Armachiana Volume 12 by Armagh City Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council

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Armachiana Vol 12 (Armagh County Museum ARMCM.28.2014.41)

If any of the material is reproduced, in any form and in any medium, you should acknowledge Armagh County Museum as the source and give the document references below.

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The contents of this digital resource should only be used for non-commercial personal research and all rights remain with Armagh County Museum.

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Armachiana Volume 12

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The cont ents of these volumes l a belled are simply notes for t alks to

Armachiana

local and visiting societies in search of

They a re not of any

and ancient monuments .

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TGF Paterson

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students seeking da t a on the county g enerally or on their own distri ct s i n particular .

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great i mportance but may provide a gui de to

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material relating to it s historical background

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ARNAGH MISCELLANEA

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VOL.XII

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114-122

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104-11 3

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98-103

123-131

140-143

144-149

150-160

136-139

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Festivals

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Local Pastimes

93-97

132-135

Bird Traditions

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Windmills

Turf Cutting

89-92

Mass Gardens and Mass Rocks Horse Racing

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Funeral Customs

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Marriage Customs

85-88

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Cures and Charms

33-49

66-84

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Luck, Ill Luck and Good Luck

Fairies and Fairy Beliefs

Local Descrip(ive Sayings

25-32

50-65

Local Traditions of Historical Events

Greetings

9-24

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St. Patrick

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Navan Rath Traditions

Our Pagan Background

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Introductory

Folklife

1 61

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ARMAGH MISCELLANEA V0L.XII

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171

172

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174-177

178-179

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230

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205-216

224-228

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St. Patrick's ~ay

August 15th

May Eve Customs

184-204

217-223

Halloween Customs

183

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Christmas Rhymers

Harvest Customs

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Feast of St. John

.180-182

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Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul

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Bonfire Night (July 1st)

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Mid-Summer Eve

Shrove Tuesday

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Easter

166-169

March 25th

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St. Brigid's Eve & Day

All Fools Day

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Twelfth Day

163-165

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St. Stephen's Day

New Year's Day

Pages 161-162

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Folklife

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COUNTY ARMAGH MISCELLANEA.

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These few notes on County Armaghtraditionary beliefs were

chiefly taken down circa 1934 whilst working on the

Preliminary Survey of Ancient Monuments of Northern Ireland,

a work published in 1940.

They form part of a collection of Folk Tales of varied

interest, some of which will be printed in succeeding issues.

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of or interference with forts or other landmarks, such as

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This selection deais with ill luck following the destruction

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The first reference to a taboo of interference with

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earthworks that I learned of occurred in 1927 when on a

Two years

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had died upon them and they lost the farm 11 •

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"had been broken up by the previous owners and their cows

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visit to Lislea I was told that a fort in that town.land

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later I heard that an earlier owner of Rathconvil fort "had

tampered with the enclosure and forfeited his life, and that

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· In the same year a

similar story was told me at Lissummon, a fort which had at

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some period b~en divided by a thorn fence, a continuation of

The fort itself had not

a march dit eh between ,two farms.

and lost an arm by septic poisoning

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another man had sawn off a branch of a fairy thorn therein

fairy thorns.

prehistoric burial places, and the still much venerated

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then been meddled with otherwise.

Later, however, the

afterwards 11 •

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"Finch family destroyed their half and had wretched lµck

Such tales are legion, but I shall only

1 cut the last fairy thorn on the

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have knowed better for James McArdle who owned it before me cut one down and was no time alive. 11

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3. Drum.boy. "They were goin' to break up the forth in the

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upon it a slice of bread was thrown in front of them.

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was a strange thing till happen an' they were bothered.

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days of my forebears, _but when the horses and plough were

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(1) A fine example of a double-ringed enclosure.

An I thank God

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alone _tbe Nugents wud niver want for bread. we niver did even in the Famine time. 11 <2 )

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A wise woman said it was an omen that if the place was left

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(2) 11When I was young I remember hearing of the Famine, but its little I mind of it now •..•• The way it was in our house must not have been bad or I would have thoughts of it in me head still. 11 Taken down from Mrs. Brigid Quinn of Glassdrummond drummond near the village of Ball's Mill when I last saw her on 28 Nov. 1939. Born 1836, died 1941, aged 105 years.

I should

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fort and I lost my wife and son shortly after.

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A cow and · a calf died so they put back the soil. 11

2. Ballinagalliagh. (1)

The fort was broken up but it was soon mended

again.

1. Balteagh.

quote four other examples.

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The earthwork in question commands an extensive

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prospect and is famous locally because of a ballad of 26

verses WTitten in its honour by a man

who travel3:ed the

. county over and niver had the fire of poetry lighted in

his heart until he saw the view from Drumboy. 11

l+. Cashel. "Sure it was in oul' McParlin's time it was

An'

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An' he had the finest corn ye iver saw.

from far an' near they come till see an' wonder at it.

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happened.

done, an' the countryside was afeared for him, but nothin'

An' one evenin'

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An' he says, says he,

An' they

But in the

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wo were w.i.th him promised till give a han 1 •

t t again. 11

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give them such a fright they ni ver tried

An' it

deil the corn or anything, not even a stubble.

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mornin' when they got there sure it was bare as yer fist -

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"I 1 11 cut eome the morrow if help can be got 11 •

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Many instances of

burial places in the county as well.

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In earlier days like stories extended· to prehistoric

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(3) This stone walled monument gave name to the townland and :is now better known as the 11 Relig 11 , the latter terminology deriving from the fact that unbaptized children and Suicides were at one time buried within it.

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himself an' some others wur there.

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the walls of the Relig. (3) An' it ripened.

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The headswur as long as yer arm an' reachin' far above

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the ill-luck attending the removal of stones from such places are still extant.

Space, however, will only

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allow me to mention a few of them.

is a circular patch known as The

In Cladybeg there The

Green Height".

The earn, however, was. not

'When they built Ballymoyer.

story goes that stones were moved from it by the Synnots

Bonfires were lighted at

it turned out

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it in the oul' days on Midsummer's Eve an' there would be This particular story was told to me

music an' dancin' . 11

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unlucky for both of them 11 • (l+)

'Who gave permission for their removal and

on their property but on land belonging to Lord Charlemont,

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me that he actually remembered such fires being lighted

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The same tradition is attached to a chambered grave

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Stones from it. are said to have been

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Foxhall family.

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at Clonlum, situate on land that formerly belonged to the

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50 years ago.

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annually on the hill but that the custom had ceased over

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A like story is attached to a

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of Killevy Castle.(5)

used with disastrous results to the family in the building

(4) Neither the Synnots or the Caulfeilds are now represented in the county.

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(5) The family suffered financial distress in 1816 due to the failure of the Newry Bank.

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in 1931 by Daniel Rocks, then aged 85 years who informed

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grave of the same type at Ballinteggart, ( )and at Bally-

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macdermot on land owned by the Seaver family.(?)

One of the most common obj:ects in our countryside

is the "Lone Bush", better known perhaps as the "Fairy

Thorn" or "Gentry Bush 11 , still a familiar feature in our The undernoted stories illustrate the lore

landscape.

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ver cut a thorn bush when the haws are upon it. Never

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In them days

I mind as a youngster bein' toul' that.

protection.

of the isolated thorn tree and the reasons for its

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He cut it an' tuk

an' it only a crabbed bit of a thi~g.

They shouldn't

I mind a man taking one down

be cut at all, not iver.

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But gentry bushes wur different.

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then.

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There wur all kind of witcheries

divil a hate else.

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(6) In the closing years of the. 17th century a house was largely built from this cairn by the Bolton family, in which the famous Dean Swift was occasionally a guest, whilst staying with the Achesons at Markethill - a family Ballinnow represented by the present Earl of Gosf'ord. teggart had formerly belonged to the Sacheveralls, to whom it had been granted at the Plantation by King James I. Old people still speak of the place as Bolton's Folly.

(7) In 1815 Jonathan Seaver of Heath Hall, Co. Armagh, assisted by John Bell. a well-known antiquarian of those days, excavated an in£eresting forecourted chambered grave Both of in the above townland, on the family property. them a:t'terwards met w1 th misfortune. ·

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It killed him.

wasn't fit for a Christian at a11:

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a pain in his jaw an' soon he bed a face, the like of which

there'd be notbin' but fairy tales at the fireside -

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An' I mind some that grew on a fort. an' his wife cut them.

Oul Terence

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She wus the worst - but

she wus soon in bed an' she niver riz from it, an' he

tuk a pain in his leg an' fut an' lay for six months!

Jesus is my judge but I wus once fixin' a house an'

• there wus a fairy thorn in the middle of the street.

Will ye

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The divil a bit if I will 11

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him that was caretaker to oul'

brother-in-law, ✓

Take my advice an' leave the

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fairy thorns alonett.

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ye 1 ll cut that bush

But he got a saw anyhow an' look at the fix be

got into before he died.

'Me

Not if ye give me £20 11 , says I.

len' me yer saw'* says he. ·

Said he to me

for me".

says I.

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Stitt of Newtown (8)Jh~d a venture once with the wee people.

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An' he, poor man, wus

the place to stop their capers.

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He wus out with the bill-book for the best of a day,

-with cuttin' branches all over

an'

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fair bothered with them

down the crops beyond .anything.

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Sure the cattle were breakin' somethin' awful, an' trampin'

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an' at long last, he wus so bate, he said to himself, said

(8) Newtownhamilton, a village in the to-wnland of Tullyvallen valleni Shea Fina - the fairy white hill - the reputed site or the palace of Lir, lies one mile west.

John wud hev it cut.

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Ernie---- wud niver do more than trim it but his brother

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he, "I'll lop a branch or mebbe two from the · oul' thorn they'll never be missed 11 •

But the very first chop he

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give there was a tarrable moan.

An' he thought he'd be safe

but there wus nobody near.

He looked iverywbere

An' he wus fair tuk

So back he put the branch

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here once took a branch from one

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A man ne·~

It was there they talked

was always a traffic about them.

at times.

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"Gentry bushes always had a pad round them and there

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in it.u

till stop a gap and in the mornin' his only cow was dead

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Having considered the effects of taking liberties

with forts, cairns, · and lone thorns, it may prove of

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interest to your readers to know that in 1934 in the town-

Had a three pronged fork held up during the birth.

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Salted the cow at calving.

3. · Never went into the byre without a straw or two

because she deemed it unlucky to do so.

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an old lady lived who -

land of Fergort -I was shown a bouse in which I was informed

It wus the great mercy he didn't

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cut it off. 11

an' boun' it up with splinters.

was as well as iver.

An' in a day or two it

with fright at what he did.

the billy-hook smothered in blud.

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in broad daylight, so he hacked it again, an' out come

And always milked the first squirts on the floor

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because of the wee people.

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strange man 11 and eftectively banished me by closing the

Unfortunately she refused to be interviewed by a

door. , Her neighbours, however, were more forthcoming

and in discussion I found that -

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niver till chase that kind of

will 11 , and was warned

part with a dog or cat that comes till ye of its own free

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"It was lucky to meet the first lamb of the season 9 with its face 11 toasth ie, and very nunchancy"(lO)till

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Having expressed the feeling that

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cows to ensure calves.

I was also assured a goat should always be kept with the

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(10) Used as above simply means unlucky but the word can in some instances mean "doubtful 11 •

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Towards.

( 9)

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for levity.

a bull would surely also be necessary I was taken to task

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stray awar_f.r.om ine, in case my luck might well go with it. II

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ARhAGH EI SQ4,LANL

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Our Pa~an Background,

In the Slieve Gullion district the inhabitants have

many stories to relate of the mythical Calliagh Bhirra

whose adventures with Finn are still a source of gossip

around that romantic countryside, which they al.so

associate with Gulan the Smith and Setanta whose fight

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Cuchullain, by which he is even more intimately linked

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with Culan's hound resulted in him acquiring the name of

with the great earthwork of fil::nain Macha on the western

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Other sites of like interest include

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still recounted.

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Shee Fina the fairy White Hill on the west of the village

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of Newtownhamilton, the site of the Palace of Lir, the

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It's very ~entle country,

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of Irish story-telling.

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tragedy of whose· ~hildren forms one of the great sorrows

A stand1ni stone ih the Dorsey entrenchment formerly whitewashed each sprini.

(l)

But

the Calley Berry who threw the White Stone.Cl)

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W~ll, there's some say it wus he an• not

Finn Mccool?•

Did ye iver hear of

~iants and witches as well.

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had

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have been to the other side of Slieve Gullion where they

"It's very gentle country all aroun' here, but I

outskirts of Armagh where stories of its foundress are

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Our Pagan Background (cont.)

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sure they both mebbe had a han' in it, for they wur both

upon the earth togither.

An' if he wus fleet of fut Do ye

an' strong of limbs she wus strong in spells.

know her house on the mountain an' the lake beside it. Shure it was into that very lake( 2 )she coaxed fool Finn.

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again.

An' they bad a high time making him right

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oul' man.

An' in he went fresh an' youthful an' out he come a done

Often I started up ~he mountain to see the lake but

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an' they were turned till stone.

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ye know a weddin' party went into ye Galley Berry's once,

Her house goes down

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F;i,nn wusn' t much of a man at all,

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An• if all ye hear is true,

beach in the early days.

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Finn, I may tell ye, Wt1sn 1 t the only pebble on the

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but then it's not - for half the truth is downright lies

when it comes till giants an' sich like - well then Finn

(2) This is the local name for the great earn on the summit of the mountain.

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But where Finn is I know not, or if I do I

dis remember. u

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Ay an' will till the end

herself till this very day. of time.

an' dow an' in the bottom chamber sits the Gally Berry

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I cud never head the whole road, I wus so afeared, for

').

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Our Pa~an Back~round Ccont.)

wsn 1 t half the man some people think.

Indeed he wusn't

Shure there's not a sowl from

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much of a man at all!

here till Newry that doesn't know that Finn hid in a

cradle once rather than take he's batin' like a man.

An' for days before he had been struttin' the. mountain as

Finn wus on the hill

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An' this is the way of it.

above when he saw a giant the spit of himself but a far

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the want of a fight.

proud as a pay cock, pretendin I he was blue moulded for

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An' then she had a look over till Carrick

herself an' there vrus the other one footin' it over.

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Good morrow, me woman, 11 says he, "an' where is he's

sel.t'?"

An' before ye'd say uGod

save ye, 11 the other fellow wus with her. 11

I 1 ve done

me best an I I can't do more. n

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she, "but what's till be,.. will be," says she.

! 1 ve mebbe bit off more than I 1 11 chew, 11 says

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Says she

troth an' she got a fright at the size of him. till herself,

An'

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of sorts.

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uFinn, 11 says

leave it ti.11 me, 11 an' with that she · makes a cradle

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she,

murdered completely if tl:ion fella sees me. 11

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So he in till his wife an' says he, "I'll be

all.

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An' he didn't like . the look of him at all, at

beyant.

bigger man restin' tween the two oul' teeth on Carrick

0ch, 11 says she,

he's jist stepped out this minit

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Our Pa~an Background (cont.)

for a walk till the Kerry mountains, but it's back he'll

that I s our youngest chile, but

0ch, 11 says she,

have we here? 11 says he. 11

what

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.An' with that he spied the cradle.

be in a little;• says she .

it's out with he's father he is."

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me ouldest one's worth lookin' at, but

Shure, 11 says she,

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Says he,

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An' he ups an' away an' off he _goes

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no longer now. 11

1 1 ll call again some other day, for I can I t be wai tin'

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An' shure the men are the

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An' that's Finn for ye!

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Slew Gullion.

over mountain an• bog but divil the back he iver come till

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"Shure they did say, the oul' people of long ago,

that Finn ws goin' up the mountain be the lake, when he

saw a lady lyin'. on her side lookin' sad an' sorraful.

shure it's me ring I 1 ve lost.u

0ch, 11 says she,

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An' he said, says he, "What's the bother? 11

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SB eve Gullion,

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same till this blessed day - always blowin' and blastin' • 11

ag h

An 1 that wus enough for the other fella.

as ye can see for yourself he is but an ill•thriven brat. 11

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Our fA~an Back~round Ccont.) Don' t worry, I 111 get it if I can. 11

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Then, says he,

An' in he went but when he reached the bank again, shure he wus oul' an' grey.

.An' his huntsmen come up an'

sorra· a bit of them cud know him, he wus that changed.

An' the lady, she wus the Gally Berry,~' she run away

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Indeed it's little I know of the sa:ne Gally Berry,

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ag h

You'd niver

Some

beiieve there wus such a gra' for our oul' ·mountain.

ou nt

Ar m

had bags with sweetbreads in them an' other things too.

Some come be the ch3pel, an' some be fut, an' some be cars.

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An' a whole lot come this way an' more got out at Kinney's.

But he cud go an'

An' be went till the lake for the cure.

he wept.

Me brother went up that day an' he wus bad with the toothache besides being lame like me.

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of refreshments, ay, oranges an' iverything.

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TI:iem that comed from Dublin had all sorts

It wus

They had tay on the mountain

black with them iverywhere. but I got none.

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Swarmin 1 all over it they wur.

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on top one day.

The whole world wus

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Shure it's the great mountain.

· Many a night

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.wondered what it might be she wus boilin'. I lay awake thi:okin' of it.

The Gally

An' indeed I often

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has a male in her pot the day. 11

I he~red the oul I people say till me mother,

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but many a time when the mist wud be on the mountain above,

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· ·an' what happened after that I do forgit.

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Our Pagan Background (cont.)

way• ll

says he;

should I die be the

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"Troth an' I'll go,

An' -when he returned, says .he,

1 'm cured an'

said me mother, "we'll be done with

"Thank God,

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the pain, an' mebbe the laziness will leave ye as well. 1111

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An' he wus sore put about when he heared

them I won't be sayin', for they do tell he had more than one.

C h 11

Who wus

Ar m

Go long ye great big boo1?y, 11 says she.

well ye cudn 1 t keep it sent them after ye, knowin' fu11 r

ou nt

Shure it wus me sworn comrades

I tell ye, wo~an, I'm a gonner: 11

out 0£ mischief yer lone?u

said he.

Ar m

did that?

yer blethers,

Ye• 11 dave me with

Ar m

noch, houl I yer toniue, woman.

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Bedad an' yer not, 11 says she, lldidn't I rescue you

from the Gally Berry herself? 11

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1 'm a done man. 11

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Ar m

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Fii:m, ll says she, "lie ye

there quiet like an' trust till me. u "Och woman, 11 says he,

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He's wife though,

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had her wits about her.

Ar m

of sorts an' stillshaky on his pegs.

ag h

that the Scotchman wus comin' an' he jist after a wakeness

"Finn was on the mountain with he's wife, which of

ag h

And Finn was Cock of Slew Gullion again.

•

-s. \S.

.An I Finn, ·we:kl ·knowin' that a woman wud have the last

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Our Pagan Background Ccont.)

An'

word, let it go at that.

An'

when the Scotchie arrived.

the good woman wus all

all wus peace and quietness

smiles an' politeness an' sweet as ye like, an' her jist

havin' the cross word with Finn the minit before.

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will ye be after excusin'

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she says, says she,

but sit ye down till he comes in.

An' then,

No/ 1 says she,

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ou nt

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ate the house wnen he comes back. 11

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me if I go on with me bakin', for himself will be fit till

wbat have we here?"

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If that's the chile -v.ipat must the father

An' he wud have been off again

Ar m

be like at all, at a.11. 11

himself, he says,

It 1 s_ a divil of a fine baby," says he, while till

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Ar m

"Why that is our baby, 11 says she.

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Ah, 11 says the Scotchie, says he,

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Ar m

then!

An' if Finn the divil, didn't move in the bed just

ye must, for if Finn returned

"Och now, 11 says she,

Ar m

! cudn' t. u

Says he,

Says she, ''Ye'll stay for some tay. u

this night an' foun' I had offered ye neither bit or sup,

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Ar m

herself hadn't finished with him.

till Scotland as fast as his legs wud carry him, only that

II_An', 11 says he, is himself at home? 11

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Our Pa~an Tuck~round (cont,)

it 1 s meself wud git a tongueing.

An 1 with the baby

teething, it 1 s troubles enough I have.

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Stay? 11

Shurely ye'll

An'· Scottie sat himself down to a beaut:i,,ful cake

An' poor Scottie, rather than hurt her

cunnin' one.

with a griddle in the middle of it, for she wus the

us eu m

Cud I have a drink

ou nt

till drown me thirst like? 11

An' when he had finished, says he,

aul' N"ick with he's teeth an' worse with his innards.

ag h

Ant he says' ur do. II

ou nt y

Ar m

below ye? 11

ag h

.lui' says she, ttTill be sbure, ye see the wee lake

nt y

Ar m

sbe.

a ve-ssel I have large enough till fill the belly of him, 11 says

us e

Shure there's ni ver

ag h

Ar m

drinks .when the thirst is upon him.

nt y

"Well, 11 she says, says she, nthat' s where himself

winter fires, an' she had the sarvents drop them in till

ou nt

Ar m

bundles of ~Jee sticks all dried an' ready agin the

Ar m

the lake, an 1 they wur mad for they didn't want till have The

An' poo~ oul' chappie he off till the lake.

to iather more when it wus buntin 1 they might be.

An 1 I forgot till tell ye that she bad hundreds of

feelings, ate it up, though, indeed, the griddle played

17,

us eu m

Our Pagan Back~rounq {cont.)

eu m

tears wur coorsing down he's cheeks because of the salt

cake he'd ate, an' the bits of the griddle wur hurtin'

.An' the man wus in a disperate state altogither.

cruel.

If Finn comes back I'm done for . 11

An I then he says

till he's self,

filled himself full of wee sticks.

An' he drunk an' he drunk till he wus fit till burst an'

us eu m

there he lies till this very day.

sleepyness he niver got over, so he laid himself down an'

ag h

.An' a tarrable wakeness come upon him, but he only got a

A.n. 1 he not being able till digest

them they destroyed him entirely.

ou nt y

it, it set up a quarrel -wi.th the sticks, an' between

Ar m

us eu m

ou nt

th~ insides of him.

nt y

ou C

nt y

Ar m

F1:gn 1 s Fine-er stones.

ag h

Ar m

of Slew Gullion .again! 11

us e

That wus what Finn I s -wi.fe planned an.' Finn wus cock

ou nt

Ar m

An' the little stone at the side of the big one is a part

that broke off in he's ban' when be wus thro-wi.n' the 0ther.

tween his finger an' thumb, an' that wus the way

he sent it.

He tuk it be

a boult

Shure the

Ar m

comrades of it are on the mountain above.

He wus so annoyed he threw the wee bit a~ter it, an 1 • that's no word of a lie, for indeed it did happen.

"Finn wus playin' on the mountain when he threw them.

ag h

A..~' while he slept, the griddle caused trouble in

us eu m

Our Pagan Background {cont.)

Vnn mat a 4ra~on once,

" "Finn met a dragon once.

eu m

a mountain.

It ws nearly as big as

But he had all his men with him an' wusn't The head of it ws

a bit afeared so he give it battle.

nearly as big as Sturgab~)it; said, an' the mouth of it

wus gaping open an' full of teeth the size of trees.

us eu m

ou nt

an' his band though it swallowed them everyone.

Finn

us eu m

But it wus no match for Finn

over as aisy as ye like.

An' with it, it cud lrnock a cow or a man

sight it wus.

ag h

he bopped an' ivery man-jack after him.

An'

ou nt y

out

Ar m

an'

ag h

bedad, mad~_an opening in the belly of it, with his sword

Finn

the brute wus that put about it lay down an' died.

us e M

ou C

Finn wus near Armagh,

nt y

ag h

Lislea.

Ar m

them in them days. 11

nt y

killed that one in Grunlough but sure there wur lots of

"Sugar Loaf 11 because of its resemblance to the mountain so called in Co. Wicklow.

Ar ©

Ar m

A summit near Lislea Chapel locally called the

C3)

An' Finn wus

Ar m

other fella wus the faster on he's pins.

ou nt

But the

giant an 1 he wu_s that ~annoyed, he after him.

"Finn wus near Armagh one day, when he saw a Scotch

An' the tail of it wus high in the air - nearly out of

Ccont,)

Background

us eu m

Our Pagan

sore afeared he'd git away an' swim back before he'd

eu m

get a grip on him, so he threw sods as big as hills at

An' in he's hurry he filled both he 's ban's with

him.

But it went right

acres of lan' an' let him have it.

An' if

us eu m

nt y

h ag

This refers to the old volcanic neck of Slieve Gullien now a lake on the summit between the northern and southern cairns.

h ag

Ar m

"Two people drealllt of a crock of gold in it one

ou nt

Drumintee.

Ar m

a God was so badly·used. 11

(4)

Ar m

chance would a mortal have when Finn that was near

ag h

Ar m

Sure ye lmow the bother Finn got into.

The QaJljaim•s Grave.

us e

There's other places

ye want to bathe in it anyhow for?

What

What do

nt y

uThe oul 1 lakets( 4)haunted ri~ht enough.

ou nt y

Ar m

The lake is haunted ri~ht enou~.

ye could try.

us eu m

ou nt

Fisherman, Lough Neagh.

ag h

ye put the island back ye'd be surprised the way it wud fit.

A.n' the place

he tore the earth out of is now Lough Neagh.

ag h

bee?ause it i<ms made be a man ' s throw.

An. 1 it's called the island of Man

till this very day.

over him an' dropped in the say, an ' it's still there

...

'20 .

us eu m

Our Pagan Backfround Ccont.) It wus hidden in the

eu m

night, but they niver got it.

But indeed

Calliagh' s Grave(5)an' they saw it plain. they niver got it.

They wur struck bline but whether

they wur dark iver after or only struck bline by a light I only heared it from the oul' people.

T'De thing on the mountain wus only her house.

It had

us eu m

.An' indeed the Calliagh's buried there right enough.

ag h

They knowed all about it .

I do forget.

us eu m

The Calliagh may be there

nt y

Wby is ye wus to throw in a stick on Sunday

ag h

at all.

Ar m

Indeed her oul' lake has divil a bottom in it at all,

us e

of her capers -with Finn.

still for indeed there's lots of people have gran ' stories

Ar m

are now I won•t be saying.

Where the other rooms

ou nt

ag h

it wus the parlour in her days.

ou nt y

five rooms in it at one time but there is only one now -

nt y

h ag

Ar m

(Taken down from an old woman on Dromintee loaning).

A prehistoric passage grave on the southern summit

Slieve Gullion, excavated in 1961 by Mr. A.E.P. Collins.

Ar ©

C5)

ou nt

Dromintee.

Ar m

Ye 1 d hardly believe the things that

happened here •11

It is the quare ancient countryside

Lough in the mornin'. this I can tell ye.

Ar m

afternoon as many a one has, ye•d find it floating on Carnly

~2I•

us eu m

Our Pa~an Back~round Ccont.) The Hoyry Cat,

eu m

"He wus an oult one an t there wus witchery of some He wus

sort in hi, for he wus of an age with the hills.

here in Finn's time and for hundreds an ' hundreds of years

An'° he wud kill men

him - he ·wd jist do as he wanted.

us eu m

Bu.t there cum a time when they cud do notbin 1 with

ag h

us eu m

~l the cats of Ireland an' one day

ag h

An 1 he ruled

ou nt

accounts he wus often that way.

ant animals alike when the temper wus upon him an' be all

ou nt y

nt y

us e

.An. 1 the leader had a sword

kill or be killed by him.

But the secret laked out an' a party set out till

Orior.

Ar m

made a plot with them t:i.11 put an' end till the men of'

as the head fell down all bludy

nt y

A,nt

the head off him.

ag h

Ar m

with a charm in it an' it wus he had the luck till slice

Carrickbroad.

It w.s he wus bright of himself till the last."

things.

He's the one cud have toult ye lots of

grandfather.

I heared the story often from me

Ar m

wus no trouble after.

.An' his friens killed the kitlin' an' there

be died.

Ar m

an' the kitlin' iepped at bets throat an' tore it out an'

ou nt

. !n' when he went home he did so

ye have done till me 11 •

Ar m

it said till him - "when ye go home tell yer kitlin' what

beginning.

after - he mebbe belonged till the Calliagh in the

The Black Pig

us eu m

Our Pa~an Back~round Ccont.) Rose in the Valley. (6)

eu m

uThe black l)ig rose in the valley

and run from

The Race 11 <8 )with a great war but there

The oul'

people linked up

there through Ballinliss to the lough.(7)

It was about

The Raceu that had still to

us eu m

ag h

Tbe Black Pig.

y nt

I wish I bad listened to the oul' people. 11

come.

a massacre of people on

was another story I don't right remember.

ou nt

ag h

One of

he I s t:ricks wus to turn he's scholars into houn I s an 1 The

ou nt y

He did it be a magic stick.

Ar m

have gran' hunts.

us e

father of the ~ee fella that wus oftenest the hare, got

.An' the

ag h

lessons, an' he up to the school one day.

Ar m

nt y

to hear of the quare way he had of larnin' them their

nt y

A.n 1 when the master come back he struck

An' the boys

him with it an' called him a black pig.

he ~rabbed it.

Ar m

master wus out with the hunt but the stick wus there an'

ou nt

Maigh.

(7)

Camlough.

(8)

•lternative name for Black Pig's Dyke.

(6)

Baliinliss.

are bits of the trench still.

An• he tore up a deep trench as he run, an' there

Ar m

Down.

Ar m

pelted him .with stones, so he fled into the county of

before St. Patrick an' he had the black art.

us eu m

nThere wus a scbocilmaster in Meigh in the days

us eu m

Our Pa~an Back~round Ccont.)

The Rad Cow of Orior,

She wus the pride of the place an' many a

oul' days.

eu m

uThe PassC9)was the haunt of a famous red cow in the

An 1

narrow escape she had for it wus well-known she wus.

she had a special place for drinkin' in a well of her own

to drink.

an' her hoof-marks wur plain the rocks where she went down

us eu m

ag h

An' she wus a great milker - the whole of OriorClO)

An' he

ag h

An' after he had milked for

milked her intill a riddle.

ou nt

from Louth who said one day he wud test her.

us eu m

~ot their milk from her, but there wus a fool of a man

us e

nt y

Edenappagh.

ag h

The e;atherin' of the birds,

ou nt y

Ar m

rage an' ni ver come back. 11

Ar m

days she huffed, an' nobody seen her more - she left in a

nt y

Ar m

uT'.aere wus a gathe±in I of all the birds of the air

there, bi~, small, great and little and some wur gay wi'

(10) The baronies of Upper and Lower Orior.

The Gap of the North.

Ar m

(9)

the wee Jinny wran. 11

colour like the kingfisher and others sober coloured like

all

Wlll'

ou nt

They

Ar m

Many a time I heared the story.

them.

one day to houl' a contest as to which would be king among

us eu m

Our Pa~an Back~round (cont,) There wus a great contention as to how the matter wud

eu m

be decided but in the end it wus arranged that the one

that cud rise the highest wud be the king.

The lark soared into the sky,

there and they started.

They wur all

Soon

but it wus soon passed be the hawk and the eagle.

There and then it proclaimed itself

us eu m

king Qf the air but as sure as to-morrow a wee wran had

ou nt

1 1 m your

us eu m

The eagle wus sore put out

ou C

h ©

Ar m ©

ou C h

ag h Ar m ©

Crossmaglen, aged about 80.

nt y

h ag ©

Ar m

Ar m ©

right cute wee bird the same wran. 11

us e

Its a

ou nt y

Ar m

but it wus too tired to follow and the wran won.

ou nt

ag h

king, king of the air am 1 11 •

which it rose and continued upwards singing

nt y

hid itself in the topney of the eagle unknownst, from

ag h

the sun itself.

the eagle left them all behine and in no time was high as

us eu m

ARMAGH MISCELLANEA,

eu m

Navan Rath Traditions,

Navan Rath lies about two miles west of Armagh city,

on the old coach-road from Armagh to Enniskillen where a The so-

direction sign points the way to &ain Macha.

called rath consists of an earthen-ringed enclosure of

twelve acres, containing a destroyed circular earthwork -

ag h

(1963) in process of investigation.

us eu m

still easily traceable - and a great central mound, now

ou nt

ag h

legends of our country, it is said to derive its name

us eu m

Chief in importance amongst the old mythology and

from a Queen~acha who is believed to have been responsible For nearly seven

ou nt y

Ar m

for its lay-out about the year 350 B.C.

us e

centuries the great central mound was the crowning place

ag h

Red Branch Knights, Ulster• s famous and Ireland's most

nt y

Ar m

Here Macha is reputed to have been buried and

games.

notable order of chivalry', exercised themselves in warlike

nt y

Ar m

of the Kings of Ulster, and on the slopes beneath it the

brought about the destruction of :&nain Macha and the

h ag

as Antrim and Down.

Ar m

expulsion of the Ultonians into a territory that we know

Arter the death of Fergus Fogha the earthwork seems

to have fallen under a sort of ban, by which it was deemed

Ar m

whose disastrous defeat by the three Collas in 320 A.D.

ou nt

somewhere near lies Fergus Fogha, the last King of Ulster,

'l..b. A century later Patrick

us eu m

unlucky as a place of abode.

arrived on his mission and on a hill two miles east,

eu m

dedicated to an earlier Macha he founded a church,

destined to become supreme in all Ireland, the origin

of whose primacy may in some measure be traced back to

a transfer of secular precedence or the fact that

Armagh itself is more ancient still than Ena1n Macha.

Tne hill on which the rath is sited is not quite

From the summit

an old road ran from there to Tara.

us eu m

sides excepting the south where tradition asserts that

ag h

200 feet high and is surrounded by marshy lands on all

ou nt y

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

Uisneach and a hundred other incidents besides.

nt y

Tain" the greatest epoch of Irish story telling.

Ar m

ag h

In the immediate neighbourhood there were at one

nt y

The imposing kerb of a large circular Bronze

Ar m

cairn also remains to remind us of earlier occupation

Age

Ar m

graves.

time a number of pillar stones and several prehistoric

ou nt

and settlement, but their past glories are forgotten

C h

Ar m

wereas the story of Enain Macha strongly survives.

and from it evolved those narratives that make the

us e

Ar m

its grassy hillsides Cuchullain excelled in manly arts,

was witnessed the tragedy of Deirdre and the sons of

'-7·

us eu m

ARHAGH HI SCELLANEA..

Navan

Stories,

eu m

The Navan Dra~on,

Rath

Pearls an' gold galore lie in the lake but the divil

a one has iver seen them, for the dragon won't iver let a

Shure it's been seen twice in recent years, once by

in him.

body near them, who has not the rightful blud of the owner

us eu m

when he heared a hiss 'tween a screech an' a whis'le

ag h

oul' 0 Rourke who wus mowing wid he's back till the lake,

ou nt

ag h

It give

ou nt y

of the lake an' his very hair stood on en'.

us eu m

He saw the face of it as it sunk in the middle

water.

Ar m

him such a fright he niver went back, an' the water wus

nt y

ag h

Ar m

An' he wid them an' glad till go.

too.

us e

that disturbed, the very wee water-hens, they up an' away

But he wus not the last till see it, for shure ye

An' in he started

thought he wud drain the water away.

We'il, me bou.1 1 0 Toole

Ar m

an' washed their chariots like.

Kings of Ulster in the oul 1 days, watered their horses

till cut the bank an' it so lovely an' round. it wus a pity

ou nt

Ar m

it's always full from the bottom wid water, an' there the

nt y

An' one day over in Tray - ye know the place

beyant.

Ar m

know there's a passage from it till the King's Stables

that nearly caused him till fall head over heels in the

Rath Stories (cont.)

us eu m

Navan

But, bedad, it's little diggin 1

till destroy the shape.

An' it spittin' something

cud hardly be seen for it.

eu m

he did for up popped the dragon so big that the water

But shure that's

awful an' its eyeballs wicked wid fire.

us eu m

us M

ag h

The Break,in~ of the Rath.

ou C

his bed.

