open the door there was a terrible weight on the door and the two dogs, "Parnell" an' "Davitt", were hanging on the door dead.

We used go home at the end of a month after marrying, usually on a Sunday. The husband id to with you. (Would ye go home during Lent?) Len't' or breadth we'd go home at the end of a month and have a party.

They used make pancakes on Shrove Tuesday Night. I remember they used crowd in to a house in Grousehall anyone that wouldn't get married an' they'd make up a party an' gather up money for porter an' have a dance on Shrove Tuesday Night.

She used keep sheep, mountaining - sheep an' she used buy the wool too. 'She had two little cards and she used make rowls herself but she used take it to the "jennys" and bit long rowls, used come from the "jenny". The rowl was twisted into a little ball by the "jenny"-mill and the rowls she made herself were short.She used say when we'd want to go dancin' an ole set when she'd be spinnin', she'd want us not to go, she used say, that you'd spin better when the sheep id be sleepin', 'twould draw keener. We used spin too.
I spun the quilt I got. 'Twas the fashion that time to bring your bed and every stitch of the bedding and bedclothes with you when you'd be gettin' married. I a week's time or so 'twould be removed to your new home.

Me mother had a spinning wheel in grousehall an' she used make black frieze for me father an' pepper an'-salt tweed for the lads an' white flannel an' colour some of it for us, tea-green an' maroon, an' black for herself.'They' was a waver above in Cuiríní (1) John Kane The Waver an' he was a cousin of hers. We used warp our own piece first off the bottoms (balls of thread) and we'd have sticks in the wall an' go round about.
(1) Townland in Templederry parish.

I was often twistin' soogans for me father an' he was able to make a thumb soogan, a méuróg the old people used call it (the thumb soogan). They used have only a bit of a kippen twistin' it. You'd be here "lettin'" it to him an' he'd be twistin'.

That saw is a part of a cross-cut but[?] the smith made that handle for it in the forge and 'tis the only saw we have.

teach um.We used have fencin' masters, boxin' masters, dancin' - masters an' writin' masters.

'Twas a 'droll' name. Twas in his own little house he used be teachin' and 'they' was a little hand-bridge goin' across to the house over the strame, only one boord (board) in it. He was 'pock' - marked an' some of the scholars used say he had an oaten-male face but the cuttlins fell out of it.John Kelly of Gortahoola was a small bad-lookin' little man. 'They' was another school in Reenavanna, 'Tis in the parish of Doon in Limerick. That's where Dan Breen was from. 'They' was a school there, they called the master Rody The Master. He as better than Kelly whatever an' Hanna The Mistress, she was his wife. I suppose she used be tachin' something.
(Mrs Patsy Devitt) (I spent till I was eight or nine years of age goin' to Faill a' Ghabhair school an' after lavin' Faill a' Ghabhair I went to Turraheen to Jerr James, Ryan, to the national school.) Conny The Bog, I suppose he was Ryan. He had a school in Currach Mairce.[?] I remember a girl who was goin' to his school an' what his daughter used say to um was, "Cock your eye on your book, dear." The daughter was helpin' him in the school. My father was very good to write an' the way he learned to be good, didn't there a writin' - master come round to

'They were two schools in Drumbane, my mother was from there. They was one in Gortahoola, Drumbawn. Johnny Kelly was the teacher there an' 'twas there I learned my prayers. 'Twas an ole cow-house. 'Tis there I was when I was a child, in my mother's place. This house was a good big slate house. 'Tis a hedge that's there now.In the next townland there was a cow-house again, faill a' ghabair. There was a school there by Elisa Shaw.
(1. Townland in the par. of Upperchurch.

