Legendary Fictions of the Irish Celts

Each story keeps the passage it was read from. Open one to read it as the scan has it, and, where the companion has written its own telling, that too. The passages are read off photographs of the page by machine, so a word here and there comes out wrong; they are kept as the reading produced them, so you can check any of them against the scan.

1. Rescue of the Bride from the Fairy Rath

   Curragraigue · townland · Kerry

   On May-eve, the husband waits at the old rath with a black-hafted knife and holy water circle as the fairy court rides out at midnight. He pulls Margaret from her horse into the protective ring and rescues her from the fairies forever.

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   anguish in his looks. " Oh ! " cried he, " Margaret is carried away by the fairies, I'm sure. The girls were not left the room for half a minute when I went in, and there is no more sign of her there than if she never was born." Great consternation prevailed, great search was made, but no INIargaret was to be found. After a night and day spent in misery, the poor bridegroom laid down to take some rest. In a while he seemed to himself to awake from a troubled dream, and look out into the room. The moon was shining in through the Avindow, and in the middle of the slanting rays stood Margaret in her white bridal clothes. He thought to speak and leap out of the bed, but his tongue was without utterance, and his limbs unable to move. " Do not be disturbed, dear husband," said the appearance ; " I am now in the power of the fairies, but if you only have courage and prudence we may be soon happy with each other again. Next Friday will be May-eve, and the whole court will ride out of the old fort after midnight. I must be there along with the rest. Sprinkle a circle with holy water, and have a black-hafted knife with you. If you have courage to pull me off the horse, and draw me into the ring, all they can do will be useless. You must have some food for me every night on the dresser, for if I taste one mouthful with them, I will be lost to you for ever. The fairies got power over me because I was only thinking of you, and did not prepare myself as I ought for the sacrament. I made a bad confession, and now I am suffering for it. Don't forget what I have said." " Oh, no, my darling," cried he, recovering his speech, but by the time he had slipped out of bed, there was no living soul in the room but himself.

   Till Friday night the poor young husband spent a desolate time. The food was left on the dresser over night, and it rejoiced all hearts to find it -s-anished by morning. A little before midnight he was at the entrance of the old rath. He formed the circle, took his station within it, and kept the black-hafted knife ready for

   Project Gutenberg #legendaryfiction00kenn, Chapter 18

   As the companion tells it

   Somewhere around here, a story is told of a bride taken by the fairies and a husband who got her back. Margaret vanished from her room on her wedding day. The girls had not left the room for half a minute, and there was no sign of her. Her bridegroom spent a night and a day in misery before he laid down to rest. The moon shone through the window, and Margaret stood before him in her white bridal clothes. He could not speak or move. She told him she was in the power of the fairies, but there was a way to save her. Next Friday would be May-eve, and the whole court would ride out of the old fort after midnight. She would be among them. He was to sprinkle a circle with holy water and carry a black-hafted knife. If he had the courage to pull her off the horse and draw her into the ring, they could do nothing. He must leave food for her every night on the dresser, because if she tasted one mouthful with them, she would be lost forever. The fairies had power over her because she had been thinking only of him and had not prepared herself for the sacrament. She had made a bad confession. The moment he found his voice and slipped from the bed, the room was empty. Each night the food was left on the dresser, and by morning it was gone. Then on Friday, a little before midnight, he was at the entrance of the old rath. He formed the circle, took his station within it, and held the black-hafted knife ready. The fairy court rode out after midnight, and Margaret was among them. He pulled her from the horse and drew her into the ring. The fairies could do nothing. She was rescued, and never taken back.

2. The Borrowed Lake of Loch Owel

   Lough Owel · townland · Westmeath

   An enchantress tricked a Firbolg witch into lending her lake to fill a valley by the Shannon so a haughty bride could be won, deceitfully promising its return 'after the week of eternity.' The betrayed witch's rage was without remedy, and the tragic result formed Loch Owel in Meath at the expense of the deceived sister's own lake.

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   The rage of the betrayed witch knew no bounds, but she was without remedy, owing to the treacherous selfreservation of the cunning Danaan. The result was tragic to most of the parties concerned, but the acquisition of Loch Owel to the pleasant plains of Meath is all that we are concerned with for the present.