Ay, an 1 for many a long day after, he tuk till

since.

all he knows about it, except that he's not the same man

It wus fifty years ago or more, an' be the same token The

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

there's them alive the day who wur at the diggin 1 •

oul' people wur for iver talkin 1 of the gold and treasure

ou nt y

us e

An' some said as how it wusn 1 t in the

pack.in' as it wur.

Ar m

--t&at wus hid be the King of Navan, when he left without

nt y

Ar m

So one fine night some brave young lads

he's life.

ag h

wud fine it might ate with a silver spoon for the rest of

nt y

Ar m

lake at all but in the oul 1 fort itself, an' that he who

bethought themselves that they wud have a try for it.

had knowed it they wudn't have slept in their beds that

An' the nearer they got,

happy before they got nearer.

But they wu.r less

they started off cheerful enough like.

How-an-soever

Ar m

niiht at all, at all, with the dread of it.

ou nt

Ar m

quietly made off to the forth, for indeed if their fathers

An' they provided themselves with spades an' lanterns an'

us eu m

Navan Rath Stories Ccont.)

the less happy they wur.

eu m

An' at last they reached the

forth an' the quietness of it wus like till choke them,

but they wr togither an' none had the courage till say,

"Leave it alone an come home with yeH - although that's

An' the

spadeful dug, a cock crowed somethin' fierce.

us eu m

An' with the first

So roun' in a bundle they 'stud.

ag h

upon them right enough.

what they all wanted to do, for it wus them had a fear

more they dug the more the cocks crowed., an' the hens

Then the fear gripped

ag h

until the dogs started howlin'.

us eu m

ou nt

too, all over the countryside, but that didn't stop them

An' they remembered

them right on the top of the forth.

ou nt y

Ar m

them hard, for the noises began to close in on them, an'

us e

nt y

Ar m

though they had sense till houl 1 on be the lanterns.

nt y

An' they left their spades· behine them

from the lake.

So off they fled by the side farthest

ag h

on its way too.

Ar m

the dragon in the lough below an' they wur shure it wus

Ar m

ao' foolish, for the destroyin' of a forth is a serious

thini, but they all lived till die natural deaths except

them that's livin' still, an' that's the true way of it.

Ar m

happened till any of them, mebbe because they wur young

ou nt

An' nothin'

of the diggin' be there till this very day.

An' the spades wur niver seen no more, though the maxks

~3o .

us eu m

Navan Rath Stories (cont.)

eu m

one side of his head was bald.

A man who one time owned the Navan ring filled some It wus a warm day an' he When he woke an'

of the rampaxt in the trench.

wus tired so he lay down an' slept.

An' the hair wudn' t

An' shure enough it wus.

bald.

went home his wife toul' him one side of his head wus

us eu m

An I he did so, an I sure

place an' all will be well. u

said, said she, uput the soil back again in its o~l•s

ag h

grow on it again, so he went to a canny woman, an' she

us eu m

C h

Ar m

ou nt

nt y

ou C h

nt y

us e

ou nt y

ag h ©

Ar m

Ar m ©

ou nt

ag h ©

Ar m

Ar m ©

as yer here, that side of his head grew good hair after.

us eu m

3J .

ARlviAGH hI SCELLAH FA, Rath Stories.

eu m

Navan

Ena~h-Macha,

In the ou.1 1 days there was a fair at .E:nagh that

-- --

lasted a fortnight or three weeks and cattle and sheep

Informant Thomas Corr, . Lisbanoe, 1928, then over It seems curious that cattle and

sheep should haveienclosed in Lisbaboe fort.

us eu m

70 years of age.

ag h

were treasured in the fort of Lisbanoe and guarded.

us e

M ou

nt y

ou C h ©

ou nt

ag Ar m ©

ou nt y

ag h Ar m ©

us eu m

ou nt C

h ag ©

Ar m

Ar m ©

Ar m

ag h

in bygone days.

regards Enagb it was undoubtedly known as Enagb-Macha

us eu m

CUCHQLLAIN. Sure he

eu m

".Ay indeed, Cuchullain, was the boy.

carried a bull calf up the hill each day, ay to the And as the calf grew in weight

very summit.

Cuchullain's strength increased until at last he was

eu us eu m

us eu m

us e

M ou

nt y

ou C h

ou nt

C Ar

h ag ©

ou nt y

ag Ar m ©

Ar m

ag h

ou nt

nt ou C ©

ag h Ar m ©

Ar m

ag h

Sure it was no bother till him

top of the mound.

at all 11 •

able to transport the full grown bull to the very

3-3. HI SCELLANEA I

us eu m

ARHAGH

eu m

ST. PATRICK

Armagh is associated with various saints(l)but it

is the Patrician traditions that are our chief interest.

Patrick is commemorated on the western outskirts of the

Other wells in the county dedicated to

each 29th June.

city by an ancient well to which pilgrimages take place

the saint are sited at Mahon, near Portadown, in Gosford

us eu m

ag h

Demesne (Markethill), now better known as Swift' s Well.

us eu m

ou nt

a St. Patrick's Chair on the highest point

ag h

Besides those links we have a St. Patrick's Lough near

of .A.rmaghbrague, and a St. Patrick's Road under the peat

us e

nt y

ou nt y

Ar m

The stories may not be true.

It raged an' tore for miles roun' but

nt y

The whole of Armagh

wus after it.

Ar m

cursed the bull an' it went mad.

.An' Patrick wus very annoyed an'

Patrick set up be day.

ag h

Ar m

ttThe bull pushed over during the night all that

ou nt

h ag

Ar m

St. Columba and St. Brigid were both commemorated by early churches, the sites of which are well known and 11 Brigid' s Well 11 still exists in the Palace Demesne thouih no longer a place of pilgrimage. '

(1)

Ar m

temper, I don't remember.

whether it wus killed be Patrick's curses or died of a

,50'1~

in certain townlands on the northern- shore of Lough Neagh.

.34-

us eu m

St. Patrick Ccont.) It wus wonderful the way the saints cud curse in the

eu m

The same Patrick wus good at it be all accounts. 2 An' He ' d ring his bell( )on ye an ' curse ye for little. oul' days.

He killed his

ride over ye too if he tuk the notion.

An' ivery time she riz he turned the

sister that way .

Sne soon died

us eu m

He tried it once on a man but God raised

That should

But the stories may not be

ou nt

ou nt y

.Armaghbrague.

'When I was a boy.

The oul ' people toul' them anyhow. 11

Ar m

true.

ag h

have been a lesson till him.

us eu m

ag h

the groun' an' the wheels did no damage.

of that sort.

But God wasn't always pleased with him for capers

of it.

us e

nt y

Ar m

'W'nen I wus a boy it wus often I'd be on the mountain

nt y

An' it's often he toul' me brothers an' me,

Ar m

of Lisnadill.

ag h

above wi' oul ' Sammy Morrison who wus herd till the Moores

that a bull of the oul' days - mebbe indeed the one that

Ar m

That wus in the oul' days an' the oul' people always

Ar m

The marks of its feet are on stones till this very day.

ou nt

chased Patrick he ' s self, is buried in under the Grey Stone ~3)

It and a shrine made for it by Donnell 0 Lochlan, King of Ireland, during the Primacy of Donnell Mc.Auley (Archbishop of Armagh from 1091 to 1105) are now in the National Collection in Dublin) .

(2) A mid-fifth century bell.

(3) A 1tan41nc stone tbat ticures in local folklore.

horses an' drew the chariot over her again.

st.

us eu m

Patrick Cc0 nt,}

had it that the "Bull's Track 11 (lt)in Ballymanab wus made

eu m

They said it went clane mad when

be that very animal.

Patrick tried to settle on Carrickatuke.

the dancin'

An I

an• roarin' ot it put the tear ot God in the whole

sure, only tor that bull Armaah wud be on

beyant.

an• he riz

us eu m

ou nt

!h~ bull went mad, ay, completely crazy,

us eu m

the tine site - that's it the story is true - an' mind ye there's something in oul' stories or they wudn't be toul'.

ag h

wrecld.n' all that Patrick bed built be day on Carrick

countryside - and no wonder, tor shure ivery night it wud

ag h

at Carrick an• lit at Ballymanab, an' the noise wus avtul.

nt y

An' when we wur childer

ateared he'd rise qain.

An• they put the stone on top, thq

Ar m

they dullped him in.

ag h

An' they due the deepest hole that iver wus an•

-find. vur

nt y

Ar m

from tar an' near, an' they slew the baste an• draaced hi• An' they retched the biggest stone they cud till Corran.

us e

ou nt y

Ar m

It trichtened even Patrick, an• he gathered the country

ou nt

h ag ©

Ar m

One ot three hoot-indented boulders linked by' traclition with the bull that drove Patrick tr011 Carricatuke.

(I+)

stone at all."

we wr so af'eared ot him risine we Diver went near the

Ceont,>

us eu m

st, Patrick

eu m

¼he orv Stone ot Corren.

"I did hear that an oul I man be name ot Paddy Docherty

that did 11ve here in the oul I days bad a citt tor tore-

tellinc, an• that he did say there wus a crock of coold

within the throw ot a tineer-stone ot that oul' stone, but

eu us eu m

us M

He come be

"Indeed St. Patrick wus this way once.

ou nt

ag h

Slieve Cross an' wus all tor bllildinc a church at the

us eu m

St, Pat;ri,ck was this xu once-

ag h

A.rthur McKee.

ou C

I n1 ver heared that he said in what direction."

ou nt y

head ot the tow,;,<5) near to the oul' mill somewhere, but

Ar m

God thoucht the Louth ones needed him more.

A.n' so

us e

nt y

Ar m

the river, where the wee craveyard is till this very dq.

Shean.

nt y

wudn't think it.•< 6 >

Ar m

JOU

mebbe

ag h

Many a dacent man wus buried in that wee place thouch

(6)

Urney.

ou nt

P'orkhill.

( ~)

Ar m

(Local tradition asserts that St. Patrick slept one nicht in the clett ot a rock between Slieve Brack and Slieve Cross or Cross Slieve as it is more COllllllonly called.)

Site ot an ancient Christian settl•ent ot

vbich only the cburchyard r•ains.

Patrick had to build his wee church on the oft .side ot

us eu m

st. Patrick <cont,>

aTbe boul 1 Patrick bate the bull at lone last.

cive hill bother on Carrick< >dancin' roun• him, but when

the bu.cier tollowed him till .Armach, hews fair ancered.

Says he till himself - "I must show the baste who• s the When it come down acain it

sky.

and whirled it into the

master heren and with t.hat he crabbed it be its tour pins

us eu m

ag h

bounced leek an injy-rubber ball traa one hill till

us eu m

There's marks at the Navan itselt an• in

place still.

ou nt

They're plain till be seen in many a

ag h

left its marks.

another all roun• the town, an• iverywhere it tell it

(8)

ou nt y

Ar m

a couple of places on the way till Newtown, but the bull

nt y

ou C

Ar m

%he H111 ot the Hgrsa,

Ballyheridan, 1927.

ag h

tor teth the oul' boy's here yet.•

nt y

couldn't have been the d.1v11 as some people would have it,

Ar m

ou nt

horse and there 1s a tradition that lihen Patrick was

Ar m

bu.ildinc his church at Armacb be bad a horse that ca11e

(8)

•ewtownhaailton.

Carriokatulte, the hichest point in Armachbracue.

(7)

"1ullycarron is lmown locally as the Hill ot the

Ar m

eu m

St, Patrick And the bull.

us eu m

st. Patrick Ccpnt,> Some

eu m

out each nicht from Armach to craze on this hill.

Tb@ Bn11 • s :crack.

Patrick Lennon, Tullycarron, June 191+2.

fields in this townland have Irish names. n

Sure I niver believed

till touch it the whole world over.

•1t•s on the way till .Armach like, an• there's nothin 1

us eu m

I saw it with me own

ag h

there it wus as plain as ye like.

.tn•

it meselt until me an• some others tooted it down.

two eyes an• I tell ye it's the crandest scenery ye iver

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

Sure the marks ot the baste• s cloots are as plain

saw.

ou nt y

this blessed day as they wur when Patrick himself ws here .

Ay, many a time I heared the story ot

nt y

ou nt

on Corran, an• there he lies under a lUllp ot a stone •

Ball,-acnab.

Ar m

llbo knows?•

.An• scme say be ws no bull at all bu.t the very oul 1 divil

hi• Hlt - an• aebbe he wus.

• ad •

.tn• they buried

Ar m

.An• the country up an• _slauptered him. hia

An' attar that he vent clane

on another in LilJladill.

!n 1 he back an• he laps

Ar m

down on the side ot Navan Bath.

nt y

.tn• then he riz acain an• cae

he lit at Ballymacnab.

ag h

Ar m

how the bull riz on the Bracue an• niver touched earth till

larnin 1 can tell.

Ar m

.tn I that I s so many years cone by, none but thai as has the

us eu m st.

fatr1c;k; {cont,>

eu m

Carrick xas a,lxays a centle place, It

nThe top of Carrick was always a centle place.

An' he wd hev bed a wee church there

to build on it.

was mebbe that before St. Patrick's Day tor hews keen rbey raised a

bull that cored the walls to bits ivery nicht, so that !hat

us eu m

the saint wus no farther torrard in the mornin'.

It wus mebbe then that

ou nt

Better they bed

ag h

the people riz an• destroyed the bull.

ou nt y

done it earlier, ~~en the saint micht hev sta.,itd.

us eu m

heart an• went on to Armach.

ag h

vent on tor a lone time an' in the end Patrick lost

ag h

of _harmless tun, thouch to be sure there micht be too

nt y

ou nt

The

an_• hev laster iver since.

Ar m

day

blaye~er~es they come tor an• till meet their sweethearts, but indeed it micht be that sich catherin•s were on the hill before Patrie~• s

oul' people used till sa:, Carrick wus a cultivated place

How they sq it's

Ar m

Bllt who knows now?

start the thine!

There must hev been somethin' till

the bull was killed.

Ar m

~eh drink betime_s, stronc . stuff too, that paid notbin • It wus mebbe on that fhnday that till the Bxcise man.

nt y

!bere'd be caes an• dances an• lots

Sunday in Aucust.

Ar m

Hot so ;one aco thousands~ be there on the first

Ar m

but that the oul 1 druids disliked it.

us eu m

St, Patr1ok <cont,>

eu m

li:um he come an• that the rest of the country was scrub

and trees an' tull of wild pies an• even worse, thinrs

that nothin's kn.owed of now, God be tbankit!"

but the oul' HcKannells and Hacuires moved

way

us eu m

in to its present home when the new road was built.

The story is that when Patrick come ti11· the hill he cot

ag h

come that

%h@ Hple stone at J,lU strarb,. "It was on the top ot the hill when the oul' road

us eu m

ou nt

us e

nt y

He come here< 9 >once

ou nt

Ar m

Armach . an• he had a ficht in the meadow with the oul' troa 1>or hillselt~ _ ~• - th~ ~a~tle ended in the river< 10 >below It's apit7 "indaed that the divu< 11>,ot away, but 7e.

Ar m

The villace ·or Blackwatertown, Co~ Armach,_ in the Parish of Clonf'eacle - "meadow of tbe too'tll". (10) The Dabhall or Blackwater river, from which the · · V'illace· takes its ·name. (11) There ii another varsion in the !rip-Life in which It states hi• Satanic Ha3esty does not appear. that Patrick lost the tooth "lllhen washinc his cwas in the river." (9)

ag h

Ar m

"An' Pat;rigk lost a tooth". "Sure .P_a triok ws the one?

James Macuire1 illistrarh, aced about 10, 19lt2.

h ag

ou nt y

his statr in the stone."

Ar m

ag h

he micht not be rorcotten, he left the mark or the butt

ott bis horse till bless the country round and so that

)t·( .

us eu m

St, Patrjck <cont,)

indeed its away he cot.

eu m

An' Patrick lost a tooth

tha ticht, on the brink ot the water, an' it lay in it

church.

tor many a year, until at last it wus tuk intill the

It wus here too the same Patrick met another saint< 12 >

whose name_I clain f'orcit, but he didn't like hia anyhow,

us eu m

But the driver vus ate~ed to run down a m.an

fellow.

such like in them days too - to drive over the other

ag h

so he ordered he's coachman - tor indeed the quality had

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

that wus mebbe as cood or better than Patrick he's selt.

ou nt y

us e

nt y

a bit ot fun roun' Dl'Wlloucher.

many

Ar m

"!here used till be

ag h

It' a a pity that onJ' c1iste111 shgµJd 011.

J.L., Blackvatertown area, aced about 80.

Ar m

sacred truth they are."

I have heared that the stories are in history so it•s

Ar m

but why they lay on it I don't mind, tor the

thinc< 1 ,>was

Ar m

People vent till lie on the stone,(l~)

st. Olcan. See Stokes Trip-Life I! 166 tor !ale ot the encounter between the two b shops. St. Patrick's Louch~ · St. · Patr1ok 1 s Stone; !bis refers to the pilcrilllace.

veemin as m.en.

ou nt

!here' d be younc an' oul' an' as many

29th of June.

lily there'd be hundreds of' people at the wee louch(l3)ivery

us eu m

St, Patrick (cont,>

eu m

tallinc away when I ws a boy. · They used till say that

the marks wr caused b7 St. Patrick sleepinc a nicht on it.

There was a water-snake there 1n the

caused d1tterentl7.

Bilt I heared too that the mark was

thon hard block.

It• s better he'd have be~n in the rushes poor man tban on

He must have bit it a

What happened

us eu m

quare dent tor the mark's there still.

ag h

tripped bis length on the stone.

oul' days an• the saint chased it an• in the runninc

People wd always aave a

ou nt y

There wr bonetires too!

ou nt

ag h

the water with a saint on its tail.

us eu m

the snake I torci t - but sure it wud bed no chance out ot

us e

nt y

I don•t llind that part but me father did.

ou nt C

h ag

Ar m

St. Petar•s Louch - it adjoins St. Patrick's.

nt y

C h

Ar m

Drumloucher, 80, 1926.

(16)

oul • customs should die. "

It's a pity that

Ar m

to it too, but I know nothi~ ot that.

ag h

6 Ou.1 1 people siad the other wee louch<i )hed a pilcrillace

about the.

An' the cattle wd be taken down an• the ashes thrown

Ar m

be.

Ar m

bac ot turf tor that eveni~no matter how short they ncht

us eu m

st. Pa.trick Ccont,>

%bi Pl'P,id's Wall,

eu m

In Orior in the days or the Druids there were two

•ac1c wells ot bic repute~ their waters could make ye

a man ot substance or maybe a begcar - and because ot The rich reared the loss ot

who'd drink trom them.

~he tac~ that _no man knew which was which, it was tev

us eu m

trOlll the vronc well life would not be worth livin'.

Bedause or the dread there was no tryinc by either classes

ag h

their wealth and the poor were af'raid that 1! the:y supped

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

were not ordinary wells at all but sprinc s ot mystic water

ou nt y

Ar m

that they alone llicht enjoy, and it was in that W8."f b7

ag h

Ar m

It is said that both were closed by Patrick's orders

us e

nt y

use.

spreadinc such stories they kept the wells tor their own

nt y

and that one was 1n Louchcilly and the other in Kille'YJ, anywhere.

That

ou nt

Ar m

Ballard - base ot Slieve Gullion, 19~3. fold to myself' and party of' soldiers.

bellned it anyhow."

I vouldn't be sayinc its cospel but the o•Ban1on 1 s

atqck.

Ar m

was Mickey Pat O'Banlon• s story and his ones were oul'

be en

ott and the wells could have

way

Ar m

but I have my doubts about that - them times are a lone

to tind them and that was what the Druids wanted, tor they

~us eu m

st, eu:1 ck Ccont, >

eu m

st, Patrisk' 1 Rga,d,

•Sunk in the turt is an oul' road.

It wus made ot tree trunks lyinc

but sure me_people did.

I niver saw it

on their sides an• it was a brave bit down, halt-a-dozen ~~

say it wus built be Patrick to brine sand tr011 the louch< 1 ?~to Armach, but others say it's

us eu m

Cn1'S9.

ag h

Derrytrasna, 1926.

ou nt

ag h m

~~-

An' the man wus in he's bed

ag h

at - the time but. he had till cet up.

!n. 1 he'd only cot

Ar m

•t~onc curse _on ~~em th~t wud pull on their shoes an• An'. that I s why the men an I we em.in 1tockin I s that way. .

before they pull .their shoes on."

Ar m

ot Columbld.ll(lS)c et both their teat in their stocld.n•s

ou nt

An• he put a

way he vus sho~ an• t~ey soon ~aucht him.

nt y

But he ws aisy tracked because ot the

Ar m

he's bare lite.

·one stocld.n • an I one shoe on until he had till run tor

(Fishermen's story.) (17) Louch Beach. _ . (18) Part ot the tovnland ot Derrylard, near the villace ot HUltovn on the shore ot Louch Beach.

~eople who di~•t k:n~v

nt y

on~ d~ an• a!te~ he passed Hachery he wus chased be

us e

ou nt y

Ar m

"Columbld.ll ws on he's way till visit another saint

Ar m

Cn]µmbk:ill•s

I•ve heared it said it's marked

not so ancient as that.

on maps."

spadeinc __may~e.

---~--·

l:3.

Ushan.

eu m

,:ha Daa,th

us eu m

st, Patrick Ccgpt, >

"Before the days of Finn, Ushen lett Ireland tor the

countey ot the ivar younc an• there listanin' till the

birds in the trees haws charmed till sleep an' woke no But wan he did wake, shure,

more tor hundreds of years.

rest ha cud no more until he saw acain he's

us eu m

So ott he set, an he niver to

oul' home on Slew Gullion.

ag h

An'

youth.

ha had a heart lo111in' for Ireland an• the friends ot he's

ou nt

ag h

us eu m

Bat nothin' cud houl • him when

fall a dead an' cone man.

rest he's feet on Irish soil acain or it wus down he'd

ou nt y

he tuk the notion, so up h~ hopped on his hich white horse.

An' it

nt y

Ar m

overtuk a wee oul' woman with a very larce bac.

nt y

ag h

Ar m

in the bocs its belly wd be clean an• dry above the croun•. · An• he reached Carnacora in safety, bu.t there he

us e

Ar m

An' it was a real enchanted one with real lone lees, tor iverybody knows no matter how far it wud be after sinkin'

Ar m ©

rotten bad bnes.

vith them ones, they had either 100d bic open hearts or

tears be ws that tender of heart - but that vus the vay

ou nt

Ar m

vus full or hard black turf an• she cryinc, tor it had An' Ushen cudn•t hear a VOIRaD in slipped her shoulders.

us eu m

St, Patrick coont, >

.An' there was she, the poor sowl, an• she cryin' an• Ushen that put about he didn't know what to do.

eu m

he reached with his toot.

An• with the en• ot his

down

An' in less than no

toe, helped her up with the bac.

But

time he was a dyinc man, tor it ws tull ot turt trora the

us eu m

But when be heared be flew till

upon be' s way to A.rma1h.

That w s in Patrick's day an' the saint himselt wus

ag h

Ushen to tell him about Heaven an' help him make he's sowl.

wee boc below, an• what ws till happen wus upon him.

But Patrick

ag h

heroes wur not, so he wudn't listen at all.

us eu m

ou nt

But Ushen had no hanker tor a place where Pinn an' the

ou nt y

Ar m

had a _wakeness tor him an' says, nye may have three wishes

Is it dress up the

nt y

"a plague upon ye an' sure ye can't.

"Och, says Patrick,

ag h

have me houn's an' bay&els with me. 11

nt y

Ar m

"Well," says Ushen, "it I must be &oin 1 till Heaven can I

us e

before ye die, it ye 1 ll turn till Heaven before ye 10."

he,

ou nt

Says

Th.en up spoke Usheeil as boul' as brass.

Ar m

"Your God is not nearly so cood a man as Finn, so I won't

An' Patrick ws that put about he says,

co near him then."

"Away with ye

Ar m

man."

in their ban's like christians," says he.

Ar m

brutes ye wud with colden crowns on their heads an• harps

1$.

4'7.

us eu m

st , Patrick Ccopt.) Then says

says he, "Ye can have another wish anyhow."

eu m

Ushen, "Let me lie on the sunny side of Slew Gullion. 11

Jn' there he lies to~ Patrick hadn't the heart till say An• he died on "lo" till him, he wus so 1rieved like.

. Carnacore in s1cht of his burial, an' I misdoubt me it

us eu m

"And Patrick xas Real Sora"

"It wus in the days of Ushen an' Patrick ws sore

ag h

that wsn•t the createst i'uneral that iver was."

An' Ushen ws

ag h

Br_acue wd be down the next mornin'.

us eu m

ou nt

tormented for 1veryth1n1 that he'd be buildin' on the

ou nt y

nt y

An• that's that.

Ar m

been livin' still, only that he liked Ireland better.

us e

jist back from the lan• or niver die, where he micht have

ag h

Ushen on he's bic white horse ws careerin'

happened.

Ar m

Shure it wus on the other side of Carrickbroad it al1

ou nt

But shure

be burdenin' herself with the lazy man• s load?

Ar m

Why eudn • t she be after fillin' what she cY-d carry an' not

An'

Ar m

all the sorrows ot Ireland come be the weemin an' if' ye u ••, they' re the cause of' maD1 a heart burn still.

••bbe some of them are worth it an', more like, some are not.

to her anyhow, for it ws the creed of her caused it.

nt y

Ar m

up the mountain when a woman with a bac or turf - bad luck

st.

us eu m

Patrick <cont,>

eu m

How an• so iver, till be slicin' a lone story short,

sbure Ushen foreot he wus sate on he's horse only so lone

as he didn't be .attar droppin' his lees on the croun' an'

down he hopped an• helped her up with the turf on her back. Ushen soon felt the

An', och anee, that wus the harm.

An'

us eu m

her, went away.

the woman who wus mebbe the Cally Berry, or someone like

ag h

death upon him an' down he lay upon the hill side.

ou nt

Shure it's yerseU

ag h

m Ar

us eu m

An' says Patrick till Ushen, "It's

it, an' up he coes.

sorry I am till see ye so wake now.

ou nt y

Ar m

can have the wish three times one before ye die now. 11

nt y Says he,

1ae

An' Ushen bad a wish, says be, "Will ye bury

like to be breald.n' my heart."

•11

Ar m

"Tween you an• that brute of a bull on the Brague I

ou nt

put about tor he ws tald.n' a lild.n' till hill.

"Deed an' I will,• says

clap a stone or two above me.•

Jn• will ye bury me hi&b an' dry an 1

Ar m

Slew Gul.lion. "

us e

Well I' • not

Ar m

An' Patrick ws sore

coin' there at all, 11 says Ushen.

nt y

"The divil one," says Patrick.

Says he "Are there houn• s an• bqcels

ag h

there? 11

Ar m

much ot a bother.

An' Patrick talked to him of Heaven but Ushen wsn't in

An' Patrick ws passin' alone an' be heared all about

us eu m

St, Patrick Cannt, >

eu m

Then says Ushen, "For me last wish I'll have

Patrick.

me strencth acain till I take a look at yer bull.

Give

me back my strencth an' I 111 rid ye of him II says he.

An' Ushen went an• sarched for the bull an• when he

us eu m

foun• it he struck it a mortal box in the face that knocked

An' it's buried on a mountain

it as stiff as you like.

ag h

your best."

An' Patrick says, · 11Rise me boul' boy an• be after doin'

us eu m

ou nt

An' when Patrick come till look tor

ag h

a Christian himself.

ou nt y

But shure he woke no more.

An•

nt y

C h ©

ou nt

ag Ar m ©

Ar m

An' Patrick wus real sorry."

bill there.

ag h

they broucht him back till oul • Slew Gullion an• bu.ried

us e

Usin' it

nt y

Ar m

for a blanket he ws.

there he wus asleep in the skin of the baste.

Ar m

hill, thinkin' as like as not he w.d be totally destroyed,

somewhere near till the Bracue with a stone above it, like

S-o.

us eu m

ARhAGH hI SQELLANEA..

Local Traditions of Histori~al Bvents.

eu m

:£bere was a ~reat kin~ killed here. He won alright but he lost

~ne battle raged for days.

"There was a great king killed here in the oul' days.

They

his life, so the battle was little comfort to him.

Things that ye see in print

us eu m

M y

us eu m

Sure it wus raised till

ou nt

ag h

"It's not a real earn. ( 2 )

Nobody

mark the spot where a man wus foun' dead once.

ou nt y

I niver

That wus maYbe two hundred years ago or less.

nt y

(Drumahavil 1925).

ag h

Ar m

remember anyone li vin' who wus at he' s wake. 11

us e

Ar m

knowed him an' he wusn't murdered, he jist died of something.

ou nt

Ar ©

nt y

Ar m

In Stuart• s 11Armagb 11 (:p.163) there is a reference to a battle here in 1188 in which Donald son of Hugh O Lochlin, King of Tyrone, lost his life. The author states that the then name was 11 Cavanit has •na-cran11 (hollow field of trees) but that since been denominated 11 Cavan-na-cath 11 - the field of the fight. (2) The c·arn has a height of five feet and a circumference It is the only memorial of its of fifty-one feet. There was a small type that I know of in the county. one in Ballymoyer churchyard over the grave of Florence Ma~oyer the last Keeper of the Book of Arma~h; but the stones there were thrown with the idea of disgracing See Wakefield' s Account of Ireland, p.761. the grave.

(1)

(Cavanacaw 1925).

It's not a real earn.

some of it must be true. are always right. 11

say the whole story is printed(l) in oul' histories so

Local Tradjtions

us eu m

of Historical Events (cont,)

The Butter Lep,

eu m

"A wudn't be stayin' too long aroun' that place.CJ)

It has a bad Tepute in these parts.

It wus a place of

wq.r

worth the killin'.

in it that is if they

call in the oul' days, but travellers wur often murdered It's not

the butter

us eu m

Lon~ ago when people wud be goin' till the market

lep 11 •

An' on the other side of the road is

ag h

is a headless dog.

one ghost but many that's about it an' the worst of all

us eu m

an• cut the firkins<4)f ree of the backs

ou nt y

What that wus done the butter would roul

Ar m

of the ponies.

ou nt

ag h

wud set upon them,

us e M

h ag

ou nt

ag m

Ar ©

Ar m

ag h

Ar m ©

Ar m

(5)

1926.

Empty house on Newtownhamilton-Armagh road on the northern slope of Black Bank. A small cask wherein butter was transported to markets. People of Hthe house of call 11.

(4)

Allen, Cladymore.

nt y

Ar m

that houseC5)wd know nothing about it.

(3)

An I the people of

wud be_.waiting till ;t~ke it away.

nt y

down tbe hillside till the bottom, where other villians

or' Ne'WI'y with their bits of firkins of butter, the robbers

us eu m

Local Traditi ons of Histor ical Events ccont. )

Xs'd hev heared all the oul' tunes there,

eu m

6 "There was a fair here< )in the oul' days that hadn't its like in the north. There'd be as many tents as wud An 1 the horse fair would be on one side

house an army.

An' the tents

of the road and the cattle on the other.

us eu m

It was mebbe

ou nt y

ou nt

ou C

(8)

nt y

h Ar m

Seems Forkhi ll Fair. Held on Michaelmas Day. n~ to have been more importa nt from the social gatheri cattle. and horses of sales its from than view of point Mullya rd Hill. Probab ly the two stones that remain (one uprigh t and one recumb ent) were ori~ina lly part ot a burial earn. A deep bole in the river in Drumault Glen.

(7)

Keenan wbo was

(6)

The Tory Hole 1 s< 8 )a bad place.

Ar m

It•s sgaresome ri~ht enou~h.

Dooha,t, 1928.

Ar m

11 there were lots in the days gone by.

us e

There's only two stones now but

ag h

buried in one grave.

nt y

Ar m

before St. Patric k's time but the oul' people bed the They fought till the death and they were both story.

. (7) '_'Two giants did a battle here.

Ar m

Shanroe .

:flJe:y: !o:u,gllt :till ttJ.si g,ea,th.

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

Ye'd hev heared all the oul' tunes there an' the bards makin' fun of each other in songs. 11

were full of merrymaking an' there wudn't be a fiddler or singer in Louth or Monaghan who wudn't be doin' his best.

~5'3 .

us eu m

Local Tradition s of Histo~ica l Events (cont.)

Drumault, 1929.

us eu m

It covered a man of that name who put an end

ag h

join it was.

Three times he was

ou nt

till himself over a hundred years ago.

us eu m

nt y

ou nt

C h

Ar m

Cornascre ibe, Teemore and Tamnamore.

Ar m

(10) Aghory Presbyter ian burial g~ound. Grave marked on the first Ordnance Survey sheets of 1835 by above title. townla.nd. The celebrate d Cli) Faughart Fort in Tullymore fight took place on 21 Sept. 1795 and resulted in the foundatio n of- the Orange Order.

Laurence Cullen, Tullymore , 1927.

Ar m ©

coming to say prayers for them."

(9)

nt y

ag h

Ar m

"Some of the people killed at the Battle of the People are not long quit Diamond were buried here. (ll)

us e

The Battle of the Diamond.

Teemore, 1927.

ou nt y

Ar m

ag h

11 buried in Aghory(lO )and three times they threw him out.

9 In a corner on the roadside where tbe three townland / )

Canner's Grave.

right enough. 11

It's scaresome

Many a thing was saw there.

burials.

eu m

taker of heads till oul Johnny Johnston, threw the headless bodies of the Tories into it to save himself the bother of

•,

us eu m

Local Traditions of Historical Events (cont.)

Castle Raw,

eu m

2 "Castle Raw(l )was at one time a fine sight an' that not so long since.

Sixty years a~o !here was more of it

The oul' people said the sand that

than there is the day.

us eu m

us M

(13)

Laurence Cullen, 1927.

The Bi~ storm,

ag h

nt ou

"When the storm was at its height a young fella took

Neagh. 11

was brought to build it was carried on horses from Lough

us eu m

ou nt y

nt y

C h

Moddy-na-Hone,

Ar m

was tough on him. 11

us e

ou nt

That

When he come back, shure she was gone.

for help.

ag h

Ar m

"The oul' na!lle of this place was Moddy-na-ho ne and it

nt y

It was a place

ou nt

Ar m

of some importance in far off times for it was called the

that wud be drinkin' here but I forgit it.

. I heared a story from the oul' people of a dog

Ar m

counties •

was so called from the wee bit of river that divides the

11 Pass too, but now indeed its only the Madden it gits.

Ar m

(Taken down from an old man at Madden Inn, about 1920).

Remains of a Plantation castle built by Anthony Cope between 1611 and 1619 and partially destroyed-i n the Civil War.

{13)

Tales about above event are rarely heard now thouih it is still reauambered as the Big Wind of 1839.

(12)

ag h

out and tied her till a bush whilst he went his mother ,

us eu m

Local Tradjtions of Historical Events Ccont.)

eu m

Hamilton's Bawn,

"It wus a gran I hiring fair they used till have here Shure the young fellas

but who needs sarvent boys now?

now wud rather drive a bus or go till Ameriky or one of

us eu m

it ws wise till alter the clock.

I doubt whether

Shure what has foolish

ag h

m Ar

ou nt

Not but what they've changed too.

us eu m

till be alive an• in the fiel's with the horses at times. Ye have a guess as till how the saysons go when yer in the open.

ou nt y

Ar m

man till do with God's own time.

us e

nt y

ag h

Ar m

But mi~d ye I'm not denyin' the long evenin' s is good But what for them that has the time till skite about. about the mornin's an• the dew on the grass,' an• nothin'

She carried the bells for

the best-tong ued woman for miles, and there was the usual spring cleaning. Ale listened to her for a good while and

ou nt

W1 th a woman in Ballymac ulley.