There was a [?] boy with a farmer down at [?]. [?] is about a mile and a half from Anglesboro down towards Galbally.
Anyway a teacher, a school teacher used to stay now and again at the farmers place 'Twas the custom then that the teacher go home every night with some one of his scholars. the teachers had no house of their own. This teacher, Walsh was his name was coming too often to this place and they were fed up of him. They said, however they'd manage it that they would get done of him When he came first he was very shabby and unshaved but after a bit he was a

About the first of February they begin ploughin' for all the crops and the first of March they begin to get ready for the bawn pyaties and from Patrick's Day out they put oats and everything down.The turnips, some sow them in April an' what can't be "sowed" in April can't be sowed on account of the fly till the month of June. Mangels are sowed in the latter end of April or early in May.
Very few sow bawn pyaties here now, they have 'lay' (lea) oats first and then plough the stubbles the following year for spuds and mangels. Then they have a crop of

all day calling the men. That was in the beginnin' of the Land League days, about fifty five year ago.Graham used raise the rent for any improvement in the farms an' supposin' you manured waste land he'd raise the rent.
In me father's time this place was seventeen pound and Griffin's Valuation came then and I never remember it to be only eight pound. 'Tis only three pound a year now.

Graham of Cork was the landlord here and Terry from Killdorrery was the agent. He came here once for to evict but he didn't evict um. They were all gone in arrears an' they wouldn't pay it. He was goin' to Knocknabaynsa and over there at Michael Quinlan's they was more thana thousand men gathered and the bell ringing in Upperchurch

In former days I see the pig's bladder for a football. 'Twould be covered with leather you'd buy.

I knew a man used skin dogs, red dogs, yes, letters, an' he used make a mat outside his bed with um. He was from Ileigh.

An’ I often heard it said by the one’ people as well that you shouldn’t put out the ashes

she’d always light a wisp o’ straw in the fire an’ put it in underneath the clothes Of course the light used to go out when the wisp was put under the clothes. It was for luck that she used to do that. They do that even now the women do some o’ them anyway, I know that I always do it mesel’ because I heard my mother saying that it was right to do it an’ especially if it was a new bed that was made when you would be dressing it you’ do that.

If my mother was puttin’ any new clothes on a bed, a sheet or a quilt or anything

There are are some people, an’ that man is one o them (meaning her husband) an’ when they

to tell it to us. I remember it well. If a hen lays an egg on the first day of March an’ if that egg is hatched the chicken will come out in March. If that chicken is a puller the hen will be layin’ next March again. If the egg that that hen lays an egg in March and it to be put down on the first Tuesday in March an’ the chicken that comes out oo’ it to be a cock, that cock is a real March cock. That’s what she used to tell us.

My mother used to often tell us what a real march cock was. This is how she used

Any kind o’cock is lucky but they used to say that there was nothing to bake (heat) the march cock. Any house that there [?] he a march-cock in they used to say that there was no fear o’ the devil comin’ near the house. People used to go all over the country before now to get eggs that a march cock would come out [?]. There ‘isnt as much thought about them now as there was when I was a girl.

I always heard as well that there is nothing as lucky in any house as a march cock.

never lucky a hen to be crowin like that. Any time that she’d hear a hen crowin she used to chase her awa. For she said if she was allowed to carry on she’d bring bad luck to the house, I often heard her sayin’ that whenever you heard a hen crowin’ you were sure that the big fella himsel (the devil) would be around an’ that’s the why she used to stop the hens from crowin’.

on May Eve to sun-down on May Day. After sun-down on May Day you could borrow any article you wanted, and if they had it they would lend it to you. They would give you milk after sun-down on May Day. The "period of superstition" ended when the sun set.

