13691257 Fairy Legends and Traditions Fairy Legends

5/19/2018 13691257 Fairy Legends and Traditions Fairy Legends

by Thomas Crofton Croker

Table of ContentsFairy Legends and Tradit

by Thomas Crofton Croker......................................................................................................................Dedication to Dowager Lady Chatterton.................................................................................................The Legend of Knocksheogowna............................................................................................................

The Legend ofThe Legend of Knockgrafton...................................................................................................................The Priest.................The Young Piper....The Brewery of Egg!he""s...................................................................................................................The Change"ing......The Two #ossips...The Legend of Bott"e $i""......................................................................................................................The Confessions of Tom Bourke...........................................................................................................%airies &r 'o %airiThe $aunted Ce""ar!eeing is Be"ie(ing

)aster and )an.....The %ie"d of Bo"iThe Litt"e !hoe.......Legends of theLegends of theThe !pirit $orse.....Danie" & *ourke....The Crookened BaThe $aunted Cast"e%ior +sga................Cormac and )ary..The Legend of Lough #ur.....................................................................................................................

The Enchanted LaThe Legend of &,Donoghue...................................................................................................................The Lady of #o""e%"ory Canti""on,s %unera".......................................................................................................................The Lord of DunThe -onderfu" TuThe -onderfu" Tu$an"on,s )i""..........The Death Coach....The $ead"essDiarmid Bawn The Piper......................................................................................................................Teigue of the Lee.

'ed !heehy,s EThe Lucky #uest..Dreaming Tim /a*entDay.............Linn'aPayshtThe Legend of Cairn Thierna...............................................................................................................The *ock of the Cand"e.......................................................................................................................The #iant,s !tairs.

Table of ContentsC"ough na Cuddy.


Letter from !ir -a"ter !cott to the author of the 0rish %airy Legends................................................

by Thomas Crofton CrokerThis page copyright 1 2334 B"ackmask &n"ine.http566www.b"ackmask.comDedication to Dowager Lady Chatterton The Legend of Knocksheogowna

The Legend of Knockfierna

The Legend of Knockgrafton The Priest The Young Piper The Brewery of Egg!he""s The Change"ing The Two #ossips The Legend of Bott"e $i"" The Confessions of Tom Bourke %airies &r 'o %airies The $aunted Ce""ar

!eeing is Be"ie(ing )aster and )an The %ie"d of Bo"iauns The Litt"e !hoe Legends of the Banshee Legends of the Banshee The !pirit $orse Danie" & *ourke The Crookened Back The $aunted Cast"e %ior +sga Cormac and )ary The Legend of Lough #ur The Enchanted Lake The Legend of &,Donoghue The Lady of #o""erus %"ory Canti""on,s %unera" The Lord of Dunkerron The -onderfu" Tune The -onderfu" Tune $an"on,s )i""

The Death Coach

The $ead"ess $orseman Diarmid Bawn The Piper Teigue of the Lee 'ed !heehy,s E7cuse The Lucky #uest Dreaming Tim /ar(is Fairy Legends and Traditions

*entDay


Linn'aPayshtha The Legend of Cairn Thierna The *ock of the Cand"e The #iant,s !tairs C"ough na Cuddy Letter from !ir -a"ter !cott to the author of the 0rish %airy Legends

Dedication to Dowager Lady ChattertonT& T$ED&-8#E* L8DY C$8TTE*T&'C8!TLE )8$&'.T$EE Lady wou"d 0 "ead through %airy"and9-hence co"d and doubting reasoners are e7i"ed:8 "and of dreams with airbui"t cast"es pi"ed;The moon"ight !$E%*&! there in merry band-ith arfu" CL+*0C8+'E shou"d ready standTo we"come thee 0magination,s chi"d>y and his eyesight became dim. 8t "ast he fe"" into a sound s"eep and when he awokefound that it was broad day"ight the sun shining bright"y the birds singing sweet; and that he wasat the foot of the moat of Knockgrafton; with the cows and sheep gra>ing peaceab"y round aboutfirst thing Lusmore did after saying his prayers was to put his band behind to fee" for his humpof one was there on his back and he "ooked at himse"f with great pride for he had now become

we""shaped dapper "itt"e fe""ow; and more than that he found himse"f in a fu"" suit of new c"othesconc"uded the fairies had made for him.Towards Cappagh he went stepping out as "ight"y and springing up at e(ery step as if he had beena dancingmaster. 'ot a creature who met Lusmore knew him without his hump and he had greatpersuade e(ery one that he was the same man in truth he was not so far as outward appearance&f course it was not "ong before the story of Lusmore,s hump got about and a great wonder wasThrough the country for mi"es round it was the ta"k of e(ery one high and "ow .&ne morning as Lusmore was sitting contented enough at his cabindoor up came an o"d womanasked if he cou"d direct her to Cappagh@A0 need gi(e you no directions my good woman said Lusmore A for this is Cappagh; and who do


here@AA0 ha(e come said the woman Aout of Decie,s country in the county of -aterford "ooking afterLusmore who 0 ha(e heard te"" had his hump taken off by the fairies5 for there is a son of a gossiphas got a hump on him that wi"" be his death; and may be if he cou"d use the same charm as Lusmorehump may be taken off him. 8nd now 0 ha(e to"d you the reason of my coming so far5 ,t is to findthis charm if 0 can.ALusmore who was e(er a goodnatured "itt"e fe""ow to"d the woman a"" the particu"ars how he had

the tune for the fairies at Knockgrafton how his hump had been remo(ed from his shou"der. andgot a new suit of c"othes into the bargain.The woman thanked him (ery much and then went away =uite happy and easy in her own mind.came back to her gossip,s house in the county -aterford she to"d her e(ery thing that Lusmorethey put the "itt"e humpbacked man who was a pee(ish and cunning creature from his birth upontook him a"" the way across the country. 0t was a "ong ?ourney but they did not care for that so theThe Legend of Knockgraftontaken from off him; and they brought him ?ust at nightfa"" and "eft him under the o"d moat of Knockgrafton./ack )adden for that was the humpy man,s name had not been sitting there "ong when he heardgoing on within the moat much sweeter than before; for the fairies were singing it the way Lusmoresett"ed their music for them and the song was going on5Da Luan, Da )ortDa Luan, Da Mort, DaMort, augus Da Cadine, without e(er stopping. /ack )adden who was in a great hurry to get =uit

hump ne(er thought of waiting unti" the fairies had done or watching for a fit opportunity to raisehigher again than Lusmore had5 so ha(ing heard them sing it o(er se(en times without stopping outbaw"s ne(er minding the time or the humour of the tune or how he cou"d bring his words in proper"yDa Cadine, augus Da )ena 8nd -ednesday and Thursday thinking that if one day was goodbetter; and that if Lusmore had one new suit of c"othes gi(en to him he shou"d ha(e two.'o sooner had the words passed his "ips than he was taken up and whisked into the moat with prodigiousforce; and the fairies came crowding round about him with great anger screeching and screamingroaring out .A who spoi"ed our tune@ who spoi"ed our tune @ A and one stepped up to him abo(e a""and said A/ack )adden< /ack )adden>ied and bewi"dered and then o"d and young wou"d goknocking together in a frightfu" manner; and when the un"ucky brat had them a"" in this way whir"igiggingabout the f"oor he,d grin and chuck"e and chatter for a"" the wor"d "ike /acko the monkey when heoff some of his roguery.

The o"der he grew the worse he grew and by the time he was si7 years o"d there was no standingfor him; he was a"ways making his brothers burn or sca"d themse"(es or break their shins o(er thestoo"s. &ne time in har(est he was "eft at home by himse"f and when his mother came in she foundhorseback on the dog with her face to the tai" and her "egs tied round him and the urchinp"ayingtune to them; so that the dog went barking and ?umping about and puss was mewing for the dears"apping her tai" backwards and forwards which as it wou"d hit against the dog,s chaps he,d snapand then there was the phi""i"oo. 8nother time the farmer )ick worked with a (ery decent respectab"ehappened to ca"" in and /udy wiped a stoo" with her apron and in(ited him to sit down and rest himse"fhis wa"k. $e was sitting with his back to the crad"e and behind him was a pan of b"ood for /udypigs, puddings; the "ad "ay =uite sti"" in his nest and watched his opportunity ti"" he got ready a hookThe Young Piperend of a piece of twine which he contri(ed to f"ing so handi"y that it caught in the bob of the man,s

wig and soused it in the pan of b"ood. 8nother time his mother was coming in from mi"king thethe pai" on her head5 the minute he saw her "ie "i"ted up his inferna" tune and the poor woman "ettingpai" c"apped her hands aside and began to dance a ?ig and tumb"ed the mi"k a"" atop of her husbandwas bringing in some turf to boi" the supper. 0n short there wou"d be no end to te""ing a"" his pranksthe mischie(ous tricks he p"ayed.!oon after some mischances began to happen to the farmer,s catt"e; a horse took the staggers a finedied of the b"ack"eg and some of his sheep of the red water; the cows began to grow (icious anddown the mi"kpai"s and the roof of one end of the barn fe"" in; and the farmer took it into his head%"anigan,s un"ucky chi"d was the cause of a"" the mischief. !o one day he ca""ed )ick aside and saidA)ick you see things are not going on with me as they ought and to be p"ain with you )ick 0 thinkchi"d of yours is the cause of it. 0 am rea""y fa""ing away to nothing with fretting and 0 can hard"ybed at night for thinking of what may happen before the morning. !o 0,d be g"ad if you,d "ook out

some where e"se; you,re as good a man as any in the county and there,s no fear but you,"" ha(e yourwork.A To this )ick rep"ied A that he was sorry for his "osses and sti"" sorrier that he or his shou"dto be the cause of them; that for his own part he was not =uite easy in his mind about that chi"dhim and so must keep him;A and he promised to "ook out for another p"ace immediate"y. 8ccording"y!unday at chape" )ick ga(e out that he was about "ea(ing the work at /ohn *iordan,s and immediate"yfarmer who "i(ed a coup"e of mi"es off and who wanted a p"oughman 9the "ast one ha(ing ?ust "eftcame up to )ick and offered him a house and garden and work a"" the year round. )ick who knewbe a good emp"oyer immediate"y c"osed with him so it was agreed that the farmer shou"d send atake his "itt"e bit of furniture and that he shou"d remo(e on the fo""owing Thursday. -hen Thursdaythe car came according to promise and )ick "oaded it and put the crad"e with the chi"d and histop and /udy sat beside it to take care of him "est he shou"d tumb"e out and be ki""ed; they dro(ebefore them the dog fo""owed but the cat was of course "eft behind; and the other three chi"dren