Ar m

I remember my Uncle Patrick McGee having an argument

Ar m

(Local man aged 80, circa 19JO).

6,pring Cleaning.

nt y

Ar m

the day."

a doin' at all, at all, until it's nearing the middle of

it's a hard life the farmers have but it's good

Ay!

ag h

fingers.

them foreign places, than feel the reins atween their

us eu m

Local Traditions of Hjsto rical Events Ccont.)

eu m

11 11 then he said .Are you a Bricki n"?" You have all the signs of the breed" . That dried her up and I wonde red Said I to my uncle, who were the 11 Bricki ns"? wy.

He lived at Lough

He was a petty chief

Brickl an in the County of Down.

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

He managed

He was a danger ous

and the cause of dozens of wars in Ulster .

it all by lies and an evil tongue .

ou nt y

Ar m

sort for all his lies had a bit of truth in them. Things reache d such a pass that the chief Druid paid him

us e

nt y

Ar m

a visit, and threat ened to curse him and all his poste rity That gave him a fright , if he did not mend his ways.

nt y

Ar m

ag h

He and the.Dr uid impo_sed a penanc e on him as well. made him build a banque t hall and give a feast to all the

ou nt

Ar m

was the hill of Dundrum, now crowned by an old castle of All the kings and chiefs were there and he later days.

Ar m

made amends for all he had done and promis ed never to But he had cause wars among the men of Ulster again.

an eVil heart so he went among the wives of the chiefs and told them tales and they were soon fighti ng, and in

kings and chiefs that he had slande red, and the feast The place select ed lasted for nine days and nine nights .

us eu m

ou C

This is the story.

The real Bricki n was a bad one.

ag h

tbe nickna me was come by.

thank God there I s not a drop's blood of them in us anyway • 11 It was a long time before I learne d how 11

Said he,

us eu m

LocaJ Tradjtions of Historical Events {cont,)

eu m

no time the men were taking sides too and the feast ended

in a great slaughter.

When he saw what he had done and

thought of his promise to the Druid, he made for home, but

He was killed by a wild boar and

nt ou

ag h

ou nt

In them days

ou nt y

nt y

ag h

Ar m

He grabbed her comin' from the Chapel, or maybe a wake, 4 or the two of them might go off from a blayeberryi n'~l )

us e

It wus aisy to do.

if a fella wanted a girl he tuk her.

had more spirit in them than they hev now.

Ar m

us eu m

There wus a time when the boys and girls of Cross

ag h

After that there'd soon be a weddin' for indeed the girl's

nt y

Ar m

people wud hev till agree to save her caracter. (l5)

ou nt

Ar m

them days are not so long ago - an' well worth seein'.

Them that had sidecars loaned them or brought them and them

Ar m

that had no sich conveyances went astride their pony or

This usually takes place on the last Sunday in July and first Sunday in August and is chiefly attended by the young people.

Cl,)

Character.

(14)

Weddin's in them days too wur weddin's - an• mind ye

July 1943.

McCarten, Ballymacull y.

In them day@ if a fella wanted a ~irl he tuk her.

was centuries before Patrick's day. 11

us eu m

That was the last of Brickin and that

by a herd of wild pigs.

the pigs ate him.

as he crossed the foot of Dehomed Mountain he was attacked

17-:

58.

us eu m

Local Tradjtions of Historical Events Ccont,) There'd be a great

horse an' the crowd followed on fut.

eu m

party at the bride's house an' bonefires ( 16 )in the evenin'.

A man with a bunch of daughters wus niver out of debt an'

if he left a son, the poor fella niver had a chance, for

But it wus great fun an' I

for the rest of his life.

the wake an' funeral of the oul' man wus a drag on him

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

bride in ivery family had a special oaten cake baked for It wus called the her an' well barned be her mother.

ou nt y

Ar m

bride's marriage cake an' wus broke on her head when she The bits wur all gathered up come back till the house.

us e

nt y

Ar m

Danish chieftain buried there,

There 1 s a

splice(l? )with.

ag h

Ar m

be the younger ones an' they slept on them same as foolish people do the day, thinkin 1 they'll draim of them they'll

ou nt

Ar m

Down the centuries there were people come from The visits Denmark, generatio n after generatio n of them. two.

Ar m

(17)

Marry.

(18)

"Alexande r I s Forth II in Kinnego townland. Corr of Mullaghm ore. 1927.

bonefires 11 • Such fires are fairly common still but the custom is dying out.

(16) , Bonfires - locally called

"There's a Danish chieftain .buried there(lS) or maybe

ag h

I heared me mother tell how up till her time the

mind sich things when I wus a boy.

Informant

us eu m

#ocal Traditions of Historical Events Ccont.) were paid up till my grandfather's time but they're now

eu m

We never knew when they begun. 11

quit.

promise she would never lie in Legar Hill.

She made them

"Many a fight there wus there(l9)in the oul' days,

ay, long before James or William's men set fut in Charleymont. Did ye hear

She wus a

of the woman that wus niver till lie there?

us eu m

tarror to her husband and childer an' them all grown up.

ag h

But she tuk a brash one day an' when she knowed there wus

But them thats in i t now does no fighting.

us eu m

An' they promised, but she lived on an'

ou nt y

Tbey wur so mad with her that at last

wus worse after.

Ar m

ou nt

in Legar Hill.

when her toes did turn up they planted her in Legar Hill.

us e

nt y

Ar m

In the ou,]. 1 days thE\ire was a fair in Enagb.

nt y

ag h

11 their minds might be quiet even if her's wus not.

(20)

that

"In the oul' days there was a fair in Enagh-

were treasured in the fort of L~ sbanoa and guarded.

Ar m

Thomas Corr, Lisbanoe, 1928.

ou nt

Ar m

lasted a fortnight or three weeks and cattle and sheep

is said Legar Hill Fort. Its use as a iraveyard 11 to date back to 11 the Wars of 164-1 •

,~o)

'.I'his townland was called Enagh-macha in bygone days, and is locally associated with e~ents at Navan Rath.

(19)

Ar m

But tbey tuk good care to bury her stanning upright so that

ag h

no mending for ber, she made them promise she wud niver lie

.H:.

us eu m

nt,) Loc~J Traditions of Hjstorical Events {co Qarlmore' s Rock,

. it. ( 2l) him self used "Ch a i er-n a-co ppa l

us eu m

nt y

us e

ag h

nt y

ou nt

Abbey.

Ar m

(23)

ou nt y

(22)

Ar m

Dempsey the Cah ier-n a-co ppa l othe rwis e Cha rles . 1773 uted Exec noto riou s highwayman. call ed Carl More, from Cha rles Carr aghe r, commonlyname He was keep er of . its gets y entl evid it whom u~e he s~ol e beca uted exec was the Dors ey pound but is men tion ed He le. es and catt his neig hbo urs hors 11 11 • Fews the of ory Hist in Don alds on's be the buri al-p lace The Mound Tull yard . Said to conn ecte d in some way also of the Sons of Usna but an. Cret t with a Sain adjo inin g town land of Her grav e is said to be in r the pied by Mul lynu re occu late spot Mul lynu re on the

(21)

Ar m

23 \n the oul• "Th ere was a woman in whit e abou t it( . Maybe She haun ted it wel l an• was seen be many days . . . t was D eird re <2 1+) hers elf. Who kriows now? 11 1 Lisd own will y, 1926 .

ou nt

us eu m

( Stur gan) .

lfou pd.

ag h

TµJ] yard

ag h

11 were both caug ht at last .

eu m

He was a gran ' but he had a brot her thie f an' he cud neth er read or writ e, that was a scho lar. es in the hill s They used till graz e thei r stol en hors I . . here befo re they d ship them from Newry · of Dors ey r (22) It was also used .be big Cba rley Carr aghe t. But they who was dace nt be day an' a rogu e at nigh

~bi. us eu m

Local Traditions of Historical Events (cont.)

Long ago gentlemen, ay, an I ladies too of the very

eu m

The King's Table.< 25 )

highest degree, come from far and near to dine upon the

table, an' put their glass an' bottle in· the very holes In them days too the rock

in which King James put his.

was kept clean and free from whins, but now they' re Ramparsu< 26 )

us eu m

the King's Table 11 , an' always they'd

us e

nt y

ou nt y

C h

Olivers owned Tullysaran under Lord Charlemont.

ag h

uTbe

Ar m

TuJ lysaran,

Mrs. Conlan, aged 86, circa 1928.

Ar m

11 way till it, but sure nobody bothers with it now.

us eu m

Often as a child I showed people the

ou nt

ag h

m Ar

ou 11

-who didn't visit

have a meal there.

nt y It

Ar m

ground on which to erect a chapel for Divine Service.

ou nt

Ar m

was mud-walled, small and thatched and was wilfully burned about the year 1809~ 27 ) The. names of three of the people Donahlson's "History of the Fews 11 , p.

(26)

Local name for Dorsy entrenchment, an enclosure linked with Emain Macha and pre-Christian in period. Tullysaran Chapel was burned 7 March 1797. See Northern Star 13-17 March 1797,

See

Ar m

(25)

They were a liberal broad-minded family and gave a plot of

In my father's day nobody come' d to the

ag h

growing over the very holes that held the glass and bottle.

b2 Traditions of Historical Events Ccont.)

us eu m

Local

responsible have survived, McDowell, Manly and Wallace.

eu m

Later a stone chapel was built, but as the Olivers

had only a temporary lease they could not do anything.

Lord Charlemont was difficu.l t of approach and Verner his The

agent refused to grant a lease for the purpose.

2 About that time Lady Charlemont took ill. C B)

us eu m

She She

was after her confinement and the baby had died.

ag h

One of her servants told

was very ill and grew worse.

people did not know what to do.

ag h

us eu m

ou nt

Lord Charlemont

ladies safely out of like troubles.

ou nt y

Ar m

eventually heard the story and ordered that a carriage

The man

with the fastest horses be sent for the man.

us e

nt y

She was put

When she was well

upon a diet and he attended her daily.

nt y

Ar m

opened for the trouble was clotted milk.

Her breast had to be

and took his lances with him.

ag h

He went to Lady Charlemont

looked upon as a medical man.

ou nt

him one day with a handful of gold.

He would not accept

Ar m

he went no more, but Lord Charlemont drove over to see

Ar m

it and it was then Lord Charlemont learned for the first

When

ag m

Ar ©

(28)

time that th~ man was a tenant on his own estate.

Ar m

was a handy man in bl.o.Ga-letting and other things and was

her of a man whom she knew, who had taken several other

us eu m

LocaJ Traditions of Historical Events Ccont.) Lord Charlemont heard that he said, "I will direct that a larger farQ be given to you or your son 11 •

eu m

1 want nothing for myself but I want ground for

said,

But the man

When Lord Charlemont heard that, he

has refused it. 11

our dead and a place for Divine worship and your agent

So he gave him a lease of half an acre

like with it . 11

us eu m

Macarten, Ballymacully, Aug. 1943.

ou nt

ag h

Conroy of Cloghfin. 11

and in his own name and that man was my grandfather Daniel

The breakin~ of the·carn.

ou nt y

Ar m

The Thompson's of Jonesboro' were out with a hunt 2 one day, when a hare took to hiding in the carn.( 9) They 11

nt y

us e

nt y

were made men (30) e:li'el'r.;-after.

Ar m

a'n i

mules

But they _returned that night with

called the hunt off.

ag h

Ar m

were knowin' boys an when they spotted the treasure, they

m Ar ©

ou nt

Moneyed men.

(30)

The la:rger earn on Carrickbroad.

(29)-

~3l)

h ag

Ar m

a family called Halpenny for the Johnstons of Carrickbroad an' .Johnston• s Folly was built., from the smaller earn. ( 3l)

Walls were built from a earn across the mountain -by

said, "I will give you the ground and you can do what you

us eu m

Local Traditions of Historical Events (cont.)

In the oul' days when the Johnstons were at Roxboro',

eu m

Pµlkowgn~ 32 )

An' the blood-

that was one of their beheading stones.

stains are upon it till this very day, an' its few people

us eu

nt y

But like the f'.ox he was caught at last -

Ar m

earth like a fox.

Many a one hid in it

I heared it said he would take till the

ag h

besides him.

Ar m

a cave in the heather and bracken.

It was

nt y

R_edmon<:!- had a biding place in Tullymacree.

us eu m

ou nt y

Ar m

He'd taka till the earth like a fox, 11

us eu m

Umericam, circa 1930. Informant aged 75-

ou nt

ag h

the .Tohnstons. (34) 11

man went up instead of a .Tory an' KeenanC33)wt1s worse than

ag h

ou nt

Mrs. Hughes, Tullymacree, 1927.

Ar m

not in a fair hunt though, but in a trap set be his friends.u(35)

<33)

"Keenan of the Head_s 11 , locally believed to ha ve been responsible for behea.ding inore than a hundred tories on this Jarticular rock.

Ar m

A rock i~ Umericam Bog, near Silverbridge.

(32)

John Johnston of the Fews, notable as a Toxy hunter in the e~ly iSth century, of whom many stories survive.

An' the head of many a dacent

went to Armagh or Dublin.

Five pounds a head they wur paid for all that

there.

wud pass it at night because of the ghosts that still be

us eu m

Local Traditions Of Historical Events Ccont.)

Cormac Keenan was heads I man for the Johnstons and

eu m

Cormac of the heads.

he chopped off the head of many a man that was no Tory.

He was worse hated than his master and that's saying a

But he was only mortal

was far too long he lived in it.

us eu m

Cormac lived in the townland of Tullyvallen and it

ag h

When

and had to die like othe"rs, but his end was wicked.

feared by all.

lot for indeed Johnston of the Fews was detested and

us eu m

ou nt

And they moved the bed here and

right on to his bed.

us e

Informant

nt y

Cullyhanna (circa 1930). over 80 years of age.

ag h

Ar m

dropped until he died. 11

ou nt y

Ar m

there throughout the house, but the blood followed it and

nt y

ou C

inter.est in by~one times.

ou nt

Ar m

They mostly deal with people and places and in many

C h

Ar m

instances the statements made therein can be verified from documentary or printed sources.

They illustrate retentive memories and an

past days.

Ar m

These types of stories must have been very common in

ag h

he came to die a drop of blood began to drip from the roof

us eu m

ARHAGH MISCELLANEA,,

eu m

Fairies and Fairy Beliefs.

Stories relating to the fairies were common throughout

the county fifty years ago and many people of the seventy

there must have been such things in the

inclined to say

wee people" from their parents and grandparents are

to ninety years age group, having heard stories of the

us eu m

They will assure you that when they were

about them".

ag h

young they were told that it was unwise to speak ill of

oul' days otherwise the oul' people would not have knowed

us eu m

ou nt

nt y

us e

nt y

ou nt

ag h

taJ.es ,~ $U-rvive showing that it was believa.d that

Ar m

they were angQlS. who had been cast out of heaven.

They

Many

11. 12.

Ar m

Ar m 6.

7. 8. '9.

Ar m

t5-

Horses ridden by fairies. Fairies attended fairs. Led their subjects into battle. Stole cows~ Visited houses at night. Lived in old forts. Abducted children. Were visible on certain occasions. Had a liking for whiskey and poteen. Sometimes lived in underground habitations. Were good musicians.

1. People being kidnapped by fairies.

were also credited with destroying the eyes of people who

ou nt y

Ar m

tales as -

The range of county stories covers such

ag h

them and warned to be careful of breaking branches of

us eu m

eu m

Fairies and Fairy Beliefs. (cont,}

had seen them in fairy shape.

They stole women about to

To prevent these affairs milk

unable to steal priests.

Men suffered a like fate but they were

possession.

give birth to babies, the children passing into their

eating a boiled egg the top was

us eu m

The egg was then

ou nt

ag h

us eu m

when

believed that

removed and the cont_ents eaten.

ou nt y

This little story taken down at Carrigatuke on

Ar m

shell.

reversed in the egg·cup and the spoon driven through the

us e

Her reason for the custom, I give

nt y

Ar m

80 or more.

then aged

4rmaghbrague circa 1923 was related to me by an old friend

nt y

wb:en they picked the mate f:r;om it, and drive the spoon

egg

ag h

in her ow words - nthe raison people would up-end the

ou C

Ar m

and. tbatrs why_ there ar-e no :,,ee,-pE;?ople now. 11

The ;was pesp]a wa;r,e great weavers.

It was the custom nera(l)to throw -up a loosB wall

Lisdrumbrochus. John Hillock aged 8~ in 1930, a delightful ®mpanion and very witty. Talking oi' a preVious rector of Aghavilly who neglected to visit his parishioner~~ he said of him ~he wus a man not bard till sweep a£tar 11 •

(1)

But there wur some that didn It

ou nt

•

. .:- --~ '.;.--.:=--

Me grandfather did it and his

Ar m

a:w~y-in it. iran«.fa:thei :ato:C:ei b.itn. till sa.;U

Ar m

through :itit bo~tom; was that the wee people wucln' t be able

M y

In passing I may mention that it was commonly

ag h

houses.

was spilled as an offering on the byre floors and in the

us eu m

Fairies and Fairy Beliefs Ccont,) before the house was built.

eu m

This was done so that

the builder wud know the wee people's wishes.

If the

There wur lots of houses on

it wus a sign to move.

Filled with spinning

us eu m

ag h

A '.fllrou~b-otber Qul' Bit,

us eu m

ou nt

at times.

The wee people wur great weavers an' helpful

ag h

night.

them to rake the fire an' clean and tidy the hearth at

ou nt y

Sbe wus a through-other oul' bit an' none too

Ar m

ag h

Ar m

oul' resi-qente~s an' when she wus past fendin' for

herself the neighbours wur good to her, an' sent the

nt y

But they wur

Ar m

wee ones :with milk an' male many a time.

us e

But all the same she wus come •Of

nt y

ridin' a broom stick.

sonsy at that, fpr it wus often said she wus given till

ou nt

their hearts wud be .in their mouths till she slithered

Ar m

out till them for there wus always the chance that she m1iht not appear as herself at all, at all •

.An• she wus tne last one till see the wee people

Before they left the country they went till the

bare.

An' when they thumped the du.re

Ar m

- - crack they shouldn't.

always ai'ear~d till go in, for ,they'd heared many a

and weaving, they wur, an' care wus taken in all of

the bill a hundred years ago.

stones set, the house wus begun, but if they wur thrown

us eu m

Fairies and Fairy Beliefs (cont.)

eu m

An' what do you think for, why they went

house to her.

till tell her they wur goin' till war.

An' she

an'

we may niver be back".

Ann1 ,

An 1 she up an' she says, "Och! but ye will now.

An' with that she

Says she,

1 cud niver thole the

y nt

ou nt

ag h

uAn, what will it be 11 , says she.

us eu m

leave ye a sign 11 •

We' 11

ag h

Says be,

ou nt y

Keep yer blinkers on the well 11 , says he.

Ar m

we're bayte it's bludy the water 'ill beu.

-4n' mind ye, all but she was but a wee croul of a

nt y

ag h

Ar m

of heart lgneliness for them an• that wus the en• of her.

us e

An' bludy water it wus an• she tuk a brash an' died

nt y

Ar m

woman, she wusn•t afeared of man or brute, even in the

ou nt

of har knowed all about her and her fairy frien's.

It :was burned at qis wake.

Ar m

I haared of a lone bush that was cut one winter be

a man 'Whan firing was short, be a man too that should

~t was burned at bis wake.

have knowed better.

An' them that toul' me the story

Ar m

alone•, let be a woman.

bad times 'When it wus far from safe for a man till be

whole winter through wi.thout news of ye' s 11 •

started till yammer.

Sure it's die I wud without ye 1 s 11 •

us eu m

ou C

says the spokesman,

them bein' sich frien's they bid till her.

us eu m

Fairies and Fairy Beliefs Ccont.)

eu m

was a very gentle thorn - the cows would niver lie down If fother< 2 )was given to them at it they'd

us M

The fairies of Ulster used to meet here for till

us eu m

elect their king an' for many nights it wouldn't be safe It

4-n' there wur fairy cats here too.

till be about.

ag h

us e

nt y

Ar m

ou nt y

Ardmore, Lough Neagh.

Ar m The faj ry Thorn.

A man once coaxed one of them into a house

an' it destrqyed the place. 11

us eu m

ou nt

at night.

wsn't wise till luk at them if ye saw them on the roads

ag h

nt y

Sure he tried till stub it

he• ·s the one that caused it.

An I Larry HcParland,

thorn i ver' thQugh c.1t Is wastin I now.

ag h

In that field over the road there wus the finest

Ar m

C h

Ar m

Feedini Stuff - hay or other such food.

(2)

Anr. now it will soon be down with the cattle

meself.

·very road i ts.e1.t, as many another can tell ye besides

ou nt

do-wn, an' wusn't he thrown right across the field till the

Ar m

ou C

of Ulster.

The Fairies

Tullyvallen (aged 80 odd years).

ate it an' lave. 11

under it.

-tl

us eu m

11 Fairies and Fairy Beliefs {cont.)

eu m

scratching it, but the divil a one wud iay han' till it

I heared of one that

Lone Bushes were left alone.

Lone Bushes ••

otherwise, an' it in as good a field as iver wus.

was cut be the son of the house an' he went wrong in his

us eu m

they disappeared into Lisletrim

nt y ou nt

Ar m

"A weeifeila ws goin' up till the shoemaker's one

h ag

A treble-rinied fort near CuJ.lyhanna.

An' the fairies stopped

Ar m

niiht, an• he · met a drove of bullocks at the . turn-end with a fairy on ivery bullock but one.

ag h

Ar m

us e

He slipped

He heared the noise of them walkin~ plain but

he saw none of them.

"Jump It 11 t

He wus up

nt y

Ar m

~ort.<3)

an'

late at night an' beared the convoy comin'. out an' followed them

us eu m

ou nt y

Ar m

A man once rollowed a fairy funeral.

ou nt

ag h

Mr. Mallon, Clontygora, 1939, then aged 70.

The Fairy Funeral, 11

ag h

you never know were insanity will come out. 11

head after - but he. might have gone that way anyhow -

~7~ .

us eu m

Fairies and Fairy Beliefs {cont.) him an' put him on the last bullock.

An I as soon as

eu m

he had his legs clapped roun' him the procession started

An'

again an' all the fairies set off for the laugh.

said they till him when ye reach the lake

jump it 11 •

An' they toul' him till keep his mouth shut when he'd

be in the air or it wus ill-luck wud come till him.

But the poor wee fella, when he wus

cleared it well.

us eu m

didn't fall right off its back.

An' it wus nearly

half-way across, he yelled with fright an' blest if he

ag h

An' one be one they riz on the bank of the lake an'

us eu m

ou nt

C h

Ar m

himself again. 11

ou nt y

ag h

·and wadin' an' it wus many a long day before he wus

4 "They wur goin' to break up the forthC \n the

nt y

ag h

Ar m

They were going to break the forth.

us e

days of my · forebears, but when the horses and plough

nt y

ou nt

Ar m

wur bothered, but a wise woman told them that if the

Ar m

place wus left alone the Nugents would niver want for

Drumboy Fort. Commands an extensive view. Famous locally because of a ballad of 26 verses written in its honour by a man who had travelled the county over 11 an 1 niver had the fire of poetry lighted in his heart until he saw the · view from Drum boy".

(I+)

It wus a strange thing to happen and they

of them.

Ar m

wur upon it, a slice of bread·was thrown right in front

drowned he wus but he got till lan' 'tween swimmin'

73.

us eu m

Fairies and Fairy Beliefs (cont.)

It wus always a right fairy place. 11

4 Crow, of Hares.

time.

eu m

An' thank God we niver did even in the Fa.mine

bread.

at night.

"A crowd of hares used till gather in the wee forth

They used till jist sit there an' even the

grue 11 (5) that cud see them well wud luk the other way.

us eu m

ag h

wben they saw him they slipped into the sheugh of the

us eu m

ou nt

.As soon as he left they were back on the rampar.

ag h

fort.

ou nt y

An' sure as yer here the

an' let them have it.

Ar m

a- ~

He was sorely bothered be them, an' one night he borrowed

us e M

nt y

ag h

Ar m

rise in a hurry.

A man had till

J;t~d -till_rise in a hurry one night till fetch

Ar m

MA mari

-owu.sn It in bed. JI ( ~\ , 'f' . '

nt y

ni.xt mc.rnitl. 1 there wu.s hardly an oul 1 woman around that

(6)

Witches had the power of becomini hares when in quest of butter-, et·c.

GreyhQumi.

( 5)

it. back he wanted bar t _i ll take the .

wur .futi:o.g

Ar m

\fhen they

Ar m

He went for the- woman -®'.· got her safely an'

pains.

ou nt

the midwi-fe woman -~ b~eij;q.sa o.f l;l.A.s wile being tuk with her - ...- - . - :: -~ -·. . -

But

He saw.the lot of them in the centre of the ring.

Me gran'father himself went in once when they were there.

us eu m

Fairies and Fairy Beliefs (cont,>

near cut.

But divil a bit of her wud.

the

eu m

Said she

Alriiht 11 says he, "let us both put our best fut foremost

then".

longest way roun• at this hour is the shortest way home 11 •

Soon they wur near the house an• sure as yer here,

Its

they heared voices an• both of them wur afeared.

us eu m

stopped till lissen - but s0rra a long they stayed!

ag h

It ws the wee people right enough confabbin' about the

us eu m

ou nt

wus a bit of a shock to the poor man for he lacked his

let us be away as fast as we can,

Says the midwife woman

ou nt y

Ar m

wife an' didn't want till lose his first wee one either.

us e

nt y

Ar m

if we get there before them we may gunk them yet 11 •

ag h

An 1 the woman nearly died in her labour an' mebbe

nt y

I heared what she did, but

woman kn.owed all the charms.

Ar m

the chi_le wud have done so as well, only that the midwife

Ar m

them that cud finish the story is gone, God rest them."

C h

Ar m

Ardionnel, taken down about 1930.

me sowl to glory if I can mind the rest of the tale an'

ag h

chile that was comin' an• the mother herself too.

ou nt

the week people mebbe 11 says she, and with that they

us eu m

Fairies and Fairy Beliefs Ccont.}

Two oul' men who lived in Kelly's bottom<7\,ur

eu m

nie Fairy Hunt.

sittin' at the dure one evenin' suppin' sowans when up They

walked two wee men in green co?ts an 1 · white caps.

wr wee people right enough, mebbe fairy horsemen for in

It wus a great

ou nt

ws only a chile - I . wus not much then, but well

ou nt y

It:[

a Uiiht. there :wur lights on top.

_M @v

ag h

age they lived till but they're gone now. 11

us eu m

ag h

brothers an 1 done out of the- same bou.l.

us eu m

Ar m

I ·mindheaxi~g about the wee people on Slieve Gullion.

ou nt

h ag

Ar m

horseman.a

Lots of the ou.1 1

I saw the fires once but didn't see the

ones saw them ..

nt y

ride their horses throuih the flames.

C h

Ar m

Edena.ppa town.land.

Low ly1~i fields are so described in certain parts of the count,.

(7)

us e

An' some of them wur mount_ed an' wud

of wee pa~p-le.

Ar m

'fbare 1 d be scores of fires an' hundreds

the bonfires.

nt y

ag h

cua be seen p1ain as ye like disportin' themselves aroun'

Many a night there: ws light on top an' the wee people

Ar m

An' the two oul' men wur twin

ended in the forth.

the ou.l' days there wus a fairy hunt here that always

rJG .

us eu m

Fairies and Fairy Beliefs Ccont,) Grim.as oxtarco~ged with the fairies, uGrimes oxtercogged with the fairies often.

eu m

He'd

be in conversatio n with them and people would hear him

Many a time

talking till them, but he'd always deny it.

goin' till the well he was heared tellin' them to keep

ag h

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

"The fairies of Ulster used to meet here till elect

It wusn 1 t

An 1 there wur fairy cats here too.

Ar m

about.

ou nt y

their king an 1 for many nights it wudn 1 t be safe till be

us e

ou nt

He'd take a bit of a

Blind a llian cud cure the bother.

Ar m

Cows were some times elf-shot when I wus wee.

ag h

Elf-shot.

Ardmore, near Lurgan.

Ar m

it destroyed the place. 11

nt y

Ar m

nt y

A man once coaxed one of them into a house an'

night.

wise till luk at them if ye saw them on the roads at

It wus then

Side to side an' say a bit of a prayer.

Ar m

kindled turf from the fire be the tongs an 1 move it from

put under the cow's nose an• she wus soon bette~.u

Bernard McCreesh, Tassaih district.

Thomas Quinn, Sheetrim.

The fairies of Ulster used to meet here,

and he'd even deny it to her."

us eu m

He was a wee bit of a man and she was six feet

off him.

~77,

us eu m

Fa1ries and Fairy Beliefs Ccont,)

eu m

The ;wee people were disturbed,

uThe oul' people raved about the fairies all the days There was an uncle of me grandfather's.

of their lives.

An' another party got the land.

of them died out.

He was the last of the name to live there - the whole boon An'

An' they stopped.

ou nt y

us e

nt y

ag h

Man,

Hughes, Knockbane, near Middletown. Age, over 80 years.

Ar m

md;w:i,fe

stop or

It has niver been touched

Ar m

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

m Ar

An' ye can see the bit yet. since."

us eu m

An' a wee man appeared and said

flooding.

something bad will happen till ye 11 •

He wus a midwife ·man.

One

Ar m

side of the Blackwater.

nt y

uThere wus a doctor who lived long ago on the other

ou nt

.An• there

Ar m

.A.n 1 he · says me wife's near her time

An' the doctor got in.

An' he An'

had a carriage with him.

Ar m

and she will have no one in her trouble buy you.

wus a man waiting.

An 1 he pulled on he's trousers an' went down.

-when they reachedMaghery Ferry the whole contraption went

over the river without bothering the ferryman at all if ye

night be wus in his bed when there wus a knock on the dure.

An' a shore

was interfered with an' the wee people wur in danger of

ag h

.ln' the wee people wur disturbed.

ground.

they pulled down the oul' walls they wur that fond of

us eu m

Fairies and Fairy Beliefs (cont,)

eu m

That give the doctor an inkling of the sort of

please.

An' they crossed the Bann Foot

company he wus in.

(8)

Ferry in the same way an' near Ardmore they reached a big

An'

J\.n' in the house there wus a woman in bed.

house.

An' the woman

a short time after the chile was born.

she was grateful and warned him not till take bit or sup

An' the doctor

us eu m

did as he was toul' - only for that indeed we wud niver

On moonlight

ou nt

Sti U

ou nt y

:-'.fhe eonay r sland

Ar m

ni~ts ye wud ·ha-v-e seen whole companies of them."

nt y

:•There wus ·/a power of whiskey made on Coney in the

ag h

Ar m

An 1 a sonsy place it was too for the job,

nt y

But shure even if there wus

Ar m

Chal'leymont has -e-na now.

v il a house there wus there then, tho~h Lord for tijia;--qi:_ .- . -.:- -

ou nt

crossed the

who

h ag

Taken down•in-19lf-O from an old man

Baml with me by the ferry at this po±nt.

(8)

Ar m

~; dacent ~\Ul~~g,Ae. .· -:....... -._. -: t=.-.•

Ar m

all over the tl;ley • planted-._-_. po.l?a-~-Qar:i:-aeks the like ~,s~4!,t"' . --. --· .

. -

_,..._ .

no house oit it at ~lt it 1 s little peace thereid be for

ag h

gentry wud be over visiting the Armagh ones.

us e

Sometimes too the whole of the Tyrone

have heared of it.

us eu m

ag h

or even money or he wud be kept for iver.

14.

us eu m

-rq, Fairies and Fairy Beliefs

)

Ccont,

eu m

still one night when they heared flutes and bagpipes an' They both heared it and they

mebbe a fiddle or two.

An' they

An' it cum nearer till them.

both listened.

saw the wee people but they did nothing till disturb them.

An 1 them two men

always it wud be gone in the morning.

An 1 always they'd leave a drop of whiskey for them an'

us eu m

ou nt y

ou nt

Fishermen, Maghery, Lough Neagh. Ages and names not taken.

The Ploughing of, the Relig.

Ar m

The wee people were ay

ag h

good till them they tuk too. 11

us e

nt y

An' he had the finest corn ye iver saw.

ag h

happened.

Ar m

an' the countryside wus afeared for him, but nothin 1

nt y

Ar m

From far an' near they come till see an' wonder at it.

An' he says,

evenin 1 himself an' some others wur there.

ou nt

Ar m

The heads wur as long as yer arm an' reachin' far An' one A.n' it ripened. above the walls of the Relig.

Ar m

11 says he, ~I 1 11 cut it come the morrow if help can be got •

4n• they who wur with him promised till give a han'.

But in the morn.in' when they got there sure it wus bare

as yer fist_ deil the corn or anything - not even a

"Shure it wus in oul' McFarland's time it wus done

ag h

got houl' of a sup they made.

had the greatest luck iver for the divil a guager iver

17. ~D.

us eu m

Fairies and Fairy Beliefs {cont,) stubble.

it ~ain.

eu m

An' it give them such a fright they niver tried

An' I remember me mother tellin' me - she's the one

had all the oul' stories - but it's seldGm I listened for

An' the - music was so

crossing the Relig one evenin'.

I used till think the oul' people wur crazy - of someone An' he jigged

us eu m

well till he faun' it right under he's

a.n'

till it long

ag h

us eu m

ou nt

An' it wu.s well he wus able.

as quick as he cud.

An' then he got the fear upon him an' he hooked it

feet.

ag h

An' there wus me father's sister who tuk some dry

ou nt y

nt y

SegahaJ?, river beyant, they did their wee bits

Sure there's the purtiest pots ye iver saw,

Ar m

of washin'.

ag h

with no worse.

An• in

nt y

Ar m

right out and cou~ed her over an• sure it wu.s well she met

us e

But they flew

She picked them to light the fire with.

Ar m

branches from the oul' fairy thorn at the foot of the bill.

Name derives from a stone-walled enclosure.

(9)

Ar m

Casbel, Lisnadill.

fairies washinr.u(9)

I have seen them an' many a time the oul 1 people saw the

ou nt

Many a time

Ar m

div-ides Geordie Arm~trong from Paddy .t-~cKee.

an• they in the stones themselves - just where the river

good be cudn't keep from _steppin' till it.

~. S I·

us eu m

Fairies and Fairy Beliefs (cont.)

eu m

It;ie Times are Cban"ed.

The very childer used till be afeared till daunder

An' no wonder •

on the hill in the heel of the evenin'.

Many a mallyvogin I got

An' sure the cattle themselves

shoughs ready till catch them. myself because of them,

Su.re it ws said the wee people wud be dukein' in the

Ay, divil

us eu m

Hom~ they'd ramp

a blade wud they let in their gubs • .

Sure it wus quare altogither.

as fast as they cud.

ag h

wudn't munch a bite once darkness had come.

An'

God, ay, the

ou nt y

Ar m

nt y

Ha cua get no milt.

ag h

Ar m

or sense who said it an I mebbe they' 11 ni ver. ll

us e

But it wus an oul' harl of bones without gumption

a.gain.

But it's speyed ·the fairies will come

ag h

full of whigmaieeries - or mebbe worse. times are changed.

us eu m

ou nt

now if ye mention fairies to the wee ones they think you:1 te

nt y

He put a

Some body wus takin' the best of the milk.

Ar m

A man in Granemore cud get no good from his cows.

h ag

She wus lame after aeyhow. u

Tanderagee.

Jane Hanlon.

Ar m

the hips an' it got away, but the . country said it wus

ou nt

He hit it about

out he blazed at it.

As it come

He watched an' he saw a · hare slip in till the

byre.

Ar m

colpher.

cllarge in his gll,tl one hight an' a han 1 ful of silver for

Fairies and Fairy

{cont.)

us eu m

Beliefs

)l:i.tches,

eu m

uwitches there were in days bygone. for that.