People would not give you a drink of milk on May Eve or May Day. If they were in the habit of giving you milk every other time of the year you might not go near them for it on May Eve or May Day - they would give you none. And they would not send it to you - you might take your tea black. They were afraid that by doing so they would be losing some of their profits. They had the fear that if they gave you a drink of milk they would be giving their luck away. It was considered wrong to borrow anything on May Day, but I never heard of people borrowing something previously if they wanted it on that day. The time laid down for not borrowing was from sun-down on

There was a little hunchback livin’ in a part of Kerry long ago, an’ his mother was dead, an’ his father was out workin’ all day; an’ his brothers an’ sisters used be [?] the poor little hunchback so one day what did he do but put his bags on his back, an’ stole out of the house — he said he couldn’t stand it any longer, or he wouldn’t stand it any longer! He’d go out an’ make his fortune for himself in the world, an’ maybe his oul’ “block of timber” — the name they used to call his hump wasn’t as bad an’ as funny as they thought it was when they’d be gammin him about it out. He went on all day anyway, an’ never let up till the dark was beginnin’ to come down; an’ then he began to think where ‘d he find shelter for the night; or what would he do at all; an’ he began to get sorry he ran away, for no matter how bad ‘twas, ‘twould be worse to be devoured by some wild animal, or

its hind legs and that it would "put its horns though you if it could." Such an animal was usually sold when it was fit for sale. It was the same in the case of pigs - they were looked upon as dangerous. Some people said that there was "an unlucky minute" around whit, and if a person met with an accident they would say that "the unlucky minute was in it" - that it happened at "the unlucky minute". Young people were warned not to go swimming or boating or bathing at whit - they would be told that "the water was dangerous" and that it was "an unlucky time of the year." The same beliefs are still held by a great many people.

born at whit was unlucky - that if that boy or girl struck anybody when they grew up they would cause an injury that would be very hard to heal. I often heard old people saying "so and so is a KINKISHA - they were born at whit - and if they gave you a kick or a box they'd leave you a wound that would be a long time getting well". They said that a foal that was foaled at whit was dangerous - that it would kill you with a kick, and a farmer would not keep it about his place - he sold it when it was fit to be sold. They had the same objection to a calf that was calved at whit. They would not keep it on to be a cow if it happened to be a heifer. They would tell you that it would kick you with

kind of nature that would be in them through being born at whit. It was believed that a child or an animal or a bird that was born at whit would "kill some-thing" - that they would "take a life". Whit was regarded as a dangerous time to go into the water. The old people would tell you to "keep away from the water at whit". It was regarded as "an unlucky time." They would say that there was "a drowning in the water". Everybody "lived as quiet as they could on whit Sunday" and generally remained about their own house. Nowadays whit is a time for holiday - making. I never heard of anyone being drowned at whit, still the old people had a terrible fear of the water at that time of year. (Writer's note:- the old people had the belief that a child)

Children born on whit Sunday or whit Monday were taken and put under a clay-sod for about a second and taken out again. This was done to counteract the

The fairies were supposed to communicate more with mortals in May Day than at any other time of the year, and some of the people were able to do certain things in their name or though their power.

People collected the dew on May morning as a beauty preparation. They would say that if you washed your face with the dew on May morning the sun would not burn your face during the next twelve months.

and windy, and June was hot and sultry, the farmers would have good crops.

There is an old proverb that "A wet and windy May fills the gardens with oats and hay." Another proverb is that "A wet may and a sultry June make the farmers whistle a merry tune." If the month of May was wet

They did not throw a lighted bush into the crops for protection sake on May Eve. They did that on the Bonfire nights - the 23rd and 28th June. No bonfire was lit for any purpose on May Eve.

it into rolls. One of the onlookers could not restrain himself and in a loud voice exclaimed: "Oh boys, look at the dead hand!" The woman heard the remark and put out the light, but from that onwards the neighbour's milk and butter were not interfered with. Another method of stealing milk and butter was recounted for the writer by Mr. Patrick Cooney, Bailieboro'. He said that a witch would go close to a farmer's house, and if she got in on his land it would be all the better for her, and she started spinning and weaving yarn. She probably said certain words while doing so, and if she wasn't stopped in time she had his milk and butter - she was able to steal it in that way).