the road picking skeehories 9haws: and b"ackberries for it was a fine day towards the "atter endThey had to cross a ri(er but as it ran through a bottom between two high banks you did not seewere c"ose on it. The young fe""ow was "ying pretty =uiet in the bottom of his crad"e ti"" they camehead of the bridge when hearing the roaring of the water 9for there was a great f"ood in the ri(errained hea(i"y for the "ast two or three days: he sat up ih his crad"e and "ooked about him; and thegot a sight of the water and found they were going to take him across it & how he did be""ow ands=uea" < no rat caught in a snaptrap e(er sang out e=ua" to him. A -hisht < 8 "annaA said /udyfear of you;A sure its on"y o(er the stonebridge we,re going.A ABad "uck to you you o"d rip


he had in his hand ADe(i" choke you you brat


)rs.. !u""i(an,s heart as she said herse"f was up in her mouth ready to choke her at hearing the chi"dBut she contri(ed to put the poker in the fire and to answer without making any wonder at the wordsbrewing a (ick, 9my son.:A8nd what are you brewing mammy@A said the "itt"e imp whose supernatura" gift of speech now pro(edbeyond =uestion that he was a fairy substitute.A0 wish the poker was redA thought )rs. !u""i(an; but it was a "arge one and took a "ong time heating5determined to keep him in ta"k unti" the poker was in a proper state to thrust down his throat and

repeated the =uestion.A0s it what 0,m brewing a (ick, said she you want to know@AAYes mammy5 what are you brewing @A returned the fairy.AEggshe""s a (ick, said )rs. !u""i(an.A&h


nothing she cou"d think of wou"d =uiet it.A 0,"" te"" you what you,"" do with the bratA said 'orah Bucke"ey 0ooking as knowing as if she knewthan a"" the rest of the wor"d5 Awhip it we"" first and then bring it to the crossroads and "ea(e theditch there for any one to take that p"eases; for 0 ha(e your own chi"d at home safe and sound as hehanded out of the window "ast night to me.A)rs. )ac Danie" on hearing this when the surprise was o(er stepped out to get a rod and her gossiphappening for one instant to "ook after her on turning round again found the fairy gone and neither

the chi"d,s mother saw any more of it nor cou"d e(er hear a word of tidings how it disappeared in sowonderfu" a manner.)rs. )ac Danie" went o(er with great speed to her gossip,s house and there she got her own chi"dbrought him back with her and a stout young man he is at this day.'otesTracton is situated about ten mi"es south of Cork in a district usua""y ca""ed ADaunt,s CountryA fromresidence of se(era" fami"ies of that name. Tracton 8bbey now comp"ete"y demo"ished was former"yThe Two "ossipsof some ce"ebrity ; see 8rchda"e,s )onasticon $ibernicum and Dr. !mith,s $istory of Cork.0n 4I4 /ames Dennis Chief Baron of the E7che=uer was created Baron Tracton of Tracton 8bbey;

tit"e became e7tinct on his demise the fo""owing year. Lord Tracton was buried in the cathedra" ofwhat is curious a nob"e monument to his memory possib"y the "argest and best piece of statuaryof 0re"and is p"aced in the parish church of !t. 'icho"as the sma""est in that city.8n eddy of dust raised by the wind is supposed by the superstitious peasantry to be occasioned by?ourneying of a fairy troop from one of their haunts to another and the same ci(i"ities are scrupu"ous"yobser(ed towards the in(isib"e riders as if the dust had been caused by a company of the most importantpersons in the country. 0n !cot"and the sound of brid"es ringing through the air accompanies thewhich marks the progress of a fairy ?ourney.The in(isib"e agency by which the chi"d was thrust out of the window wi"" find a para""e" in manyparticu"ar"y in one re"ated by -a"dron the 0s"e of )an chronic"er.8t )inane the scene of this ta"e the finest specimens hitherto disco(ered of a rare minera" ca""edhydrargi""ite or wa(e""ite ha(e been dug up.

The Legend of Bottle #ill0T was in the good days when the "itt"e peop"e most impudent"y ca""ed fairies were more fre=uent"ythan they are in these unbe"ie(ing times that a farmer named )ick Purce"" rented a few acres ofground in the neighbourhood of the once ce"ebrated preceptory of )ourne situated about three mi"es)a""ow and thirteen from Athe beautifu" city ca""ed Cork.A )ick had a wife and fami"y5 they a""they cou"d and that was but "itt"e for the poor man had no chi"d grown up big enough to he"p himwork5 and a"" the poor woman cou"d do was to mind the chi"dren and to mi"k the one cow and topotatoes and carry the eggs to market to )a""ow; but with a"" they cou"d do ,t was hard enoughpay the rent. -e"" they did manage it for a good whi"e; but at "ast came a bad year and the "itt"ewas a"" spoi"ed and the chickens died of the pip and the pig got the meas"es she was so"d in )a""owbrought a"most nothing; and poor )ick found that he hadn,t enough to ha"f pay his rent and twodue.

A -hy then. )o""yA says he A what,"" we do@AA-isha then ma(ournene what wou"d you do but take the cow to the fair of Cork and se"" herAAand )onday is fair day and so you must go tomorrow that the poor beast may be rested again8nd what,"" we do when she,s gone@A says )ick sorrowfu""y.A'e(er a know 0 know )ick; but sure #od won,t "ea(e us without $im )ick; and you know howwas to us when poor "itt"e Bi""y was sick and we had nothing at a"" for him to take that good doctorgent"eman at Ba""ydahin come riding and asking for a drink of mi"k; and how he ga(e us two shi""ings;how he sent the things and bott"es for the chi"d and ga(e me my breakfast when 0 went o(er to ask=uestion so he did; and how he came to see Bi""y and ne(er "eft off his goodness ti"" he was =uiteA&h< you are a"ways that way )o""y and 0 be"ie(e you are right after a"" so 0 won,t be sorry for se""ing


cow; but 0,"" go tomorrow and you must put a need"e and, thread through my coat for you knowunder the arm.AThe Legend of Bott!e #i!!)o""y to"d him he shou"d ha(e e(ery thing right; and about twe"(e o,c"ock ne7t day he "eft her gettingcharge not to se"" his cow e7cept for the highest penny. )ick promised to mind it and went his wayroad. $e dro(e his cow s"ow"y through the "itt"e stream which crosses it and runs by the o"d wa""s8s he passed he g"anced his eye upon the towers and one of the o"d e"der trees which were on"y then

bits of switches.A&h then if 0 on"y had ha"f the money that,s buried in you ,t isn,t dri(ing this poor cow 0,d be nowed and is sti"" known to pri>e them.. $e was in(ested with the pri(i"ege en?oyedthe sons of men of communicating with those mysterious beings ca""ed Athe good peop"e.ATom Bourke is a "itt"e stout hea"thy acti(e man about fiftyfi(e years of age. $is hair is perfect"yshort and bushy behind but rising in front erect and thick abo(e his forehead "ike a new c"otheseyes are of that kind which 0 ha(e often obser(ed with persons of a =uick but "imited inte""ect theysma"" grey and "i(e"y. The "arge and pro?ecting eyebrows under or rather within which they twink"ethem an e7pression of shrewdness and inte""igence if not of cunning. 8nd this is (ery much the characterthe man. 0f you want to make a bargain with Tom Bourke you must act as if you were a genera" besiegingtown and make your ad(ances a "ong time before you can hope to obtain possession; if you marchand te"" him at once your ob?ect you are for the most part sure to ha(e the gates c"osed in your teeth.

does not wish to part with what you wish to obtain or another person has been speaking to him forof the "ast week. &r it may be your proposa" seems to meet the most fa(ourab"e reception. AJeryAThat,s true !ir;A A 0,m (ery thankfu" to your honourA and other e7pressions of kindness and confidencegreet you in rep"y to e(ery sentence; and you part from him wondering how he can ha(e obtainedcharacter which he uni(ersa""y bears of being a man whom no one can make any thing of in a bargain.when you ne7t meet him the f"attering i""usion is disso"(ed5 you find you are a great dea" fartherob?ect than you were when you thought you had a"most succeeded5 his eye and his tongue e7pressforgetfu"ness of what the mind within ne(er "ost sight of for an instant; and you ha(e to begin operationsafresh with the disad(antage of ha(ing put your ad(ersary comp"ete"y upon his guard.Yet a"though Tom Bourke is whether from supernatura" re(ea"ings or 9as many wi"" think more


from the te""truth e7perience so distrustfu" of mankind and so c"ose in his dea"ings with themmisanthrope. 'o man "o(es better the p"easures of the genia" board. The "o(e of money indeed whichhim 9and who wi"" b"ame him@: a (ery ru"ing propensity and the gratification which it has recei(edhabits of industry sustained throughout a pretty "ong and successfu" "ife ha(e taught him the (a"uesobriety during those seasons at "east when a man,s business re=uires him to keep possession of$e has therefore a genera" ru"e ne(er to get drunk but on !undays. But in order that it shou"d beone to a"" intents and purposes he takes a method which according to better "ogicians than he is

pro(es the ru"e. $e has many e7ceptions5 among these of course are the e(enings of a"" the fairdays that happen in his neighbourhood; so a"so a"" the days on which funera"s marriages arid christenings.take p"ace among his friends within many mi"es of him. 8s to this "ast c"ass of e7ceptions it mayfirst (ery singu"ar that he is much more punctua" in his attendance at the funera"s than at the baptismsweddings of his friends. This may be construed as an instance of disinterested affection for departed(ery uncommon in this se"fish wor"d. But 0 am afraid that the moti(es which "ead Tom Bourke tocourt to the dead than the "i(ing are precise"y those which "ead to the opposite conduct in the genera"itymankind a hope of future benefit and a fear of future e(i". %or the good peop"e who are a race asthey are capricious ha(e their fa(ourites among those who inhabit this wor"d; often show their affectioneasing the ob?ects of it from the "oad of this burdensome "ife; and fre=uent"y reward or punish theaccording to the degree of re(erence paid to the obse=uies and the memory of the e"ected dead.0t is not easy to pre(ai" on Tom to speak of those good peop"e with whom he is said to ho"d fre=uent

intimate communications. To the faithfu" who be"ie(e in their power and their occasiona" de"egationhim he se"dom refuses if proper"y asked to e7ercise his high prerogati(e when any unfortunatestruck the term Afairy struckA is app"ied to para"ytic affections which are supposed to proceed fromgi(en by the in(isib"e hand of an offended fairy; this be"ief of course creates fairy doctors whocharms and mysterious ?ourneys profess to cure the aff"icted. 0t is on"y faiir to add that the term hascon(i(ia" acceptation the fairies being not unfre=uent"y made to bear the b"ame of the effects arisingtoo copious a sacrifice to the ?o""y god. The importance attached to the manner and p"ace of buria"peasantry is a"most incredib"e; it is a"ways a matter of consideration and often of dispute whetherdeceased sha"" be buried with his or her Aown peop"e.A in his neighbourhood. !ti"" he wi"" not beThe Confessions of To$ Bourkeunsued5 he is at first difficu"t of persuasion and must be o(ercome by a "itt"e gent"e (io"ence. &noccasions he is unusua""y so"emn and mysterious and if one word of reward be mentioned he at

abandons the unhappy patient such a proposition being a direct insu"t to his supernatura" superiors.that as the "abourer is worthy of his hire most persons gifted as he is do not scrup"e to recei(e agratitude from the patients or their friends after their reco(ery.To do Tom Bourke ?ustice he is on these occasions as 0 ha(e heard from many competent authoritiesperfect"y disinterested. 'ot many months since he reco(ered a young woman 9the sister of a tradesmannear him: who had been struck speech"ess after returning from a funera" and had continued so fordays. $e steadfast"y refused recei(ing any compensation; saying that e(en if he had not as muchbuy him his supper he cou"d take nothing in this case because the gir" had offended at the funera"good peoplebe"onging to his own fami"y and though he wou"d do her a kindness he cou"d take noneher.8bout the time this "ast remarkab"e affair took p"ace my friend )r. )artin who is a neighbour ofsome business to transact with him which it was e7ceeding"y difficu"t to bring to a conc"usion. 8t