T'nere' s fact

'.llley were part of the times then.

Now-a-

I mind well the oul' people

dabbling in "Black Art 11 •

days people are too busy with other things till be

And that

the grazing trailing a rope behine her.

us eu m

There she'd be in

was seen at it many a morning.

ag h

And

brought ali the butter from that field till her.

She

talking of a woman that cud take butter from the cows.

Nothing

But there was

ou nt y

Ar m

cud be done about that kind of one.

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

ha,ir that she had gathered the country over.

uproar.

:~~ -~~thQs:-t~that - . - -- -:~~~:~· --~--~->_-:-

ou nt

Ar m

errand..

Arn 11

Tanderagee-Tassagh.

_;i._$ tl.OW. U

Ar m

Gtlµ13;g where fl.he' : • :;h.-~- - ...

kept the whole to-wnland in

Ar m

then to put the country in an

the house at ~pi..j~~:,_-f'gr many a lon" year, ;,but God only knOWS

nt y

~¥:?~ ,_h~J_>~Ued

sure m~y a I

us e

was quare about the hair rope but

toe at one time.

bodies and they were plentiful

ag h

Ar m

s~lver :~.;~~for them

Ye had to have a

all91it as hares .on the same arn. (10)

nt y

-ano'l;Jaer sort that ye might shoot at, the kind that went

tbe rope wasn't bay or straw mind ye but made of human

us eu m

He knowed aJ J.

eu m

Fairies and Fairy Beliefs Ccont,l

UJ:vle gran' father minded a fight at the graveyard

gate between two funerals that arrived tilgi~her.(ll) They went

It ws a hell of a scrap by he's account.

for each other like Turks all because of a notion that

the corpCl 2 )who was first through the gates wud hev

us eu m

PeoplB wur quare in them days - why if oul' weemin

ag h

had water till throw out an' it was night, they'd be

the other bludy fella to chop and carry f or him.

us eu m

ou nt

An' if .ye went for a walk in the

Ar m

haven't a notion.

ou nt y

whether it was ghosts or fairies taey wur afeared of I

Ye might

nt y

ag h

nt y

Ar m

4 a grave was hoked(l )in the oul' days, an'

Many

Ar m

he],p ye .if ye spread yer length in such a spot. ) just as well go home and make yer will. (l 3_

us e

g~aveyard an' tripped on a grave it was bad, but heaven

Cl2)

Corpse.

(13)

This is a fairly common belief still.

(11+)

Re-opened.

C h

Ar m

Together.

(11)

ou nt

It's a pity till God

Ar m

people wantin' skins for charms.

not be people wantin 1. bodies for doctors at all, but be

ag h

afeared to do it in case it was hurtful to some one, but

us eu m

Fairies and Fairy Beliefs (cont.} He knowed all.

eu m

ye wurn't here in me grandf~ther's time.

He cud have toul ye too of the putting out of food on

us e

M ou

nt y

ou C h ©

ou nt

ag Ar m ©

ou nt y

ag h Ar m ©

us eu m

us M y

ou nt C

h ag ©

Ar m

Ar m ©

M y

nt ou C

ag h

Ar m

Terryhoogan, 1928.

nt ou C

ag h ©

Hallow Eve an' many another crack as well. 11

HI SCELLANEA.

ARMAGH

us eu m

COUNTY

eu m

Greetings.

I have always been interested in the daily greetings one

receives in the countryside, so much so that in 1937-1938, I

Needless to say weather conditions figure

those two years.

decided to make lists of such as I chanced to experience in

largely in this by no means exhaustive summary and although

us eu m

nt y

us e

ou nt y

ag h

Ar m

. Great day. Mortal fine mornin' . The wind's in a bad art the day . There'll be a taste of rain th e day . Smushy day. Clabbery day. Broken weather. Spi tty morning. Nice open day the day. Teemy day. Brave mornin' . Fine day. Right open weather. It's a wee thought warmer the day . It's blowing a wee thing the day .

ou nt

ag h

Ar m

Blustery Weather. Sore day this. Desparate day. Soft day. Nippy . day. Right day. Middling day. Hardy mo rnin' . Ill lookin' mornin'. Settled day the day. Slabbery day. Blowey day. Lamentable weather. Muggy day. Wind's very pushing. A starving wind the day.

county as a whole.

ag h

Upper and Lower Fews it is I would say representative of the

ou nt

parts of the country and we are reminded of its importance by

C h

Ar m

proverbs that seem to . be on the lips ot all and sundry, such as -

Ar m

Weather predominates as a subject for discussion in all

my attention was then chiefly confined to the Baronies of the

us eu m

A dry May and a dripping June makes a farmer's heart beat a merry tune. A green Christmas makes a fat churchyara.(l)

eu m

All the months of the year curse a fair February.

When March comes in like a lion, it goes out like a lamb.

Wet March brings a sad harvest.

Frosts in March, frosts in May.

March has many weathers.

m eu

us eu m

ag h

Cold April - good harvest.

ou nt y

April showers bring forth May flowers.

Ar m

us eu m

ou nt

The warm side of the stone turns up on St. Patrick's Day.

Ar m

swarm of bees in May is worth a load of hay.

us e

nt y

Mist in May, heat in June, harvest soon.

nt y

ag h

Ar m

Change not a clout till May is out.

cold April will bless the year at harvest time.

April winds hurt neither hay or corn.

ou nt

h ag

Ar m

Candlemas storms and Lammas floods must come.

If it rains on his day it

Ar m

St. Swithin - the wet saint. rains for forty more.

If Candlemas Day be bright and clear there will be two winters in that year.

(1) If the six days before Christmas and the six days after are carefully noted they will show how the months of the year will behave. (2) The March wind had almost killed the old cow so March borrowed three days from April wherein to finish the job.

March borrows three days from April, Three- days and they are ill, April borrows from March again, Three days of wind and rain.

2 March-April borrowing days.< )

us eu m

As the days lengthen the cold strengthens.

eu m

When the winds from the south the rain is near.

Rain before seven, fine before elev.en. robin under a bush means rain.<3)

The south wind brings warm weather, The north wind wet and cold together, The west wind always brings us rain, The east wind blows it back again.

us eu m

huddle together before a storm.

Cows

Soft rustling in the trees is the forerunner of rain.

ag h

If the cat scratches the legs of chairs or tables it is a sure sign of rain.

us eu m

ou nt

When the dog eats grass it is a sign of rain.

Ar m

nt y

Rain on Sunday, rain all week.

.~Y'~s weather, so is Sunday's weather.

As·--~

ag h

Lt: t~-- •~k is well acorned it is a sj,gn of frosty weather.

us e

ou nt y

Ar m

When the wind comes from the east, it's bad for man and beast.

h ag

r1ii:ts: is 4ro·se-

the storm is near, if distant then

tffij

'(4)