   Project Gutenberg #legendaryfiction00kenn, Chapter 68

   As the companion tells it

   Close to Lough Owel, an enchantress tricked a Firbolg witch into lending her lake to fill a valley by the Shannon to win a haughty bride, promising its return after the week of eternity. The betrayed witch's rage knew no bounds, but she was without remedy. The result was tragic, and the lake came to the pleasant plains of Meath.

3. The Kilranelagh Prankster's Fright

   Kilranelagh · townland · Wicklow

   Two men crossing Kilranelagh churchyard at twilight were terrified three times by groans, cinders, and a shrieking figure that leapt at them, fleeing to a cabin. The 'fiend' was later revealed to be a local youth who had hidden behind a tomb to frighten them, but was himself startled by a noise and panicked into charging at them.

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   Two men repairing to their homes just in the twilight, were obliged to pass through this churchyard, or take a considerable circuit. They had come up the hill, and were beginning to proceed through the cemetery, when they heard, just on their left, and apparently proceeding

   I S 8 Fictions of the Irish Celts.

   Project Gutenberg #legendaryfiction00kenn, Chapter 41

   As the companion tells it

   Somewhere close to Kilranelagh, two men walked home through a churchyard at twilight. They heard groans to their left, then cinders flew, then a figure shrieked and leapt at them. They ran for a cabin. The fiend turned out to be a local youth who had hidden behind a tomb to scare them, but a noise startled him and he charged in panic.

4. The Palace in the Rath of Tombrick

   Tombrick · townland · Wexford

   A hunchbacked strawworker falls asleep near the rath between Tombrick and Munfin and discovers a fairy palace full of dancing little people. He improves their endless tune and is rewarded by having his hump removed, thrown up to the roof and back by the fairies.

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   It is hard to sit awhile, and have your eyes a little glassy, and the things seeming to turn round you, without falling off asleep ; and asleep my poor little man of straw was in a few minutes. Things like droves of cattle, or soldiers marching, or big flakes of foam on a flooded river, were pushing on through his brain, and he thought the drums were playing a march, when up he woke, and there in the face of the steep bank that Avas overgrown with bushes and blackthorn, a passage was open between nice pillars, and inside was a great vaulted room, with arches crossing each other, a hundred lamps hanging from the vault, and thousands of nice little gentlemen and ladies, with green coats and gowns, and red sugar-loaf caps, curled at the tops like old Irish birredhs, dancing and singing, and nice little pipers and fiddlers, perched

   * A small circular meadow surrounded by a mound overgrown with furze-bushes, the remains of the earthen fort of one of the smaU chiefs of old days. They are erroneously called " Danes' forts."

   Project Gutenberg #legendaryfiction00kenn, Chapter 15

   As the companion tells it

   Somewhere around here in Tombrick, a poor little strawworker with a hunchback sat down, his eyes grew glassy, and in a few minutes he fell asleep. Things like droves of cattle, soldiers marching, big flakes of foam on a flooded river pushed through his brain, and he thought drums were playing a march. Then he woke, and in the steep bank overgrown with bushes and blackthorn, a passage stood open between nice pillars. Inside was a great vaulted room with arches crossing each other, a hundred lamps hanging from the vault, and thousands of nice little gentlemen and ladies in green coats and gowns and red sugar-loaf caps curled at the tops like old Irish birredhs, dancing and singing, with nice little pipers and fiddlers perched up. He improved their endless tune, and the fairies took his hump off, threw it up to the roof and back.

5. The Penitent Monk of Inis-na-Gloire

   near Inishglora · townland · Mayo

   A monk from Inis-na-Gloire on the coast of Erris, guilty of secret sins of gluttony and lust, was so overcome with remorse that he flung himself into the sea. He survived by penitence and divine aid, drifting for days before washing ashore on a remote island where he lived for seven years in solitude.