)artin ha(ing tried a"" =uiet means had recourse to a "ega" process which brought Tom to reasonmatter was arranged to their mutua" satisfaction and with perfect good humour between the parties.accommodation took p"ace after dinner at )r. )artin,s house and he in(ited Tom to wa"k into theand take a g"ass of punch made of some e7ce""entpotteen, which was on the tab"e 5 he had "ong wisheddraw out his high"y ,endowed neighbour on the sub?ect of his supernatura" powers and as )rs. )artinwas in the room was rather a fa(ourite of Tom,s this seemed a good opportunity.A -e"" TomA said )r. )artin A that was a curious business of )o""y Dwyer,s who reco(ered hersudden"y the other day.AYou may say that sirA rep"ied Tom Bourke; but 0 had to tra(e" far for it5 no matter for that now.ma,amA said he turning to )rs. )artin.


AThank you Tom. But 0 am to"d you had some troub"e once in that way in your own fami"yA said)artin.A!o 0 had ma ,am; troub"e enough; but you were on"y a chi"d at that time.AACome TomA said the hospitab"e )r. )artin interrupting him A take another tumb"er;A and he thenA0 wish you wou"d te"" us something of the manner in which so many of your chi"dren died. 0 amdropped off one after another by the same disorder and that your e"dest son was cured in a moste7traordinary way when the physicians had gi(en him o(er.A

A ,Tis true for you sirA returned Tom; Ayour father the doctor 9#od be good to him 0 won,t be"iegra(e: to"d me when my fourth "itt"e boy was a week sick that himse"f and Doctor Barry did a""cou"d do for him but they cou"d not keep him from going after the rest. 'o more they cou"d if thetook away the rest wished to take him too. But they "eft him; and sorry to the heart 0 am 0 did notwhy they were taking my boys from me; if 0 did 0 wou"d not be "eft trusting to two of ,em now.AA8nd how did you find it out Tom@A en=uired )r. )artin.A-hy then 0,"" te"" you sirA said Bourke.A-hen your father said what 0 to"d you 0 did not know (ery we"" what to do. 0 wa"ked down the "itt"e"ohereen you know sir that goes to the ri(er side near Dick $eafy,s ground; for ,t was a "onesomeThe Confessions of To$ Bourke0 wanted to think of myse"f. 0 was hea(y sir and my heart got weak in me when 0 thought 0 was to"itt"e boy; and 0 did not know we"" how to face his mother with the news for she doted down upon

Beside she ne(er got the better of a"" she cried at his brother,s berrin 9burying: the week before. 8sgoing down the bohereen 0 met an o"d bocough 8 pecu"iar c"ass of beggars resemb"ing the #aber"un>ieof !cot"and that used to come about the p"ace once or twice a year and used a"ways s"eep in ourhe staid in the neighbourhood. !o he asked me how 0 was. ,Bad enough !hamous 9/ames:, says 0.for your troub"e, says he; ,but you,re a foo"ish man )r. Bourke. Your son wou"d be we"" enoughwou"d on"y do what you ought with him., ,-hat more can 0 do with him !hamous@, says 05 ,the doctorshim o(er., ,The doctors know no more what ai"s him than they do what ai"s a cow when she stopssays !hamous5 ,but go to such a one, says he te""ing me his name ,and try what he,"" say to you.,A8nd who was that Tom@A asked )r. )artin.A0 cou"d not te"" you that sirA said Bourke with a mysterious "ook5 Ahowsoe(er you often saw himdoes not "i(e far from this. But 0 had a tria" of him before; and if 0 went to him at first may be 0,dsome of the them that,s gone and so !hamous often to"d me. -e"" sir 0 went to this man and he

me to the house. By course 0 did e(ery thing as he bid me. 8ccording to his order 0 took the "itt"ethe dwe""inghouse immediate"y sick as he was and made a bed for him and myse"f in the cowsir 0 "ay down by his side in the bed between two of the cows and he fe"" as"eep. $e got into a perspirationsa(ing your presence as if he was drawn through the ri(er and breathed hard with a great ipression9oppression: on his chest and was (ery bad (ery bad entire"y through the night. 0 thought abouto,c"ock he was going at "ast and 0 was ?ust getting up to go ca"" the man 0 to"d you of; but there wasoccasion. )y friends were getting the better of them that wanted to take him away from me. Therenobody in the cowhouse but the chi"d and myse"f. There was on"y one ha"fpenny cand"e "ightingwas stuck in the wa"" at the far end of the house. 0 had ?ust enough of "ight where we were "ayingperson wa"king or standing near us5 and there was no more noise than if it was a churchyard e7ceptchewing the fodder in the sta""s. /ust as 0 was thinking of getting up as 0 to"d you 0 won,t be"iesir he was a good father to me 0 saw him standing at the bedside ho"ding out his right hand

"eaning his other hand on the stick he used to carry when he was a"i(e and "ooking p"easant and smi"ingme a"" as if he was te""ing me not to be afeard for 0 wou"d not "ose the chi"d. , 0s that you fathersaid nothing. ,0f that,s you, says 0 again ,for the "o(e of them that,s gone "et me catch your hand.,did sir; and his hand was as soft as a chi"d,s. $e stayed about as "ong as you,d be going from thisbe"ow at the end of the a(enue and then went away. 0n "ess than a week the chi"d was as we"" ase(er ai"ed him; and there isn,t tonight a hea"thier boy of nineteen from this b"essed house to theBa""yporeen across the Ki"worth mountains.ABut 0 think TomA said )r. )artin Ait appears as if you are more indebted to your father than to therecommended to you by !hamous; or do you suppose it was he who made fa(our with your enemiesthe good peop"e and that then your father A


A0 beg your pardon sirA said Bourke interrupting him; Abut don,t ca"" them my enemies. ,T wou"dwishing to me for a good dea" to sit by when they are ca""ed so. 'o offence to you sir. $ere,s wishinggood hea"th and "ong "ife.AA0 assure youA returned )r. )artin A 0 meant no offence Tom; but was it not as 0 say@AA0 can,t te"" you that sirA said Bourke; A0,m bound down sir. $owsoe(er you may be sure the manand my father and those they know sett"ed it between them.AThere was a pause of which )rs. )artin took ad(antage to en=uire of Tom whether something remarkab"e

had not happened about a goat and a pair of pigeons at the time of his son,s i""ness circumstancesThe Confessions of To$ Bourkemysterious"y hinted at by Tom.A!ee that nowA said he turning to )r. )artin Ahow we"" she remembers it< True for you ma,am.ga(e the mistress your mother when the doctors ordered her goats, whey.A)rs. )artin nodded assent and Tom Bourke continued A -hy then 0,"" te"" you how that was. Thewas as we"" as e,er a goat e(er was for a month after she was sent to Ki""aan to your father,s. Theafter the night 0 ?ust to"d you of; before the chi"d woke his mother was standing at the gap "eadingbarnyard into the road and she saw two pigeons f"ying from the town of Ki"worth off the churchtowards her. -e"" they ne(er stopped you see ti"" they came to the house on the hi"" at the otherri(er facing our farm. They pitched upon the chimney of that house and after "ooking about themminute or two they f"ew straight across the ri(er and stopped on the ridge of the cowhouse where

and 0 were "ying. Do you think they came there for nothing sir@AACertain"y not TomA returned )r. )artin.A-e"" the woman came in to me frightenedand to"d me. !he began to cry. ,-hisht you foo"


Ba""yhefaan ford 8 ford of the ri(er %uncheon 9the %anchin of !penser: on the road "eading from8rag"in. $e had taken a drop to be sure; but he was on"y a "itt"e merry as you may say and knewwhat he was doing. The moon was shining for it was in the month of 8ugust and the ri(er was asand as bright as a "ookingg"ass. $e heard nothing for a "ong time but the fa"" of the water at the mi""about a mi"e down the ri(er and now and then the crying of the "ambs on the other side of the ri(er.once there was a noise of a great number of peop"e "aughing as if they,d break their hearts and ofp"aying among them. 0t came from the inch at the other side of the ford and he saw through the mist

hung o(er the ri(er a who"e crowd of peop"e dancing on the inch. Patrick was as fond of a dancea g"ass and that,s saying enough for him; so he whipped ie. Athe time of the crack of a whipA he tookshoes and stockings off his shoes and stockings and away with him across the ford. 8fter puttingshoes and stockings at the other side of the ri(er he wa"ked o(er to the crowd and mi7ed with themtime without being minded. $e thought sir that he,d show them better dancing than any of themse"(eswas proud of his feet sir and good right he had for there was not a boy in the same parish cou"ddoub"e or treb"e with him. But pwah 0 his dancing was no more to theirs than mine wou"d be tothere. They did not seem as if they had a bone in their bodies and they kept it up as if nothing cou"dthem. Patrick was ,shamed within himse"f for he thought he had not his fe""ow in a"" the countrywas going away when a "itt"e o"d man that was "ooking at the company for some time bitter"y asnot "ike what was going on came up to him. ,Patrick, says he.Patrick started for he did not think any body there knew him. , Patrick, says he you,re discouraged

wonder for you. But you ha(e a friend near you. 0 ,m your friend and your father,s friend and 0 think9more: of your "itt"e finger than 0 do of a"" that are here though they think no one is as good as themse"(es.#o into the ring and ca"" for a "i"t. Don,t be afeard. 0 te"" you the best of them did not do as we"" asif you wi"" do as 0 bid you., Patrick fe"t something within him as if he ought not to gainsay the o"dwent into the ring and ca""ed the piper to p"ay up the best doub"e he had. 8nd sure enough a"" thatwere ab"e for was nothing to him< $e bounded "ike an ee" now here and now there as "ight as a feathera"though the peop"e cou"d hear the music answered by his steps that beat time to e(ery turn of itfoot of the piper. $e first danced a hornpipe on the ground. Then they got a tab"e and he dancedthat drew down shouts from the who"e company. 8t "ast he ca""ed for a trencher; and when they sawas if he was spinning on it "ike a top they did not know what to make of him. !ome praised him fordancer that e(er entered a ring; others hated him because he was better than themse"(es; a"thoughgood right to think themse"(es better than him or any other man that ne(er went the "ong ?ourney.A