-farther~·away~· ~ _

When he ventures indoors

Ar m

(3) Wheri he ls on· .top all is well. hard weather : i ,s. be~okc0i?-ed !

~~~~~~~~!

ou nt

A ~ing-J~ffird~he moon is a sign of coming bad weather.< 4 )

nt y

Ar m

:.A. haw ye.a.i! ~s a: 'braw year:

sloe :yErax. ~•i.:S- a woe year.

Ar m

If th~ frog wears a golden coat, the weather will be fine, ,.But •.if~_h~ _puts on his black coat rain is on the way.

ag h

When the 'Wind is in the west the cuckoo is in her nest.

us eu m

The wind from the south-west, a sign of rain.

eu m

Hens retire to shelter before rain.

Soot falling down the chimney betokens rain.

Spiders coming indoors herald~ rain on the way.

Before rain swallows fly low.

Midges swarm, the cat washes her face.

m eu

The donkey roars, crickets chirp.

us eu m

January brings the snow, Makes our faces and our fingers glow.

ag h

February brings the rain and thaws the frozen loughs again.

When the wind's in the south it's in the rain's mouth.

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

ou nt y

February bright and clear, a good flax year.

us e

ou nt

h ag Ar ©

nt y

ag ©

Ar m

Ar m ©

ag h

nt y

ag Ar m ©

Ar m

March will search, April will try, May will tell, .whether you live or die.

March brings breezes loud and shrill, and scatters daisies over the hill.

us eu m

COUNTY ARMAGH MISCELLAJ.~EA.

eu m

1.JJ.clh

In Armagh one hears the saying that "luck sometimes wins where craft fails".

Dictionaries put the matter

It is, however, carefully

happens seemingly by chance 11 •

even more clearly when they describe it as "that which

The

divided into two classes - ill-luck and good luck.

us eu m

Ill-Luck.

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

accepted to some extent by the younger generation.

It is also

nt y

fli tting" to a new home on Saturday. (l)

ag h

through glass, or

Ar m

thought that ill-luck attaches to seeing the new moon

us e

should be commenced on that particular day.

ou nt y

Friday is considered unlucky and nothing important

Ar m

h ag m

Ar ©

(l) Saturday's flit is a short sit. (2) Elderberry.

ou nt

Ar m

Unlucky - Crowing hens - must be killed. 11 To burn human hair. II - To bestow gifts on New Year's Day.( 2 ) II To burn the wood of the Bore-tree. II To rob swallows' nests. II To kill the cuckoo - it brings Spring.

linked to such beliefs -

nt y

Ar m

This short list illustrates many aspects of the ill-fortune

ag h

county and the implications strangely enough have been

terms are still current amongst the older people of the

us eu m

us e

ou nt

Ar m

(J) This may, however, be evaded by throwing a few grains over the left shoulder! (It) By doing so a· friend is lost. (5) Ill luck may be averted if no food is eaten. (6) This evidently covers the feet also hence the saying "he who on Sunday pares a corn, it were better he was never born 11 • (7) In case it should sweep the family away.

nt y

Ar m

nt y

ag h

ou nt y

us eu m

ou nt

Ar m

ag h

Ar m

ag h ©

eu m

- To harm the robin. Unlucky 11 To put dovm. a setting of eggs of even numbf;]r II To Spill salt.,3) II - To roe~ an empty cradle. II - For a wedding party to meet a funeral. II . To place one's boots on a table. II - To take cash for setting eggs (Better to have something in exchange). ll To drown a cat. II - To begin the building of a house on Friday. II . To share washing water.(4) II To sit down with a party of thirteen.C5 ) II To display peacock's feathers in the ( 6) house. ll - To cut or pare nails on Sundays. ll To break or lose a wedding ring. u To have the right hand itch. (Believed to be a sign of money being lost). II To kill a spider. II - For the fire to burn on one side only. II :::-To bring a spade into the kitchen. II To lift a pin by the point or to hand one to a friend without sticking it in wood. II To pass under a ladder. ll To · have a picture fall from the wall. II To buy a broom in May.(7J II For Christmas Day to fall on Saturday. II To ·have a rat cross your path. ll If a baby does not cry at baptism Devil not dislodged. II To clO'se a spring well. II To strike anybody with rag-weed or hawthorn. ll To bring whin or hawthorn blossom into the house.

us eu m

.,,,.

spyu a funeral through a window or door.CS) To not sweep the floor before churning. To put on sock and boot of one foot. To enter a new house by the back door. To put ashes out on New Year's Day. To straddle a creeping child in case it should turn into a 11 crowlie 11 •

Good Luck.

C h

eu m

un.LucKy - To

us eu m

us e

nt y

ou nt

ag ©

(8) In former days it was quite usual for the occupants of a house to stand outside whilst funerals passed. (9) Such persons can effect certain cures.

ou nt y

Ar m

ag h

ou nt

Ar m

ag h

It is lucky if your right ear burns (somebody is speaking wel~ of you). It is lucky to have swallows nest with you. Lightning ne,rer strikes such houses. ll to· have a robin about the house. ll to meet a pie-bald horse. II to ha,re crickets in the house. ll to lay the sheaves by the sun when building corn stacks. II to find a horse shoe especially one from a hind leg. II to be the seventh child of a seventh child.(9) II to meet a horse with one white leg. II to meet a sow and a litter of pigs. II to meet a snail with horns erect. II to find a spider on one's coat (foretells a new suit). II to find white specks on finger nails. LI to ha,re your left hand itch. ( Good fortune coming). II to be born with a caul · (Cannot meet a violent death). II for Christmas Day to fall on a Sunday. II to ha,re house leeks on your dwelling.

Fortunately there are many things under this heading to cheer us on our way.

us eu m

It will be noticed that the ill-luck o~ens are the greater in number, but there is no need to worry unduly.

eu m

The difference probably arises from the fact that 1ve all

take good luck too much for granted -

See a pin and picl{ it up, All•tbe day you'll have good luck. See a pin and let i t lie, And you will need it bye and bye. 11

seems to strike a middle course between the difficulties

us eu m

Do not forget, however,

rthat where there I s muck there I s

ag h

to be avoided rather than those that may bring good fortune.

of whether one's memory is more concerned with the things

us eu m M

ou nt

ag Ar m ©

ou C h

nt y

us e

ou nt y

ou nt

ag h ©

Ar m

Ar m ©

Ar m

ag h

Ar m ©

luck" - which is a cheerful thought to the archaeologist.

us eu m

ARKAGH HISCELLAN:g:A.. 11

Local Descrii;itive

Sayings 11 ,

Armagh descriptive localisms are a tonic.

eu m

They are

spread all over the county and portray imagination carefully

He knows his book.

us eu m

He is past your thumb.

Descri:pti'lle Sayings,

group my examples under titles.

I am not going to attempt an introduction and shall

order.

ou nt

us e

nt y

ou nt

(2) Becoming frail and smaller _4,n stature.

.F.i:e.1 d talk th_e teeth out of a saw.

(1) Unable to get about.

the

Ar m

well.

It fits ye like a hair

There's a_ nole in his thatch.

Ar m

He's all to one side like the handle of a jug.

He wasn't behind the door when feet wer"e given out.

She knows -full -wail: the length of h~s shoe. - ·

Born at the bladeing of the kail.

Ar m

All gab and guts like a young crow.

It's as true as truth's been for -a long time.

ag h

Ar m

She· wants a square.,._o-f being

round~

Tears running down their cheeks like beetles up a hill.

nt y

She has an eye lik~ a burnt hole in a blanket.

He'd buy you in one field and sell you in another.

ou nt y

ag h

Ar m

Crooked as a dog's hind legs.

feet above a duck.

Two

us eu m

A closed mouth misses the flies.

He has lost the walk.(l)

He hears not at that ear.

ag h

A mouth like a torn pocket.

blended with observational and descriptive powers of no mean

If he only had an apple he'd give ye the peelings.

You won't catch him with chaff.

He's like a daddy-long-leg s on the skite.

us eu m

When a patient is rich there are doctors in plenty.

4 Don't be there till yer back.C )

ou nt

Don't let the grass grow under your feet.

The divil

us e

nt y

ou nt

h ag m

(6) Stop talking. (7) Issue of unmarried parents. (8) Dances well. A. drunken man. An excuse for a drink at markets or fairs.

h ag

( 5) Old bachelors are still called

Ar m

(3) The end of a scolding match. (It) Make haste.

Ar m

His rearing was no better than bis schooling.

He can handle his feet bravely.

,fgl

nt y

There's no luck in a dry bargain. ( 10)

Ar m

( 8)

Born on th~ vrrong side of the blanket.\.?)

ag h

Ar m

He goes a wee bit of the way with everybody.

boys.

good to you.

The road was not wid~ enough for his walking.\.9)

That's only a cat's lick.

ou nt y

Ar m

Houl yer gab.C 6)

none at all.

us eu m

Ivery man's a boy till he's married. (5)

ag h

A bad excuse is better than

Between you and me and the post.

ag h

Old fools are the worst fools.

Brow boots and no breakfast.

And that was tbe)taking up of the weather. l3

He put the saddle on the right horse.

It might cut butter if it was hot. His head never saves his legs.

There's more red noses than 1nidges the day.

Childer and chickens must always be picking.

You might as well look for blood in a turnip.

eu m

us eu m

You're not sugar or salt till be melting.

us eu m

Descriptions Attached to People of

eu m

Weak Intellect.

wee\ bit foolish.

A wee bit quare in the head.

He's daft in the head.

He's soft in the head.

us eu m

us e

nt y

hen would raise the divil out of his den.

ou nt

It's a poor house where the hen outcrows the cock.

Ar m

nt y

ag h

A whistling maid and a crowing

us eu m

She's the sort that if axed to a wedding would wait for the christening.

(11) An effusive, insincere person.

ou nt y

She'd shake hands with a hedgehog. ( 11)

Ar m

woman's not like a book, ye can't always shut her up when ye want.

ou nt

She goes from house to house looking her bit.(12)

Ar m

Her looks would sour milk.

M y

ag h

Ar m

She won't tare in the plucking.

She's bad at fasting but the divil for prayers. She's not the sort till sell her hens on a rainy day.

She'd blind ye with talking.

(12) Begging.

ag h

Sayings relating to women.

She is no chicken for all her cheeping.

He has a slate off.

She has a good many knicks in her horn.

He's not all there,

He's slightly touched.

The poor soul's a wee bit cracked.

us eu m

A bachelor has a loose leg.

eu m

A bad reaper blames the scythe.

Don't turn your tongue on me.

He's hard till insense.

For a lucky man the pot will boil without a fire.

He's the spit of himself. (Like his father).

nt y

us e

ou nt y

Fighting Terms.

Ar m

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

Babies.

their heads cool and their bottoms dry.

Keep

ag h widdy.

nt y

I'll make ye smell brimstone for that.

I'll wipe yer neb an' it won't be with a hankie.

I cud lick the seed, breed, an' generation if ye.

Ar m

If it's a leathering ye want I'm yer man.

ag h

Ar m

Country rafii)and country pubs produced most of these. There you will still bear stock expressions such as -

A'll lave yer mouth like a torn

If ye turn yer tongue on me I' 11 brain ye.

ou nt

(l~) Alas almost extinct.

(lJ) Dominated by his wife.

Ar m

Pile yer duds me.boy.

pocket.

I'll make ye scratch where ye have no itch.

Ar m

Your big man but a wee coat will fit ye.

If ye want till overtake him ye'll rise ea!l y .

What's the use of a farm to a man if his-wife's a

Hone~men marry young, wise men not at all.

He was in his feet (barefooted).

Many a man ties a knot with he's tongue that his teeth will never loosen.

A well langled man.(l3)

What's a gentleman but his pleasure.

bones.

us eu m

An old man is but a bed of

us eu m

These remarks are emphasized by friends who hasten

eu m

to encourage the quarrel by shouting -

Give him a sother on the lug.

He wants his snout wiped.

Let him have it - warm the wax in his lug.

There are also the peacemakers whose advice to

let

us e

M ou

nt y

ou C h ©

ou nt

ag Ar m ©

ou nt y

ag h Ar m ©

us eu m

M y

ou nt C

h ag ©

Ar m

Ar m ©

y nt

ou C

ag h

Ar m

ou C

ag h ©

him cool in the skin he warmed in" is seldom taken.

us eu m

ARMAGH MISCELLANEA., 0:Jnes 11 and

Charms 11 ,

eu m

These remedies for certain illnesses may seem absurd

to the people of to-day, but one can be certain that in

the not so distant past they were considered normal

Indeed according to county tradition "doctors

practice.

us eu m

ag h

the 18th century doctors and surgeons were credited with

us eu m

ou nt

"man-handling the dead", and stories still survive in

ag h

certain parishes as regards means taken to prevent body-

Ar m

ou nt y

This attitude to doctors was still apparent

snatGhing.

in the late 18th century when County Infirmaries came

us e

nt y

into being, and it was commonly believed that in such

illness uun1ess they cud get at ye with a knife".

This

ag h

Ar m

institutions the surgeons had no interest in any form of

an old lady·in the townland of Annahaia -

This cure for Erysipelas was given to me by

1928-1939.

Most of these exalllples were noted in the period

Ar m

much longer list could easily be compiled.

ou nt

the county is concerned.

the subject, in so far

Ar m

Tbe·se few notes on ueures 11 do not by any means cover

nt y

h ag

the 19th century.

Ar m

was indeed seriously believed in until the beginning of

There was also the fact that in

bothered with them 11 •

were few in the oul' days and only them that had the money

us eu m

It might take ye anywhere, but.it's a gentle

thing - a very tentle thing - an' the cure is one the

The Lord save me from having

big an' red as anything.

Your head might swell up

eu m

doctors know nothing of.

it again and keep ye from it too.

It 1 s some oul'

1 L

He ws Dr.

father an' a quare civil man.

I mind

us eu m

It's she will tell ye what to do. 11

woman ye want.

the lot of them an• sure the world an• all knowed me.

ag h

us eu m

ou nt

I'm the oul' standard I am, an' I niver lay off me work

ou nt y

But mind

in yer legs or in yer feet.

But sure it wus in me face I tuk it.

An' the cuxe wus

ag h

ye, ye cud take it anywhere;

Ar m

nt y

. face -I had it an' it wus in a tarrable rage.

us e

It wus in me

But the Rose - God save ye from it.

Ar m

there's no dirty blood in me or anything like that.

yet, even when I had me ankle sprained in the flax -

ag h

nt y

Ar m

Ghost, an' then lifted water an' bathed me face.

Then

threw a stone in the name of the Father, Son and Holy

ou nt

Ar m

an' we went till the oul' Red Bog at Larry's an' Peter

he stuck in his han' in the bog-hole an' brought out a

poultice of bog-mud that ws placed on the spot, an' sure

crow ,1r1, but I mind it well. 11

_ An' I wus big then, a near

in the mofnin' it ws gone.

It wus Peter tuk me

nine wee stones from off the road.

a boy an' a girl whose father an' mother wus living', an'

Ar m

An' he says, says he,

the doctor.

I was tuk till the bog-hole, but I first went till

us eu m

(00

Another cure, this time from Ballintaggart in the

eu m

northern end of the county, records different treatment.

It states that -

After that the boys were

the person who had the charm.

"Two boys with a father and mother living went to

given three horse-shoe nails to drive into some immovable

portion of the house, in which the person affected lived.

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

In the above house I was shown the heads of three

If the sufferer was a man two girls went for

kitchen.

the charm. u

ou nt y

Ar m

nails in a beam by which the owner said his sister had

nt y

Most of us have

ag h

Warts can be cured in many ways.

Ar m

ringworm - this I unfortunately neglected to investigate.

nt y

Having done so they

them with freshly killed red meat.

Ar m

heard that those troubled with th~ have tried rubbing

us e

been cured, and learned that a neighbour had a charm for

in the undernoted taken down in Toe Gap of the North in

Ar m

which many battles were fought from the Cattle Raid of

Cooley to the invasion of Bruce -who was crowned King near

ou nt

They both figure

Ar m

Wart wells and snails are also cures.

bury the meat and as it decays the warts disappear.

Usually the nails were driven into a beam in the

task.

ag h

One boy drove them in half-way, the other completed the

"IF.

us eu m

{OI .

Dundalk in 1316 and shortly afterwards fell a Faughart nearby - the bir~hplace of St. Brigid.

eu m

All down the

centuries until the days of _Elizabeth the First it has Gap of Battl~su.

The little fortress of the

been a

Moyry was built in 1601 by ~ountjoy, and captured by

the Irish in 1641 and in 1689 the troops of James and

us eu m

us y

An' shure

us eu m

that wud be good for warts.Cl)

ou nt

It's an oul 1 sstone wid a hole in it

ag h

m Ar

Is it the Wart Stone at Kilnasagart?

I know it well.

But shure Thomas

ou nt y

Ar m

Mallon used till be able till cure them as well.

us e

jist come down an' said 11Kate, here's a penny 11 an' I

nt y

ag h

ou Cut

it .

A wee black snail will cure them too.

Edank.nappagh townland near Jonesborough, in a field alongside the famous Pillar Stone of

Kilnasaggart, a monument dating back to 714 A.D.

(l)

Ar m

it on a thorn, an' as it withers away, away goes yer

ou nt

Ar m

open ye must an• rub it on the wart, an' then ye stick

He was Paddy's father that is now in bed. 11

He wud give ye a pe_nny an 1 say I'll buy

yer wart.

He cud do it with childer an' big

Ar m

people both.

Ar m

quare articles.

nt y

niver had a wart since, thank God, for it 1 s they's the

ag h

the story 11

This is

But to return to the warts.

at the Boyne.

William passed through in succession to the conflict

12·

us eu m

to-2. . I tried it meself once an' it is a sure cure.

wart.

It's no

eu m

must meet it on tbe way an' pick it up.

good watever till look for it. like them cures.

They'd like that people snouldn't

.mow about them 11 •

But doctors don't

us eu m

Children affected

us eu m

ag h

ou nt

are then sent for some griddle-bread which must

Toothache,

not be paid for and must be given with a blessingu.

ou nt y

uprocure a nail from a blacksmith in

Ar m

man and his 11;ife -who both had toe same

surname before marriage.

There is, however, a charm as well.

An eel skin bracelet prevents such

Ar m

happeDing.

&prajns,

smith irons they will perish. 11

lf washed in water used to cool black-

Ar m

with a thorn from a gooseberry bush."

ou nt

T'ne cure is made by pricking the stye

husband.

Warts,

nt y

Ar m

maiden name is the same as -that borne by her

l+.

us e

nt y

Can be cured by a person whose 11.other' s

ag h

A Stye,

bush".

Ar m

God's name and bury it at the roots of a hawthorn

find

ag h

•1To cure this it is necessary to

C'qin-Cough,

and Charms.

I shall now mention briefly some further Cures

~us eu m

Jo'?>.

To stop bleedin~.

eu m

Blood will then cease to flow.

the cut.

Take a cobweb and place it on

Whoopin~ Cou~h.

Go to a house where husband and

It is essential to ask for

us eu m

After that the person doing so will be

ag h

Ghost.

times in the name of the Father, Son and Holy

ou nt

us e

There

ag h

name of the Father·, Son and Holy Ghost.

It seems

nt y

ou nt

ag ©

Ar m

Ar m ©

water-hole and back.

Ar m

to have been usual to be silent on the way to the

nt y

Ar m

they swallowed three mouthfuls of water in the

which they paraded wearing horses winkers.

to drinking places used by the farm horses to

Ar m

us eu m

ou nt y

Sufferers from this complaint were taken

Mumps,

A dog's tongue cures burns and cleans wounds.

ag h

able to cure a burn by licking it.

Find a mankeeper and lick its belly three

Burns.

the three things.

butter and sugax.

wife have the same surname and ask for bread,

{f!ie.

us eu m

I O.l\-, AHEAGH NI SCELL,ANEA,

eu m

Harriaiie Customs.

Marriages in country: districts half a century ago were

It was

much more lively affairs than they are to-day.

customary then ( and indeed· until comparati;rely recently)

Huge crowds would

us eu m

gather at the church and after the ceremony the bridegroom

ag h

was held captive until e,rentually ransomed by a contribution

people of the immediate district.

that such eirents were practically holidays for the younger

us eu m

ou nt

ou nt y

This, of course, interrupted work on

tbe children as well.

Ar m

ag h

then it was necessary for the poor man to provide sweets for

ag h

sweets chosen by the children were always of a type known

us e

nt y

In passing I may mention that the

Ar m

that particular day.

the farm and played havoc with the school curriculum for

Ar m

suitable for the occasion.

nt y

as "conversation lozenges", as they bore mottoes considered

ou nt

Ar m

The custom then was to drive to the nearest town, have lunch,

Ar m

houses

ag m

Ar ©

Licensed premises.

The real fun of the day, however, came later.

(l)

of call 11 .(l)

and parade the streets in couples, viewing the shop windows and possibly slipping into one of the more attractive

At that time farming folk did not indulge in honeymoons.

of money for drinks, and if there was a school adjoining

~us eu m

tu5.

distributed.

eu m

On the return home the wedding party were greeted with "bonefires 11 <2 )at the bride's house, and refreshments were

There was, of course, much horseplay and

occasionally accidental fires,due to the wind carrying spar~s The weddings

from the bonfires to the haggards or thatch.

described above were those of the descendants of the English

and Scotch settlers which were indeed dull happenings in

us eu m

ag h

which can best be illustrated by an abstract from Donaldson's

us eu m

ou nt

ou nt y

The acqB.aintance and courtships of the parties often

ag h

Fews". (3)

"Historical and Statistical Account of the Barony of Upper

Ar m

commence and are carried on at fairs, patrons and other public

nt y

Ar m

&c., from whence they run away together - that is, the male

ag h

brings the female to one of his friends or relations house.

us e

places of rural sports and amusements, and at wakes, funerals ,

nt y

This was heretofore sometimes accomplished by force, but the

Ar m

custom is now nearly abolished, owing to the laws in that

ou nt

charging extra fe-es for the marriage of the offenders.

Shortly after the running away, as it is termed, some of the

h ag

Ar m

female's relatives follow after her, and negociations commen ce (2) Bonfires.

(3) Compiled by John Donaldson in 1818 and enlarged and brough t

l!P to date in 1838. Printed and published 1923 by W. T.empe s t, .IJUndalk; see pages ,64-b6.

respect being frequently enforced, and to their priests

Ar m

contrast with native celebrations of matrimony, an aspect

:±.

us eu m

106 .

respecting the match, which often terminate by the female's

eu m

unhappy father being obliged to promise more portion than

his abilities will allow, in order to preserve the reputation The match being agreed upon and the day

of bis daughter.

appointed for the wedding, the intended bride is permitted

to return home to her father's house, where a scene of which, among

preparation commences for the wedding dinner;

us eu m

and flour, and a profusion of bread and butter, as the

ag h

females invited to the wedding, if the parties be poor,

meskans 11

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

or rolls of butter with them.

ou nt y

On the day appointed for the wedding, if the priest's

Ar m

nt y

Ar m

generally consists of from ten to twenty of his relations

nt y

ag h

after regaling themselves at the bridegroom's, mount their horses, 1 the women behind the men, except a few of the

us e

residence be not convenient, the bridegroom's party, which

Ar m

latter that are single and intend running for the bottle,

ou nt

Ar m

met by a few single horsemen belonging to the bride's party.

When the parties meet those of them that are single-mounted

Ar m

then contend for who will be at the bride's house first;

were, when the parties arrive, the bridegroom and bride

1 The weddings of the poorer classes are similarly conducted, but the parties go on foot.

and advance towards the bride's residence, where they are

generally bring large quantities of oatbread and

the poorer classes generally consists of bruised potatoes

us eu m

are presented (generally by the bride's mother or some other ancient matron) with a plate of oatmeal and salt,

eu m

probably

of which each of them take three small mouthfulls;

After this the bride and bridegroom's parties (the

eye.

to prevent the power of witchcraft or the effect of an evil

former being often as numerous as the bridegroom's, besides

ancient people who remain at home) mount their horses, and

us eu m

the bride riding behind the brides-

us eu m

ou nt

which, as Burns says, is seldom wanting,

man, until they reach the alehouse most convenient to where the priest lives;

ag h

and which receives the joyful guests, who cheer their spirits

ou nt y

Ar m

with a hearty glass before the performance of the ceremony.

After tying the indissoluble knot, whichever of the

ag h

will, it is considered, live longest, or perhaps have the

us e

Ar m

nt y

new married couple first rises after the nuptial benediction,

nt y

the bridegroom and bride often

Ar m

Departments of France;

ruling of the house, as it is believed to portend in some

house, where a considerable time is spent in drinking

ou nt

Ar m

after this scene is over, they again adjourn to the public

Ar m

plenteous potations of whiskey, after which the company

again mount their horses, the bride being then changed '

behind the bridegroom's man, and scamper away towards the

contend for this, and are assisted by their parties to rise;

led by the bridegroom;

ag h

the whole then join in one grand cavalcade, the van being

us eu m

lv9 .

bride's house, whilst numbers of people are collected on

bottle.

eu m

the hills and eminences to behold the race for the

The winning of the bottle is frequently contended

for between the bridegroom's and the bride's parties;

The victor then receives the bottle and

victorious.

the first person that arrives at the bride's house is

again returns to the main body of the wedding, where he

us eu m

hands it to his bride, who also partakes, it then goes

ag h

round until near finished, when it is handed back to the

hands it to the bridegroom, who first drinks of it and

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

considerable distance, where it is generally broken.

ou nt y

Ar m

On their arrival at the bride's house a cake of oatmeal

Ar m

nt y

the bride's head, and is greedily seized upon by young

ag h

people of both sexes for the purpose of placing a portion

us e

or flour, which is called the bride's cake is broken over

nt y

of it under their pillow, in order that they may dream of

Ar m

ou nt

there being frequently a kind of rivalry among

parties;

Ar m

terminates in riot and bloodshed between the different

Ar m

them in S'tlpporting the dignity of the bridegroom and

bride, particularly i f th~__Y do ·not happen to be of one

1It is usually the bridegroom provides the spirits on these occasions.

Another scene of noisy festivity and drunkenness then commences, 1 which often

their future partners in life.

bridegroom, who flings it with the remaining contents a

us eu m

line of ancestors.

This is the manner, the generality

eu m

of the courtships and weddings of the descendants of the but there are many instances

native Irish are conducted;

where more prudent and rational modes are adopted,

particularly by the descendants of the British and Scotch

settlers, who in some measure retain a portion of their

m eu

In Carli ss townland in

but folk traditions live lon~.

us eu m

The above account was written almost 150 years ago

ag h

the Fews I took down (circa 1930) the following story.

national customs, manners, &c. 11

us eu m

ou nt

Fews 11 though it had been available from

ou nt y

Ar m

1923.

of Donaldson's

He grabbed her comin' from the chapel, or maybe a wake,

It wus aisy to do.

if a fella wanted a girl he tuk her.

ag h

In them days

us e

Ar m

had more spirit in them than they hev now.

nt y

"There was a time when the boys and girls of Cross

nt y

Ar m

4 or the two of them migb t go off from a blaye-berryin' . ( )

ou nt

Ar m

people wud t-ell her till agree, to save her caracter.(5)

Weddin' s in them days too wur weddin' s - an I mind ye

Ar m

(4) This refers to the annual blayberry festival in the townland of Armaghbrague which still takes place on t..h.e -1ast Sunday in July and first Sunday in August and is chiefly attended by the young people.

( 5) Character.

After that th~re'd soon be a weddin' for indeed the gerl's

ag h

My informant was an old man of 86 and he had no knowledge

us eu m

them days are not so long ago - an' well worth seein'.

eu m

'lbem that bed sidecars loan~d them or brought them and them

that had no sich conveyances, went astride their pony or

horse an' the crowd foliowed on fut.

There'd be a great

6 party at the bride's house an' bonefires,C )in the evening.

A man with a bunch of daughters wus niver · out of debt an'

if he left a son, the poor fella niver had a chance, for

M y

sich things when I wus a boy.

us eu m

But it wus great fun an' I mind

ag h

the rest of his life.

the wake an' funeral of the oul' man wus a drag on him for

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

I heared me mother tell bow up till her time, the

It wus called the

ou nt y

her an' well barned be her mother.

Ar m

bride in ivery family had a special oaten cake · baked for

pair but modern custom inclines to tie them to the car.

ou nt

Ar m

however, considered lucky to throw old shoes after the happy

Ar m

Such fires are (6) Bonfires - locally called 11 bonefires 11 • ~airly common still but the custom is dying out. (7) Marry.

It is still,

Weddings are less interesting now-a-days.

nt y

C h

splice with. ( ?)

Ar m

people do -the day, thinkin' they'll draim of them they'll

ag h

the younger ones an' they slept on them same as foolish

us e

The bits wur all gathered up be

nt y

Ar m

come back till the house.

bride's marriage cake an' wus broke on her head when she

us eu m

When I was a boy rice was always scattered and there was

eu m

barley or flour for a bridegroom who had tarried too long

in the wooing.

After the wedding comes the baby!

I well remember

glad to lmow there I s a child in the

c;lID

When I asked what on earth he meant there was

loom 11 •

time married -

hearing an old man say to a young man who had been some

us eu m

that I threatened to go immediately and ask two old

ag h

With

spinsters who lived nea~ each of whom had a loom.

considerable embarrassment, made worse indeed by the fact

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

am sorry for your troubleu.

ou nt y

The above story is not so informative as that given

Ar m

ag h

though by then many years extinct.

nt y

Ar m

customs in question were still remembered as late as 1930,

us e

by Donaldson but it provides evidence that the wedding

nt y

In the county, we are given some

ou nt

Ar m

are equally well informed for we are told that•~he bride-

to change the name not

Ar m

groom must never see the bride in her wedding dress until he sees her in church 11 and that

the letter, is to change for worse and not for better 11 •

Probably other counties

excellent advice on the subject.

Ar m

and indeed illuminating.

Proverbs and rhymes relating to marriage are plentiful

regard to coming events in that line is the expression "I

us eu m

We are also given advice on the choice of the day -

eu m

Monday for wealth, Tuesday for health ' Wednesday the best day of all Thursday for losses, Friday fQ~'crosses , And Saturday no day at all.'~)

Other abstracts from my note books say -

Lucky is the bride the sun shines upon.

Marry in haste and repent at leisure.

Happy is the wooing that ' s not long a-doing.(9)

Marry in May and rue the day.

us eu m

ou nt y

nt y

Ar m

He who marries for loYe has good nights but sorry days.

us e

Ar m

There 's more till marriage than four bare legs in a bed. Wedlock is padlock.

Short pleasur e - long lament.

nt y

Never marry money but marry where money is.

ag h

us eu m

ou nt

Marriages and hangings are matters of luck.

ag h

Marry your daughters early lest they marry themselves.

ou nt

0ch shure ye might as well be a man as a boy" is something

Ar m

side you hear old bachelors being encouraged to wed.

Ar m

I have frequently heard, also the expression 11 be has a rag

(8) Could this have any bearing on to-day's matrimonial problems?

(9) This seems a contradictio n of the advice given in the

Previous line.

Ar m

Those who do not find partners are looked upon with a kindly form of contempt and as one goes about the country-

10 .

us eu m

II 3.

on ivery bush 11 •

As for the girls they come under comment

eu m

Elderly spinsters are still girls and if too

as well.

advanced in years are said

to have missed their market 11

and their contemporaries of the male sex are warned

that

Troubles we are told

oul ' coortin ' is coul ' coortin'.

niver come singly as the man said when his wife died on

us eu m

us e

C h

Ar m

ou nt

nt y

ou C h

nt y

ag h Ar m ©

ou nt y

ou nt

us eu m

y C h

ag Ar m ©

Ar m

ag h

ag h ©

worst of all.

him an ' the hen layed away 11 , the last trouble being the

us eu m

1111-· COUNTY

ARMAGH HI SCELLA.NL,

eu m

Funeral Qustoms.

following death was general.

open house"

The custom known as

the

In the county up until very recent years

wake 11 was an essential feature especially in Roman Catholic

families, where tradition allowed social activities such as

us eu m

ag h

us eu m

ou nt

Games were not, howe,rer , approved of in such

ag h

m Ar

their_ nrespect to the corpse" and express sympathy with

homes and indeed no longer take place in Roman Catholic

ou nt y

Ar m

households either, owing to the now almost universal practice

nt y

The following note was taken down in

county is concerned.

ag h

Wake games are, however, now extinct in so far as the

us e

Ar m

there t .o await burial on the arranged day.

nt y

of removing ~he remains as soon as possible to the Church,

Ar m

ou nt

After

that "Wakes wur dreadful capers when I wus a boy.

Ar m

the corpse wud be washed the two big toes wud be tied together an' the body wud be put in under the table.

An' there'd be games,

lots of them.

Great God, the games there'd. be an' some of the biggest blackguard songs ye iver heared.

informant was then aged 80 and stated

other accounts.

Lisnadill ~arish in 1928 and is representative of various

Ar m

hospitality as to refreshments, with visitors coming to pay

the bereaved.

As regards othe_r denominations there was the same

ism.

games, etc., which at times degenerated into actual rowdy-

2-.

us eu m

,,s: A girl wud come out an' sit on a chair an' she wud pick a boy.

eu m

An' that fella wud hev to sing to her.

An' he'd make the song himself an' mebbe he'd make her

blush as well.

In another game a man went down on his knees an' He then put

Then somebody axed him what

us eu m

ag h

Tbe

us eu m

An' he got a right clout for

ou nt

ag h

of the games wud agree to the tool that wus wanted.

Then that man went in an' the game begun

ou nt y

Ar m

agreed upori.

ivery tool he axed for until somebody give him the one

us e

nt y ou nt

He wus a bag-pipe

m Ar ©

A fella duked

Ar m

I mind him as well as if he had lived yisterday.

There wus all sorts of tricks at his wake.

ou C

I kn.owed

a man called Paddy Harla an' he died.

Ar m

There wus real bad work at wakes sometimes.

player.

nt y

The Brogue wus passed an' ye

had to guess who had it.

Boult the Brouge 11 •

The players sat in rows.

Ar m

There wus another game called

ag h

tools to bring.

rt · cud last for hours there'd be so many

Ar m

other thing.

all over again an' mebbe he wud be a blacksmith or some

man whose legs his head wud be atween an' another the head

crowd then choose tools.

An' the

Mebbe he wud be a tailor.

trade he wud choose.

bis han'd behine his back.

stuck his head atween another man's legs.

· ~

us eu m

//6 under the bed an' when no one wus lookin' he put the

After that somebody went for the

he wus left sittin'.

He came down an' went in in the dark an' the

priest.

Then the lights went out an'

eu m

piper sittin 1 up in bed,

pipes wur on the flure an 1 the bellows full.

An' he In

but the divil himself".

He wusn't

But them capers wur common then.

us eu m

Juryu.

An 1 there i.-rus a game called

That 1 s not a mortal

plai zed after.

ag h

at all 11 says he

two ticks he wus up th'e house.

stud on them an! they give an' unearthly squeal.

A man stud

us eu m

ou nt

A don 1 t know how it went, but a do

ou nt y

Justice 11 •

The man with the candle wus

Ar m

called

ag h

lighted candle afore ye.

nt y

Ar m

husbands ·at such a wake in Co. Armagh. 11

us e

know that less than 50 years ago three girls got good

ag h

In the same year I took down a story relating to

nt y

funerals that happened to reach the churchyard at the same

ou nt

had this to say about such an event -

Ar m

was Terryhoogan in the parish of Ballymore and the narrator He a very old man, possibly approaching 90 years of age.

Ar m

'IMe gran'father minded a fight at the grave-yard gate It wus a between two funerals that arrived tilgither.

They went for each other

hell ot a scrap be he 1 s account.

Ar m

hour and on the same day. · The location in this instance

behine yer back an 1 he put a han 1 over yer eye an 1 a

us eu m

like Turks an• all because of a notion that the corp who

eu m

wus first through the gates wud hev the other bludy fella

to chop and carry for him.

People wur quare in them

days - why if oul' weemin' hed water till throw out an'

it wus night, they'd be afraid to do it in case it wus

hurtful to someone - but whether it wus ghosts or fairies .

An' if ye went

they wur afeared of I hevn•t a notion.

us eu m

Ye might just as well go home an I make yer will. (_l)

spot.

ag h

bad, but Heaven help ye if ye spread yer length in such a

for a walk in the graveyard an' tripped on a grave it wus

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

ou nt y

It's a pity to God ye wurn•t here in

He cud have toul'

He knowed all.

us e

me gran 1 fatber 1 s time.

Ar m

skins for charms.

wantin' bodies for doctors at all, but be. people wantin'

nt y

another crack as well. u

ag h

Ar m

ye too of the puttin 1 out of food on Hallow Eve an' many

nt y

Ar m

In the ~:anty'~tu!ttiLcompa.;vatively recent days the

north sides of all the older graveyards were avoided.

ou nt

This is a common belief.

(1)

Ar m

had died without the blessing of the church should be buried therein, ( 2 ) or unbaptized children. and suicides, though they

(2) Local tradition relates that Brian Boru having died Without the blessing was interred on the north side of the Great Church of Armagh f'ollo'Wing the battle of Clontarf in 1011+. .

Ar m

was supposed that only people wbo met with untimely ends or

Many a grave was hoked in the oul' days, an' not be people

.r;.. t IS.

us eu m

were usually interred at cross roads.( 3) There is a stone in Lurgan parish cemetery (better

eu m

known by its old name of Shankill) inscribed "The Reverend

Al'thur Forde, Rector of this Parish, Died the 24th of

December, Seventeen hundred and Sixty seven, in the sixty-

sixth year of his age and is interred on the north side of

the churchyard, agreeably by special appointment of his

This did not, however,

such part is profane and unholy 11 •

us eu m

ag h

superstitious imagination which prevails among many, that

us eu m

ou nt

have much effect at the time and not until at least a

ag h

centUl'y later were the northern portions of our more

ou nt y

Ar m

ancient graveyards brought into general use.

nt y

Ar m

ou nt

dog crying at night.

Ar m

A cock crowing at night.

Bird tapping at a window at night.

Ar m

Rooks deserting the rookery.

nt y

ou C

-evidence.

ag h

is near when signs such as those noted below are in

f3} One such burial in Teemore townland is commemorated o.s. Sheet 13 as "Corner's Grave". According to tradition the unfortunate man took his own life and was

refused burial in the graveyard of the Presbyte~ian Meeting

House at Aghory nearby.

Ar m

such beliefs still exist, such as the certainty tbat death

us e

Forewarnings of death were plentiful and indeed some

will, in order as he himself expresseth it, to remove

us eu m

Bees swarming and leaving hives.< 4 ) A magpie coming to the door.

eu m

Crickets leaving the house.(5)

The sinking of a newly occupied grave foretells an

early death in the same family, and it is commonly 11

keeps picking at

believed that a person who is ill and

us eu m

Them walls above ye wus once as sonsy a house as in the two Fathoms. An 1 indeed, that 1 s not so many long years 11

nt y

An. 1 right enough she

ag h

us e

I 1m thin kin'

An' the night after, the music of the pipes wus

Ar m

ou nt y

hear it, but she did, an' said, said she, it's the night I'll git away. 11

us eu m

ou nt

Ar m

ag h

m Ar

An' when the woman of the house lay a-dyin 1 I wus there with others, an' in the night there wus three We wus sore afeared an' hoped she didn't loud knocks. since.

ou nt

Ar m

(4) I have also been told that in certain families it was customary for some member to convey the news of an approacbi ns death to the bees. ( 5) In 1926 in the townland of Ballymacn.ab I was told by an old friend that 11 crickets never died or stayed in a house where death was and that was as true as night Strangely enough I have personal follows the day 11 • knowledge of at least one house in County .Armagh where a migration of crickets took place just previous to the death of the owner.

nt y

h ag

Ar m

An' heared all aroun-' the house be all that wus there. we knowed it wus well with her sowl because of the tunes

This short story illustrat es another type of warning.

ag h

the bed-cloth es will not recover".

us eu m

that wur played.

God be with you an' I when we travel

eu m

down the last long road. 11

Up to the end of the last century a recognized

ritual was observed in connection with death.

Friends,

especially relatives, were informed immediately by

messengers sent specially to all those whose presence

was desired at the funeral and instructions given that

us eu m

That, of course, still operates to some

on the way.

ag h

ou nt

In the

ag h

household itself mirrors were covered, clocks stopped and

ou nt y

If a visit took place to the

silent on such occasions.

Ar m

blinds drawn but so far as I am aware clocks are no longer

us e

nt y

wake-house 11

Funerals have, of course, changed in character.

Ar m

seeing funerals with sometime_s from 80 to 100 traps and

Jaunting · cars preceded by the hearse and a few mourning

ou nt

I remember as a boy

with only a few persons present.

Ar m

Very often now-a-days they are strictly private functions

birl-houseu which seemed to cover day or night,

There was also a general appellation known

Ar m

as the

meant night.

ag h

expression ncorpse-house 11 but the term

nt y

Ar m

bereaved household in daylight one often heard the

ions of obituary notices in the daily papers.

us eu m

extent but usually such matters are dealt with by insert-

the sad news should be relayed generally to the public

8. 121 . coaches.

us eu m

Now, motor cars have replaced horse-drawn

transport.

If there were two ways to the graveyard

eu m

it was customary to proceed by the longest route -

that particular custom is still prevalent, and an old

happy was the corpse that was sprinkled with rain

that

superstition associated with burials was the belief

us eu m

In Seagahan townland an old man had

Banshee 11 •

load of sods, an'

ou nt y

An' says she

nt y

us e

Some poor woman has lost her man or mebbe a

ag h

An' the thing wore a shroud as if it had come

nt y

Ar m

An' me mother, she said a pray:r or Ay, it - 11 That's the Banshee 11 , says she.

We both saw it. mebbe two.

from a corfin, an' its hair wus streamin' in the wind.

Ar m

heart cud utter such grief, so, mind ye, I doubt it.

ou nt

that as it may, no human

one that has gone before.

Ar m

cried for many an ou.1 1 family here, an' some say it's

(6) I first heard the tradition at my great-grandfather's funeral in 1896. He died in that)year aged 86 and although I was then only eight years old"wasAhis eldest greatgrandson and therefore- present at his burial.

Ar m

till me,

the oul' gray h9rse an me m~ther with me.

Ar m