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   On a Christmas-eve the barque reached an island, and brought comfort and joy to the heart of its only inhabitant ; for he had seen seven Christmas-days in this solitude without having been present at a mass or heard the human voice. He feasted his guests on roots and dried fish, in a comfortable cavern. The devotions of the festival were duly performed, and the solitary then gave an outline of his history. He had been one of the monks of Inis-na-Gloire, on the coast of Erris, and, like their lost comrade, had been guilty of hidden sins of gluttony and incontinence. Stung at last with remorse, and urged on by despair, he flung himself into the sea ; z 2

   34° Fictions of the Irish Celts.

   Project Gutenberg #legendaryfiction00kenn, Chapter 89

   As the companion tells it

   Close to Inishglora, off the coast of Erris, on a Christmas Eve, a barque reached an island and brought comfort and joy to its only inhabitant. He had seen seven Christmas-days in solitude without being present at a mass or hearing the human voice. He feasted his guests on roots and dried fish in a comfortable cavern. The devotions of the festival were duly performed, and the solitary then gave an outline of his history. He had been one of the monks of Inis-na-Gloire, on the coast of Erris, and, like their lost comrade, had been guilty of hidden sins of gluttony and incontinence. Stung at last with remorse, and urged on by despair, he flung himself into the sea.

6. Jack Anthony's Vanishing at Rathcoffey

   Rathcoffey · townland · Laois

   Jack Anthony, son of the disreputable fortune-teller Molly Anthony, was summoned by an old woman in a red cloak who appeared between roadside bushes near Rathcoffey. He climbed the fence to speak with her and vanished entirely, with no trace of concealment possible on the open hillside, not reappearing before his patron for months.

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   The neighbourhood of Borraheen, Baltracy, and Rathcoffey was blessed, or the contrary, in times past, by a fortune-teller and charm-concocter, Molly Anthony by name. So unedifying was her life and conversation, that the priest refused to have any religious services performed for her after death. She left a son, who had acquired some skill in curing cattle by herbs, and did not pretend to any supernatural gifts. A farmer, Pat Behan, at whose house he had remained about a fortnight, and who was well pleased with his performances, was passing near the green hills in his jaunting car, accompanied by Jack Anthony, the doctor, when, on a sudden, an old woman in a red cloak appeared to them between the bushes on the road-fence, and cried, " Jack, it's time for you to come." " Sir," said Jack to his patron, " will you excuse me for a minute, while I go to say a word to

   1 82 Fic'.ions of the lris]i Celts.

   Project Gutenberg #legendaryfiction00kenn, Chapter 37

   As the companion tells it

   Somewhere around here, the people round Borraheen, Baltracy, and Rathcoffey once had a fortune-teller and charm-concocter called Molly Anthony. Her life was so unedifying that the priest refused to have any religious services performed for her after death. She left a son, Jack, who had some skill in curing cattle by herbs and did not pretend to any supernatural gifts. A farmer, Pat Behan, had kept him at his house about a fortnight and was well pleased with his work. They were passing near the green hills in Pat Behan's jaunting car when an old woman in a red cloak appeared between the bushes on the road-fence and cried, "Jack, it's time for you to come." Jack said to his patron, "Sir, will you excuse me for a minute, while I go to say a word to" her. He climbed the fence to speak with her and vanished entirely. No trace of concealment was possible on the open hillside, and he did not reappear before his patron for months.

7. The Madness of Gall at Gleann na nGealt

   Glannagalt · townland · Kerry

   During the fury of the Battle of Ventry, the young Gall, Prince of Ulster, fought himself into such a frenzy that he lost his senses and fled to the lonely Gleann na nGealt in Kerry, a place where all lunatics in Ireland were said to be required to go.

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   county of Limerick. The warriors nearest tlie post of danger hastened thither, and for a year and a day there was a terrible diurnal fight on the strand between a detachment landing from the ships and an equal number of Fenian heroes, one great warrior generally slaying a couple of hundred of the opposing party, and securing a portion of the tale to himself, just as Agamemnon, or Diomede, or Patroclus, had a book of the Iliad which he might call his own. It all ended, as it should, in favour of native valour and patriotism, few of the captains of the King of the World surviving the year and day's war. The brave young Gall, Prince of Ulster, worked himself into such a state of fury in the fight, that he lost his senses, and fled to tlrejonely GleiTn_na-i>(iealt, in Kerry. _And there all the lunatics' in IrelancTmust repair before or after they pay the great debt.