A8nd what was the cause of his great success@A en=uired )r. )artin.A$e cou"d not he"p it sirA rep"ied Tom Bourke. AThey that cou"d make him do more than that madeit. $owsome(er when he had done they wanted him to dance again but he was tired and they cou"dpersuade him. 8t "ast he got angry and swore a big oath sa(ing your presence that he wou"d notstep more; and the word was hard"y out of his mouth when he found himse"f a"" a"one with nothingwhite cow gra>ing by his side.AADid he e(er disco(er why he was gifted with these e7traordinary powers in the dance Tom,@A said)artin.A0,"" te"" you that too sirA answered Bourke Awhen 0 come to it. -hen he went home sir be wasshi(ering and went to bed; and the ne7t day they found he got the fe(er or something "ike it for"ike as if he was mad. But they cou"dn,t make out what it was he was saying though he ta"ked constant.The Confessions of To$ Bourke

doctors ga(e him o(er. But it ,s "itt"e they know what ai"ed him. -hen he was, as you may say aboutsick and e(ery body thought he was going one of the neighbours came in to him with a man a friendfrom Ba""in"acken that was keeping with him some time before. 0 can,t te"" you his name either on"yDarby. The minute Darby saw Patrick he took a "itt"e bott"e with the ?uice of herbs in it out of hisand ga(e Patrick a drink of it. $e did the same e(ery day for three weeks and then Patrick was ab"eabout as stout and as hearty as e(er he was in his "ife. But be was a "ong time before he came to himse"f;he used to wa"k the who"e day sometimes by the ditch side ta"king to himse"f "ike as if there wasa"ong with him. 8nd so there was sure"y or he wou"dn,t be the man he is today.A0 suppose it was from some such companion "ie "earned his ski""A said )r. )artin.AYou ha(e it a"" now sirA rep"ied Bourke.


ADarby to"d him his friends were satisfied with what he did the night of the dance; and though theyhinder the fe(er they,d bring him o(er it and teach him more than many knew beside him. 8nd so%or you see a"" the peop"e he met on the inch that night were friends of a different faction; on"y thethat spoke to him; he was a friend of Patrick,s fami"y and it went again, his heart you see that thewere so "ight and acti(e and he was bitter in himse"f to hear ,em boasting how they,d dance withthe who"e country round. !o he ga(e Patrick the gift that night and afterwards ga(e him the ski""him the wonder of a"" that know him. 8nd to be sure it was on"y "earning he was that time when he

wandering in his mind after the fe(er.AA0 ha(e heard many strange stories about that inch near Ba""yhefaan fordA said )r. )artin.A ,Tis a great p"ace for the good peop"e isn,t it Tom@AAYou may say that sirA returned Bourke. A0 cou"d te"" you a great dea" about it. )any a time 0 satas two hours by moon"ight at th, other side of the ri(er "ooking at ,em p"aying goa" as if they,dhearts o(er it; with their coats and waistcoats off and white handkerchiefs on the heads of one partyones on th, other ?ust as you,d see on a !unday in )r. !imming,s big fie"d. 0 saw ,em one night p"aymoon set without one party being ab"e to take the ba"" from th, other. 0,m sure they were going to,twas near morning. 0,m to"d your grandfather ma,am used to see ,em there tooA said Bourke turning)rs. )artin.A!o 0 ha(e been to"d TornA rep"ied )rs. )artin. ABut don,t they say that the church yard of Ki"crumperabout two hundred yards off the Dub"in mai"coach road near"y midway between Ki"worth and

?ust as fa(ourite a p"ace with the good peop"e as Ba""yhefaan inch.AA-hy then may be you ne(er heard ma,am what happened to Da(y *oche in that same churchyardABourke; and turning to )r. )artin added A ,t was a "ong time before he went into your ser(icewa"king home of an e(ening from the fair of Ki"cummer a "itt"e merry to be sure after the daycame up with a berrin. !o he wa"ked a"ong with it and thought it (ery =ueer that he did not knowsou" in the crowd but one man and he was sure that man was dead many years afore. $owsome(eron with the berrin ti"" they came to Ki"crumper churchyard; and faith he went in and staid with thethe corpse buried. 8s soon as the gra(e was co(ered what shou"d they do but gather about a pipercoe a"ong with ,em and fa"" to dancing as if it was a wedding. Da(y "onged to be among ,em 9forbad foot of his own that time whate(er he may now:; but he was "oath to begin because they a""strange to him on"y the man 0 to"d you that he thought was dead. -e"" at "ast this man saw whatwanted and came up to him. ,Da(y, says he ,take out a partner and show what you can do but take

don,t offer to kiss her., ,That 0 won,t, says Da(y , a"though her "ips were made of honey., 8nd withmade his bow to thepurtiest gir" in the ring and he and she began to dance. ,T was a ?ig they dancedThe Confessions of To$ Bourkethey did it to th, admiration do you see of a"" that were there. ,T was a"" (ery we"" ti"" the ?ig was?ust as they had done Da(y for he had a drop in and was warm with the dancing forgot himse"fhis partner according to custom. The smack was no sooner off of his "ips you see than he was "eftthe churchyard without a creature near him and a"" he cou"d see was the the tombstones. Da(y saidseemed as if they were dancing too but 0 suppose that was on"y the wonder that happened him anda "itt"e in drink. $owsome(er he found it was a great many hours "ater than he thought it; ,twaswhen he came home ; but they cou"dn,t get a word out of him ti"" the ne7t day when he ,woke outs"eep about twe"(e o,c"ock.A-hen Tom had finished the account of Da(y *oche and the berrin it became =uite e(ident that spirits

some sort were working too strong within him to admit of his te""ing many more ta"es of the goodTom seemed conscious of this. $e muttered for a few minutes broken sentences concerning churchyardsri(ersides "eprechans and dina agh, which were =uite uninte""igib"e perhaps to himse"f certain"y)artin and his "ady. 8t "ength he made a s"ight motion of the head upwards as if he wou"d say Ano more;A stretched his arm on the tab"e upon which he p"aced the empty tumb"er s"ow"y and withknowing and cautious air; and rising from his chair wa"ked or rather ro""ed to the par"ourdoor.turned round to face his host and hostess; but after (arious ineffectua" attempts to bid them good nightwords as they rose being a"ways choked by a (io"ent hiccup whi"e the door which he he"d by theswung to and fro carrying his unyie"ding body a"ong with it he was ob"iged to depart in si"ence.cowboy sent by Tom,s wife who knew we"" what sort of a""urement detained him when he remained


after a certain hour was in attendance to conduct his master home. 0 ha(e no doubt that he returnedmeeting any materia" in?ury as 0 know that within the "ast month he was to use his own words Aand hearty a man as any of his age in the county Cork.A

$airies %r &o $airies/&$' )+LL0#8' was as fine an o"d fe""ow as e(er threw a Car"ow spur into the sides of a horse.besides as ?o""y a boon companion o(er a ?ug of punch as you wou"d meet from Carnsore Point to%ar"and. 8nd a good horse he used to ride; and a stiffer ?ug of punch than his was not in nineteen

)ay be he stuck more to it than he ought to ha(e donebut that is nothing whate(er to the story 0te""./ohn be"ie(ed de(out"y in fairies; and an angry man was he if you doubted them. $e had more fairythan wou"d make if proper"y printed in a ri(u"et of print running down a meadow of margin two=uartos for )r. )urray of 8"bemar"e street; a"" of which he used to te"" on a"" occasions that he cou"d"isteners. )any be"ie(ed his stories many more did not be"ie(e them but nobody in process ofto contradict the o"d gent"eman for it was a pity to (e7 him. But he had a coup"e of young neighbourswere ?ust come down from their first (acation in Trinity Co""ege to spend the summer months withof theirs )r. -ha"ey an o"d Cromwe""ian who "i(ed at Ba""ybegmu""inahone and they were tooto "et the o"d man ha(e his own way undisputed.E(ery story he to"d they "aughed at and said that it was impossib"e that it was mere"y o"d woman,sand other such things. -hen he wou"d insist that a"" his stories were deri(ed from the most credib"e

nay that some of them had been to"d him by his own grandmother a (ery respectab"e o"d "ady butaffected in her facu"ties as things that came under her own know"edge they cut the matter shortdec"aring that she was in her dotage and at the best of times had a strong propensity to pu""ing aAButA said they A/ack )u""igan did you e(er see a fairy yourse"f@AFairies %r &o FairiesA'e(erA was the rep"y. 'e(er as 0 am a man of honour and credit.AA-e"" thenA they answered A unti" you do do not be bothering us with any more ta"es of my grandmother.A/ack was particu"ar"y nett"ed at this and took up the5 cudge"s for his grandmother; but the younkerssharp for him and fina""y he got into a passion as peop"e genera""y do who ha(e the worst of anThis e(ening it was at their unc"e,s an o"d crony of his with whom he had dined he bad takenportion of his usua" be(erage and was =uite riotous. $e at "ast got up in a passion ordered his horsespite of his host,s entreaties ga""oped off a"though he had intended to ha(e s"ept there dec"aring

wou"d not ha(e any thing more to do with a pair of ?ackanapes puppies who because they had "earnedto read goodfornothing hooks in cramp writing and were taught by a parce" of wiggy redsnoutedprating prigs 9AnotA added he Ahowe(er that 0 say a man may not be a good man and ha(e a redimagined they knew more than a man who had he"d buck"e and tongue together facing the windfor fi(e do>en years.$e rode off in a fret and ga""oped as hard as his horse !haunbuie cou"d powder away o(er the "imestone.Damn it


beautifu". They were not three inches in height but they were white as the dri(en snow and beyondnumber"ess. /ack threw the brid"e o(er his horse,s neck and drew up to the "ow wa"" which boundeddemesne and "eaning o(er it sur(eyed with infinite de"ight their di(ersified gambo"s. By "ookingthem he soon saw ob?ects which had not struck him at first; in particu"ar that in the midd"e wassuperior stature round whom the group appeared to mo(e. $e ga>ed so "ong that he was =uite o(ercome?oy and cou"d not he"p shouting out A Bra(o< "itt"e fe""owA said he we"" kicked and strong.A Buthe uttered the words the night was darkened and the fairies (anished with the speed of "ightning.