I wus comin' home in the dusk with

son".

us eu m

ou nt

I saw the Banshee when oul' Boyle's mother died.

ag h

manifestation -

ag h

this to say about that now very elusive supernatural

the

'When mentioning forewarnings I forgot to deal with

on the way to its last resting place 11 • <6 )

us eu m

In the adjoining town.land of Ballymacnab I was told a similar story by an even older friend who spoke of the

I 've heard it.

McParlands too.

I've heard it aroun' this very house.

It follows us, an' it follows the

eu m

Banshee as follows:-

85.

It's some kind of spirit,

us eu m

I'm thinkin' , mebbe a kind of the wee people. 11

ag h

There

In Creggan parish I noted several accounts.

say it's like a wee woman.

I niver saw it, but there's them tbat

That wus in

It cried for our Arthur, an' Barney O Toole heared it too.

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

other parts of the Fews it was linked as well with

ou nt y

Ar m

descendants of the Scotch settlers of Plantation Days.

us e

nt y

Ar m

parish.

This brings to mind a uwake" story from that particular

nt y

The corp wus drest in he's best an' kept open

funeral.

ag h

"A wake wus a wake in the oul' times, an' so wus a

An' all the

more, lashin's an' leavin's, for iverybody.

Ar m

dacent weemin' of the whole towrtlan', an' more, turned

Ye'd have heared them for miles."

out till cry for him.

ou nt

An' on the day of the funeral there wus more an'

that.

Plenty of whiskey there wus an' gran' stuff at

Ar m

shovel.

Ar m

house for nearly a week afore he wus put till bed with a

the Banshee followed old native families only but in

1~3 .

eu m

us eu m

COUNTY ARMAGH MISCELLANEA Mass Gardens and Mass Roets

These survivals are relics of the Penal days and

past, "they are now but folk memories.

although such sites must have been plentiful in the

In the county generally at that period, priests

Many stories of such

us eu m

events are still related, one of the most interesting

ag h

and qest _-remembered being that of the Rev. Patrick

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

Donrt.elly,_ ~.D., who was born circa 1649 and ordained

ou nt y

Dr. ?onnelly was for a time Vicar-General and

Ar m

pri~st in 1673 by the ill-fated Archbishop Oliver Plunkett.

nt y

us e

retained after his appointment to the

Ar m

p<?St\~{J.i ....... .

Administrator : of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Armagh, a

Ar m

with Armagh he re sided chiefly at

¥itrf-h1s~con:Ii~_c-;ti'e n

nt y

·was C(?Dsec:i--ated Archbishop of Armagh in 1714.

McMahon

ag h

~~hopric of Bt.omo_re in 1697, and ;indeed until Dr. Hugh

Ar m

ou nt

!he 11Doc-tor_n· survives in local tradition as 1tthe

Bard of Armagh" an appellation due to his presence at

h ag

the way to C:i'oS.SU14g~en.

distant from Lislea Chapel on

Ar m

~bou,t_one- m.ilEi

,Quarters,

Corl'i~lagh:/ .a<-~ 1 townland now known as Doctor's

imprisonment or transportation.

aJ;Jd bishops if found celebrating Mass were liable to

us eu m

Mass Gardens and Mass Rocks (cont).

eu m

fairs and markets in the role of a wandering minstrel.

When at such assemblies he arranged for Masses in

secluded glens and woods.

This little story illustrates his place in

tradition, especially around Camlough, Crossmaglen,

the Bard of Armagh

us eu m

He was no less than a bishop.

ag h

was a great man.

lived in Penal Days and went about as a fiddler.

'Will hear in conversation that

Mullabawn and especially Doctor's Quarters, where you

us eu m

ou nt

Ar m

places in South Armagh 11 •

ou nt y

from after midnight he'd have Masses in out of the way

us e

Ar m

nt y

course, very defective, but it does show that in the

ag h

county generally such places were pretty common - some

nt y

ou nt

Tradition states

Mass Garden near present chapel.

Ar m

Annacram,p.

Ar m

under Tynan.

indeed were still in evidence as late as 1813 - see

that Mrs. Cope of DrumillY, driving into Armagh, was so

Ar m

shocked by seeing her own tenants in wintry weather at

Mass in the open that she immediately provided them with This has now been deserted.

a site for a chapel.

This list of Mass Gardens and Mass Rocks is, of

ag h

He'd be at markets and fairs all over the county and

J.. I 2.5"·

Ballyargan.

eu m

us eu m

Mass Gardens and Mass Rocks Ccont.)

J2allyma cnab.

Mass Rock in above townland on the Turly farm.

Carnally.

Mass Rock on O'Toole farm in above townland.

(Informant

us eu m

ag h

Carrickcro:i;,;pan.

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

Cayandoogan.

Mass Rock in above townland near village of Camlough.

Before the present chapel was erected in 1826 (on

ou nt y

Ar m

the site of a somewhat earlier edifice) the faithful heard

us e

nt y

Ar m

which may still be seen at the rear of the building - see

ou nt

Dru,mcree Farish.

Ar m

small stream.

Ar m

Mass Garden site near present chapel, on bank of

nt y

ou C

Cladymore.

ag h

History of Tynan Parish, by Thomas Hughes, p.100.

''Mass Box formerly kept and used in Foy Lane in

h ag

Ar m

(Tradition gives no other particulars).

Drumcree Parish 11 •

Mass in a secluded corner of a plantation, the remnant of

Mr. Devlin, Cullyhanna).

A Mass Rock used here in Penal times.

us eu m

Mass Gardens and Mass Rocks (cont.)

eu m

Urwnilly, near Nountain House.

"Mass Rock Garden 11 Site lllarked by a granite cross

and an inscribed slab in September 1952.

There is a "Relig" near the above Mass Rock, on

us eu m

a place where Mass

ou nt y

Tradition states that Mass was

us e

nt y

C h

Near Lisadian Bridge, there was a Mass Garden.

Ar m

Shown on Rocque 1 s Map of

ou nt

Maps, Sheet 1835.

Lisaa, an.

County Armagh 1760.

o.s.

Ar m

Site of a Mass Garden.

See

from Charlemont to Loughgall.

K;iltµbrit.

ag h

Ar m

Altar shown in above townland on side of road

Keenahan . R. c.

Ar m

building of the chapel in1786.

frequently celebrated at this spot previous to the

Ar m

The Altar Well.

ou nt

ag h

m Ar

us eu m

under a thorn bush is said to mark was said in the past".

Cross-inscribed stone in field fence situated

ag h

isb:wary.

as to a church site.

the farm of Mr. Peter MacParland and there is a tradition

us eu m

Mass Gardens and Mass Rocks Ccont,)

eu m

Local tradition asserts that Friar McGurk was caught

celebrating Mass there and was killed.

The present

1,,pngfield.

road through the glen was not then in existence.

m eu

M y

us eu m

ag h

Mass Garden near to present Chapel in a clump of

us eu m

ou nt y

nt y

The original walls now form part of a barn on the

C h

Ar m ©

a local directory in 1813.

Mass House in question is said to have been mentioned in

ou nt

The

Ar m

the building of a church at Derrym.acash in 1825.

It is believed to have been in use until

Forde property.

us e

ag h

nt y

Ar m

century.

Ar m

Raugbljp. A small stone building in the Forde demesne used by a Father Byrne, P.P., until about the end of the 18th

Ar m

See Down~y MS., Christian Brothers'

School, Armagh.

ou nt

ag h

H11 1Jynure. Mass Garden.

trees midway between Maghery Diamond and the Ferry.

Maghery.

Site kno-wn locally.

of. Forkhill.

A Mass Garden in above townland near the village

Shane~li sh.

eu m

us eu m

Mass Gardens and Mass Rocks (cont.)

y nt

Mass Garden or Mass Rock near the Adair farm.

On a rocky eminence on the northern end of ridge

running from north to south there is an ancient

enclosure in which Mass was celebrated in Penal Times,

ou nt y

The spot is said to have been in

Ar m

(Lurgantarry).

Mass Garden on the land of Mrs. John McConville

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

m Ar

as Carrickahiffrin .

Tanoaghmore.

us e

nt y

Ar m

1800 when Lord Lurgan's ancestor Mr. Brownlow gave the

ag h

Catholic's an old disused mill in Dougher townland.

nt y

ou C

Tartara~han.

celebrant stood in this garden.

Ar m

A small shed or "'bobog" affording shelter for the

ou nt

Ar m

Local tradition states that there was a chapel here that was destroyed immediately following the battle of the Diamond in 1795, an event that did not occur until

the summer of 1797 - see Belfast News Letter 14 July 1797.

frequent use from the time of Cromwell till the year ·

The Mass Garden is known

little Franciscan Friary.

ag h

and on the opposite side of the road is the site of a

us eu m

Mass Gardens and Mass Rocks Ccont.)

eu m

James Verner of Church Hill was accused of encouraging

the Yeomanry and Orangemen to fire at it but made a

spirited denial saying it was not many years since he

had contributed to the building of it.

In the years between 1797 and the building of

Eglish Chapel in 1825, Mass was celebrated in the open

In that

us eu m

period during political troubles the Mass Box was burned.

ag h

ou nt

ag h

ou nt y

TulJyah, near carrickananny Chapel.

us e

nt y

ou C

nt y

Ar m

ag h

just outside the city of Armagh.

:rul l j naval.

Situate on the bank of the River Callan

Ar m

Mass Rock.

TµllJrard.

Ar m

Reputed Mass Garden on the farm of Mr. James Burns.

"Mass was celebrated in this townland on a farm (now

ou nt

h ag

Ar ©

bohog 11 or

Ar m

(Informant Mr. Devlin, CUllyhanna.)

little hut."

The place was known as the

Ar m

Patrick Donaghy.

1955) belonging to Miss Maggie !nn Donaghy daughter of

Presbyterian Church of Tartaraghan.

us eu m

It is reputed to have occupied the site of the present

in a wooden structure called the Mass Box.

us eu m

/30

Mass Gardens and Mass Rocks Ccont,)

eu m

Tµllymore, near Armagh city.

A Mass Garden was si tua.te in a small clump of thorns

on the right hand side of the avenue leading up to

Tullymore House, commonly called Tullymore Park.

Different owners of the property have preserved the spot

us eu m

Tradition stated there is an old chalice buried in or near 11 The garden't in earlier days was on the Mass Garden.

ag h

and also a reputed font said to have been found there.

us eu m

ou nt y

nt y

These two accounts illustrate the form of folk

nt y

ou C

Ar m

farm of Mr. P. McKeown.

Garden called the "Priest's Garden 11 on the

ag h

Mass

Ar m

Tullywinny.

older road that ran from Enain Macha southwards.

us e

Ar m

the Saint's Well and across country to join a still

He who owned the

land in the oul' days wudn 1 t have had it happen for

The Bard-Bishop 1s said to have celebrated Mass here.

(1)

great anger over the cutting of it.

ou nt

A gentle thorn sheltered the altar an' there wus

Ar m

The Mass Bush at Dorsey.

past.

Ar m

memories that remain with regard to these links with the

ou nt

st. Patrick's Highway" keeping east of

ag h

the Callan by

the ancient road from Armagh to the South which crossed

us eu m

Mass Gardens and Mass Rocks {cont.) But he is dead now an• all his

eu m

hundreds of pounds.

.An' it's well for shure it wud have vexed

people.

He wus a Carragher, an' it wus

him till the heart.

The finest gentry

bushes in the county are there.

Three of them made

us eu m

It wus aye a gentle place.

ag h

ou nt y

Ar m

blessed altar, but now shure its the cattle do be tram.pin• it over - it's hard till keep them off it.

us e

nt y

ag h

Ar m

The bushes are hundred of years of age an• a purty Ye cud sit in under sight they are in the Spring.

nt y

C h ©

ou nt

ag ©

Ar m

(2)

or jap of rain. 11

Ar m

them the wettest day that iver wus an• not git spot

There wur wee steps up an' a place for the

us eu m

ou nt

a time.

ag h

a chapel in the oul' days ana Mass wus said there many

The Mass Garden at FaTlagh. 2

but since he died it gets none. 11

he lime-washed the White Stone each year in the Spring,

1~2.

us eu m

ARMAGH MISCELLANEA.

eu m

Horse Racinli,

Horse-racing over set courses seems to have been

introduced into the county in the 17th century and the

Armagh city track seems to have been one of the earliest.

It was brought into being by the Sovereign and Burgesses

As the city was sacked and

us eu m

burned in the Civil War of 1641 it is understandable that

ag h

We know,

they should have disappeared at that time.

from 1613 until 1731.

of the city, but alas the Corporation Records are missing

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

Corporation

nt y

Ar m

minutes should exist from then onwards and indeed were in

ag h

being when James II paid his memorable visit to the city

nt y

Ar m

in 1688, on which occasion he excluded the existing

us e

1641) by two new m~ces procured in 1657.<)

ou nt y

Ar m

again by 1657 as in that year the Sovereign and Burgesses replaced the 1613 silver maces (lost in the Civil War of

the officers who had been superseded by the orders of

ou nt

Ar m

battle of the Boyne, the government of the city returned

Ar m

lting James - with them disappeared the Corporation Minutes. ( )

Two years later, following the

of his own creation.

Sovereign and Burgesses and nominated new representatives

however, that the Corporation of Armagh was functioning

us eu m

Strangely enough, however, all records followi,ng that particular event are missing down until 1731.

eu m

In that

year we discover that despite the occurrences . mentioned

above horse-racing was still to the fore in the city.

]rd 1731, which reads

We present Mr. Alexander Livingston

The proof is available in a Corporation Minute of March

as Clk. of ye Course of Armagh for the said ensuing year

us eu m

Ogle do collect and take up the several subscriptions to

ag h

be given by the Corporation of Armagh and others toward

and that the said Alexander Livingstone and Mr. Thomas

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

Alexander Livingstone shall account upon oath before the

nt y

Ar m

We present William English, the said Thomas Ogle and

ag h

Alexander Livingstone to regulate and fix the prices for

Ar m

nt y

the standing of each booth on the said course as well as the Inhabitants of the Corporati_on and all others. 11

us e

ou nt y

required.

Ar m

Sovereign and Grand Jury of the said Corporation when

we learn that by consent of the Grand Jury of the Corporation

Ar m

ot Armagh it was proposed to enclose the ground in question. The result of the then planning !bis was duly carried out.

ou nt

In a minute of June 15, 1752,

Ar m

course continued in use.

From the above statement it is clear that the race-

a Plate, for which subscriptions the said Thomas Ogle and

us eu m

1s shown on Rocque's Map of 1760 which portrays the The break in continuity

eu m

improved lay-out of the Course.

took place in 1773 when Archbishop Richard Robinson

decided that the space in question .might -be better utilized

as "Walks" for the benefit of the inhabitants of the city.

the Armagh Steeple

us eu m

There were two other well-known race-courses in the

ag h

Chase Races".

survives as an annual event known as

This resulted in racing moving outside the city where it

county both situate in the immediate vicinity of towns -

us eu m

ou nt

that of Richhill earlier known as Leggacorry, founded by

ou nt y

Ar m

Sacheverall, heiress of Francis Sacheverall the younger,

nt y

Ar m

and Mullalelish • . Major Richardson and his wife were the

nt y

Information as to his racing activities

Ar m

and died 1690.

The Major was pre sent at the Siege of Derry

1661+-1666.

ag h

builders of the mansion now known as Richhill Castle circa

us e

son of the original grantee of the Manors of Leggacorry

Course

Course" and gives name to a house known as

The ground was called

Ar m

uThe

course appears on an estate survey of 1732 and is clearly defined on Rocque's Map of 1760.

The actual race-

ou nt

Ar m

interested in the sport in that period.

survives in eorrespo~dence with Lord Conway and others

ag h

Major Edward Richardson who, circa 1651+, married .Anne

us eu m

In the 18th century the race-meeting lasted for

Lodge".

Apart from racing there was a daily Stag Main

newspapers.

eu m

a week and detailed accounts of events appear in contemporary

or Cockfight in the forenoon of each day•s sport.

It is

m eu

us e

M ou

nt y

ou C h

h m

Ar ©

h ag

Ar m ©

ou nt y

ag h Ar m ©

us eu m

us y

ou nt C

h ag ©

Ar m

Ar m ©

nt ou C

ag h

Ar m

M y

ou C

ag h ©

show on Rocque•s Map of 1760 but

village seems to have been 18th century in origin.

ou nt

The · crossmaglen race-course on the outskirts of the

us eu m

ARMAGH MISCELLANEA,

eu m

Turf Cut tin~,

The fairies are supposed to have known about the A local story relates "the

use of turf for fuel.

Another story

It happened about Patrick's

My father cud have toul' ye. u

they only knowed of wood. time;

Before that

fairies toul' the people about the turf.

us eu m

saint whether there was any hope for them in heaven an•

ou nt y

Patrick's blessing 11 • (l)

ou nt

ag h

man that brought the answer only that he lay under

us eu m

The wee people would have kilt the

that he said not.

ag h

Ar m

Just when peat became the common fuel in County

us e

nt y

Ar m

In 1940 I was speaking to Mr. Jacob Sandford of Annagh-

nt y

5. 6.

Clamping. Carrying to rampar and building into stacks. Home to the hearth •

Ar m

Cutting. Spreading on bank. Footing. .Turn Foeting.

Ar m

underrioted sequence of cutting operations.

ag h

more who was then aged 70 years and he gave me the

C h

Noted down on the Armagh-Monaghan border near Clontibret in 1920.

(l)

He was of the same age

Ar m

turr cuttilli in similar fashion.

Mr. George McNeill of Derryhubbert described the

Armagh ifl a matter upon which we have little information.

ou nt

says that'une of the wee people got a body to axe the

us eu m

Turf Cutting Ccont.)

as Mr. Sandford above.

He mentioned the name

cat

eu m

turf" for light turf, commonly called 11 fum 11 and spoke

of certain patches in the moss or bog as

keerans 11 11

which he stated were damp sections in which

no matter

how deep ye'd do you'd get no solid turf - they float

This was carried

us eu m

conveyance"

rampar 11 was a basket-

work creel suspended from two poles.

ag h

for bringing the turf to the

us eu m

slides 11 were also

turf-spade with a horn terminal instead of the

Ar m

in u~e for transport.

Slips" or

ou nt y

ag h

the normal container.

ou nt

by two persons and seemed faster than the turf-barrow,

us e

nt y

ag h

I learned of this in 1941 from

went in for piece work.

It was a great favourite with men who

Ar m

area of Armagh.

usual cross-bar was once very common in the Montiaghs

nt y

Ar m

Mr. J. Pickering who also informed me that in lighter

"Brehon Laws 11 and a curious reference in the Annals of

h ag

Ar m

ua blast of wind passed through a number of persons

the Four Masters occurs in 1488 from which we learn that

ou nt

Ar m

As a fuel it is mentioned in the Senchus Mor or

moss the spades were narrow and in heavier peat broader.

In the peat areas of the county the

on water and are always water-logged. 11

us eu m

Turf Cutting Ccont.} working at turf at Tuaim Mo which killed one of them

causing the faces of the rest to become swollen".

the county generally it is considered proper to

eu m

Fortunately hazards of that kind are events of the past.

cut the turf in May if possible, consequently during

us eu m

fore in the 18th century, and indeed into the first

us eu m

ou nt

quarter of the 19th, the making of such implements locally has ceased completely.

nt y

us e

11 turf bummers 11 or "moss cheepers ,

Ar m

usually styled

Baronies of 0 1 Neiland East and West and they were

nt y

C h

Ar m

ou nt

ag h

Ar m ©

derogative sense.

Ar m

names that indeed are still used to distinguish inhabitants of that area in a friendly rather than a

ou nt y

Ar m

ag h

Fifty years ago in the Autumn and Winter, carts laden with turf were a familiar sight on roads in the

Though spade manufactori es were very much to the

ag h

but the quantity raised decreases yearly.

that month our bogs are still scenes of great activity,

us eu m

:curt Cuttinr Ccont.}

eu m

"The "r~lteine 11 ot turf :f'ires was an old custom in

County Armaeh homesteads.

were kept alive tor

!he candles were liebted from

aenerations in that way.

•.,

Many

such tires tor indeed there were no oil lamps then,

nothin' bu.t lone candlesticks that stud on the nu.re

us eu m

us e

C h

Ar m

ou nt

nt y

ou C h

nt y

ag h Ar m ©

us eu m

ou nt y

ou nt C

h ag ©

M y

.tnnapore.

Ar m

Ar m ©

Ar m

ag h

the ~ehool. 11

ag h

the winter each broucht a tu.rt in the mornin I s to hate

Seholars in them days sat on creepy stools an• in

and burned rushlichts an• rosin sluts!

Windmills.

eu m

us eu m

COUNTY ARUAGH HISCELLAN~

Sir Charles Coote in his Satistical Survey of County

Armagh published in 1803 in his section on "Mills of Every

Kindu(l)states that -

Mills are of two descriptions only in this county,

us eu m

ag h

ou nt

oatmeal mills are usually driven

water, but :nany of them are windmills.

ou nt y

The ma,nufircj;"9,-re of flour is very limited, that of oats

Ar m

us e

Ar m

It might be more

for coun~ry use not for exportation.

nt y

considerable in tbe aggregate, but all corn is manufactured

nt y

county are equal to manufacture, than the quantity which

ag h

Eiasily -a1reraged, what quantity of oats the mills of this

Ar m

suggestion that -windmiils were then plenti~ul, a claim

ag m

P.27'5-276.

(l)

that cannot be substantiated. by facts or even by local

Ar m

supply tb~ demand of the country.n T'.ae interest :in the above abstract lies in the

ou nt

however, it is certain, that they are equal to

employed;

Ar m

they a•Lually do, as there are none of them constantly

of the latter, are oatmills and those for the

manufactur€ of i'lour; by

Of the former kind are bleach mills and flax

mills;

facture.

ag h

those necessary for linen and those for the corn manu-

us eu m

I ptl .

· The follo wing par t·1culars from various sources

tradition.

would assume that their introduction into the county _took

eu m

place in the second decade of the 17th century and that they

can be localized on Plantation estates and only on such as

were in possession of English Grantees.

Carew's Report of 1611 mentions no mills of any kind

us eu m

on the Brownlow estate and "two watermills and a windmill"

ag h

on the Cope -lands, b~th English settle:uents and situate in

us eu m

ou nt

ou nt y

Ar m

ag h

does not, bowe,rer, give any information as to such amenities .,., further sur;rey was in the other baronies of tbe county.

us e

ag h

windmillu on the Cop.e proportion.

good

street of forty houses built on both sides and a

nt y

Ar m

nt y

.f'rotn -which we learn that it then consisted of one

li-lfr&an-;

made in lh2~ and provides a pen-picture of the then town of

Ar m

Though records of watermills are plentiful from that

nor indeed during the Cromwellian

conflict between James and ·.:illiam Local tradition

there was a renewal o'f windmill building.

r~:ii;w.1:o:g: the

Ar m

how'ev!ilr, that

It does seem,

oc~l;}at-1.9-n or tµe .<1ays of the Restoration.

War 0 ·r 1641,

the Ci'lril

Ar m

the 4e~o.sitions of Armachians made with regard to events in

period onwards we do riot find any mention of winduills in

the :baronies of O Neiland East and West respecti,.rely.

ou nt

his Su.r ,rey of 1619 shows -

two watermills and a windmill"

as regards Plantation Manors in County Armagh but Pynnar in

us eu m

\ I 't'2.·· states that this was due - to Dutch settlers and there is indeed factual evidence that Captain William. de Buss

eu m

erected two sue.~ mills for the Copes of Loughgall.

The first map of- the coi:mty appeared in 1760.

Made

by Rocque, a celebrated cartographer of that time, it is

Ordnance Survey ifaps were drai-m up

than nine windmills.

a survey of considerable interest and delineates no less

us eu m

idle, excepting the one in cA.rmagh city - of which later.

us eu m

ou nt

At present there are nstumps 11 at Drumnacanvy in Seagoe

ag h

Parish, Bruma.I;1.phy ib. Tarta.raghan Parish, Tullynacross near

The site

ag h

is a striking f-eature in the local landscape.

Ar m

nt y

tJ;Jougll. now bereft:• Gf machinery and minus its cap and sails

has been occup1~ by a windmill since th~ eaxly 17th

nt y

Ar m

The ··pre sent mill, however, superseded the earlie r

c~tu:ry.

us e

The latter example

shell of' another :,in· Armagh town.

ou nt y

Ar m

the yillage of' Po_yntzpass and the fairly well preserved

ou nt

James Black' s ::paint-ing of the city in 1810, and mentioned

:Lri bis Memoir 'of Armagh as a powerful 11

Ar m

in 181-9 by Stuart

Windmill, the property of Robert Jackson, Esq., engaged in

the manufacture of flour 11 •

lt. is depicted complete with its sails in

Ar m

decessor.

one in 1809 ail.d .a,ctttrally 9'ccupies the site of its pre-

s'tump 11 of which it is probable tba.t most were

C 11

ag h

and one

and published in 183~ and depict eight such structures

us eu m

One of the three abo,re mentioned windmill s tum~J s , that of Drumnacan vy, is locally known as "Schorn·,,.·:::; , s Tower 11 •

eu m

The designati on deri,res from the fact th a t so:.. e f

of Schomber g's troops were stationed in the town

Lurgan and had out-posts in the surroundin g distr ic ts .

Apart from guard duties, the Lurgan (ShankillJ Ve st::-.

minutes, under date April 21, 1690, shows that "1is sold.:.sr s

·Lc _::!'eat

us eu m

It is not clear from the entry in ~-·· :st ::. on

Schomberg ".

highway had in part been amended by the order of G2!1e !':l

ag h

t. c

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

road between Lurgan and Lisburn or the old road ..:'r o:-1 :..ur:;c !1

nt y

a curious tradition sur1ri,res as to the General him self having used the Blue Stone( 3 )at Lylo as a luncheon t able.

us e

ou nt y

Ar m

to Armagh, but it seems likely to have been the latte r a s

ag m

Ar ©

Ar m

(3) This well-know n landmark gave name to a lawle ss band known as the· 11 Bluestone Boys 11 who were the cause of Jrn ci1 in The associatio n was broken trouble in the area. 1781 when three members of the gang were found g-J.il t' in For a short note on t ~1e subject a horrible murder case. 11 11 I p. 562. , Armagh of see Stuart s Memoir

nt y

ag h Ar m

Ar m

from his horse.

ing

Ar m

T~adition also states that he ate the meal without cis~ount -

whether the aforement ioned "great highuay" referr er; t

ou nt

were also engaged upon repairs of roads and tl at

Aru,;AGH

us eu m

COUNTY

MISCELLANEA.

Bird Traditions.

eu m

In the county generally sin gle magpies are looked upon

with disfavour and it is still quite usual to find people

try to evade possible harm from a lonely bird by bowing ( if

a woman) or raising one's hat if a man.

Some more vulgar

persons, however, try to avoid the ill-luck by spitting

us eu m

across their path.

ag h

Locally it is said that trees in which they build

ou nt y

0ne for sorrow, two for mirth, Three for a wedding, four for a birth. 11

Ar m

ag h

lightning 11 , and we are all familiar with the rhyme,

us eu m

ou nt

their nests "are never tumbled by storms or struck by

nt y

us e

It was rather unusual

little story about single magpies.

In Cullyhanna in the Barony of Fews I was once told a

Ar m

nt y

•

If you saw

It seems triat there was then a place in the village 1,1here

(1)

two of them there might be a chance. 11 (1)

Ar m

heard people saying tlone magpie - no letters

ou nt

On the way you'd have

on Sunday mornings after Mass.

Ar m

young one we used till get the letters .at Cullyhanna Capel

the inhabitants·or the .area collected letters personally.

mind when I was a

A single magpie is 1ID.lucky.

on many folk subjects.

ag h

My informant was an octogenarian so I noted it down. with a most retentive memory from whom I obtained information

Ar m

three times over their left shoulder should a magpie fly

,..,

us eu m

'!::'.

The same person had a_warm spot in his heart for the

Jenny Wran 11 •

He considere d

cute an' oul' fashioned 11 and declared that

eu m

wren wbich he described as the

all tne

One of his neighbours, like

quare one to man him 11 •

birds could be traced but him, an' that it would take a

himself over 80 years of age, said "the Wran was the King

of the birds 11 and to prove it told me the following story

us eu m

versions of it.

ag h

"There wus a gatherin' of all the birds of the air

which I think is somewhat general as I have heard many

us eu m

They wur a:q

ag h

Many a time I heared the story .

ou nt y

Ar m

there, big, small, great and little and some wur gay wi'

us e

a great contention as to how the matter .

Soon

ou nt

Ar m

but it wus soon passed be the hawk and the eagle.

the eagle left them all behine and in no time was high as

Ar m

There and then it proclaimed itself king

the sun itself.

o:£ the air but as sure as to-morrow a wee wran had hid

itself in the topney of the eagle unknownst, from which it

The lark soared into the sky,

there and they started.

They wur all

Ar m

that cud rise the highest wud be the king.

nt y

decided but in the end it wus arranged that the one

wd be

vrus

ag h

There

Ar m

the wee jinny wran.

nt y

colour like the kingfisher and others sober coloured like

ou nt

them.

one day to houl' a contest as to which would be king among

us eu m

rose and continued upwards singing "I'm your king, king of tbe air am I. 11

The eagle was sore put out but it wus

eu m

too tired to follow and the ·wran won.

wee bird the same wran. 11

Its a right cute

Strangely enough the wren seems to be growing less

crested wren it has become extremely rare.

Once it

plentiful in the county and as for the tiny little golden-

us eu m

ag h

us eu m

ou nt y

ag h

That if the lark sings on St. Brigid's Day it is the sign of a good Spring.

nt y

That killing a wagtail is unlucky.

Ar m

That houses that have swallows nests in them will never be struck with lightning.

us e

ou nt

For instance it is considered unlucky to kill a robin.< 2 ) . Other beliefs are Bird superstitions are many.

ag h

In the county birds have often secondary names.

ou nt

Ar m

(2) "It was at the Crucifixion and plucked a thorn from Christ ' s brown, in the doing of which its breast became stained with His blood . 11

nt y

Those noted below are, however, in common use. Grey backed crow. Tbe Corbie Linnet . The Linty Goldfinch. The Gold Pink Lapwing. Tbe Pee Weet Common Wren. The Jinny Wran

list.

Ar m

Unfortunately I have never been able to compile an exhaustive

little groups of young firs, but now alas it is seldom seen.

haunted the farm haggard and was also very much at home in

Heather Bleat Felt Blue Bonnet Hern Cran Yeltie Bardrake Briar Bunting Fieldfare Crail Scale Drake Stone Checker Chi tterling

us eu m

The The The The The The The -+ The The The The The

eu m

eu us

nt ou C

Many curious beliefs about birds survive in Armaghbrague .

Snipe. Redwing. Blue Titmouse. Heron. Yellow Hammer. Merganzer. Common Bunting. Blue Felt. Merganzer. Sheldrake. Stonechat. Swallow.

they always began the

us eu m

nthe crows were Christians 11 and that

ag h

builging of their nests on the first day of March but if

For instance an old lady told me that her granny always said

us eu m

ou nt

Whether that is really _so I cannot say - March

next day 11 •

ou nt y

Ar m

is not a month that I am much out of doors excepting on St.

ag h

It was at one time believed that "cuckoos changed into

ou nt

h ag

One swallow does not make a summer.

Ar m

Fine feathers make fine birds.

The early bird catches the worm.

Ar m

proverbs such as Birds of a feather flock together.

nt y

" Birds also figure in local

Ar m

hawks in the summer 11 but as we have no summers now the assumption cannot be checked.

us e

nt y

Ar m

turn up - and indeed ...wru.ally does so!

Patrick's Day -when the warm side of the stone is said to

ag h

that day was a Sunday divil a stick they'd bring till the

us eu m

If the cuckoo sings on a leafless thorn, sell your cows and buy hay.

eu m

Killing two birds with one stone. A bird in the hand is worth two in the

bush.

As the unfortunate worm was an earlier riser than the

early to bed and early to rise makes a man

us eu m

us e ou nt

h ag Ar ©

nt y

ou C h

ag Ar m ©

•

nt y

ag h Ar m ©

ou nt y

ou nt

us eu m

C h

ag Ar m ©

Ar m

ag h

ag h ©

healthy, wealthy, and wise 11 •

local saying

bird, early rising is not to be encouraged despite our

us eu m

eu m

us eu m

ou nt

us eu m

us e

nt y

ou nt

ou nt y

ag h

Ar m

ag h

Ar m

us eu m

l '5° D

ARMAGH MISCELLANEA.

Local

eu m

Pastime:a,

Bullet Throwing,

This game(l)was formerly played in most parts of the

the vicinity of the city of Armagh.

Apart from friendly

coupty but at present is chiefly confined to areas within

us eu m

ag h

It is a pastime of some antiquity, still continues

Unfortunately

ou nt

ag h

ou nt y

bullet throwing is thought to be slightly dangerous._ This

There is perhaps some justification

nt y

ag h

both as regards speed and number of vehicles thereon.

nt y

Ar m

a matter of fact I have seen hundreds of games within the

Ar m

for this attitude as transport on our roads has increased

us e

prevent it being played.

Ar m

results in the police from time to time making efforts to

last half century and never once witnessed an accident.

ou nt

it a "bowl") weighing about_28 ounces is the u51;al missile,

Ar m

though I have heard and indeed seen and talked to old people

Cl) The famous Dean Swift in his poem .11Dermot and Sheelagh 11

written at Markethill, Co. Armagh, in 1728, whilst s~aying _ there with the Acheson family, mentions the game by its older natne of "long bullet·s 11 •

Ar m

An iron bullet (Cork and Clare players, I believe, call

other counties who are strangers to the game.

us eu m

and is a source of interest and pleasure to visitors from

quite respectable stakes.

events there were, of course, well organized matches with

us eu m

t 5" f.

who remembered stone bullets in use.(2)

The course is

always a country road and the bullet is thrown along the

eu m

highway, the person covering the fixed distance, usually

declared the winner.

three or more miles, in the least number of throws being

Scouts 11 are always posted on

may sometimes reach £100.

The game attracts a considerable crowd and the stakes

us eu m

It is a healthy

traffic or pedestrians are approaching.

ag h

and fascinating pastime and it seems a pity that it

It is one of

ou nt

with disapproval from ~'the powers that be".

ag h

the few remaining pastimes which spectators may witness and

ou nt y

Ar m

enjoy without cost in these days of commercialized sport.

ag h

are confiscated and the participants appear in court.())

nt y

Ar m

A quarter of a century ago there ·.;ere,

In days gone by the more important contests were celebrated in verse.

us e

nt y

When that happens the bullets

Ar m

players from time to time.

The police, however, are compelled to descend upon the

ou nt

Ar m

and able to sing them, but_ alas they have gone and with t!ie JJ

most of the old commemorative songs relating to past games.

Ar m

(2) Such bullets were roughly shaped and then finished smoothly by turning them in specially prepared circular depressions in suitable boulders or rock outcrops.

(3) The Summary Jurisdiction Act of 1851, Section X, subsection 2, prohibits the playing of games on public highways .

many people still-alive, who were familiar with such ballads

eets

us eu m

the course to see that the bullet is not thrown whilst

--3,.

l5l

us eu m

One such poeti c effor t which ran to twelv e eight -line verse s has been pres erved in the Ulste r Journ al of

eu m

Archa eolog y. (l+)

· · g in the early 19th centu ry, Wa ke f.1e ld(, 5) writin

d sugge sts that the game owes its introd uctio n into Irelan 11 nt to ·a class sprung from Englis h proge nitors "whose desce

us eu m

ag h

nt y

selve s they assem ble in great numbers and selec t for the The ball is of scene of actio n the most level roads .

nt y

ag h

Ar m

He who hurls it the great est lead and weigh s six pound s. distan ce in the fewes t throw s making it roll along the

us e

ou nt y

When they intend amusing them-

pract ised by the weave rs.

Ar m

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

rite cockf ightin g and bull-b aiting are theref ore their favou amuse ments .,- They play also at long bulle ts, a game much

ou nt

Ar m

11 groun d is decla red the winne r. If Wake field is corre ct in assum ing that the game is 6 ces< ) an introd uctio n from Great Brita in - and there are eviden

Ar m

The suppo rting the theory - then a pretty problem arises ! old Irish popul ation seems to have become more Engli sh than

(4) Third Serie s, Vol.9 , pp.63 -66. . 11 (5) Accou nt of Irelan d, p.738 11 I - the game is (6) For instan ce in Brand s Popul ar Antiq ui ties the throw they as ised pract custom Welsh a as menti oned ibed as descr and d Englan of parts Black smith 's stone in some bulle ts. long as d Englan ern North iri simil ar to the game known

which gave birth to their forefa thers and in this they Horse -racin g, are joine d by the desce ndant s of the Scotch .

may be trace d in their featu res, langua ge and names. These last delig ht in the recre ation s of the count ry

us eu m

the British themselves - a fact that should be duly investigated by our historians, who may be able to explain

eu m

why it should be neglected and forgotten by British settlers

and so wholeheartedly adopted by Irishmen.

It would no doubt be rewarding to study the methods of

It appears to have been an

been propelled diff.e rently.

In Scotland for instance th.e bullet seems to have

play.

us eu m

ag h

garter was wound, the end of which was held fast by the

ag h

move with considerable rapidity_(?)

us eu m

ou nt

highroad, by which it acquired a rotary motion that made it

ou nt y

This revival was largely due to the

in the war years.

Ar m

In County Armagh the game took on a new lease of life

us e

nt y

shortage of petrol and consequent reduction in the volume

ag h

Ar m

of motor transport, facts that brought about ideal conditions

nt y

Ar m

The renewed interest may survive the now That, however, largely increased traffic on our highways.

for the sport.

Football is perhaps the most varied and indeed the

Ar m

most popular game in the county, but alas we have no early

(7) Dictionary of Scottish Language, printed by Sawers of

Ar ©

11 Edinburgh 1818 wherein it is termed Long Bullet".

Football.

ou nt

Ar m

is a problem that the future must solve as best it may.

hand, whilst the bullet was forcibly thrown forward on the

iron bullet and sometimes a round stone about which a broad

us eu m

tradition s regarding it.

In Curryhugh es· near Keady nearly half a century ago an old friend then aged 80

eu m

years told me this story_

"In me grandfath er's time a football match was

sport worth seein'. , I niver saw one such but he minded An• they, d One townlan I wud play another. them well.

us eu m

If that happened

us eu m

ou nt

He often said it wus better than hunts

the ball from gettin' .o'er the boundary.

ag h

.Qock-fi~h tin~.

Ar m

players the butt of -ill-natur ed hooligans .

nt y

ag h

Ar m

present system whereby the spectators are frozen and the

us e

nt y

That to my mind must have been better fun than the

ou nt

Ar m

This has its roots in the past and is still with us. It was once very popular in the ~ounty especia~ly in the 18th century when it was undoubted ly considered a first

(8) Short Straws and long straws held in the hands with Heads of the teams plucked a straw even ends showing. Usually the long straw was considere d the de ciding each. straw but the method was re~ersibl e.

till before the fun begun."

ou nt y

Ar m

ag h

an' that the whole of tl:le-count ry wud be out till cheer. The sides might be any number but it bid till be agreed

of that townla.n' an' it wus up till thatteam till keep

th.ey' d be bate.

An' they'd begin in the middle

they'd start kickin'.

draw straws(S) for which wud hev the choice as to where

us eu m

class pastim e for gentlem en!

eu m

Like bull-ba iting it was th en chief favour ite with the public. The followi ng notices sbow its then popula rity - now such matches only take place

in secret and isolate d places.

To be fought a

"The Royal Sport of Cock-f ighting .

us eu m

To be shown on Sat. the 20th day

ou nt

April 4, 1786. 11

B.N.L.

Cock-f ighting .

ou nt y

Ar m

ag h

of March instan t and fought the week followi ng in the town of Moira, a main of 31 codks for four guineas a battle and

us e

March 9, 1779. 11

nt y

To be shown at Lurgan the 22nd

ucock- fightin g.

B.N .L.

ag h

Ar m

Armagh and the County of Antrim.

nt y

one hundred the main or odd battle between the County of

ou nt

To be shoW!J in Moy in the County of

Ar m

ucock- fightin g .

Ar m

or odd battle an.d to be ·fought on Monday 24th instant . B.N.L. May 10, 1779.u

fyrone on Sat. 12th June between the gentlem en of the County

Ar m

instant , 31 cocks and 15 bye battles between the Gentlemen of County Armagh and County Down for 100 guineas the main

To be shown on the 29th

April and fought on Monday followi ng.

ag h

battle and 5 guineas a cock.

main of cocks in Portado wn between the gentlem en of Antrim against Down and Armagh for 500 guineas the main or odd

,-7..

us eu m

156. Tyrone and Armagh, 31 cocks for 10 guineas the battle

or 100 guineas the main.

eu m

June 17, 1779. 11

B.N.L.

"Cock-fighting.

To be shown at Lurgan the 22nd inst.,

thirty-one cocks and fifteen bye battles between the gentle-

men of County Armagh and County Down for 100 guineas the

Lurgan, May 10, 1779. 11

B.N.L.

us eu m

Cock-fighting and bull-baiting in the City of Armagh

ag h

us eu m

The actual minutes survive and read

ou nt

ag h

ou nt y

ucockfights shall not be suffered within th~ Corporation

Ar m

new bye-laws in 1798. as under -

were both banished from its precincts by the d:a~ng up of

nt y

Ar m

to be paid by every perso~ present at such cruel sports, and

that no bull should be

nt y

At the same time it was decreed

ag h

twenty shillings to be levied of the owners of the cocks".

us e

nor the tbrowin~ of cocks, under a penalty of five shillings

ou nt

These two pastimes according to local tradition had

been played within the circuit of the old 17th century race-

Ar m

course - known as the Commons, now designated the Mall -

from Plantation d'ays down to the last quarter of the 18th

In the latter period in the year 1764 Dr. Richard

century.

h ag

Shilling sit.

Ar m

baited within the Corporation under a penalty of forty

Ar m

main or odd battle and to be fought on Monday 24th inst.

a.\ f 57, , us eu m

Robinson was translated from the See of Kildare to the

It is said that he found

Archbishopric of Armagh.(9)

eu m

the bull-baiting, free fights, gambling, cockfighting

and drinking that then followed the races for several It is,

days.an unpleasant feature of our city life.

however, more likely that he considered the consequent

disturbances, the gipsy and tinker encampments and other

us eu m

ag h

Sovereign and Burgesses of Armagh for the purpose of

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

utilizing them for the benefit of the inhabitants of the This ended its use as a racecity as ~Public Walks".

us e

nt y

Archery.

Ar m

Armagh's most pleasant features.

ou nt y

Ar m

course, and resulted in the open green space now one of

ag h

The first reference to an Archery Club in an Irish

nt y

Ar m

city that I am aware of occur~ in relation to Armagh.

(9) Dr. Robinson built the present Palace in 1770, endowd and founded the Public Library in 1771, was created Baron Rokeby of Armagh in 1777, endowed ana

h ©

founded the Armagh Observatory in 1789 and died 1794.

ou nt

Ar m

Ar m ©

It was founded by the Very Rev. James Downham, Dean of We know that the Dean's son-in-law, Armagh 1667.1681.

At anyrate in 1773 he leased the Commons to the

town.

disagreeable nuisances undignified adjuncts to a cathedral

us eu m

Walter Cope of Drumilly,' was cap t ain in 1 676, by which time we may assume that the Club had been some years in-existen ce.

eu m

Unfortun ately reference s to the sport are somewhat scanty

locally.

us eu m

ag h

us eu m

ou nt

of the Palace and north of the farmyard on land that shortly afterward s was utilized for the County Armagh Agricultu ral

ag h

nt y

ag h

Basse1t's County Armagh published in 1~88 states .that That, however, is somewat the Club was rounded in 1862. It moved from the Palace lands to the Pavilion incorrect .

us e

purpose to the present day.

ou nt y

Ar m

Society shows and has been in intermitte nt use for that

Ar m

numbers to compete at its tournamen ts, but by the end of