   Spenser had a great dislike to the custom prevalent in his day, which sent up in summer-time the inhabitants of the plains and valleys to the hills, where they lived, in imitation of the Fianna, on game and the produce ot their cattle, till their instinct warned sheep and cows of the suitable moment to seek the shelter of the lowlands. He complained that this usage afforded the disaffected means of shelter and of support among these dwellers in the " scraw-covered " shielings, and opportunities of concocting designs unfriendly to the authority of his beloved Gloriana.

   Project Gutenberg #legendaryfiction00kenn, Chapter 48

   As the companion tells it

   Close to Glannagalt, you are near the place the old stories call Gleann na nGealt. The story begins at the Battle of Ventry. Foreign ships landed on the strand, and for a year and a day there was a daily fight between a detachment landing from the ships and an equal number of Fenian heroes. One great warrior generally slew a couple of hundred of the opposing party, and secured a portion of the tale to himself, just as Agamemnon or Diomede had a book of the Iliad he might call his own. It all ended in favour of native valour and patriotism, and few of the captains of the King of the World survived the year and day of war. The brave young Gall, Prince of Ulster, worked himself into such a state of fury in the fight that he lost his senses and fled to the lonely Gleann na nGealt in Kerry. And there all the lunatics in Ireland must repair before or after they pay the great debt. Spenser had a great dislike to a custom prevalent in his day, which sent the inhabitants of the plains and valleys up to the hills in summer-time. There they lived, in imitation of the Fianna, on game and the produce of their cattle, till instinct warned the sheep and cows to seek the shelter of the lowlands. He complained that this usage afforded the disaffected means of shelter among dwellers in the scraw-covered shielings, and opportunities of concocting designs unfriendly to the authority of his beloved Gloriana.

8. The Speaking Cat of Bunclody

   Bunclody · townland · Wexford

   A carman leaving Bunclody for Dublin encounters a cat crying out a message about the death of another cat, Tom Dunne, and throws a stone at it in irritation. Later in Dublin, a cat at Luke Byrne's tavern hears the message repeated and reveals herself as the dead cat's widow before vanishing forever.

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   A carman was leaving Bunclody one morning for Dublin, when what should he see but a neighbour's cat galloping along the side of the road, and crying out every moment, "Tell Moll Browne, Tom Dunne is dead; tell Moll Browne, Tom Dunne is dead." At last he got tired of this ditty, and took up a stone and flung it at the cat, bidding himself, and Tom Browne, and Moll Dunne, to go to HaHfax, and not to be botherin' him. When he got

   1 5 8 Fictions of the Irish Celts.

   Project Gutenberg #legendaryfiction00kenn, Chapter 31

   As the companion tells it

   Somewhere around here, a carman was leaving for Dublin one morning when he saw a neighbour's cat galloping along the road, crying out every moment, 'Tell Moll Browne, Tom Dunne is dead; tell Moll Browne, Tom Dunne is dead.' At last he grew tired of this ditty, took up a stone, flung it at the cat, and bid it and Tom Browne and Moll Dunne to go to Halifax and not be botherin' him.

9. Aerial Faction-Fight of the Fairies near Mount Leinster

   near Mount Leinster · townland · Carlow

   A man resting near Lough-na-Piastha on the side of Mount Leinster hears the sounds of an invisible battle in the air, with bugles, shouts, blows, and firing, as if two winged armies of fairies were fighting above the stream.

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   " I was sitting on the brow of that hill, the other day, and it was so calm you could hear the buzzing of a fly's wing. I was half-asleep with the heat and with having nothing to do, when I was aroused by a noise coming down from the mountain along the stream. The road crosses it just above the glen \ and at the bridge the sound divided itself, and I heard the beat of wings on one side of the stream and on the other, but I could see nothing. I then seemed to hear the blowing of weak-voiced bugles, and faint shouts, and the sound of blows, as if two winged armies were fighting in the air, and even the firing of shots ; but it was as if I was hearing all through a skreen or in a dream. It seemed to me even as if light bodies fell in the water. At last there was greater shout- I 2

   ii6 Fictio7is of ihe Irish Celts.