A 0 wishA said /ack A0 had he"d my tongue; but no matter now. 0 sha"" ?ust turn brid"e about and goBa""ybegmu""inahone Cast"e and beat the young )aster -ha"eys fine reasoners as they think themse"(esout of the fie"d c"ean.A'o sooner said than done; and /ack was back again as if upon the wings of the wind. $e rapped fierce"ydoor and ca""ed a"oud for the two co""egians.A $a""oement staggered back to his horse without saying a wordrode home in a hard ga""op ne(er "ooking behind him. )any a "ong day was it before he (entured"aughers at Ba""ybegmu""inahone; and to the day of his death the peop"e of the parish aye and fi(eround ca""ed him nothing but )usharoon /ack such being their pronunciation of mushroom.0 shou"d be sorry if a"" my fairy stories ended with so "itt"e dignity; but +hese our actors,s * foretold $ou, #ere all spirits, and

re elted into air & into thin air.

Fairies %r &o Fairies

The #aunted Cellar


T$E*E are few peop"e who ha(e not heard of the )ac Carthies one of the rea" o"d 0rish fami"iestrue )i"esian b"ood running in their (eins as thick as buttermi"k. )any were the c"ans of this fami"ysouth; as the )ac Carthymore and the )ac Carthyreagh and the )ac Carthy of )uskerry;them were noted for their hospita"ity to strangers gent"e and simp"e.But not one of that name or of any other e7ceeded /ustin )ac Carthy of Ba""inacarthy at puttingeat and drink upon his tab"e; and there was a right hearty we"come for e(ery one who wou"d sharehim. )any a winece""ar wou"d be ashamed of the name if that at Ba""inacarthy was the proper pattern

one; "arge as that ce""ar was it was crowded with bins of wine and "ong rows of pipes and hogsheadscasks that it wou"d take more time to count than any sober man cou"d spare in such a p"ace withdrink about him and a hearty we"come to do so.There are many no doubt who wi"" think that the but"er wou"d ha(e "itt"e to comp"ain of in suchthe who"e country round wou"d ha(e agreed with them if a man cou"d be found to remain as )r.Carthy,s but"er for any "ength of time worth speaking of; yet not one who had been in his ser(icebad word.A-e ha(e no fau"tA they wou"d say Ato find with the master and if he cou"d but get any one to fetchfrom the ce""ar we might e(ery one of us ha(e grown gray in the house and ha(e "i(ed =uiet andenough in his ser(ice unti" the end of our days.AA ,Tis a =ueer thing that sure"yA thought young /ack Leary a "ad who had been brought up from ain the stab"es of Ba""inacarthy to assist in taking care of the horses and had occasiona""y "ent a hand

but"er,s pantry 5 A ,tis a mighty =ueer thing sure"y that one man after another cannot content himse"fwith the best p"ace in the house of a good master but that e(ery one of them must =uit a"" throughas they say of the winece""ar. 0f the master "ong "ife to him 0 wou"d but make me his but"er 0 warrantthe word more wou"d be heard of grumb"ing at his bidding to go to the winece""ar.AYoung Leary according"y watched for what he concei(ed to be a fa(ourab"e opportunity of presentinghimse"f to the notice of his master.8 few mornings after )r. )ac Carthy went into his stab"eyard rather ear"ier than usua" and ca""edfor the groom to sadd"e his horse as he intended going out with the hounds. But there was no groomanswer and young /ack Leary "ed *ainbow out of the stab"e.A-here is -i""iam@A en=uired )r. )ac Carthy.A!ir@ said /ack and )r. )ac Carthy repeated the =uestion.A0s it -i""iam p"ease your honour@A returned /ack; Awhy then to te"" the truth he had ?ust one drop

"ast night.AA-here did he get it@A said )r. )ac Carthy; Afor since Thomas went away the key of the winece""arbeen in my pocket and 0 ha(e been ob"iged to fetch what was drank myse"f.AA!orrow a know 0 knowA said Leary Aun"ess the cook might ha(e gi(en him the least taste in "ifewhiskey. ButA continued he performing a "ow bow by sei>ing with his right hand a "ock of hairdown his head by it whi"st his "eft "eg which had been put forward was scraped back against theThe #aunted Ce!!armay 0 make so bo"d as ?ust to ask your honour one =uestion@AA!peak out /ackA said )r )ac Carthy.A-hy then does your honour want a but"er@AACan you recommend me oneA returned his master with the smi"e of goodhumour upon his countenanceand one who wi"" not be afraid of going to my winece""ar@A

A0s the winece""ar a"" the matter@A said young Leary; Ade(i" a doubt 0 ha(e of myse"f then for that.AA!o you mean to offer me your ser(ices in the capacity of but"er@A said )r. )ac Carthy with someAE7act"y soA answered Leary now for the first time "ooking up from the ground.A-e"" 0 be"ie(e you to be a good "ad and no ob?ection to gi(e you a tria".AALong may your honour reign o(er us and the Lord spare you to us


0t is of "itt"e purport to my story a"though it may afford an instructi(e "esson to the reader to depictsudden transition of nobody intosoebody. /ack,s former stab"e companion a poor superannuatednamed Bran who had been accustomed to recei(e many an affectionate pat on the head was spurnedhim with a kick and anA &ut of the way sirrah.A 0ndeed poor /ack,s memory seemed sad"y affectedsudden change of situation. -hat estab"ished the point beyond a"" doubt was his a"most forgettingface of Peggy the kitchen wench whose heart he had assai"ed but the preceding week by the offerpurchasing a go"d ring for the fourth finger of her right hand and a "usty imprint of goodwi"" upon

-hen )r. )ac Carthy returned from hunting he sent for /ack Leary so he sti"" continued to ca""but"er. A/ackA said he A0 be"ie(e you are a trustworthy "ad and here are the keys of my ce""ar. 0the gent"emen with whom 0 hunted today to dine with me and 0 hope they may be satisfied at thewhich wait on them at tab"e; but abo(e a"" "et there be no want of wine after dinner.A)r. /ohn ha(ing a to"erab"y =uick eye for such and being natura""y a handy "ad spread c"oth according"yhis p"ates and kni(es forks in the same manner be had seen his predecessors in office perform thesemysteries rea""y for the first time got through attendance on dinner (ery we"".0t must not be forgotten howe(er that it was at the house of an 0rish country s=uire who was entertainingcompany of booted and spurred fo7hunters not (ery particu"ar about what are considered mattersimportance under other circumstances and in other societies.%or instance few of )r. )ac Carthy,s guests 9though a"" e7ce""ent and worthy men in their way:whether the punch produced after soup was made of /amaica or 8ntigua rum ; some e(en wou"d

been inc"ined to =uestion the correctness of good o"d 0rish whiskey; and with the e7ception of theirhost himse"f e(ery one in company preferred the port which )r. )ac Carthy put on histab"e toardent f"a(our of c"aret a choice rather at (ariance with modern sentiment.The #aunted Ce!!ar0t was wa7ing near midnight when )r. )ac Carthy rang the be"" three times. This was a signa" forwine; and /ack proceeded to the ce""ar to procure a fresh supp"y but it must be confessed not without"itt"e hesitation.The "u7ury of ice was then unknown in the south of 0re"and; but the superiority of coo" wine had beenacknow"edged by a"" men of sound ?udgement and true taste.The grandfather of )r. )ac Carthy who had bui"t the mansion of Ba""inacarthy upon the site of anwhich had be"onged to his ancestors was fu""y aware of this important fact; and in the constructionmagnificent winece""ar had a(ai"ed himse"f of a deep (au"t e7ca(ated out of the so"id rock in former

as a p"ace of retreat and security. The descent to this (au"t was by a f"ight of steep stone stairs andthere in the wa"" were narrow passages 0 ought rather to ca"" them cre(ices; and a"so certain pro?ectionswhich cast deep shadows and "ooked (ery frightfu" when any one went down the ce""ar stairs with"ight5 indeed two "ights did not much impro(e the matter for though the breadth of the shadowsthe narrow cre(ices remained as dark and darker than e(er.!ummoning up a"" his reso"ution down went the new but"er bearing in his right hand a "antern andthe ce""ar and in his "eft a basket which he considered sufficient"y capacious to contain an ade=uatethe remainder of the e(ening5 he arri(ed at the door without any interruption whate(er; but whenkey which was of an ancient and c"umsy kind for it was before the days of Bramah,s patent andin the "ock he thought he heard a strange kind of "aughing within the ce""ar to which some emptystood upon the f"oor outside (ibrated so (io"ent"y that they struck against each other5 in this he cou"dmistaken a"though he may ha(e been decei(ed in the "augh for the bott"es were ?ust at his feet

them in motion.Leary paused for a moment and "ooked about him with becoming caution. $e then bo"d"y sei>edof the key and turned it with a"" his strength in the "ock as if he doubted his own power of doingdoor f"ew open with a most tremendous crash that if the house had not been bui"t upon the so"idha(e shook it from the foundation.To recount what the poor fe""ow saw wou"d be impossib"e for he seems not to know (ery c"ear"ywhat he to"d the cook the ne7t morning was that he heard a roaring and be""owing "ike a mad bu""a"" the pipes and hogsheads and casks in the ce""ar went rocking backwards and forwards with sothat he thought e(ery one wou"d ha(e been sta(ed in and that he shou"d ha(e been drowned or smotheredwine.