m Ar ©

defunct.

Not, tbe ~•ntury it was beginning to fall into decay. however, until the 191~-18 war did it become completel y

Ar m

a club it enjoyed great popularit y an~ was attended by Bnglish and Scotch archers who came over in respectab le

ou nt

nt y

grounds in 1860 and the Club was in.a flouris~in g state in 1888 when Bassett published his survey of the county. As

Ar m

for the county which show in 1835' two 11 Archery Butts". By that date the mensal lands had become bounded by The position of the butts was just west enclosing walls.

Maps

Tradition states that the sport first flourished on This the archepisc opal demesne lands, then unenclose d. is borne out to some effect by the first Ordnance SUrvey

us eu m

CroQuetL

eu m

1868 According to the Armagh Guar dian of August club " in the Armagh Arch ery Club "opened a ne~ croq uet The game does not, however, seem to have that year :

been a favo urit e in the ci·ty though i· t. con t inue d in the hous es unti l coun ty as a past ime on the lawns of coun try

nt ou

Bowling.

us e

nt y

ag h

Ar m

For insta nce know that it was situ ate in Scot ch Stre et. mentions Ashe in a Surv ey of the See Lands made in 1703 which was uone sma ll park by the Bowling Green tenem ent

Ar m

refe rred to from above refe renc e whe ther "the late wars" 1641 and 1690 or to the latt er only .

ue' s Map of 1760. (10) Shown as "Bri dew ell" on Rocq it as a plac e of tion men 1796 of laws byeCorp orat ion "per sons play ing and n" wome dete ntio n for "dis orde rly nd t_la-. Mark et Housen and arou s game r othe hand ball or . refe r to it 171 its orig inal name

ou nt

nt y

Ar m

11 l park adjo indest roye d in the late wars " and anot her smal both lyin g ing the above wher ein was the Bowling Green 11 is not clea r toge ther near the House of Corr ectio n .(lO )It

ou nt y

us eu m

ou nt

Ar m

ag h

a popu lar In the 17th and 18th cent urie s bowling was are few. past ime in Armagh city but refe renc es to it the Civi l War We know it was flou rish ing just prev ious to of 1641 . the town for We have , howe,,er, no deta iled maps of Armagh we that peri od but from rent als of the Manor of

the firs t quar ter of the pres ent cent ury.

H. 1

us eu m

l&0.

Garbaldy,

eu m

This game, which seems to have been a form of century.

hurley, was played in Armagh Diocese in the fourteenth

For instance John Colton, Archbishop of

Armagh from 1381 until his death in 14-04, found it

1389 to forbid the playing of the game because

and

us eu m

of the mortal sins and homicides ensuing therefrom.

ag h

The penalty for disobedience was excommunication, but

1383

necessary at a Provincial Synod held between the years

us eu m

ou nt

us e

C h

Ar m

ou nt

nt y

ou C h

nt y

ag h Ar m ©

ou nt y

C h

ag ©

Ar m

Ar m ©

Ar m

pastime.

ag h

whether the faithf'ul actually forsook the reprehensive

there the story ends and we are left in doubt as to

ARMAGH MI~QELLANEA,,

us eu m

Festival§. Day.

eu m

New Year• s

special cakes were

Local tradition asserts ~hat

formerly baked for this dayu and that uwtiat comes into

Water of no kind, however, was

throughout the year 11 •

the house first on that morning would be plent~ful

us eu m

The following little story

ou nt

illustrates the belief -

sonsy 11 •

ag h

Such people are not

considered unlucky for the first visitor to be red-headed

ag h

"Red-headed people are not always sonsy - especially

ou nt y

I well mind hearin' a woman whose son was

women.

Ar m

gettin' married to one make a moan about it.

Ar m

affront to a dacent body a . daughter like that".

nt y

It's a quare

she'd niver set a toe in the house.

us e

nt y

ag h

Ar m

God help him", said she, "i,rerbody will be jumpin' If I had my way the ditch rather than meet her • 11

ou nt

Ar m

But sure, it would just ~ave been the same if he had She wus ill to plaza married a saint from heaven.

Ar m

that one. 11 New Year's Day is still to some extent regarded as the

wrong time to pay out ~oney or give away butter or milk.

The older generation avoided funerals on that day - sextons

to be thrown out on that occasion and it was and is still

162..

us eu m

indeed have been known to refuse to dig graves on New Year's The presentation of

Day.

wisps 11 of hay was once a fe ature

eu m

of the day but in so far as County Armagh , i~ conce rn~d has The custom still survives, however, .in

fallen into decay.

I have

the Kilkeel area in the adjoining county of Down.

m eu

us e

M ou

nt y

ou C h ©

ou nt

ag Ar m ©

ou nt y

ag h Ar m ©

us eu m

us M y

ou nt C

h ag ©

Ar m

Ar m ©

M y

nt ou C

ag h

Ar m ©

ou C

ag h m

C h

not discovered the reason for such gifts.

f b"3.

St, Stephen's

us eu m

Da~....

nt y

ou nt

Ar ©

nt y

Ar m

but,

ag h

Ar m

the y are usu ally Ori gin ally all were young mei:i,now When I las t ive als o. Young boy s but the gir ls are act ver y m~ch amused to find saw the 11 pla yn in Dundalk I was a dec ora ted bra nch tha t the cag e had det erio rate d into nied by ano the r you ngs ter which was swung by one boy accompa kis sed him from tim e to dre sse d as a gir l who embraced and the par ty pra nce d abo ut time wh ilst the oth er members of g up Some atte mp t was made at dre ssin and sang lou dly . s and stra w ot cou rse , the tra dit ion al stra w hat

us e

us eu m

ou nt y

ou nt

us eu m

ag h

Ar m

known.

ag h

eu m

The hw itin g of the wren h as qui. te disa ppe are d exc ept on the Armagh-Louth bor der where one may sti ll find gro ups es, and sing ing the of chi ldr en car ryi ng dec ora ted c~g Th ey se ld om, however, can manage more tha n uwran_ Song 11 • e no lon ger con tain s a on! ver se, and, of cou rse, the cag liv e wren. l such gro ups in Dub lin A few yea rs ago I saw st:nrera ven ture to pro vid e money ltle re it was cle arl y a commercial On St. Ste phe n's Day 1953 I saw for pic t~e s and swe ets. in Dundalk and two oth ers six or sev en gro ups circ ula ting bor der . Amongst such at Fau gha rt on the Arl!lagh-Louth y sin g the fir st two ~ar ties it now seems usu al to onl s tha t fou r ver ses are ver ses , but one occ asio nal ly find

eu m

us eu m

.Another later group composed of leggi ngs were miss ing. · · small boys were all dress ed in cowboy kits with revol vers Alas they barel y knew the strap p~d to their waist band s.

Altho ugh he is littl e His honou r is great , Then up with ye alL\. ) An' give us a trate .

Between a holly An' an ivy tree Where none ot the birds Can meddle with me.

us eu m

ag h

We""wran, wee wran, Wl:iere is your nest, 1 Tis in t~e tree That I love best.

Q..

The wran, the wran The king of all th~ birds St. Steph en's Day he was caug ht in the furze .

to four -

first verse of the song - and·indeed their p:ede cesso rs The Armagh versi on runs were not much bette r infor med.

us e M

nt y

That wus befor e Brian 's

day."

nt y

ag h

Ar m

drums and waken them.

ou nt

Ar m

One I have, of cour se,-h eard at least two other versi on. from cred its it with savin g a porti on of Crom well's army King Simil ar destr uctio n and a servi ce of the same kind for LIBefore William previ ous to the battl e of the Boyne. land( ) SometimH these two lines are rende red "Then up la47 and give him a trate ".

The Danes wur all bird lost Irela nd to us. sleep in' one night an' we wud have wiped them Didn 't it dance on the all out only for it.

ou nt y

us eu m

ou nt

Ar m

ag h

On one occas ion I asked an old frien d in Edenappa some quest ions abou t the custom and he had this to tell me Well "Is it the hunti n' of the wren yer after ? The bludy Sowl ay! it wus done right enough.

eu m

us eu m

b t ed High King of Brian's day" simply refers to a ce 1era Ireland who died in 1014 and is buried in Armagh.

Twelfth Dax,

This was formerly regarded as the time on which the Most of the folk

days of the new year began to lengthen.

lore relating to it has perished in so far as County Armagh

us eu m

Curiously enough

charity should be free~y given.

ag h

us eu m M

ou C ©

C h

Ar m

ou nt

nt y

us e

ou nt y

ou nt

ag h ©

Ar m

Ar m ©

Ar m

ag h

Ar m ©

11 should be removed on or before the "twelfth nigbt •

Armachians still believe that all Christmas decorations

is concerned excepting that.it is considered a day on which

.St. Bri~id's E:v:e and

us eu m

DaY....

eu m

In Bal lym ore par isb I note d down many yea rs ago a b I sha ll use as pra yer for the rake ing of the fire whic tale s rela ting to an intr odu ctio n to this summary of

us eu m

ag h

us e

nt y ou nt

occurrences 1•ar •. Lon don MDCXCI.

Ar m

ag h

nt y

Ar m

Brig id's _Cr osse s. when the mak i~ No ear ly evid ence_ is av~ ilab le as to of Br~ gid' s Fes tiva l of _Br igid 's Cro sses on the Eve and Day to beli eye that the firs t beg an, thou gh ther e is reas on and is a surv ival of custom pre -da tes the Chr istia n Peri od ed The ear lies t loca l acco unt is con tain an ear lier cul t. in a pam phle t prin ted in 1689.< ) old custom In Cou nty Armagh in.s uch homes as the es are gath ered continues (and they are very few) the rush to the hou se. on the las t day of Janu ary and brou ght most mat eria l () A true and imp arti al hist ory of the last two 1n the Kingdom of Irel and duri ng the

ou nt y

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

Ar m

tha t the fire had hou seho ld and fam ily ~ra diti on stat ed in the ashe s nigh tly been rake d and the live turf buri ed The refe renc e to Brig id inte rest ed me for gen erat ion s. hea rt of the fire . in tha t it link ed the sain t with the

gid _ cust oms on the Eve ~nd Day of st. Bri ist pres er~e s all uLe t us pres erve this fire as Chr ' and Brig id in e hous the Chr ist at stthe head of ' ' the mid this house and all in it Gua r~n g and pres ervi ng day" . the of t ligh the unt il par ticu lar Pea t was then the common fuel ·in that

us eu m

t 1'bey must be pulled and may not be CU,

As a rule ~hey

are not taken inside until after sunset.

On that evening

This mostly takes place before the rushes are

figure.

eu m

it is usual to have a special meal in which pancakes

brought in, and when partaken of, a female member of the

household is chosen to bring the rushes into the house.

us eu m

Go on your knees, open the door and let

ou nt

The door is then opene~ ·and all kneel in

Brigid in 11 •

times· and cries

rushes from some comrenient spot near the door, knocks three

ag h

us eu m

prayer after which the rushes are divided and the members

ag h

ou nt y

of the household begin the task of fashioning the crosses.

us e

nt y

Ar m

The ritual of the making of the crosses seems to ,rary In some places a cross somewat in different districts.

ag h

is made and placed upon the table before the meal is The meal itself is· generally spoken of as partaken of.

Ar m

nt y

"Brigid's Tea" or "Brigid's Supper" and though pancakes

Ar m

always feature as the chief d~sh, it is usual in certain

apple-dumpling as well. In County Armagh, Brigid's Cross now seldom appears as

It is.almost invariably made of rushes,

Ar m

a straw cross.

though the interlaced varieties are chiefly fashioned from

ou nt

Ar m

apple-growing districts to have an apple griddle-cake or

She immediately lifts the prepared

carefully closed.

She is sent out in the darkness of the night and the door

·-

reeds.

us eu m

The making of straw crosses presents a rather perple~ng problem. It suggeS t s in some ways links with

eu m

the har~est and makes one wond er whether Brigid took over ' some of the attributes of th e Calliagh besides those of her Pagan namesake.

The rush cross is sometimes varied by having weather

The pro v 1.·d_es a p1 easant contrast of colour,

green rushes.

exposed rushes of the P:evious year· intermixed with new

us eu m

ag h

colour and the effect is not then noticeable.

In days past when most of the country cottages were

but of course the cross eventually bleaches to a straw

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

ou nt y

considered the proper place for the crosses of preceding

us e

nt y

When they can no longer be preserved they

ag h

throw aside.

Ar m

Brigid's Crosses when fashioned must not be lightly

nt y

Ar m

should be burned or buried. Though it is th~ught more proper to make the Crosses

ou nt

Ar m

on Brigid's Day or Eve, they are quite often mad~ specially The making and giving of such for presentation to friends. crosses is said to honour st. Brigid and confer a blessing

Ar m

on the persons who made them, their welfare being increased

by tbe gift of bestowal, and f;iendship strengthened between

the donor and recipients. ()Fora more detailed study of the subject see Ulster Journal ot Archaeology (Third Series) Vol,8, pp.43-48.

away.

Ar m

years and they usually remained there until they crumbled

devoid of ceilings, the inner side of the thatched roof was

lb~ .

us eu m

I have taken down many stor.ies a bout the custom tbis one deals with other subjects as well - and has a It was told to me by Hrs. Brigid Quinn of Glassdrummond who was born near

eu m

special appeal for me personally.

She was a most delightful old lady

Ball's Mill in 1836.

lfov. 1939.

She died in 1941 aged 105 years.

"I was christened in the house with my sister who

us eu m

was twin to me, but neither of us were put in the priest's

tbe famine",

nt y

New roads were made

Ar m

around here and all the women and girls worked on them. The way i~ was in our 1'hey were glad to do anything.

nt y

ag h

but it is little I mind of it now.

Ar m

When I was young I remember hearing of

ou nt y

C h

were written in.

ag h

Ar m

but it was better to be done in the chapel for then you

us e

ou nt

In them

the priest often baptized children in their homes,

days

long since dead were entered correctly enough.

us eu m

book, though another brother and sister, both older and

ag h

Ar m

The boys would be waiting and they would I remember a girl who called lfhich girl to answer.

their boys.

know

ou nt

The girls would At Hallow E'en we made tricks! tbrpv a ball into a lime kiln and ask for the name of

Ar m

it in my bead still.

house must not have been bad or I would have thoughts of

and still very mentally acti,re when I last saw her on 28

us eu m

•'Who is there" one sue~ night and a voice shouted back

That put an

eu m

•the di vil and I'm waiting here for . you".

end to the throwing of balls that evening I can tell you. The

The Calliagh was always done when I was young.

way of it was, the last armful was tied in three plaits

When it was

and the boys had throws with a hook at it.

It was done here

us eu m

ag h

We kept the ~oly Days better long ago.

We always

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

made them of rushes and of straw and on the day after we

ou nt y

Ar m

sometimes made a pilgrimage to Faughart to pray at her

nt y

h ag m

Ar ©

Ar m

and the man watched for it•"

ag h

Ar m

Wee

Ar m

They J?eople" w~re talked ·or when I was young. 11 There were were believed to have been "fallen angels , And there banshees too, they caJD.e to cry before death. •~omen, who could take the milk and butter were wit c h es, Old " I mind seeing a hare shot coming from or maybe do worse. It had been taking the milk a byre one Hallow E'en night, 11

nt y

kept the Feast of St. Peter and Paul.

us e

Nobody worked on Pa.trick's Day and we always

stream .

minded Brigid's Eve and made crosses in her honour.

ou nt

would have a grand caper that night. till not long ago.

sheared it was taken into the house and the boys and girls

us eu m M

eu m

ffllAGH MISCELLANEA

MARCH 25th

This festival according to local tradition

was in some way connected with the Feast of the

us e

M ou

nt y

ou C h ©

ou nt

ag Ar m ©

ou nt y

ag h Ar m ©

us eu m

M y

ou nt C

h ag ©

Ar m

Ar m ©

ou C

ag h

Ar m ©

ag h

reasons for the association are now forgotten.

Assumption on August 15th but the customs or

us eu m

17 /.

eu m

All Fools• Day {1st April).

The first of April some do say

So says the old rhyme.

Cuckoos, Swallows and

Not I, nor they themsel1re s do know 11 •

C h

It may

Co~ncrakes traditionally arri1re on that day.

us eu m

have been so in earlier times but alas the skies are

ag h

becoming more dangerous for birds and migrants now seem

But why the people call it so

Was set apart for All Fools Day,

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

)

us e

ou nt

C m

h ag Ar ©

nt y

ou C h

ag ©

Ar m

Ar m ©

Errands.

ou nt y

ag h

ag Ar m ©

(

round squares" and other imaginative objects.

Ar m

looking for

their elders and they themselves are sent on 11 f~olarns 11 ,

to be arriving somewhat ·1ater.- but children still fool

us eu m

Easter.

eu m

After the austerities of Lent , Easter becomes a muc h appreciated return to normal practices in food and refresh-

In so far.as County Armagh is concerned much of the

ment.

On Good Friday in the country district some of

appeared.

traditional observance connected with that season has dis-

the older people yet visit the graves of their parents,

us eu m

a lucky time to plant potatoes, but under the modern agric-

ag h

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

usually much later.

ultural set-up the planting of that particular crop is now

Easter Sunday ce~ebrations are on the decline but it

ou nt y

Ar m

is still usual to provide eggs in quantity on that day for

nt y

Ar m

prefer the confectione r's egg with the result that

us e

the use of the household but alas the children now-a-days

nt y

ag h

seldom see them rolling the produce of our poultry in suitable fields on the morning or afternoon of that day.

ou nt

C m

h ag Ar ©

h ag Ar m

Ar m ©

Ar m

This seems a pity as it was general to all denomination s.

Like Patrick's Day it was considered

into non-observa nce.

kinsfolk and n~ighbours, but the custom is fast falling

us eu m

t73. ARHA,GH MISCELLANEA,

eu m

Shrove Tuesday

Commonly called 11Pancake Tuesday" this festival

is still celebrated by the baking and eating of pancakes.

The traditional types baked on the griddle .have, however,

been superseded by shop varieties which are indeed

Locally

us eu m

I have found no records as to particular methods of

ag h

husbands-to-be 11 •

us e

C h

Ar m

ou nt

nt y

ou C h

nt y

ag h Ar m ©

ou nt y

C h

ag ©

Ar m

Ar m ©

ou nt

ag h

Ar m

prospective brides and their

was a season of matchmaking and playing of tricks on

us eu m

observance other than that some elderly people say it

poor substitutes for those baked in the homes.

us eu m

eu m

ARHAGH MI SCELLJu-VF,L_ Mid- Summ er E:sce •

us e

nt y

ou nt

Ar m

ou nt y

ag h

Ar m

us eu m

ou nt

Ar m

ag h

Ar m

ag h

Bo nf ire s were 1·igb ted on Mid-Summer Eve and Drumbunion Hi ll ne ar Ke ad y seems to ha ve been one of th e more ill lp or tan t si te s co nn ec ted With th e fe sti va l . Lo ca lly it summit. st is be lie ve d th at mo of Ul ste r is Vi sib le from its ed 90 odd d man in 1928, the n ag I was to ld by an ol ea te st y it was one of th e gr da 's er th fa s hi in ye ar s, th at It was s in th e co un ty. lie mb se as e Ev r me um of th e Mid-S es m co ns id er ab le di sta nc fro rs to si vi by ed nd ' th en at te st . Mochua, (1 ) of ell W e th ed sit vi ha ve many of whom would W ell . (3 ) , ( 2 ) and St . Meedy 1 s St . Pa tr ic k' s Ch air 11 come ar fe sti va l ha ve no t ul tic ar _p is th t ou ab St or ie s rna rd An ol d fri en d, Be ta il. down" in an y gr ea t de in November ea r Tassagh) aged 75 (n e ge era nd Ta of b McCrees e'd be a 11 on Mid-Summer Eve th er at th me ed rm fo in 191+2, sic an • al l th e ig ht pr oc es sio n and mu hl rc to a th wi ire nf bo h of th e ru ine d churc nd ne ar th e si te pil nla st pa tow in rd e rla ag .ae im ur gr Dr (l) e of a no tab le pl ac 19 s of De rr yn oo se , lap th ce ntu ry 1 bu t brba e th in d se gh t ou m at Custo ~h ne sto da ys . ing A wi sh . ly nt ce g re nin d tux ve vi of re d en tho be ac co rd ing to the thme e Church, removed eo od or 11 1 lu ck of n tio en rv te in e was, th ro ug h th an d se cr et ly bu rie d. e hi gh es t po in t on Ca rri ga tu ke , thof ark dm lan n ow the on ly kn llsce ne (2 ) 4 we of Armagbbrague,e in St ill un ty. co e th in th e tow11nland 11 pi lg rim ag rry August. be in ae bl ay nd ng Su vi t rs rn su Ju ly and fi in ay nd Su st la e th he ld on de ta ils Iskeymeadow . No th e townland ofrim all y lin ke d on iti ad Tr e. (J ) Si tu at e 1n to ag pi lg of 'ts d'a as e iv rv su 1d tb a St • .Meedy.

us eu m

Mid- Snmm er Eve Ccont . ) There'd always be a few

eu m

young people wud be ~here.

oul' ban's too who'd wait till the crowd wud be gone,

then they'd collect a half-burned turf or two an' take

them home with them to put on the flax an' corn crops 11 •

Another old friend·, Bernard Rocks, aged 85, in 1931 when discussing the site of a carn( 4 )i~ Cladybeg townland

us eu m

This he said

from Lord Charlemont to remove the stones .

bonfires were lighted at the

ou nt y

ou nt

Here I found that

ag h

had been unlucky for both families.(5)

us eu m

ag h

the new house at Ballymoyer, for which they had permission

The custom continued

us e

That was indeed a

If my informant was correct as to when the

ag h

surprise.

Ar m

here right till about 50 years ago 11 •

be the best of musi.c and dancing.

nt y

Ar m

earn in the oul ' days on Mid-Summer Eve and there would

nt y

Ar m

custom was discontinued there it must have been the last

place in the count y wherein it was ob~erved!

ou nt

Green Height 11 (a circular patch

rwo families no longer represented in Co . Armagh . Curiously enough both the Synott house and Lord Charlemont • s house at Roxborough have both been demolished and neither families now own any land 1n the cow,ty!

(5)

Ar m

Site now known as the tree from heather) .

(4)

Ar m

ot Drumully near the old roadside inn known as the Mountain

Another tale taken down in 1942 from Michael Murphy -

told me it had been used by the Synotts when they built

us eu m

..,-; 17b . Mid- Summ fr Eve Ccont, }

You would have seen them blaze on the

Summer Eva.

eu m

House, states that "we used to make bonfires on Mid-

bills, but there come a time when tb~ parties that In time they grew

lighted them attacked each other.

into faction fights an' the festival was forgotten.

us eu m

ou nt y

1942.

us e

nt y

I mind an oul' woman who lived nixt us,

ag h

have vanished.

Ar m

0n Hid-Summer Eve there'd be bonefires but they

nt y

an' the Eve ne~er passed that she did not go out on the

ou C

Corran.

Ar m

hill an' light a whin or a bottle of straw. 11

ou nt

h ag m

Ar ©

Ar m

.Armaghbrague.

ot l-11.d-Summer I s Eve. 11

uWhen I was young there'd be a bonefire on the night

Alexander F. Fleming, Tullybrone,

Ar m

if it was only a bottle of straw on a pole. 11

us eu m

Every hill had one even

ou nt

ag h

Eve but that has all passed.

They used . to have great bonfires he.re on Midsummer

feelings of rivalry in religion or politics 11 •

ag h

It's a pity harmless things should be broken up by

us eu m

Nid-Sm)ltller Eve <cont . )

There were bonfires on the hills here up till about

eu m

fifty years ago. 11

C,assidy, circa 1930 11 then in his seventies ", Tandragee (Tassagh) .

"On that night somebody was sure to light a few

in the way of assemblie s or games.

All that had died

whins somewhere but in this district there was nothing

us eu m

ag h

out, though the festival was still spoken of by the old people who said it had ceased because the to-wnlands were

us eu m

ou nt y

There was then a free fight

one lighted by themselve s .

ou nt

Ar m

us e

nt y

was eight or ten years of age at the time

ag h

I suppose I

Ar m

and bad blood between the two townlands for many a day.

nt y

75.

ou nt

h ag m

Ar ©

h ag

Ar m

Cornascrie be, G.P~ Aged

after the troubles of 1798 . 11

Such fires are said, however, to have stopped

Ar m

Years old.

and the people debating the matter were from 70 to 80

ag h

jealous of each other's efforts and that often the people of an adjoining townland raided the bonfire of a neighbour ing crowd if they thought it . better than the

us eu m M

eu m

ARMAGH NISCELLANFJ. Bonfire Ni~ht, July 1st

When I was a boy, and that was well over half a

century ago, I remember going with young people of my

olllD age group to nearby hills from which we could see

Now the custom has practically

particular evening.

bonfires blazing from dusk to midnight on that

us eu m

some few instances an urban feature .

ag h

I could never discover when such bonfires began,

disappeared from the country districts and become in

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

but as they were a celebration linked with the battle of the Boyne itself, then perhaps they had an earlier

us e

nt y

Ar m

has now become July 12th instead of July 1st.

in the Calendar by which th·e date for the famous battle

nt y

effigy of Lundy, which was subsequently thrown upon the

fire and usually consisted of a mass of inflammable

Sometimes,

Ar m

•aterial collected from farms in the vicinity.

lffective but sometimes burned too quickly, so it was

This was most

Ar m

IUitable cask mounted on a high pole.

however, the fire took the form of a tar barrel or other

UIUa,l to have the ordinary bonfire as well, and have the

bur,1 a1 the final part of the ceremony.

ou nt

Ar m

and sometimes a torchlight procession equipped with an

ag h

At those bonfires there were games, songs and dancing

ou nt y

Ar m

origin that I thought possible, due perhaps to the change

us eu m

Bonfire Night, July 1st (cont.)

ballad -

us eu m

This realistic account was most thrilling, and so

ag h

us eu m

0ul Orange Flute 11 , etc.

ou nt

ag h

wore", the

vere other similar favourites like 1rThe sash my father

ou nt y

I cannot help feeling that they began in

Ar m

bonfires.

But to return to the date of origin of the July

ou nt

C m

h ag Ar ©

nt y

ou C h

ag ©

Ar m

Ar m ©

Ar m

ag h

seasonal features in the local landscape.

nt y

Ar m

the festival bonfires which even then were still

us e

the early 19th century but may indeed have derived from

UJuly the First in Oldbridge town, There was a grievous battle, Where many a man lay on the groun' By cannons that did rattle. King James, he pitched his tents between The line for to retire, But King William threw his bomb-balls in, • An' set them all on fire. 11

eu m

It was at one such gathering I first heard the old

us eu m

AtihAGH HI SCELLAN® I 1',~STI VAL S,

eu m

The Feast of st. Peter and st. Paul,

A pilgrimage still survives to St.

wells and boni'ir e s.

ln County !rmagh this seems to have been linked with

Bonfires ceased in this

midnight on June 29th .

According to tradition the well overflows at

formerly.

Patric~•s Well, Armagh, though less well attended than

us eu m

ag h

there is little information now available as to the

connection in the closing days of the 18th century -and

us eu m

ou nt

festival.

ou nt y

In the Crossmaglen part of the county, in Drumlougher

Ar m

ag h

celebrations that formerly took place on that particular

11 towiand, there is a little lake known as "Patrick 1 s Lake

us e

nt y

Ar m

'Where local people congregated in pilgrimage to lie upon

ag h

a slab of rock that tradition links with St . Patrick.

nt y

One account states that he slept a night upon it whereas

1nto1'111ant, wo was a~ed 80 in 1926 said that as _part of

Ar m ©

as follows -

tbe evening ceremony there was a bonfire which he described

ou nt

Ar m

the serpent tripped bis full length on the stone •.

snakeN when swimming in the _lough, and in running from

Ar m

another story says that he was chased by "a giant wate-r-

19 i.·.

st.

us eu m

The Feast of

Peter and

uT'nare wu.s bonefires too .

st.

Pav.l (cont.)

eu m

People wud always save a

bag of turf for tbat evening no matter how short they

I don 1 t mind that part but me father

thrown about them.

Oul people said the other wee lough(l) hed a

did.

An' the cattle \vUd be taken down an' the ashes

us eu m

equal age confirmed his remarks in these words -

ag h

ou nt

ag h

I remewber one oul 1 lassie that wud remain till

us eu m

There 'd be songs till near

pilgrimage to the laugh. mornin 1 •

there'd always be a bonfire here on June 29th and a

ou nt y

there used to be a

us e

nt y

Ar m

Another account states that

the fireu.

Ar m

the end an' she'd always·take home a bit of a stick from

ag h

gathering on the 29th of June each year on the shores of

Ar m

2 remains of a pilgrimage it is hard to say 0 . ( )

nt y

l._ou~h Patrick, but whether it was a Patron or the dying

Ar m

Christian Brothers' School.

derives from the Downey MS., now preserved at the Armagh

ou nt

My information regar<iing this

up to about 80 years ago.

Adjoining st. Patrick's but known as 11 st. Peter 1 s Lou€;h 11 • .Bonfires on that nigh t were lighted on Carrigatuke and According to another friend of equal other hieh hills. age 11 the ashes from such fires had a cure in them 11 but what it was be had for,otten.

(a)

lDtormaw; Mr. Devlin, Cullyhanna.

(l)

A well at Lisadian near the city of Armagh was visited

Ar m

A neighbour of

a pity that oul 1 customs should die 11 •

It's

pilgrimage to it too, but I know nothing of that.

us eu m

ARHAGH l-IISCELLAN"EA .

eu m

st. John .

Feast of

Bonefire

Locally this festival was known as

Night 11 and tradition affirms that it was customary

to add animal bones as fuel . · It was usual to make

us eu m

us e ou nt

h ag m

Ar ©

h ag

Ar m ©

nt y

ou C h

nt y

ag h Ar m ©

ou nt y

ou nt

us eu m

C h

ag Ar m ©

Ar m

ag h

ag h ©

yards, customs no longer observed.

pilgrimages to holy wells and pay visits to cburch-

us eu m

IS~-\ ARMAGH MISCELLANEA.

eu m

Festivals,

The Harvest.

The various accounts noted herewith have been

The harvest customs of the three nationalities

descent.

contributed by people of Irish, English, and Scotch

They do,

us eu m

to distinghish the one from the other.

nt y

us e

nt y

The sickle was thrown from a butt.

4. 5.

ag h

The sickle was thrown in a special way and women could take part in the throwing of it.

Ar m

The wetting of the Calliagh - a similar custom Sometimes to the wetting of the shamrock. a 11 cry 11 was raised before and after the cutting.

The cutting or the Calliagh was mostly followed by a special meal known as the Churn.

Ar m

ou nt

After the cutting ritual it was c.arried into the house where it might be draped round the neck of either master or mistress.

ou nt y

Women were allowed to plait the Calliagh and when cut it was sometimes despatched to a neighbour whose corn was still standing.

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

The Calliagh when cut was carried into the house where it was sometimes preserved to · the next harvest.

Ar m

briefly summarized as under -

ag h

however, disclose certain interesting facts that may be

in County Armagh are so interwoven that I make no attempt

us eu m

The Harvest, {cont.)

eu m

In South Armagh where stories of the Calliagh Bhirra

survive, there are traditions linking that mythical The following story taken down

figure with the harvest.

illustrates that particular _aspect.

7q,

It states that uthe

in 1939 from a Mr. Mallon of Clontygora, then aged

Calliagh was a kind of -witch, an oul hag of a woman.

us eu m

When the field was

ag h

cutting of the corn nobody knows.

nearly bare the last straws were woven into three plaits

She lived on Slieve Gullion but how she got into the

us eu m

ou nt

There'd

Indeed there'd be dances in But times

ag h

Fifty years ago in harvest time in County Armagh the

nt y

Who.1 d let them in to dance now?"

Ar m

are changed.

all the houses in harvest time night about.

Ar m

be a week dance that night.

ou nt y

Then it would go to hang on the souple.

us e

ag h

scythe.

nt y

The scythe was

in the reaping and saving of the crops.

Ar m

fields were alive with men, women, and children all engaged

ou nt

Ar m

At that time horse drawn mowing machines were fairly

That would have been circa 1898 to 1914.

ot thatching.

the sickle in use for shearing wheat straw for the purpose

prevalent but on· the smaller holdings the scythe was still

Ar m

then the common cutting implement, but I remember seeing

and cut be the throwin' of hooks or be the sweep of the

us eu m

!J'., '""" tca'6. '

to be seen.

eu m

The Harvest Ccont.} •

In those days, and indeed later, grass seed

was saved in considerable quantities.

After being cut

and stooked the sheaves were gathered together on a

suitable day and threshed on a large winnowing cloth, on

which on raised supports, usually a ladder on a couple

bagged 11 and taken to the barn

us eu m

batons, and subsequently

ag h

where it was cleaned and made ready for the Market.

of kitchen chairs, the grass was hammered with wooden

ag h

By 1898, probably

de-seeding accomplished by flails.

us eu m

ou nt

With wheat and oats the mode was different and the

nt y

Ar m

us e

Such machines were common then and

circular fashion.

machines pulled by a pair · of horses which moved in

markets for sale.

Ar m

waa a valuable commodity and was carted many miles to

nt y

In those days straw

was also used for churning milk.

ag h

were familiar sights in farmyards where the same power

ou nt

Ar m

This little collection of harvest customs could

It was cut from a butt an' the fella who cut

It was done on the last . day of the

an• tied in a knot. ebearin•

Ar m

little handful of corn was gathered up an' plaited·

undoubtedly be enlarged and similar tales found in Irish

counties generally.

it, carried it off to the house, where it wd be put above

ou nt y

Ar m

somewhat earlier, we were equipped with metal threshing

us eu m

The Harvest Ccont.)

eu m

the dure-head for luck, an' left there to the nixt year.

That night there'd be a bit of a spread an' plenty of

m eu

day. II

whiskey, for it was as cheap then as buttermilk is the

I saw the Calliagh cut by the hook an I I mind well

us eu m

ag h

s~eing eleven or twelve oul' weemin in one fiel' shearing.

The lan' was then in rigs an' ivery woman bed a rig.

July 29, 1942.)

(John Haughey, Armaghbrague, aged about 83 years.

July 30th, 1942.)

ou nt y

Ar m

(John Murray, Armaghbrague, aged 85.

"I don I t mind seeing the Calliagh cut, but I know the

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

11 When it was cut it was taken home an' bung in the kitchen •

us e

nt y

when the_ Calliagh' s caught the day we

ag h

That day the workers would torment the

hook from a butt. childer be sayin,

Ar m

way it was done in my father's day, ·was be throwin' the

h ag m

Ar ©

Ar m

Ba111ntate in Ba1lymoyer Parish).

11 that was the right thing till do. 11Mrs. Murray, wife of above John, and a native of

ou nt

Ar m

It was'always put about the neck of the woman of the house,

Ar m

11 An' 'Will be bring in, it in till hang y er moth er with • the wee ones . believed ·them an' were frightened till death.

us eu m

The Harvest ccont. 2

eu m

u1 saw the Calliagh cut and cut with a hook too, but that wus long ago.

They plaited the last wee bit

of the corn an' then they stud back an' threw hooks at

The man that cut it put it roun' the neck of the

it.

man of the house an' threatened till hang him, but he

(Bernard McCreesh).

He'd put on

An' there he'd make ye

the horses w.d be drinkin'.

ou nt y

a horse's winkers an' take ye down till a flush(l)wtiere

Ar m

us e

Ar m

An' after ye'd done it, he'd put ye three

drink too.

nt y

He'd be able till cure almost

An 1 this is how he'd work it.

anything.

The man that

us eu m

ag h

cut it cud do things.

ou nt

"There wus a charm in the Calliagh.

us eu m

y nt

ag h

always bought his lib~rty with trates all roun' ."

nt y

Ar m

I know a man it wus done with an' he's

as a :fiddle.

ag h

times under a donkey's belly, an' after that ye'd be fit

alive an I over eighty. 11

ou nt

h ag

or road, at which horses and other animals were accustomed

to quench their thirst.

Ar m

A water-hole, usually at the side of a lane

Ar m

(1)

(Thomas Mallon, Drum.art, Loughgall, aged about 70 years).

us eu m

The Harvest {cont.)

eu m

"At Drumilly in the oul' days the last stalks of

Then there wus singing an' fun.

An'

till the house.

the corn wur plaited an' when they wur cut they wur tuk

An' all the neigbbourin'

He wus the talk

ladies wud be there too till hear him.

us eu m

because of he's way of walkin 1 •

He wus called "Geordie look-up 11

one cud do it be note.

all the men an' the girls wud sing be ear but there wus

He'd always sing

the Montiagh

listen till the others.

ag h

of the countryside - when he wus there, they'd rather not

us eu m

ou nt

When I wus a boy people wud hire a man for the

nt y

Sometimes indeed ye'd see two of

Ar m

winter's threshin'.

talk but I only saw the Calliagh cut once. -

us e

ou nt y

He used till be the whole

the turf-man from Ardee 11 •

Ar m

ag h

wedding 11 an' ivery time he'd be encored he'd give them

Ar m

nt y

An' when it wus -thrashed they'd take it till a

cloth.

ag h

them with flails, facing each other across a winnowing-

Ar m

Sure its few cud handle a flail now.

( Thomas Mallon, Drum.art).

mostly made of skin.

They wur joined by the tug an' it wus

ou nt

han' staff" the

Ar m

part ye'd hit the corn with, an' the part ye gripped.

hill an I the wind wud blow the chaff away. The 11 soupel 11 is the Flails are little used now.

us eu m

The Harvest Ccont.), "When we cut the Calliagh it was always brought in II

souple 11 •

The last lock of corn in

eu m

and bung to the

the field was plaited and cut.

Some does do it yet on

The Calliagh was always given to the owner.

the sly.

Age 75).

(Mrs. McKinley, Clontygora.

us eu m

And

put up the Calliagh boys 11 •

ag h

shout in many a fiel 1

uNearing the end of the harvest ye'd hev heared them

us eu m

ou nt

ou nt y

(Brigid Gormley, aged 90 in 1937),

Ar m

cut her down, cut her down". 11

ag h

the cry

the three handfuls wud be platted and then they'd raise

us e

nt y

u1n the cutting of the Calliagh it was the reapingWhen all the corn hook that was used not the scythe.

Ar m

nt y

The throwing might last a

the sickle thrown from there.

ag h

was down to a bit about the thickness of your arm, that Then a butt or mark was made and was left and plaited.

Ar m

h ag

tor such things. 11

Ar m

but sure that's the dear boy now even if people had time (Henry Garvey, Tullyvallen-Tipp ing (West), May 1941).

He got the first drink and in them days it was whiskey,

the house and put it round the woman or girl of the house.

ou nt

lihile and the man that would cut it would run with it to

Ar m

spirits 11 and tea and dancing. 11

there'd be a party with

Harvest bows were made at the same time and that night

us eu m

The Harvest Ccont,).

"I heard of the cutting of the Calliagh.

eu m

was shorn then;

The corn

there were few scythes if any in those

A bunch of corn was left somewhere in the field

days.

and not cut until the evening when all was finished.

He that cut it won a prize,

Probably he

Churn 11 •

got an extra helping of whiskey at the

ag h

It was

I heard of it

ou nt

often."

usual to cut it everywhere at one time.

ou nt y

ag h

us e M

It was done in me

"I still cut the Calliagh.

(Donnelly, Tullygoonigan, June 16, 1942).

nt y

always followed by the Churn. 11

ag h

nt y

Ar m

I never saw it done until as recently as 50 years ago. The bringing of it in was but I beard all about it.

ou nt

Ar m

gran•father•s time an• in me father's days as well.

Ar m

have had it in, but there's nothin' of that kind now.

When it would be cut in their time there'd be a cheer an• they'd send for a quart of whiskey or mebbe they'd

I 3ust plait it an• swing me scythe through it, but long

"The Calliagh was cut on the Gillespie farm here up

Ar m

(Patrick Lennon, Tullygarron, June 16, 1942.)

Ar m

but what it was I don•t quite remember.

us eu m

back and fired their hooks.

us eu m

It was tied at the top in some way and the shearers stood

us eu m

The Harvest <cont ..l ago it was done be the throwing of the hook.

In the

eu m

oul' days they shouted something when they cheered but

I have no memory of what it was.

I'm not the only one here that does it

house for luck.

It goes into the

the Churn 11 •

It used to be called

still an' there's always a special tea that evening.

June 1942).

ag h

(Henry Price, Killyfaddy.

and often a wee bit of merriment as well. 11

us eu m

A.lways at the end of the Calliagh there was a feast

us eu m

ou nt

I. niver heard of the cutting of the Calliagh but

ag h

I rememoer hearin' tell of a custom here .when the last

· As soon as

ou nt y

Ar m

stack of corn wud be built in harvest time.

us e

nt y

from it an' rush in to the woman of the house with it,

nt y

C h

(Drumcree Parish).

all them capers. 11

Ar m

The oul' people that are gone knowed

drink or a kiss.

That method was necessary so as to make

as back hand.

Ar m

bf the throwing of the sickle in a particular way known

The corn was plaited and sliced

less than 50 years ago.

ou nt

In Derrylard I saw the cutting of the Calliagh

Ar m

ag h

Ar m

threatening till cut her throat with it unless he got a

tbe book Spin, for the plait could only be cut by a

it wus done one of the men would pluck a han'ful of oats

!-G.

us eu m

IQ3

The Harvest {cont.)

circular motion.

eu m

The person cutting it was entitled to

the first drink at the harvest home and if he so desired Some-

the Calliagh was his to take to his own house.

times the women were allowed to throw the sickle also.

On the evening of the cutting there _was always a generous

us eu m

(J. Pickering, 1942).

ag h

"The Calliagh was cut in your grandfather ,·s time. ( 2 )

us e

nt y

Ar m

brought into the house when I was a little girl. I think it was cut originally by the throwing of sickles, and

Ar ©

?ow.land of Mulladry.

Ar m

(2)

but wen I saw it being done almost sixty years ago it

ou nt

Calliagh was always plaited and tied and cut

Aged 80).

Ar m

uThe

(M. Honeyford, 1942.

ag h

Ar m

11 sing did so and there were games of various kinds.

nt y

it was brought home and placed in the kitchen and all Those who could present were entertained to supper.

us eu m

ou nt y

Ar m

When the Calliagh was finally cut

ag h

sickle was thrown.

ou nt

Then a spot was chosen from which the

and plaited.

Some good strong stalks were gathered into three parts

spread with whiskey and porter as the chief drinks • 11

us eu m

The Harvest {cont.} The particular evening

vas the scythe that was used.

eu m

that marked the completion of the cutting of the corn

was devoted to a feast and a party called

the Churn",

at which the men and girls were offered tumblers of

and a dance.

My mother always danced the first dance

This was followed by a very special tea

fresh cream.

She died young and my father never

be her partner.

and there would always be a little fuss as to who should

us eu m

ag h

held "churns 11 for the workers afterwards. 11

ou nt

1941.)

ag h

ou nt y

u0n 'the evening on which the cutting of the corn

Ar m

formerly of Corcullentragh, Co. Armagh.

us eu m

(Mrs. T. Hare, Cornagrally, Loughgilly Parish,

would be finished as much grain as could be comfortably

nt y

This was separated into three

corner of the field.

ag h

Ar m

spanned by a man's hand would be left standing in the

nt y

Ar m

parts, plaited and tied and cut by the throwing of a hook.

ou nt

Called the cutting of the Calliagh and on that night there

VOUld be a goodly spread and whiskey, wine, and porter for

Ar m

the workers and su-ch of the neighbours as might be invited.

1'be feast itself was called 11 the Churn" and was different

to tbe "Harvest Home" which took place later when all the

The custom was

Ar m

lfhere it hung until the next harvest.

The man who cut it carried it into the house in triumph

... .

us eu m

The Harvest Ccont.) corn was in the haggard and was very much the same kind

eu m

of entertainme nt but with the addition of apple dumplings, I r emem ber wrig h t's at the corner (3) then a favourite dish •

walls. 11

had Calliaghs going back for fifty years hanging round the

us eu m

ag h

corn the last handful would be left uncut and that wud be

us eu m

ou nt y

In my time it was cut by

ag h

the evenings when their work would be done on somebody's

nt y

Ar m

the scythe, though mebbe it was done in the oul' way still by a body with oztly a rood of oats that they'd shear in

nt y

h ag m