the butter that they had stolen. The late John Clarke, Kilmainhamwood, Co. Meath, who died a few years ago, told a story in this connection. He said that a woman and her daughter were living at Coole, a short distance from the village, and they had only one or two cows, but they had more butter for sale than any two or three farmers in the neighbourhood. And at the same time their neighbours were getting little or no butter on their churns. One night John Clarke and a couple of other young men went to this woman's house. They looked in the window and saw the daughter taking the butter out of a tub and handing it to the mother. And the mother had a "dead hand" in her two hands and was clapping the butter with it and making

churning, as already described. If a hare was seen sucking a cow's udder, and and if that hare was a witch in disguise, it was said that no dog could catch her except a dog that was completely black and hadn't a white hair on any part of it's body.It was said that a witch could skim the dew on the grass on May morning - she skimmed it with a rope or a thread, and in that way she was able to get the farmer's milk or butter. The witches were also said to tie rows of threads between BOUGHALANS - this being another method of stealing the milk and butter from the man that owned that particular farm.
(Writer's note:- There were stories of a witch using a "dead hand"[?] when marking up

apply the juice of the herbs to his cows, or if he did not sit up on May Eve night and watch them closely, and if the witch came and milked them before sun-rise, his milk and butter would be almost entirely gone; he might keep churning for a whole month but no butter would come to the churn. The milk would all go into bubbles; there would be a bad taste and smell off it; it would be thin and light, and of a greenish colour, and they would have to give it up in despair. In some instances they went to the priest and got him to bless a sample of the cows' milk. They came home and put it in the next churning and everything was all right. Another "remedy" was to close the doors and lock them and put the irons in the fire while

to watch their cows in case a witch might come to milk them. But the farmer who had rubbed or sprinkled his cows with the juice of the herbs did not need to sit up - the notion was that what he had done had "put a wall" between the cows and the witches, and if any of the witches came to the byre they wouldn't be able to work their spells on the milk and butter. I never heard of any of the milk thieves being caught in the act except when they came in the shape of hares. I heard of a hare being fired at as she was either going to or leaving a byre, and the blood was tracked to the house of a neighbour and an old woman found wounded and bleeding in a room in the house. If a farmer did not

Some farmers sat up on May Eve

On May Eve there were people who would go out along the rivers before sun-set - they would go by themselves - and pick up certain herbs that only themselves knew, and they brought them home and boiled them. And they sprinkled their cows with the juice on the same evening. They did this three times, and this was supposed to prevent the witches from interfering with their milk and butter.

On May Eve there were people who would go out along the rivers before sun-set - they would go by themselves - and pick up certain herbs that only themselves knew, and they brought them home and boiled them. And they sprinkled their cows with the juice on the same evening. They did this three times, and this was supposed to prevent the witches from interfering with their milk and butter.

On May Eve there were people who would go out along the rivers before sun-set - they would go by themselves - and pick up certain herbs that only themselves knew, and they brought them home and boiled them. And they sprinkled their cows with the juice on the same evening. They did this three times, and this was supposed to prevent the witches from interfering with their milk and butter.

fire till she promised to cease interfering with his milk or butter and make restitution for any she had taken in the past. And she would be "only too glad" to agree to his conditions. There was nothing put into the well to protect it against her witchery.

get water out of it, and it didn't matter how much he took. If a woman who was suspected of being a witch got the water first, the farmer who owned the land where the well was had a remedy for putting a stop to her plans. At the next churning he would lock and secure all the doors and put two or three irons in the fire. He would then start the churning, and as the irons were getting hot in the fire if the woman was a witch, and if she was taking his milk and butter, she would be getting the same heat that the irons were getting, and she would come rushing to the farmer's house and ask to be admitted. The farmer would refuse to let her in and he wouldn't admit her or take the irons out of the