-hen Leary reco(ered he made his way back as we"" as he cou"d to the diningroom where he foundmaster and the company (ery impatient for his return.A-hat kept you@A said )r. )ac Carthy in an angry (oice; Aand where is the wine @ 0 rung for it ha"fsince.A The wine is in the ce""ar 0 hope sirA said /ack tremb"ing (io"ent"y; A 0 hope ,tis not a"" "ost.AA-hat do you mean foo"@A e7c"aimed )r. )ac Carthy in a sti"" more angry tone5 A.why did yousome with you@A

/ack "ooked wi"d"y about him and on"y uttered a deep groan.A#ent"emenA said )r. )ac Carthy to his guests Athis is too much. -hen 0 ne7t see you to dinnerwi"" be in another house for it is impossib"e 0 can remain "onger in this where a man has no commandThe #aunted Ce!!arhis own winece""ar and cannot get a but"er to do his duty. 0 ha(e "ong thought of mo(ing fromBa""inacarthy; and 0 am now determined with the b"essing of #od to "ea(e it tomorrow. But wineha(e were 0 to go myse"f to the ce""ar for it.A !o saying he rose from tab"e took the key and "anternha"f stupefied ser(ant who regarded him with a "ook of (acancy and descended the narrow stairsdescribed which "ed to his ce""ar.-hen he arri(ed at the door which he found open he thought he heard a noise as if of rats or micescramb"ing o(er the casks and on ad(ancing percei(ed a "itt"e figure about si7 inches in heightastride upon the pipe of the o"dest port in the p"ace and bearing a spigot upon his shou"der. *aising

"antern )r. )ac Carthy contemp"ated the "itt"e fe""ow with wonder5 he wore a red nightcap on hisbefore him was a short "eather apron which now from his attitude fe"" rather on one side; and hestockings of a "ight b"ue co"our ,so "ong as near"y to co(er the entire of his "egs; with shoes ha(ingsi"(er buck"es in them and with high hee"s 9perhaps out of (anity to make him appear ta""er:. $is"ike a withered winter app"e; and his nose which was of a bright crimson co"our about the tip worepurp"e b"oom "ike that of a p"um5 yet his eyes twink"edA"ike those mites&f candied dew in moony nights and his mouth twitched up at one side with an arch grin.A$a scoundre"


disbe"ie(e what in their hearts they be"ie(e and are afraid of. 'ow %e"i7 &,Drisco"" was one of these.was a ratt"ing ro""icking harumscarum de(i" maycare sort of fe""ow "ike but that,s neither herethere5 he was a"ways ta"king one nonsense or another; and among the rest of his foo"ery he pretendedbe"ie(e in the fairies the c"uricaunes and the phoocas; and he e(en sometimes had the impudencedoubt of ghosts that e(ery body be"ie(es in at any rate. Yet some peop"e used to wink and "ook knowingwhen %e"i7 wasgostering, for it was obser(ed that he was (ery shy of passing the ford of 8hnamoenightfa""; and that when he was once riding past the o"d church of #renaugh in the dark e(en though

got enoughpotheen into him to make any man stout he made the horse trot so that there was nowith him; and e(ery now and then he wou"d throw a sharp "ook out o(er his "eft shou"der.&ne night there was a parce" of peop"e sitting drinking and ta"king together at Larry *ei""y,spu"lichouse and %e"i7 was one of the party. $e was as usua" getting on with his "letheruskite aboutand swearing that he did not be"ie(e there were any li(e things barring men and beasts and birdsand such things as a body cou"d see and he went on ta"king in so profane a way of the good people,some of the company grew timid and began to cross themse"(es not knowing what might happeno"d woman ca""ed )oirna $ogaune with a "ong b"ue c"oak about her who had been sitting in thecorner smoking her pipe without taking any share in the con(ersation took the pipe out of her mouththe ashes out of it spit in the fire and turning round "ooked %e"i7 straight in the face.A8nd so you don,t be"ie(e there are such things as C"uricaunes don,t you@A said she.%e"i7 "ooked rather daunted but he said nothing.

A+pon my troth it we"" becomes the "ike o, you that,s nothing but a bit of agossoon, to take uponpretend not to be"ie(e what your father and your father,s father and his father before him ne(er"east doubt of< But to make the matter short seeing,s be"ie(ing they say; and 0 that might be yourgrandmother te"" you there are such things as C"uricaunes and 0 myse"f saw onethere,s for you8"" the peop"e in the room "ooked =uite surprised at this and crowded up to the firep"ace to "isten%e"i7 tried to "augh but it wou"dn,t do; nobody minded him.A0 rememberA said she A some time after 0 married my honest man who,s now dead and gone itsame token ?ust a "itt"e afore 0 "ay in of my first chi"d 9and that,s many a "ong day ago: 0 was sittingbit of garden with my knitting in my hand watching some bees that we had that were going to swarm.a fine sunshiny day about the midd"e of /une and the bees were humming and f"ying backwardsfrom the hi(es and the birds were chirping and hopping on the bushes and the butterf"ies were f"yingand sitting on the f"owers and e(ery thing sme"t so fresh and so sweet and 0 fe"t so happy that 0

knew where 0 was. -hen a"" of a sudden 0 heard among some rows of beans that we had in a cornergarden a noise that went ticktack ticktack ?ust for a"" the wor"d as if a broguemaker was puttinghee" of a pump. , Lord preser(e us


and when 0 saw nothing at a"" and "ooked back at the C"uricaune 0 found nothing at a"" at a"" in mywhen 0 had the i"" "uck to take my eyes off him he s"ipped out of my hand ?ust as if he was madesmoke and the sorrow the foot he e(er came nigh my garden again.A'otesThe popu"ar (oice assigns shoemaking as the occupation of the C"uricaune and his recreations smoking

drinking. $is characteristic traits are those which create "itt"e sympathy or regard and it is a"waysendea(our to outwit a C"uricaune who howe(er genera""y contri(es to turn the tab"es upon the seifmorta". This fairy is represented as a(aricious and cunning and when surprised by a peasant fearfu"superior strength a"though gifted with the power of disappearing if by any stratagem for which heat a "oss he can unfi7 the eye which has disco(ered him.0n the 0rish )e"odies this point of superstition is thus happi"y e7p"ained )er sile #hen "eaut$ granted,

* hung #ith gae enchanted,

Like hi the sprite,

-ho aids "$ night,

%ft eet in glen that s haunted

Like hi too "eaut$ #on e;

ut #hile her e$es #ere on e,*f once their ra$

-as turn'd a#a$,

% ! #inds could not outrun e.

)r. )oore in a note on these words apparent"y with more of ga""antry than ski"" in Afairie "oreAown know"edge of the Leprechan or C"uricaune in conse=uence of the account gi(en by Lady )organwhich though un=uestionab"y her "adyship is A a high authority on such sub?ectsA it wi"" be seen canreconci"ed without much difficu"ty as it is but the tricking se=ue" of a C"uricaune ad(enture shou"dendea(our to a(ert the eye pro(e unsuccessfu".The C"uricaune is supposed to ha(e a know"edge of buried treasure and is reported to be the possessor"itt"e "eather purse containing a shi""ing which no matter how often e7pended is a"ways to be foundit. This is ca""ed !pre na !ki""enagh or the !hi""ing %ortune. !pre "itera""y meaning catt"e is used

a dower or fortune from the marriage portion or fortune being paid by the 0rish not in money but!ometimes the C"uricaune carries two purses the one containing this magic shi""ing the other fi""edbrass coin; and if compe""ed to de"i(er has recourse to the subterfuge of gi(ing the "atter the weighteeing is Be!ie'ingwhich appears satisfactory unti" the e7amination of its contents when the eye being a(erted thecourse disappears.A#osteringA which occurs in the te7t may be e7p"ained as boasting ta"k. The reader is referred topub"ished by #a"ignani 9Paris 44M: of )r. )oore,s -orks, for an i""ustration (o". i(. p.2I3./o", Derot! go along #ith $our goster,

0ou ight as #ell pra$ at a 1ig,

%r teach an old co# pater noster,

%r #histle Moll 2o# to a pig !

Dudeen signifies a "itt"e stump of a pipe. !ma"" tobaccopipes of an ancient form are fre=uent"y0re"and on digging or p"oughing up the ground particu"ar"y in the (icinity of those circu"ar entrenchmentsca""ed Danish forts which were more probab"y the (i""ages or sett"ements of the nati(e 0rish. Thesebe"ie(ed by the peasantry to be"ong to the C"uricaunes and when disco(ered are broken or otherwith indignity as a kind of retort for the tricks which their supposed owners had p"ayed off.8 sketch of one of these pipes is anne7ed.0n the 8ntho"ogia $ibemica Jo". i. p. NO2 9Dub"in 4IMN: there is a"so a print of one which wasBrannockatown county Ki"dare sticking between the teeth of a human sku""; and it is accompaniedpaper which on the authority of $eradatus 9"ib. 4. !ec. NH: !trabo 9"ib. (ii. 2MH: Pomponius )e"a!o"inus 9c. 4O: goes to pro(e that the northern nations of Europe were ac=uainted with tobacco


simi"ar properties and that they smoked it through sma"" tubes of course "ong before the e7istence8merica was known.These arguments in fa(our of the anti=uity of smoking recei(e additiona" support from the disco(eryse(era" sma"" c"ay pipes in the hu"" of a ship found somewhere about ten years since when e7ca(atingthe city of Dant>ig. Like those interesting remains of ancient (esse"s one of which 9disco(ered thein a bog in the north of 0re"and: was so barbarous"y destroyed by the peasantry and "ike that dugo"d branch of the ri(er *other in Kent and recent"y e7hibited in London the (esse" at Dant>ig must

situation ha(e "ain undisturbed for many centuries.!hou"d the reader fee" inc"ined to doubt any part of )oirna $ogaune anglice )ary $ogan,s re"ationnot be difficu"t to obtain an account of her ad(enture with the C"uricaune and many other e(enwonderfu" ta"es from her own "ips; as )oirna is we"" known and is or at "east was "i(ing withinmonths not far from the ford of 8hnamoe a""uded to in the te7t which is considered to be a fa(ouriteof the fairies. This information may perhaps be acceptab"e to )r. E""is the ab"e and ?udicious editorBrand,s Popu"ar 8nti=uities; for in one of his notes on that (a"uab"e work he saysA" made strict in=uiries after fairies in the uncu"ti(ated wi"ds of 'orthumber"and but e(en there 0meet with a man who said that he had seen one that had seen fairies. Truth is hard to come at innone 0 be"ie(e e(er came nearer to it in this than 0 ha(e.A8hnamoe correct"y written 8th na bo signifies Athe ford of the cow.A 0t is a "itt"e c"ear stream whichcrossing the Carrigna(ar road di(ides two farms situated about se(en mi"es northeast of Cork.