   Project Gutenberg #legendaryfiction00kenn, Chapter 19

   As the companion tells it

   Somewhere around here, a man once sat on the brow of a hill on Mount Leinster, and heard something he could not explain. He said it was so calm you could hear the buzzing of a fly's wing. He was half-asleep with the heat and with having nothing to do, when a noise came down from the mountain along the stream. The road crosses the stream just above the glen, and at the bridge the sound divided. He heard the beat of wings on one side of the stream and on the other, but he could see nothing. Then he seemed to hear the blowing of weak-voiced bugles, faint shouts, and the sound of blows, as if two winged armies were fighting in the air, and even the firing of shots. It was as if he was hearing it all through a screen or in a dream. Light bodies even seemed to fall in the water. At last there was a greater shout.

10. Conan's Torments at Ceash

    near Kesh · townland · Sligo

    At a druidic dwarf's hut near Ceash in Sligo, the trickster Conan fell prey to a series of terrifying supernatural illusions, including being pinned by a monstrous cat and suffering agonies, while his companions had to intervene to save him from the sorcerer's spells.

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    A laugh rung out from the warriors as they entered, but it was soon checked by the chief; and for fear of further evils they immediately quitted the ill-omened abode of the sorcerer ; and to this day it is said to a traveller or seeker of adventures, " May you come off with better fortune than Conan did at Ceash ! "

    Students of Homer and Ovid are not ignorant of the transformations their unedifying divinities spontaneously underwent, and for what purposes. Events of a similar but much less revolting character are gleaned among the dim traditions of our Celtic mythology. In a former legend is recorded how Tuirrean, Fion's aunt, having been changed into a female stag-hound by the Lianan Sighe of her husband, her nephew's celebrated hounds, Brann and Sceoluing, were born while she was enduring the transformation. In the tale which follows is recorded the double existence of Oisin and his mother as deer and human beings.

    Project Gutenberg #legendaryfiction00kenn, Chapter 54

    As the companion tells it

    Somewhere near here is Ceash, where Conan met his ill fortune. The warriors laughed as they entered the sorcerer's abode, but the chief checked their laughter, and for fear of further evils they quitted the place at once. To this day the saying goes to a traveller or seeker of adventures, "May you come off with better fortune than Conan did at Ceash." The old Celtic tales hold other transformations too. Tuirrean, Fion's aunt, was changed into a female stag-hound by the Lianan Sighe of her husband. While she endured this transformation, her nephew's celebrated hounds, Brann and Sceoluing, were born. And in the tale that follows this one, Oisin and his mother lived a double existence as deer and human beings.

11. The Midwife Blinded at Enniscorthy Market

    Enniscorthy · townland · Wexford

    Some time after her fairy adventure, the midwife encountered the dark fairy man stealing butter at Enniscorthy market and foolishly admitted she could see him more clearly than he wished. In punishment he struck her seeing eye with a switch, blinding it for the rest of her life.

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    Begonies, she never saw a stim after witli that one till the day of her death.

    Legends of the " Good People. " 1 1 1

    Project Gutenberg #legendaryfiction00kenn, Chapter 17

    As the companion tells it

    Somewhere around here at Enniscorthy market, the midwife who'd had her fairy adventure met the dark fairy man again. He was stealing butter. She told him she could see him plainly. He struck her seeing eye with a switch, and as the old story says, "she never saw a stim after with that one till the day of her death."

12. The Servant Girl and Droochan's Ghost in the Kitchen

    near Mount Leinster · townland · Carlow

    A family's servant girl ran screaming that Droochan's ghost was in the kitchen, though she had not seen it herself. She claimed the household cats had seen the apparition, based on their frightened behaviour.