They would not go to bed on May Eve - they would sit up in order to get the first of the water after midnight. Sometimes two neighbours arrived at the well at the same time, and after having a friendly conversation they would toss a coin or draw lots to decide which of them would take the first water out of it. As a rule only a few people were taking water out of the same well. There was no special way of taking the water out of it. No special words were used on the occasion, but if a witch was the first to take the water she said certain words such as "All mine and none thine". The water taken out of the well was not measured by the ordinary consumer - all he wanted was to be the first to

It was believed that the person that was first to take the water out of the local well on May morning would have better luck than his neighbours during the next twelve months. All the people who were in the habit of taking water from the well would try to be the first to get water from it on that morning.

somebody brought it home. They might burn it or do what they liked with it, for it was easy getting another one when May Day came 'round again. There was not explanation for this custom. (Writer's Note: - Mr. Laurence McIntyre, farmer, Kilcrossduff, Shercock, aged 76, told the writer that for a few years prior to the first world war a May Pole dance was held at Kilcrossduff.).

Around the Cavan Monaghan border they used to have a May Bush or May Pole. They used have a May Pole at THE DIAMOND, along the Kingscourt - Shercock road. If it was not a nice evening they would have a dance. They would dance for a couple of hours or so. They had also a May Pole at Corlea, near Kingscourt. The pole was composed of light timber, and it would be easy to put the flowers on it. It would be erected on top of a ditch on the side of the road at a cross-roads. They had no special ceremony when erecting it. There would be a crowd of fifty or sixty boys and girls there, and they would dance beside it - they couldn't dance round it because it was on the ditch or on the side of the road. When the dance was over the May Pole was taken down.

for doing this except that May Day was looked upon as the beginning of Summer. It was usually young girls that brought them in, and while there was no special time for doing this they were generally brought in in the morning, and sometimes it was around dinner time. Occasionally the woman of the house brought them in, but the man would not - he wouldn't bother about them. No song was sung when they were brought in. They were left there till they began to wither, which would be about a week, and then they were removed and fresh flowers put in their place. Plucking the May flowers was not supposed to result in the fingers getting sore. Children or adults did not travel from house to house singing songs.

May flowers were planted by the younger people and brought into the house on May Day, and they put them around the pictures and in vessels such as mugs, jugs, vases, and bottles. Two bunches of the May flowers were placed inside the kitchen window. There was no special reason

It was not customary to light bonfires on May Eve or on May Day. The bonfires were lit on the nights of the 23rd and 28th June.

"We didn't think you were that sort." They would give a hint that you had some evil intention in coming for the loan of the spade or the shovel - that you were trying to grab their luck and bring it home with you. It was the same with anything else that you wanted the loan of.

People would not lend anything at any time during May Day, no matter what it was. If you went to a home for the loan of a spade or a shovel they would give a queer look at you and say:

the dew into their aprons, saying as they did so: "All mine; none thine." And it was said that in this way they were able to get possession of the milk and butter belonging to the farmer, on whose grass they gathered the dew. The result was that farmers got up early on May morning and kept a tight watch for the witches. And at the first peep of the sun the farmer could go back to his bed or start doing some work, for the witches were powerless to work their spells after sun-rise.

they saw smoke coming from some other chimney first. People did NOT strive to be the first to light a fire on May morning - it was the other way about.THE FIRE ON MAY DAY:- A coal would not be lent to light a neighbour's fire on May morning. You mightn't ask for the like, for you wouldn't get it. Fire was regarded as symbolic of the luck of the household. It was not considered wrong to put out the ashes on May Day. It was considered wrong for a neighbour to light his pipe on a coal in another person's fire on that day. The old people were careful of the fire, the water, and the dew on the grass. MAY DEW: - Farmers kept a close look out for witches on May morning. The belief was that witches went out on that morning before sun-rise and gathered

first of May arrived. People were particularly careful of their FIRE on May Day and wouldn't give a coal to anyone as they were afraid that by doing so they would be giving their luck away, or that the person that got the coal would be able to steal the produce of their farm, particularly the milk and butter. The person that had the "first smoke up" (chimney - smoke) on may morning was said to be in danger of losing his milk and butter - that the witches were able to perform some witchery with the "first smoke after sun-rise" that would give them the power to steal his milk and butter. People would go out in the morning to see if there was smoke coming from some neighbour's chimney, and lots of them would not light a fire in their own homes till