#renaugh or #reenagh is a ruined church se(en or eight mi"es northwest of Cork concerningthat of #arryc"oyne not far distant mar(e""ous ta"es of the Tam &, !hanter c"ass are to"d withoutthe autograph of a respectab"e farmer named *i"ehan who resides in this neighbourhood and who(eracity of the story the fo""owing is copied (erbatim.eeing is Be!ie'ingAThere did eight men and one of them is a tenant of mine now go to the churchyard of #arryc"oynewas wrongfu" of them thinking to cut sticks to tresh oats with and the young osier they began toshowed that it was a"" on fire "ike the burning hush; and a"" the trees about them in the churchyardsame and in the road from the church; so being frightened they went back without e(er the stickswitch. *ut they set to the work again in the "atter end of the ne7t night at the coming on of theand they cut a tree out of the churchyard and brought it away with them; it was a"" on fire unti" theythe ri(er and then it went up in the sky from them roaring "ike a mad bu"" < They ne(er got such

shock; and they were not the better of that night,s work for two months after.A!ome particu"ars respecting the ancient (esse"s mentioned in the abo(e note at page 4II are worthpreser(ation as this remarkab"e series of disco(eries seems not to be genera""y known.&f the ancient (esse" found in Kent an account has been preser(ed in a "itt"e pamph"et so"d at thee7hibition; and a beautifu" "ithographic print by )r. /. D. $arding of the e7ca(ation was pub"ished)essrs. *odwe"" and )artin.0n 8ugust 44N the remains of a (esse" were disco(ered in Ba""ywi""iam Bog about a mi"e fromthe "iberties of Co"erain. %rom the e7amination of the si>e and form of the ribs and p"anks it wasthat she carried from forty to fifty tons. 'otwithstanding the in?uries of time the outside p"anks measuredinch and a =uarter in thickness; of them howe(er on"y sma"" pieces cou"d be traced. !ome of theeight inches broad fi(e deep and se(en or eight feet "ong and many of them e7ceeded this measurement

considerab"y ; neither kee" nor mast cou"d be disco(ered.These remains were torn up and carried off before the particu"ars were fu""y in(estigated. The timberoak and se(era" car "oads of it were drawn swayThis ship was found in a moat about forty feet in diameter composed of stones and c"ay but chief"yfifteen perches from the shore of the bog; the bog has been a"" cut away round this mount whichsi7 and eight feet in height ; some si"(er coins of Edward 000. were a"so found in it and se(era"which crumb"ed on being e7posed to the air.&n the th December fo""owing in digging a new s"uiceway at the upper end of the %airwater atship was found buried in the ground at the depth of about twenty feet. !he measured from stemthe inside fiftyfour feet and in breadth near twenty feet. 8 bo7 of tobaccopipes was found a""


heads about the si>e of a thimb"e and tubes from four to si7 inches in "ength. The ship was bui"tp"anks about twenty inches broad fu"" of treenai"s and no iron shout her e7cept her rudder bands.was found near which had fa""en to pieces. )any human bones were in the ho"d both fore and aft;supposed that the (esse" had been "ost in some con(u"sion of nature before the foundation of theupwards of fi(e hundred years ago as the p"ace had been so "ong bui"t o(er.

(aster and (anB0LLY )8C D8'0EL was once as "ike"y a young man as e(er shook his brogue at a patron emptied

or hand"ed a shi""e"agh5 fearing for nothing but the want of drink; caring for nothing but who shou"dit; and thinking of nothing but how to make fun o(er it5 drunk or sober a word and a b"ow was e(erwith Bi""y )ac Danie"; and a mighty easy way it is of either getting into or ending a dispute. )orethat through the means of his drinking and fearing and caring for nothing this same Bi""y )acinto bad company; for sure"y the good peop"e are the worst of a"" company any one cou"d come across.(aster and (an0t so happened that Bi""y was going home one c"ear frosty night not "ong after Christmas; the moonround and bright; but a"though it was as fine a night as heart cou"d wish for he fe"t pinched withABy my wordA chattered Bi""y Aa drop of good. "i=uor wou"d be no bad thing to keep a man,s sou"free>ing in him; and 0 wish 0 had a fu"" measure of the best.AA'e(er wish it twice Bi""yA said a "itt"e man in a threecornered hat bound a"" about with go"d "acewith great si"(er buck"es in his shoes so big that it was a wonder how he cou"d carry them and

g"ass as big as himse"f fi""ed with as good "i=uor as e(er eye "ooked on or "ip tasted.A!uccess;. my "itt"e fe""owA said Bi""y )ac Danie" nothing daunted though we"" he knew the "itt"ebe"ong to thegood people; Ahere,s your hea"th any way and thank you kind"y; no matter who paysdrink;A and he took the g"ass and drained it to the (ery bottom without e(er taking a second breathA!uccessA said the "itt"e man; Aand you ,re hearti"y we"come Bi""y; but don,t think to cheat me asdone others out with your purse and pay me "ike a gent"eman.AA0s it 0 pay you@A said Bi""y5 A cou"d 0 not ?ust take you up and put you in my pocket. as easi"y as ab"ackberry@AABi""y )ac Danie"A said the "itt"e man getting (ery angry Ayou sha"" be my ser(ant for se(en yearsday and that is the way 0 wi"" be paid; so make ready to fo""ow me.A-hen Bi""y heard this he began to be (ery sorry for ha(ing used such bo"d words towards the "itt"ehe fe"t himse"f yet cou"d not te"" how ob"iged to fo""ow the "itt"e man the "i(e"ong night about

up and down and o(er hedge and ditch and through bog and brake without any rest.-hen morning began to dawn the "itt"e man turned round to him and said AYou may now go homebut on your peri" don,t fai" to meet me in the %ortfie"d tonight; or if you do it may be the worsethe "ong run. 0f 0 find you a good ser(ant you wi"" find me an indu"gent master.A$ome -ent Bi""y )ac Danie"; and though he was tired and weary enough ne(er a wink of s"eepfor thinking of the "itt"e man; but he was afraid not to do his bidding so up he got in the e(eninghe went to the %ortfie"d. $e was not "ong there before the "itt"e man came towards him and saidwant to go a "ong ?ourney tonight; so sadd"e one of my horses and you may sadd"e another foryou are to go a"ong with me and may be tired after your wa"k "ast night.ABi""y thought this (ery considerate of his master and thanked him according"y5 A ButA said he Aso bo"d sir 0 wou"d ask which is the way to your stab"e for ne(er a thing do 0 see but the fort hereo"d thorntree in the corner of the fie"d and the stream running at the bottom of the hi"" with the

o(er against us.AA8sk no =uestions Bi""yA said the "itt"e man Abut go o(er to that bit of bog and bring me two ofstrongest rushes you can find.ABi""y did according"y wondering what the "itt"e man wou"d be at; and he picked out two of the stoutesthe cou"d find with a "itt"e bunch of brown b"ossom stuck at the side of each and brought them backmaster.A#et up Bi""yA said the "itt"e man taking one of the rushes from him and striding across it.A-here wi"" 0 get up p"ease your honour@A said Bi""y.(aster and (anA -hy upon horseback "ike me to be sureA said the "itt"e man.


A0s it after making a foo" of me you ,d beA said Bi""y Abidding me get a horseback upon that bit)ay be you want to persuade me that the rush 0 pu""ed but whi"e ago out of the bog o(er there isA+p< up< and no wordsA said the "itt"e man "ooking (ery (e7ed; Athe best horse you e(er rode wasto it.A !o Bi""y thinking a"" this was in ?oke and fearing to Je7 his master stradd"ed across the rushABorram< Borram< Borram


passing him through the keyho"e as free as air and which Bi""y thought himse"f mighty c"e(er tosay after him.0n they both went; and for the better (iewing the company the "itt"e man perched himse"f up as nimb"ycocksparrow upon one of the big beams which went across the house o(er a"" their heads and Bi""ysame upon another facing him ; but not being much accustomed to roosting in such a p"ace his "egsdown as untidy as may be and it was =uite c"ear he had not taken pattern after the way in whichhad bund"ed himse"f up together. 0f the "itt"e man had been a tai"or a"" his "ife he cou"d not ha(e

contented"y upon his haunches.There they were both master and man "ooking down upon the fun that was going forward andwere the priest and piper and the father of Darby *i"ey with Darby,s two brothers and his unc"e,sthere were both the father and the mother of Bridget *ooney and. proud enough the o"d coup"e werenight of their daughter as good right they had and her four sisters with brand new ribands in theirher three brothers a"" "ooking as c"ean and as c"e(er as any three boys in )unster and there wereaunts and gossips and cousins enough besides to make ,a fu"" house of it and p"enty was there todrink on the tab"e for e(ery one of them if they had been doub"e the number.'ow it happened ?ust as5 )rs. *ooney had he"ped his re(erence to the first cut of the pig,s head whichp"aced before her beautifu""y bo"stered up with white sa(oys that the bride ga(e a snee>e whichone at tab"e start but not a sou" said A #od b"ess us.A 8"" thinking that the priest wou"d ha(e doneought. if he had done his duty no one wished to. take the word out of his mouth which unfortunate"y

preoccupied with pig,s head and greens. 8nd after. a moment,s pause the fun and merriment offeast went on without the pious benediction.&f this circumstance both Bi""y and his master were no inattenti(e spectators from their e7a"ted stations.ed; but it was so gent"y and she b"ushed so much that few e7cept thetook or seemed to take any notice; and no one thought of saying A#od b"ess us.A(aster and (anBi""y a"" this time regarded the poor gir" with a most ruefu" e7pression of countenance; for he cou"dthinking what a terrib"e thing it was for a nice young gir" of nineteen with "arge b"ue eyes transparent

and dimp"ed cheeks suffused with hea"th and ?oy to be ob"iged to marry an ug"y "itt"e bit of a manthousand years o"d barring a day.8t this critica" moment the bride ga(e a third snee>e and Bi""y roared out with a"" his might A#od-hether this e7c"amation resu"ted from his so"i"o=uy or from the mere force of habit he ne(er cou"de7act"y himse"f; but no sooner was it uttered than the "itt"e man his face g"owing with rage anddisappointment sprung from the beam on which he had perched himse"f; and shrieking out. in theof a cracked bagpipe A 0 discharge you my ser(ice Bi""y )ac Danie" take that for your wagesBi""y a most furious kick in the back which sent his unfortunate ser(ant spraw"ing upon his face andright in the midd"e of the supper tab"e.0f Bi""y was astonished how much more so was e(ery one of the company into which he was thrown"itt"e ceremony; but when they heard his story %ather Cooney "aid down his knife and fork and marriedyoung coup"e out of hand with a"" speed; and Bi""y )ac Danie" danced the *inka at their wedding

did he drink at it too which was what he thought more of than dancing.The $ield of BoliaunsT&) %0TP8T*0CK was the e"dest son of a comfortab"e farmer who "i(ed at Ba""inco""ig. Tomturned of nineandtwenty when he met the fo""owing ad(enture and was as c"e(er c"ean tightgood"ooking a boy as any in the who"e county Cork. &ne fine day in har(est it was indeed Ladyhar(est that e(ery body knows to be one of the greatest ho"idays in the year Tom was taking athrough the ground and went sauntering a"ong the sunny side of a hedge thinking in himse"f wherebe the great harm if peop"e instead of id"ing and going about doing nothing at a"" were to shakeand bind and stook the oats that was "ying on the "edge especia""y as the weather had been rather"ate he a"" of a sudden heard a c"acking sort of noise a "itt"e before him in the hedge. A Dear meA


but isn,t it surprising to hear the stonechatters singing so "ate in the season@A !o Tom sto"e on goingtops of his toes to try if he cou"d get a sight of what was making the noise to see if he was right inThe noise stopped; but as Tom "ooked sharp"y through the bushes what shou"d he see in a nook ofbut a brown pitcher that might ho"d about a ga""on and a ha"f of "i=uor; and by and by a "itt"e weebit of an o"d man with a "itt"e ott$ of a cocked hat stuck upon the top of his head and a deeshy daushy"eather apron hanging before him pu""ed out a "itt"e wooden stoo" and stood up upon it and dippedpiggin into the pitcher and took out the fu"" of it and put it beside the stoo" and then sat down under

pitcher and began to work at putting a hee"piece on a bit of a brogue ?ust fitting for himse"f. A -e""powers