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    A small family in that blighted vicinity were taking their evening meal in their little parlour, when they were alarmed by their servant-girl rushing across the hall from the kitchen, and crying out, '• Oh, masther, masther, Droochan's ghost ! He's in the kitchen." After fifteen minutes spent in exclamations, hasty questions, confused answers, and researches, the following dialogue took place : — " What shape did he appear to you in % " " Oh, I didn't see him at all ! " " \\'ho saw him ] " " The cats." " How do you know ? " " Ah, sure there wasn't a breath stirrin', when them two craythurs cocked their ears, stood up on their hind legs, wud their eyes stanin' in their heads, and sparred at one another with their hands — I mean their fore paws. Then they let a yowl, as if heaven and earth was coming together, and run off into the coal shed. And what ghost could they be seeing only Droochan's ? "

    About four miles east of Baltinglass stands the hill of Bally Carrigeen (rocky pass), and on its top a large ring of rounded flags about nine yards in diameter, and called Fan-a-CooVs griddle stones. On the side of the neighbouring eminence are two long strips of turf, much greener than that by which they are surrounded. These are the marks of the resting-places of Fion Mac Cuil and his wife, ^\•ho, when they rose early in the morning, descended the slope, washed their faces in the stream, and baked the cakes for their breakfast on a griddle supported by these flags. However, we ha\-e not much to

    Project Gutenberg #legendaryfiction00kenn, Chapter 40

    As the companion tells it

    Somewhere close to Mount Leinster, a family were taking their evening meal in their little parlour one evening, when their servant girl came rushing across the hall from the kitchen, crying out, 'Oh, masther, masther, Droochan's ghost. He's in the kitchen.' For fifteen minutes there were exclamations, hasty questions, confused answers, and searches of the kitchen. Then they asked her what shape he appeared in. She said she had not seen him at all. They asked who saw him. She said the cats. They asked how she knew. She told them there was not a breath stirring when the two creatures cocked their ears, stood up on their hind legs with their eyes staring in their heads, and sparred at one another with their fore paws. Then they let a yowl, she said, as if heaven and earth were coming together, and ran off into the coal shed. And what ghost could they be seeing only Droochan's. So the household never saw the ghost themselves. They had only the word of a servant girl, and she had only the behaviour of two frightened cats. The ghost of Droochan, whoever he was, was never seen that night by any human eye in that kitchen.

13. The Sunken King of Cork

    near Lough Mahon · townland · Cork

    A once king of Cork and his entire household are said to still live in seclusion beneath the waters of the Lough of Cork, which burst forth due to a servant's negligence, just as in other lake-origin legends.

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    A once king of Cork and all his household are still living in comfortable seclusion at the bottom of the Lough of Cork, which burst out, as in the other instances, on account of the negligence of a domestic.

    Project Gutenberg #legendaryfiction00kenn, Chapter 62

    As the companion tells it

    Somewhere close to Lough Mahon, the old stories say a king of Cork and all his household are still living in comfortable seclusion at the bottom of the Lough of Cork. The waters burst out on account of the negligence of a domestic, as in other such lake legends.

14. The Castle of Ferns Built by the Goban Saor

    Ferns · townland · Wexford

    According to legend, the legendary craftsman the Goban Saor may have built the Castle of Ferns, noted for its extraordinarily thick walls, said to be strong enough to have been raised by so skilled a builder.

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    It is a long time since the Goban Saor was alive. Maybe it was him that built the Castle of Ferns ; part of the walls are thick enough to be built by any goban, or gow, that ever splintered wood, or hammered red-hot iron, or cut a stone. If he didn't build Ferns, he built other castles for some of the five kings or the great chiefs. He could fashion a spear-shaft while you'd F 2

    68 Fief ions of the Irish Celts.

    Project Gutenberg #legendaryfiction00kenn, Chapter 10

    As the companion tells it

    Somewhere around here stands the Castle of Ferns. It's a long time since the Goban Saor was alive. Maybe it was him that built this castle. The walls are thick enough, in the old telling, to be built by any goban, or gow, "that ever splintered wood, or hammered red-hot iron, or cut a stone." If he didn't build Ferns, he built other castles for some of the five kings or the great chiefs.