On May day the farmer would drive out all his cattle to the grass and leave them there night and day till the end of October - they wouldn't be kept any longer in the byre at night once the

He always kept three men an' the time I was there, twas Dan Hayes an' his brother Jerh was working there with me.
But, anyway, this way of an evening the three of us walked out the lane together, little thinking that there was any trouble before any wan of us, that night, no more than any other night that we walked out there I wasn't long in bed, when I heard the rap at the door, so up I got. "Who's there" says I. Jerh Hayes answered outside, I knew his voice, "get up. Dan" says he, "I want yo'" So I opened the door, "Whats wrong with yo' Jerh," says I. "to be calling at this hour" "Dan is dead" says he, "he died sudden a while ago there, come west with us, like a man" I pulled on my ould boots an went away with him as fast as we could. why There was no wan west, but the sister an' Larry Mahoney, they had to call Larry to go for the Priest. So anyway. I shaved the poor fellow, an' we laid him out, nice an' slouchtar too. I may tell yo', an' no wan there, but the three of us

Tis often I heard, an' I suppose you did too, that it wasnt right for anywan, a man or a woman to go out alone at night for anything for a wake.
Well, the people now would be saying that, that, was all balderdash, but indeed it wasn't an' I could tell 'im so, now too, for I gave two nights out an' I wouldn't ask to do it again. I was living weat there near Live, at the time. an' the man I was working for, was a big independent farmer.

on the road if I'll be here before you," running away out of where he was an' going home.
I remember you wouldn't go outside the door may Day without having a needle being stuck in your clothes an' I remember when a man wouldn't dig wan green sod may Day. No not a green sod would he dig may Day. I remember that.

There was a man minding his cattle near a fort. He dozed asleep and he heard the woman inside telling bring 'im in. The man inside said he couldn't bring 'im in, for that there was a needle in his clothes. He said:
"I won't be long getting a thing that 'ill melt that needle," says he, "in such a place that is not far away." So the lad said, "be goin," says he, "you won't be long

how it went.
I am an airy Rambler The country men do know Trambled to Coolmohan The chapel for to go An' I returning home again Behold I did [?] She swore I walked slowly But indeed she swore a lie She had a fine silk dress The spatters it did stain She never wore that dress Since with spatters it was stained She fined me ten bright shillings I had to pay down on the nail But I fined her fine and thirty All on the next court day.

passing her by, and, she said that put [?] on her silk dress.
She summoned him to the next count and timed him 10/- About three weeks after Casey's cow went in [?] in Riordans land and as luck happen 'twas Egan caught them. Egan [?] on his loss to summon her, an he did. to the next count. Egan, to have his own back went an swore on her an she was fined thirty four shillings. Everyone could make rhymes that time and Egan was as good as the best of them. He made up couple a verses about her. this was

and she married Henly.
He lived at Rathealy near Fermoy. To the next he gave [?] she married Smedick To the last he gave [?] and she married Gagin. He settled them nice in their places, and mind you every one of them was happier than another

Nation was the Landlord of all this place one time years ago I don't remember it.
He was married and had six daughters and no son He had no money for them when they came of of age to marry. so he made six divisions of his land and gave them a part each This is how he divided it He gave Billerough to to one of them and she married a man called Moreland. He gave [?] to another and she married a man called Cotter. To the next he gave [?], she married Sherlock. The next got Lyreen

They used to tie an old shoe to it. If it remains too long it decays.

get a pint, and a two-year old two pints. It is given according to their age. Some people would give them Linseed oil. Anything that would heal them inside is what is wanted. You give the proportions of Linseed oil according to their age.