A-e"" goodbye to you Tom %it>patrickA said the C"uricaune Aand much good may do you withget.A!o Tom ran for the dear "ife ti"" he came home and got a spade and then away with him as hardgo back to the fie"d of bo"iauns; but when he got there "o and beho"d < not a bo"iaun in the fie"dred garter the (ery identica" mode" of his own tied about it; and as to digging up the who"e fie"dnonsense for there was more than forty good 0rish acres in it. !o Tom came home again with hisshou"der a "itt"e coo"er than he went; and many,s the hearty curse he ga(e the C"uricaune e(ery time

thought of the neat turn he had ser(ed him.'otesThe fo""owing is the account gi(en by Lady )organ. of the C"uricaune or Leprechan in her e7ce""entof &,Domme"" 9Jo".44. p. 2FH.: which has been referred to in a preceding note.A0t wou"d he e7treme"y difficu"tA says her "ady ship;A to c"ass this supernatura" agent who ho"ds adistinguished p"ace in the 0rish fairies., $is appearance howe(er is supposed to he that of a shri(e""edo"d man whose presence marks a spot where hidden treasures "ie concea"ed which were buried theretrou"les.' $e is therefore genera""y seen in "one and disma" p"aces out of the common haunts of manthough the night wanderer may endea(our to mark the p"ace where he behe"d the guardian of theperched yet when he returns in the morning with proper imp"ements to turn up the earth the thist"e

branch he had p"aced as a mark is so mu"tip"ied that it is no "onger a distinction and the disappointmentsoccasioned by the ma"ignity of the "itt"e Leprechan render him a (ery unpopu"ar fairy5 his name isapp"ied but as a term of contempt.A&n this e7tract it shou"d be remarked that the word/rechan, used in the story of the young pipere7p"ained in the note as a contraction of Leprechan may signify a ra(en and is metaphorica""y app"iednonsensica" chatterer; this word is correct"y written/racha'n, or/ri3chan.The ancients imagined that treasures buried in the earth were guarded by spirits ca""ed 0ncubonesyou sei>ed their cap you compe""ed them to de"i(er this wea"th. !ee Pomponius !abinus "ine O3I.2.A!ed ut dicunt ego nihi" scio sed audi(i =uomodo 0ncuboni pi"eum rapuisset et thesaurum in(enitAwords of Petronius an author of whom Lady )organ is of course ignorant.The Eng"ish reader wi"" perhaps he surprised to see the term "o$ app"ied to a young man of nineand

but in 0re"and this word is common"y used as e=ui(a"ent to young man much as the word P L J A;emp"oyed by the #reeks andpuer, sti"" more abusi(e"y by the *omans; as for e7amp"e in the firstof Jirgi"5 Tityrus who represents 8ugustus as rep"ying to his app"ication for protection from theThe Fie!d of Bo!iaunsPascite ut ante bo(espueri, is immediate"y addressed by the other shepherd A %ortunatesene4.a"so emp"oys 0t in the same sense for he ca""s Prince 8rthur,s s=uire Timias a lust$ "o$; and !penserin his fina"s is good authority. )r. -ordsworth too whose "ogica" correctness in the use of wordsnotorious does not scrup"e among the emp"oyments which his A&"d 8damA assumed on comingto mention that of an A errand "o$.A 0t may perhaps he safe"y asserted that our shoa"s of continenta"tra(e""ers do not a"ways find thegarcon at a %rench hote" or caff to he an i"er"is puer. 0t is treadingtender ground to presume to censure )iss Edgeworth but it might possib"y be =ueried whether inA&rmondA she has not o,erstepped the modesty of nature when she makes King Corny =ua"ify the

p"oughman with the tit"e of boy though indeed this is a point that may admit of doubt; for the de(i"who a"" agree is no chicken is (ery common"y sty"ed the A %ld "o$.A0t is a genera""y recei(ed tradition in the south of "re"and that the Dane,s manufactured a kind of into7icatingbeer from the heath. Dr. !mith in his $istory of Kerry 9p. 4IN: informs us that A the country peop"eAsouthern part of the barony of Corckaguiny A are possessed with an opinion that most of the o"d fencesthese wi"d mountains were the work of the ancient Danes and that they made a kind of beer of thewhich grows there; but these enc"osures are more modern than the time when that northern nation0re"and. )any of themA continues the doctor Awere made to secure catt"e from wo"(es which anima"snot entire"y e7tirpated unti" about the year 4I43; as 0 find by the presentments for raising money fordestroying them in some o"d grand ?ury books; and the more ancient enc"osures were made about


which were more numerous before the importation of potatoes into 0re"and than at present.ADr. !mith may be right in his con?ectures respecting the fences which he has described though theseno means app"y to the "ow stone "ines which are to he seen on many of the mountains in )uskerrycounty Cork and which were ob(ious"y ne(er intended for enc"osures but for mere boundaries orproperty the stones are p"aced in regu"ar "ines and are certain"y not the remains of wa""s as theyon"y one "ayer of atones. 0t is a"so to be remarked that the enc"osures are too sma"" and too numerousindicate a di(ision of "and for ordinary purposes; and their use can on"y be e7p"ained by supposing

ha(e e(ery reason to do: that they were intended to mark out the bounds within which each man cutportion of heath.#wrQchis the -e"sh name for a hag or witch and G#r5ch $ 2hi"$n signifies the hag of the dribb"e a personageaccording to Cambrian tradition who caused the many dri""les of stones seen on the s"opes of theThis phrase happi"y e7presses the boundaries ?ust described. The "egend of G#r5ch $ 2hi"$n statesher ?ourneys o(er the hi""s she was wont to carry her apron fu"" of stones; and by chance when theher apron broke a dribb"e was formed.Tom %itspatrick the hero of the ta"e does not seem to ha(e been a (ery profound anti=uary; andsimi"ar ignorance in a respectab"e farmer may he =uoted. This farmer "i(ed within "ess than fiftyLondonderry ; and yet to a =uestion addressed to him by a gent"eman about the Danes he rep"iedwords of Tom on"y substituting Derry for Limerick 0n ?ustice to the writer,s countrymen it must

howe(er dec"ared that such ignorance is by no means common among them. They we"" know whowere and wi"" te"" you (ery gra(e"y that a father in Denmark when bestowing hia daughter in marriagea"ways assigns with her as a portion some of the "ands which his ancestors had possessed in 0re"and.wou"d be rather curious to ascertain whether the 'orthumbrians and the peasants of the East *idingdistinct an idea of these northern in(aders.ADear eA and to tell God's truth, says Tom and the narrator says Tom ran for the A dear life 5Aodd e7pressions wi"" say perhaps the reader 'ot at a""Dear is a"most e7act"y the $omeric f i " ostrong e7pression of the possessi(e pronoun and is fre=uent"y so emp"oyed by !penser and the e"derThe Fie!d of Bo!iaunsand by God's truth, an 0rish man means the truth pure and unmi7ed as it is in the Di(inity A the who"eand nothing but the truthA or the truth as it shou"d be uttered in the presence of the Di(inity.The three origina" diminuti(es are tin$, don$, and the !cottish #ee, By (arious"y combining the e"ements

these the 0rish make a (ariety of others Thus from the first and third they form #een$, and by theterminationsh$, they make deesh$, doshh$, and #eeshe$.8piggin is a wooden (esse" of a cy"indrica" form made of sta(es hooped together with one of thedoub"e the "ength of the others which ser(es for a hand"e. They are of (arious si>es containing fromtwo ga""ons according to the uses for which they are intended. 0n Leinster there is a distinction madethose of a "arger and those of a sma""er si>e. The former are ca""edpiggins the "atter noggins. 0n thepro(ince the pewter measure answering to the Eng"ishgill is ca""ed a naggin. Jide #ough,s 8rithmetic9Dub"in 443: 0n the southern counties the terms naggin and noggin are used indifferent"y as beforementioned.

The Little !hoeA 'ow te"" me )o""yA said )r. Coote to )o""y Cogan as he met her on the road one day c"ose too"d gateways of Ki"ma""ock AKi"ma""ock seemed to me "ike the court of the Gueen of !i"ence.A

2ecollections did you e(er bear of the C"uricaune@AA0s it the C0uricaune@ why then sure 0 did often and often; many,s the time 0 heard my father restte"" about ,em.AABut did you e(er see one )o""y yourse"f@AA&ch < no 0 ne(ersee one in my "ife ; but my grandfather that,s my father,s father you know hetime and caught him too.AACaught him< &h < )o""y te"" me how@AA-hy then 0,"" te"" you. )y grandfather you see was out there abo(e in the bog drawing home turfpoor o"d mare was tired after her day,s work and the o"d man went out to the stab"e to "ook aftersee if she was eating her hay; and when he came to the stabe door there my dear he heard something


hammering hammering hammering ?ust for a"" the wou"d "ike a shoemaker making a shoe and whist"ingthe time the prettiest tune he e(er heard in his who"e "ife before. -e"" my grandfather he thoughtC"uricaune and he said to himse"f says he ,0,"" catch you if 0 can and then 0 ,"" ha(e money enough!o he opened the door (ery =uiet"y and didn,t make a bit of noise in the wor"d that e(er was heard;"ooked a"" about but the ne(er a bit of the "itt"e man he cou"d see any where but he heard him hammeringand whist"ing and so be "ooked and "ooked ti"" at "ast hesee the "itt"e. fe""ow; and where was hethink but in the girth under the mare; and there he was with his "itt"e bit of an apron on him and

his hand and a "itt"e red nightcap on his head and he making a shoe; and he was so busy with hishe was hammering and whist"ing so "oud that he ne(er minded my grandfather ti"" he caught himhand. , %aith 0 ha(e you now, says he , and 0,"" ne(er "et you go ti"" 0 get your purse that,s whatgi(e it here to me at once now., , !top stop, says the C"uricaune , stop stop, says he , ti"" 0 get!o my grandfather "ike a foo" you see opened his hand a "itt"e and the "itt"e fe""ow ?umped awayand he ne(er saw him any more and the ne(er the bit of the purse did he get on"y the C"uricauneshoe that he was making; and my grandfather was mad enough angry with himse"f for "etting himThe Litt!e hoehad the shoe a"" his "ife and my own mother to"d me she oftensee it and had it in her hand andprettiest "itt"e shoe she e(er saw.A8nd did yo

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13691257 Fairy Legends and Traditions Fairy Legends