For ordinary scour fast them, and give them a pint of castor oil. A six moths calf should only get a naggin; a yearling should

There are people have private cures for Ringworm but they won't tell you what they are. Sam Hall, of Bailieboro, has a private cure for it. I heard of powdered blue-stone being put on it, but it must have been very severe.

Some people say that Blood-murrain and Red-water is the same thing, but that is not correct. Blood-murrain comes out of the manure-passage, and red-water comes out of the urine-passage. Blood-murrain and blood-scour is the same thing. I would give a gallon of mulled porter, with some ground ginger in it, for Blood-murrain.

My experience is that what will

water. You might have to keep pouring on the cold water for a whole day.

An excellent remedy for hard udder is to rub it with liquid McDoodle's Dip, but not too much of it. It will cure any "Start" if it is got in time. Draw the udder as much as possible. Keep it well drawn. Don't let any of the Dip get down to the spius. Keep it up on the udder. A lot of people cure them with hot bathing. This has to be kept up for several hours. Cold bathing is the best. Have the cow near a water tap, and with the aid of a hose pour plenty of cold water on to the udder. Empty the udder out and continue pouring on the cold

changes it into milk, and if there is not enough of it in the chamber some of the pure blood gets into the udder and appears along with the milk. I don't know any remedy for it. We let them wait till they get better.

This is not a bad sign of the cow. All the milk is blood at first, and there is a chamber where it is changed into milk. There is certain stuff in the chamber that

Jey's fluid or lamp-oil is very good for destroying vermin or cattle you should sprinkle the beast with water before you rub on the lamp-oil or, else, you should add water to it, otherwise it would take the hair off. You have to repeat the application eight days afterwards.

turn it would put the potato out of her throat. Let her out and give her a quick turn' round, and if the potato doesn't go then you may get a tube to shove it down.

None of those things are real preventatives, but there is at present a genuine preventative give by Vots and injected into them. It comes in tubes. This stuff really gives them a mild dose of black-leg, and they won't take it for at least twelve months. If you keep giving them the doses of nitre they won't be very much subject to it after they come to be a rear and a half. It would be a good thing to make a little cut on them, for as long as the cut is there they won't take black-leg

I cured one cow of Blood-scour. I gave her about a half gallon of mulled porter (boiled porter), and it cured her. I put some ground-ginger in it - about a handful.

If you could give her a quick

The Lord with him did comply
He was reconciled to die [?]nd the supernal sent did all admire [?]n his brother's arm locked [?]ire each mortal would be shocked [?]. To see this comely young man expire.Finis

[?]ntrary to the law
At times their impulses I debarred [?]t he always did me tease [?]ll his ardour I did please [?]t thinking that he'd take their reward [?]t the carpet-creeping cur [?]om me he would not stir [?]ll he drew from me the truth [?] fatal was the time [?] renial was the crime [?]t destroyed me in the bloom of my youth [?]t the bitter stinging wasp [?]e he thought to take a grasp [?]n a story at Philpstown he told like Nero[?] there would stay to swear my life away

(a famous Fenian [?]ed to the present Scullys)All ye young men think on me as I am doomed to misery
[?]d remark what I relate in my tale Whilst I earnestly rehearse o'er each sympathetic verse [?]nd young Tom Scully is my name. [?]at that traitor Kieran Froy Sure he did me sore annoy He betrayed me at once in my prime [?]d may ye all avoid what has me now destroyed Though in Heaven it's a pardonable crime [?]en those evils I foresaw

There are people that tie a horse-shoe to it, but you would be better to let it alone and it will drop in time. The least quacking in that case the better.

this is often caused by some old stuff that is lying in them, and physics will get get rid of it and cure them. Some people get an old, rusty horse-shoe and put it in the fire till it is hot. And when it is hot they throw it into about a pint of sweet milk and let it cool, and when it is cool they take it out and give the milk to the beast to drink, and it will cure her.