public house at one time the home of a particularly lively ehost. The premises are now a farmhouse and unlicensed.

(3) A

1941).

(J. D., Ballymore, aged 85.

Ar m

I ~as young then so I forget the reason why, if ever I knoved 1 t, which mebbe I didn't•

ou nt

Ar m

We took the Calliagh into the house and that I heared of people evening there'd be a bit of a spread. sending it to their neighbours whose harvest would not be It was But why they did it I do not know. finished. •ebbe a joke, for them that got it would be very angry. farm.

know that 1 s how it was done.

Ar m

I niver saw the hooks thrown at it but I

from a butt.

ou nt

Then the men would throw their hooks at it

ag h

be tying.

1 diVided in three and platted by one of the weemin who d

At the cuttin~ of the

I heared of the Calliagh. .

(Matthew O'Hanlon, Manordogherty, 1941).

us eu m

The Harvest (cont,) 11

tea on that evening called

the Churnu.

I never saw

It was only used then

the sickle thrown at Calliagh.

(Henry Conn, Tullygoon igan).

for shearing wheat for thatching . 11

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

It 1 s mebbe forty years since I last saw it cut an' tben it was at the Warden's of ·Tannagh Hill beside There was always a big night when it was laid. Killylea. 11

ou nt y

If there

nt y

ag h

Ar m

I mind first near Crossmag len, but many a time I saw it. seeing it done at Harrison' s of Drumlick, at Ballydoo an'

I saw it cut

was no man it wud be put aroun' the woman.

put it about the neck of the boss of the house.

Ar m

The boys an• girls at Drumore in the county of Monaghan. 1n the harvest fields in them days made and wore harvest

ou nt

h ag m

Ar ©

Ar m ©

11 knots but sure I haven• t seen one for years. (Toal, Drumcairn e, near Armagh city. June 28, 1942).

Ar m

It Plenty of atein', a sup of drink an' a song or two. was plaited to be cut an' him that cut it, tuk it in an•

Ar m

eu m

1 remember sixty years ago when the Calliagh would have been platted and brought in and put round the neck of the man of the house. There was always a special

What they call the Calliagh wus the last bit of

eu m

I saw it done often in the

I niver saw it done here but I know it

ws sickles an' hooks then.

County of Down.

The corn was plaited.

corn cut in the harvest.

us eu m

The Harvest (cont.)

ormebbe it wus rushes.

us eu m

ou nt

a very young boy he hired as a "servant boy" to

(As

It's hard to mind now. 11

ag h

I think she made them of straw

My sister made them.

I niver made Brigid's Crosses but I seen them done.

sorts of food an' drink.

ws done and there'd be a feast after with plenty of all

ou nt y

June 28, 1942). In

ag h

my early days the boys plaited it from the ground and tied

h ag

1'bere•d always be a good cheer when it was cut.

Ar m

be them that does it.

Ar m

I have cut it myself with a The way it was done when I book but not be throwin' it. Was wee was for three or four to throw at it from a butt.

now

It is cut by the scythe

stayed till the next harvest.

ou nt

Ar m

it was took in an' hung up in the kitchen an' there it

nt y

When it was cut

the top with some stalks of' the corn.

nt y

Ar m

"You plait the Calliagh first an' then cut her.

(Hug9 Campbell, Shean, near Forkhill.

Ar m

passed away from Shean town.land).

us eu m

ag h

various farmers in Co. Down so that most of his life was

us eu m

The Harvest· ccont. l I saw lots of Brigid I s Crosses made.

the ribs an• the scraw.

The cross I saw was

They were sometimes made of straw.

On May Eve a wee tree would be stuck in the midden

ag h

(John Kelly, Lathbirget, near Mullabawn.

us eu m

mind well. 11

I was a wee runner about then but I

Mayflowers now.

to put the Mayflowers on, but there's no runnin' for

June 28,1942).

They shore all but They

ou nt y

Ar m

nt y

ag h

Ar m

nt y

A man would often say then to the people

Smallest farms.

Ar m

kind with a feed an• lots of drink an• that even on the

ou nt

Ar m

who'd be workin' for him - "if ye can finish the day we'~ll an' I'll provide ye w.i.th an extra pint". be in tron of

Nobody wanted to be last then an' sometimes two days ~ork

Ar m

I nive~ saw harvest knots made. 1f0uld be done in one. \hen the Calliagh would be a cuttin', the young ones They thought she was in the corn

VOUl.d be in a bother.

In my time it was beginnin' to be done be the scythe. When the Calliagh be cut there'd always be a trate of some

it an• then they all stud back an• threw at it.

a wee bit of corn in the corner of the field.

plaited

us eu m

of people who sheared w.i.th the hook.

ou nt

ag h

nThe people that I used to see do it were the remains

eu m

They were stuck up in the roof of the ho·uses, on the·1ns1"d e between

The Harvest {cont.) an' would be watching for her to run from it.

us eu m

eu m

bare fled from the field near the end, as often happened , 11 I the oul ones would say there she. goes, but she, ill come

An' the young

back an• we'ill tie her up in the corner.

They took no part in the throwin'

ones were satisfie d.

but they shared in the feast. n

(Michae l Murphy, Drum.illy, South Armagh. June 28, 1942. )

us eu m

ag h

"I saw a Calliagh in the house · of Mr. Frank Cullen of Balling allia, a few miles south of Armagh city on June 20, 1942, who told me he always brought it in at

us eu m

nt y

(Frank Cullen, Balling allia.)

ou nt y

Ar m

llliles north of the city. 11

ou nt

ag h

harvest time though "the Churn 11 is no longer celebrat ed. He was formerly of Tullygar ron about the same number of

us M

ag h

Ar m

Every"My father told me all about the Calliagh . thing was shorn then by the hook an' in a field every man

ou nt

Ar m

Then the men that were shearing would stand The one that Up an• cut it-. with flings of their hooks. cut it put i t around the neck of the owner of the corn an' The 1:breatened to choke him if he did not get a gift.

at the top.

Prize was mostly the first drink at the Churn, a great

nt y

Ar m

There'd always be a have his own rig to shear. VOUl.d , handi"uJ_ of the best corn plaited from the roots an' tied

If a

us eu m

The Harvest <cont, > teast that follo~ed after.

They used to have great

eu m

bonfires here on Midsummer Eve but that has all passed.

IYery hill had one even if it was only a bottle of straw

on a pole.u

29th June, 1942).

"When it come to the last lock they looked for the

best they cud see an' divided it in three an• plaited it.

us eu m

ag h

They then tossed for who wud throw first an• then stud

When it

back f'ive or six yards an' threw hooks at it.

us eu m

ou nt

Him that cut it carried it in an' it wud be hung

a cheer.

ag h

wus cut an' they might be some time doin' it, they'd raise

ou nt y

Ar m

up till the next year so that the house might never want

nt y

June 29, 1942).

nt y

Ar m

(Patrick McKernan, Corran.

last harvest. u

ag h

That night there'd be a feed. I saw a Calliagh 4 in Tom Kelly's of the Grey Stone( )1ately that wus cut corn.

Ar m

ou nt

4 monolith linked with stories of St. Patrick's

adventures with a bull that destroyed each night all that Patrick built by day.

ci.,

Ar m

Then That was the Calliagh. ban•.ru1s and plait them. In the days of hooks it wus done be tb91• d cut it.

uAt the finish of the cuttin' they'd take three

Ar m

(Alex. Fleming Johnston, Tullybrone.

*·

:Loi .

us eu m

The Harvest {cont.} throv.Ln' an' wus tricky.

When it wus cut there'd be

eu m

a cheer an' the one that downed it would throw it roun'

till he promised them all drinks.

When I wus young

the neck of the man of the fiel' an' haul' him prisoner

there wus still a little shearin 1 done for thatching,

eu us

y nt

(Patrick Ke.enru;1, Granemore).

us eu m

ag h

u1 saw the Calliagh cut at Lisnisk in LoughgiHy

us eu m

The Bells did it always.

ag h

I heard of it here also.

ou nt

Parish as late as 1914 on Francis Bell's farm there.

ou nt y

It was plaited an' then snigged off with the scythe.

ou nt

•The way of it was they'd shear round the corn

Ar m

Them

th at were When the lbear1n• would stan' back an' fling the hook. CIJ.l1a1b was down there'd be a bit of a cheer an' the one

1•annc a lock of the best standing.

nt y

June 30, 1942.)

Ar m

others were shaped like hearts and diamonds.

(Samuel Herron, Carran.

nt y

Some ~ere knotted but

Ar m

button-hole as a bit of frigari.

ag h

cut it was taken in an' hung on the jamb-wall. I saw They were wore in the harvest knots an' made them.

Ar m

The plaiting was done from the roots an' the heads tied After it was With string an' dressed with a corn band.

Ar m

but I ni ver saw it cut but be the sweep of a scythe. 11

us eu m

The Harvest Ccont.) that got it would run to the house with it an' put it

eu m

round the neck of the oul' man or oul' woman of the

house an' houl' it there till a trate was promised.

In oul' days it would have been carried out too in a

us eu m

ou nt

May flowers were gathered then on May

ag h

My grandmother

She was 88 when she died an' that was

They were made of rushes.

talked of them.

49 years ago.

don't mind Brigid's Crosses made here but I have

seen them.

ag h

Eve an' put on all the doors an' window-sills, cattle-

ou nt y

Ar m

houses an' all an' they were _always put at the well. I

nt y

There are stories

ou nt

Ar m

Bull. of Armagh that knocked down ivery stone, ivery night,

Ar m ©

that was built on Carrick beyond at the time that it was (5')

One had to do with the

Ar m

on the hill is a long ti~e there.

about it but I don't mind them.

The Grey Stone<

an' light a whin or a bottle of straw.

ag h

the Eve niver passed that she did not go out on the hill

nt y

I mind an I oul I woman who lived nixt us an 1

Ar m

Vanished.

On Mid-summer Eve there'd he bonefires but they have

Few do it now but I will as long as I 1 m able.

it then.

Everybody did

field where there was only one shearer.

The Harvest {cont.) Th ere was another about

us eu m

chose for the City of Armagh.

giant throwin' it from the same place_ a left-handed

eu m

,1ant at that - for his thumb and finger marks are on it.

I cut it last year, but in

us eu m

In the oul' days it was better

us eu m

ou nt y

It was plaited an' dressed before

be full of' youngsters.

I mind a blind man who used to be at all the

Ar m

it was cut.

We called it all the Calliagh.

nt y

the Churn 11 •

Ar m

come after was

It was him that first toul' me the male that

cuttings.

ou nt

· It was then done be the hook and the fiel' would

ag h

fun.

longer fit till do it.

ag h

a short time it will be clane quit here for I'm no

When we

nt y

Ar m

He wasn't at the cuttin' for he had pains.

ag h

I mind once workin' for Mr. Paterson of Lisnadill.

it's roun' the woman of the house it should always go."

So we -put it roun' his wife an' she put her ban' in her

ou nt

Ar m

be Said un0 Boys" said he "there's a rule for the Calliagh -

That bought two quarts of whiskey an' we had

He was a well-read man so I •m sure he was

Cl'eat tun.

Ar m

PUrse and gave me five shiilings for I was the one that

cut it.

brought it in we were goin' to put it about his neck but

June 30, 1942).

I cut the Calliagh.

(James Kelly, Carran.

,rand.mother' s time.

It was that way too in my

a ring of grass round it.

The heather never grows close to the stone, there's always

us eu m

The Harvest Ccont.) right.

His wife was well-off an' niver missed the money,

she bad plenty.

eu m

They were a dacent family but sure their

house is emp'y now.

They run to girls an' girls don't

carry on oul' names.

M ©

M C

h ag

Ar m

ou nt

nt y

ou C h

nt y

ou nt y

ag h Ar m ©

us eu m

us y

ou nt C

h ag Ar m ©

nt ou C

Ar m ©

Ar m

ag h

(James Hughes, Corran).

birds or animals. 11

That must be ·sown in the spring or given to the

on it.

The Calliagh should never be burned with the grain

wli·lAGH 1.,1 SCELLAiv;EA.

us eu m

The Chrj stmas Rhymer~

eu m

It is over sixty years ago since I first saw the

Cbristw.as Rhyw.ers and heard them sing or recite their I still

various parts in their ancient yuletide play.

bave a vivid recollectio n of that particular evenini.

I have only a vague

111.emory of the costumes worn.

remembrance of flowing beards, fantastic hats, black

us eu m

ag h

and painted or masked faces, long coats and oddly

us eu m

ou nt

I heard the players annually from about 1896 until

ag h

behaved and weirdly dressed women.

ou nt y

Ar m

1908 and then afterwards from time to time but not

until 194~ did I again come into contact with them.

nt y

l then found them flourishin~ in the pa.Tish of Druw.cree

us M

I also discovered in the same year that in

reference.

ag h

and thought it advisable to record the words for fu.~~re

Ar m

ou nt

h ag

each other, dressed quite differently.

Ar m

Tbe the custom had continued until the out bread of war. h 1 - · roa in close proxi.mi ty to t.....,. ivi.~ •v sets of players, thoug

Ar m

nnd er:The Drumcree Players had a caS t as white ...urousars , sword l. St. George. Redndtunic, plumed bat. ·c white trousers, a Black tuni 't with Turkey feathers 2. Turk. green bere .

and sword.

nt y

an area covered by the parishes of Ballymore and Mul.lavilly

Ar m

fnfortunate ly I was then too young to retain any clear

z:.

us eu m

The Christmas Rhymers (cont,l Old Woman.

Red flannel petticoat shawl and stick. '

Doctor.

Talldhat, black coat, case an umbrella.

Cromwell .

eu m

us eu m

ou nt

us eu m

Red coat, white trousers, face blacked and carrying a besom.

ou nt y

All in white, red hat and carrying money-box.

ag h

Ar m

Di vil Doubt.

Dressed in huge padded trousers and wearing long beard.

Big Belly.

John Funny.

C 8.

10.

Bl~ck coat, white trousers, stick in hand and frying pan on shoulder.

Beelzebub .

ag h m

Rob~ decorated with gold and s~lver pa~er and carrying a gilt crozier.

nt ou

nt y

:&lqu.irie s amongst the fathers and grandfath ers of the

ag h

players elicited the fact that the characters formerly

Ar m

nt y

,wore plaited straw hats with coloured streamers and

tlothes, tied at the waist by a coloured scarf and all °'1'r1ed swords made from the backs of scythes. Hats

ou nt

Ar m

They wore long shirts over their ordinary

tradition s.

Ar m

The Ballymore -Mullavill Y rhymers were dressed in a less colourfu l mal'll1er but more in keeping with the older

feathers and had their limbs encased in straw ropes; shirts or coats worn inside out completed their costumes.

Ar m

nt ou

St. Patrick.

Red coat, white trous·ers sword and huge false nose. '

us eu m

The Christmas Rhymers {cont,) were usually made from old-fashioned strong white seven

eu m

to fourteen pound paper flour bags and adorned with

coloured streamers, but others wore cone-s h aped head-gear

Legs they neatly encased in _11 leggings" of

Their

Doctor

St. Patrick.

7. Beelzebub.

ou nt

Turk's father.

Big Head.

Cromwell.

Turk.

ou nt y

Divily Doubt.

us eu m

St. George.

nt y

Ar m

The Rhymers were popular with all creeds and classes, despite the fact that they quite frequently added to the

nt y

These were very witty indeed and a source of

of encore.

ag h

Ar m

authorized versions topical or personal verses as a kind

Ar m

great amusement, for they_dealt ballad-fashion with the

ou nt

and public figures were also good-humouredly lampooned as

Ar m

Well -as local celebrities. One feels that it would add considerably to the

interest of the Christmas festivities if Young FaI'!llers'

Political

Ar m

indiViduals of the immediate neighbourhood.

love affairs of the district, and peculiarities of

ag h

characters were as follows:-

straw ropes or in long women's stockings.

us eu m

the same way.

of the type commonly known as dunce caps and decorated in

Christmas Rhymers (cont,}

us eu m

Tbe

Clubs were to encourage and revive these annual perform-

eu m

Such plays would bring young people together and

ances.

m eu

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

R?om, room, brave gallant boys, Give us room to rhyme. To we show a bit of our activity At this Christmas time. Active ye>uth and active age, The like was never acted on a sta~e. If ye don't believe what I say, Enter in St. George and clear the way.

ou nt y

ST. GEORGE:

Ar m

ou nt C

h ag

'Who are you but a poor s-illY lad.

Ar m

nt y

TURK:

I• m the man that dare ye challenge, Though your courage be so great, With my sword I make all to shake, Even dukes and earls to quake. ST. GEORGE:

nt y

ag h

Ar m

Here comes I, St. George, from England have I sprung, And many a noble deed of valour have I done. For years I was in close quarters kept, And out of that into a prison leapt, And out of that into a block of stone, Where I u1ade many a sad and grievous moan. Many a giant did I subdue, And I ran the fiery dragon through and through. I fought them all courageously, Until I earned the victory. Show me tbe man tbat dare me stand, A.nd I will cut him down, with my courageous hand.

nt ou

1-iASTER OF CEREHONIES:

ag h m

DRffi.:ICR.EE VERSION.

C h

any form of social or dance.

no doubt, prove as enjoyable a wi·nter en t er t ainment as

us eu m

The Christmas Rhymers (cont.) TUBK:

eu m

I am a Turkish champion From Turkey land I came' To_fight you, the great'st. George be na:;ie, Ana I say, by George, you are a liar sir, So draw your sword and try, sir! '

m eu

nt ou

s 1-iOTHER:

TURK I

us eu m

ou nt y

nt y

DOCTOR:

ag h

Ar m

Well, doctor, what is your medicine?

TURK'S MOTHER:

ou nt

Ar m

TURK: b t w I •m alive, Once I was dead u d :ri~ r that made me revive, God bless the I weeb ?ecv~ in the words I say, And if ye don t e1 1 -- . Enter in Sir Oliver Cromwell, And he will clear the way·

nt y

Ar m

Hens pens and Turkish treacle, Bum-bee eggs and midges bac~n, Stirred up with a great_ cats feather, Mixed in a mouse's bletner, And ~iven thrice a day. He sits up and gives k tb Doctor attends to the Tur· aoks.

ou nt

Enter the doctor.

Ar m

ag h

St. George, St. George. Oh, what have ye done. You have killed me only son. See him lying bleeding there, Oh, my heart is sinking in despair. A doctor, a doctor, ten pounds for a doctor. Is there ·ne'er a doctor to be found. wbo can cure me son of his deep and mortal wound?

ag h m

St. George and the Turkish champion engage in sword The Turk falls and his mother enters weeping and uying -

plaY.

Ccont,)

us eu m

f+Je C11ristljlas Rhymers Ci:lOMWELL:

us eu m

ST. PATRICK:

ag h

us eu m

ou nt

h ag

Ar m

Here comes I, Big-bellied Ned, I£ ye cantt give me money, give me plenty of bread, For when I was young I was not well fed, But now they call me Big-bellied Ned. It ye don't believe in the words that I say, BDter 1n wee Divil Doubt and he will clear the way.

Ar m NED:

nt y

Ar m

Here comes I, Beelzebub, And over me shoulder I carry me club, And in llie band a dripping-pan, Anq I count myself a jolly fine man. And if ye don 1 t believe the words that I say, Enter in Big-Bellied Ned and he will clear the way.

nt y

B&.LZEBUB:

ag h

ou nt y

Ar m

ou nt

Here comes I, St. Patrick_, in my shinin' armour bright, I was once a noble champion, but now a worthy knight. I fed my sheep on oats and hay, And after that I ran away, If ye don 1 t believe the words that I say, Enter in Beelzebub and he will clear the way.

ag h

m ©

eu m

~ere comes I, Sir Oliver Cromwell. As ye may suppose, I have conquered many nations with my long and copper nose, I have caused my foes to tremble, And all my enemies to quake, Sure I bate me own companions, Until they were no longer fit to spake. I sbot the divil through a reel, And through an oul 1 spinning wheel, T"11rough a bag of pepper, Through a horse-shoe -cocker. Such a man was never known. And if ye don't believe the words that I say, Enter in St. Patrick and he will clear the way.

.2..JJ.

us eu m

foe Qhrjstmas Rhymers (cont.) DI VIL DOUBT:

eu m

us eu m

Here comes I, the bold John Funny, I'm the man that lifts the money, ill silver and no brass, Bad ha'pence won't pass, Send the farthings to Belfast.

us eu m

Room, room, brave gallant boys,

ag m

Ar ©

Ar m

And iive us room to rhyme, fo we show ye some activity, This happy Christmas time. Active youth and active age, '.L'he like was never acted on the stage, If ye don't believe the words I say, .inter in st. Georie and he will clear the way.

ou nt

nt y

ou nt y

ag h

BALLYMORE-.t-HJLLAVILLY VERSION.

II.

Ar m

Players bow and retire.

Ar m

Ar m ©

ou nt

God bless the master of this house, Likewise the mistress, too. May their barns be filled with wheat and corn, And their hearts be always true. A merry Christmas is our wish, Where 1 er we do appear, To you a well-filled purse, A well-filled dish, And a happy bri~ht New Year.

ag h

After the collection is made the plaY.ers chant the

followin~ verse:-

J Olli FUNNY:

ag h

eu m

Here comes I, wee Divil Doubt, If ye don't give me money, I'll sweep ye all out, Money I want and money I crave, If ye don't give me money, I'll sweep ye till your grave. If ye don't believe in the words that I say, .iiioter in John Funny and be will clear tbe way.

us eu m

Tha Christmas Rhymers (cont,) ST. G.EORGE:

From England have I sprung, One of taose noble deeds of valour to begin, For seven long years was I in a close cave kept, Ar!d out of that into a locked prison leapt • .And out of that into an old and rusty stone, W'nere I made many a sad and grievous moan. Many a giant did I subdue, By running my dagger through and through, I saved poor Sabo from the fiery stake, W"nat ~ore could mortal undertake? I fought them all courageously, .And always won the victory, lsngland 1 s right and Ireland's wrong, Sbow me the man that dare me stand, .And I w.i.11 cut him down with my right hand.

nt y

TURK:

ag h

Ar m

And who are you but a poor silly lad.

ST. GEORGE:

C h

Oh, Geor&ehOh, George, what have ye dona, ed my one and only son.

Ye have k1

ou nt

Ar m

'.l.lJRK 1 S FATHER:

nt y

Ar m

I am a Turkey champion, from Turkey land I came, To .fight you, great St. George by name, I will cut ye and slash ye and send ye out to Turkey, And af'ter that is done fi~bt every man in Christendom. tbe 111,~k and St. George draw swords. After some sword-play •"-l"k fa11s and his father rushes in crying -

ou nt y

Ar m

Here am I the man that dare ye stand.

us e

ou nt

TUBK:

ag h

The Turk now makes his entrance.

us eu m

ag h

eu m

Here comes I, St. George.

us eu m

The Christmas Rhymers Ccont,J ST. GEORGE:

st.

eu m

He challenged me to fight, sir, And why should I deny him, sir?

m m

'i"URK I s FATHER:

us eu m

ou nt y

ou nt

. Once I was dead but now I'm alive, God bless the doctor that made me revive,

Ar m

!Cu.rk recovers, sits up, then stands.

TURK:

nt y

Ar m

Hens pens, peesy weezy, midges eyes and bumbees bacon, Heart's blood of the smoothing iron, the juice of the tongs, •The brains of the bellows, three turkey eggs three miles long. Give Jack a drop of this and he will rise and sin~ a song.

us e

nt y

DOCTOR:

ag h

Ar m

What is your medicine, doctor?

Ar m

TURK'S FATHER:

ag h

The doctor enters wearing tall hat and carrying bag

from wich he produces a large bottle.

us eu m

ou nt

If ye cut him into four quarters, Your body I will soon destroy, A doctor, a doctor, ten pounds for a doctor, Is there no doctor to be found To cure my son of bis deep and mortal wound?

ST. GEORGE:

I will cut him into four quarters, sir, On this very ground where he doth lie, sir.

ag h

George now steps forward and stands astride the bodY of the Turk.

us eu m

The Christmas Rhymers (cont,)

eu m

Wonderful, wonderful things have I seen Seventeen old women knocked into ninete~n And ?ut of_nineteen into full twenty-four; And if ye cton't believe the words that I say Enter in Oliver Cromwell and he will clear ' the way.

C h

Here comes I who niver come yit,

Big head and little wi ~

• The more my head's so big my body's small, ~t 1 1 11 do my best to plazB ye all. ~d it ye don't believe the words that I say, J2.nter into wee Divily Doubt and he will clear

the way.

ou nt

BIG HEAD:

Ar m

Here comes I Beelzebub, Over me shoulder I carry me club, And in me han' a drippin' pan, I count meself a jolly wee man, And if ye don't believe the words that I say, Enter in Big Head and he will clear the way.

nt y

C h

nt y

ag h

Ar m

ou nt y

Ar m

BE&L~B.

us e

ou nt

us eu m

ag h

ST. PATRICK:

Here comes I, St. Patrick, in my shining armour bright, I am a worthy champion come to fight this very night, Who was St. George but St. Peter's sarvent boy? Who fed his horse on oats and hay and after ran away, And if ye don't believe the words that I say, Enter in Beelzebub and he will clear the wa:y.

Ar m ©

ag h m

Here comes I big Oliver Cromwell with my long and copper nose, I have conquered many nations as you may well suppose, I made the French to tremble and the Germans for to quake, I bate the bludy Dutchmen till their hearts were fit to ache, And if ye don't believe the words that I say, Enter in St. Patrick and he will clear the way.

ou C h

CROiv.iWELL: ·

r - ----------- ----------- ----~----

21.S

The

Rhymers Ccont.)

us eu m

Christmas

DI VILY DOUBT:

eu m

Here comes I, wee Divily Doubt, If ye don I t give me money, I 111 sweep ye all out, honey I want and money I crave, If ye don I t give me money I 1 11 sweep ye to the grave.

nt y

I h ave no recollection of St. Patrick in the play as

us e

us eu m

ou nt y

ou nt

us eu m

Ar m

ag h

ag h m

ag h

For instance I clearly

varied in certain district.

Ar m

I first h eard it but later I was to discover that the cast

ou nt

Ar m

but i n th e two versions quoted they are missing. At t i· mes the rhymers were accompanied by a couple of flute

Ar m

Playe rs and on a December rrigbt it was pleasant to listen to th e mu sic of tbe flutes coming nearer.

I also reme~ber that in the early days of my knowledge

of th e players they wore high cone-soaped hats fashioned

nt y

Ar m

remember two characters known as Jack Straw and Funny Face

Your cellar doors are locked, And we are like to choke; And it's all for the drink that we sing; Sing, boys, sing. And women round the fire with pockets full of money, And men with barrells full of~golden beer. Sure it's all for the d~ink-""that we sing. Sing, boys, sing. __ A merry Christmas 1.s our wish, And a happy bright New Year.

Di vi l y Doubt now collects the money in a large purse whilst ti1 e players stand in two lines facing each other, singi ng t he following verse to which they beat time (by sword-pl ay ) with each other.

The Christmas R.~vmers (cont.)

us eu m

·ro~ ,.'. eat or oat straw with twisted ropes of the same oataria

i:o rn putee fashion on their legs.

At that time

eu m

t he r!,. _er s were frequently accompanied by a number of

young ra e~1 dressed in women's clothes, who towards the They

end o~ t :1e performance gave an exhibition dance.

were ofteu the most diverting part of the whole show,

fo r not a lonei did they wear whatever they could find in

ti1e ua y of female garments, but each managed to somehow

us eu m

t hem more amusingly.

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

Ti1e version in South .A:rmagh has been noted by Nichael

Murpby in "At Slieve Gullion's Foot 11 , (l)that delightful

ou nt y

Ar m

book of e ssays on folk customs around the slopes of that

us e

rom antic mountain, and the variant is all the more interest-

nt y

Ar m

Rbymers 11 in recent years,

I ha ve not heard of the

nt y

ag h

ances.

Ar m

i ng because of bis personal participation in many perform-

and I fea r the custom has become extinct, chiefly due I

h ag Ar ©

P age s 81-85.

Ar m

(l)

f r om our country districts.

ou nt

capa ci t y , a form of activity that seems to have departed

Ar m

t hi nk to tpe fact that it entails considerable walking

ag h

wh i te ~mi ckers and no stage comedienne could have displayed

se cure and wear a pair of well-starched and much be-frilled

ARl_AGH kil SCELLANM,

us eu m

Festivals,

eu m

Hallow E'en Customs,

In the county as a whole this was, and indeed st ill It

is one of the most popular festivals of the year.

was a night of practical, though not always not appr eci a te d,

jokes - pranks that continue down to the present days .

fbesa were carried out by the younger people who because

us eu m

ag h

travelled in small groups and on their way about the

countryside if neighbours were known not to be on spe aking

of tbe possibility of meeting ghosts around midnight,

us eu m

ou nt

ag h

terms, it was customary for material belonging to one far t1

ou nt y

to be moved and replaced by objects from the otbe~ ..

us e

but not always.

Ar m

Sometimes this resulted in the parties renewing fri endship -

The- .latter

ag h

11 and frUi t cakes commonly called ubarnbracks •

nt y

Ar m

nt y

When I was a' small boy I wou ld

Blackberries were

Ar m

~Ol'bidden f rom Oct. 31.

Certain things were taboo then.

discover what kind of husband or wife they might a cqUi re .

nave been a~raid to eat them after tbat date as I h ad be en

ou nt

Ar m

oUt such as spinsters and bachelors using charms to

There were a number of odd practices c arried.

1lver coin.

Ar m

had often a ring concealed within it, or possibly as all

Nuts and apples formed part of the Hallow E'en .1' east

21't-

us eu m

Hallow E'en Customs Ccont.)

warned that the "Devil would get me 11 even if I only ate a few of the ripest.

eu m

Most people then dug their

bings 11 or

clamps 11 wherein

November and stored them in

potatoes in the last days of the month or early in

under their warm earthen covers they kept remarkably

The digging of the potatoes within that period

well.

us eu m

ou nt

1939.

ou nt y

Ar m

aged 70 years or over and as late as

These few stories were taken down from old friends

ag h

m Ar

The season was commonly spoken of as Hollintide

and marked the end of summer.

Unfortunately

us e

nt y

Ey~.

ag h

liaJJ 0 v' s

Ar m

names and dates.

when doing so I accidentally omitted in certain instances

bers that she had heared was lying with a brash.Cl)

An'

Ar m

(l) brasb - a serious type of illness.

.A.n' he shuk

She ·Said till him 11wudn, t ye be better in yer bed than on the loanin' this hour of the night 11 •

ou nt

Ar m

Hallow' s Eve when she met a crowd of people. An' when t bey got nearer she saw among them an oul' sweetheart of

nt y

Ar m

".A. girl we knowed was walking the bog-loanin' one

it should have been so.

ag h

was considered essential but I neglected to enquire why

.3-.

us eu m

Hallow E•an Customs {cont.) 11

he's head an' said

the day's too long for the livin' She

eu m

an' the night too short for them that's gone".

thought it a quare answer.

An 1 he jist passed on

An• the nixt

with the others an' left her there.

mornin' she heared that he had died the night before.

She knowed then that they wur all ghosts she had seen.

us eu m

ag h

An almost similar story is

Derrymacash near Lurgan.

They

ag h

"Waited for him till come out and when he faced up the

nt y

And they got the cart and

Ar m

and they undid its wheels.

Then they got the donkey-cart

hasp from the dure.

Ar m

road for a cailey they weren't long till they had the

When

donkey in and harnessed it into the bludy cart.

ou nt

the wheels inside the house and then they took the

Ar m

that was done they closed the dure again and drove home And when Mickey come home bedad the ass

the hasp.

bad backed against the dure and it was through the

Ar m

nt y

"Some fellas played Mickey a trick once.

us e

A Hallow E'en Prank,

Ar m

intended to use in a play).

ou nt y

ag h

collection in Armagh County Museum, which Russell

us eu m

ou nt

preserved in an AE notebook in the George Russell NS

(Taken down from an old lady in a town.land adjoining

She wsn I t out late the nixt Halloween - sowl no! 11

12v .

us eu m

Hallow E'en Customs (cont.) window he had till go.

Bedad he got a worse fright then

eu m

than if be I d got in be the dure ! 11

Jgthin~ can meddle ye there,

"If you are on a haunted road at night, be sure ye

Nothin&

walk in the middle, right in the horse's tracks. Ye will be as safe as ye like. Nothing can meddle ye there. 11 <2 )

us eu m

us M

One of the

ou nt

"We had great fun at Hallow E'en!

us eu m

Hallow E 1 en.

y nt

ag h

can hurt ye then.

ag h

ou nt y

and place it somewhere in the house near the door.

Ar m

The

us e

Ar m

nt y 75.

Ar m

Mrs. McKinley, Clontygora, aged

ou nt

Ar m

It wasn't a good Said, so nobody went out after dark. 111 &ht to be out anyhow, because of them that might be Valk:ine . u ( 4)

(J)

!his seems to have been applied to a beam in the k1 tchen but the word ttsually means the outer arm of

Horses are supposed to be very sensitive to ghosts . on Hall.ow E'en.

(Z)

a tla11.

They'd take ye then, if they could, it was

Fairy Glen.

On that night we wouldn I t go near the

Ar m

ducked for them.

ag h

We swung apples from the souple(3)and some people

l...=====~"IlOst s ot those who died during the year.

nights nobody .e ntered at all.

nt y

first boy that entered would be your husband but some

things to do was pluck a cabbage with your eyes shut,

us eu m

Hallow E'en Customs {cont,)

lla.l lr:we en·

eu m

At Halloween the younger

fry 11 took doors, gates

and barrows, and hid or threw them into flax holes - and

They let the cattle

indeed such things happen still.

us eu m

ag h

Boys dressed in sheets.

Sheetrim.

ou nt

ag h

night and she was dead in America. 11

us eu m

ou nt y

"Boys dressed in sheets with kail runts for horns,

nt y

ag h

Thomas Quinn, Sbeetrim McMahon, near Crossmaglen, lfovember, 1939.

Ar m

Early in October we began to gather hazel nuts in

Ar m

night and frighten people to death.u

us e

Ar m

and tails made of straw ropes, used to parade on this

ou nt

•pples ware placed in a tub of water and had to be removed 11 by mouth 11 •

4n apple was suspended on a string and had to be oau1bt 11 1,y mouth 11 •

(6)

Ar m

We ducked for them in tubs or crocks of water and tried to (5)

-We always had our own apples.

fit for use at Hallow E'en.

th e little glen at Agbory, so that they might be dry and

Ar m

A man saw a girl on one such

come back on that night.

out too and sometimes they were never found. We ducked( 5) 6 for apples and we swu.ni )apples. The wraiths of people

6-.

2~2. .

us eu m

Hallow E'en Custmn~ (cont.) secure them in our mouths.

We also suspended them from

eu m

tbe kitchen ceiling with string and attempted to bite

them and when tired playing with them sat down and ate

We had other special games and father would

them.

procure pictures on the wall by folding his hands into all

sorts of odd shapes between the light and the wall.

They were mostly silhouettes of birds and animals and be

us eu m

had a most wonderful lot of old rhymes to go with them.

ag h

If aunts or uncles or young people of more mature

us eu m

ou nt

years than ourselves were present, nuts were named for

ag h

There

That we regarded-as a waste of our precious nuts.

nt y

Ar m

was always a large football apple dumpling on that night.

ag h

This was a much appr~ciated feature of the proceedin~s

us e

ou nt y

the manner in which they were consumed by the fire.

Ar m

courting couples and the trend of the courtship foretold

udro'WD.ed in Old Coleraine 11 •

Ar m

nt y

especially amongst our elders who consumed their portions

ou nt

Ar m

and launched out into the most ghastly and detailed

accounts of the dead who had died during the yea:r coming

Ar m

back on that night for a last look ~t their old homes.

Later ldlen we were boys of sixteen or seventeen we were

able to sneak off and knock our neiihbours' doors, or

Quite frequently visitors forgot that we were present

us eu m

Hallow E'en Customs (cont.)

llith a turnip scooped out to represent a skull and a

eu m

lighted candle inside it and one of mother's sheets

countryside annoying all and sundry.

Onesuch night we

suitably draped around the carrying pole, tour the

appeared on the side of a flax-hole unexpe~tedly when

us e

M ou

nt y

ou C h ©

ou nt

ag Ar m ©

us eu m

G.P., aged 75,

ou nt y

ag h Ar m ©

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Cornascreibe, Co . .Armagh.

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consternation and we finished the job. 11

They fled in

of harrows in the stagnant water.

some slightly younger boys were about to immerse a pair

Festivals.

May Eye.

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ARMAGH MISCELLANEA,

April showers have brought

as the beginning of Summer.

In County Armagh May Day has always been regarded

forth May blooms" and the current greeting to visitors

Many old customs associated with the day were current Some families

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as late as the end of the 19th century.

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for instance never failed to wait for the smoke rising

still is "sure you are as welcome as the flowers in May 11 •

The reason for that particular

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It was

observance I have never been able to discover.

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their own hearth.

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that night would meet with mishaps and that May Day was

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an unlucky occasion on which to buy clothes or hunt hares.

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also believed that horses or cows left in the fields on

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On May Eve and May morning, Queens of May yet parade

She is usually the

hands a wand or a bunch of flowers.

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flowers and a flowing white veil and carries in her tint

tender years, journeys around in a little decorated

~a4e out of an old box or perhaps in a low chair-like

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Youngest and prettiest member of the party and if she is

The Queen usually wears a wreath of

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1aapish attendants.

in the streets of the city of Armagh escorted by their

from a neighbour's chimney before lighting a fire on

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May Eye Ccont, l

type of pram.

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young boys.

Sometimes the party includes several

These few stories were taken down between 1929 and

tbree score years and ten.

Many of them stated that

• 1939, from men and women, all of whom had exceeded the

their grandparents always kept their May Day on May 11th.

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instances I have not noted the names of the people who

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the townland verification is missing also.

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uA hundred times I gathered Mayflowers in Henry

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told them to me and in others it will be noticed that

When we hed gathered a lot they'd be

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Billy's meadow.

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M We

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They'd be taken for luck, but

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it•s stolen they'd be.

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always put a lot at the well an' ye hed to watch them or

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s."

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Mckahon•

that vud be less luck for to you.· Many a time we gathered th em in John Larry Quinn' s meadows an' in Hughie Tom John

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Terence Toner.

•we gathered Mayflowers always an' put a lock at the

1'ell an• at the house-dure, the byre-dure an' stable-dure.

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We'd gather sheaves of them.

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dure of the house.

thrown at the well, at the byre dure and in front of the

The tales are a mixed bunch, and unfortunately in some

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May Eve (cont.)

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It was done for luck an' protection from mischiefs, but

sure the childer the day are careless of such things an•

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0n the day of May Eve we'd all be gathering May

John Haughie, Armaghbrague.

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lazy bestdes - they'd hardly go for them now. 11

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fairies at a distance, an' the man .or woman who got the

first go of water from the well on May mornin' got the

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Armagh br ague.

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fiower of the year's water an• the luck as well."

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May flowers were gathered then on May Eve an' put

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us e

An' if we found a

an' they were always put at the well.

on all the doors an' window-sills, cattle houses an' all,

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It wasn't thought right

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An' the Mayflowers we would tie

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blilbea an• Mayflowers.

We'd all gather togither an' pull

till be out then.

"When I was a wee one I'd always be out on May Eve

but not after sunset mind ye.

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Corran.

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till thei}' neighbours. 11

window-sills to show them that they were no credit

and

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house without May flowers we'd scatter nettles on the roof

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flowers to throw aroun' the dures to keep the witches an'

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May Eve <cont , >

townlan' over.

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on the bushes an' when we all had posies we'd march the

I don't mind why we did it, but we did

Carran.

it an' liked it well. 11

uon May Eve w~'d be sent to get Rowantree branches

an' gather May flowers, an' when we brought them home

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Bernard McCreesh.

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they'd be put on the duresteps an' windows . 11

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There were people here in the oul' days

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Sheetrim McMahon, Near Crossmaglen, Nov. 1939.

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in the morning. 11

who'd have sat up all night till be first at the well

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the well.

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uMayflowers were gathered and thrown and left at

On May Eve,

!here was some kind of witchcraft about it.

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nDow to fifty years ago May Eve was practised here.

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Michael Murphy, Drumilly, 1942.

•traneer take water from it first on that mornin'. 11

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th e house an• at the well an' it wasn't lucky to have a

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May blossoms were plucked before sunset and scattered on

;2_'2.. '

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May Eve Ccont , }

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"On May Eve care was taken to lime the wells and A wild and rainy May

put mayflowers about the doors.

was said to fill the haggards with corn and hay . 11

brought them home

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be instructed to go to the nearest rowan-tree and

These we were

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carefully break from it some twigs.

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At some time on the same afternoon we would

houses.

window sills besides around the doors of all the office

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nt y

M. Devlin, Cullybanna.

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later sent to plant -in each tilled field on the farm."

When

some were placed in front of the doors and on the

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sent to gather Mayflowers.

Then aged 70 years.

0n the last day of April, we as children were

Mr. Mallon, Clontygora, 1939.

2-2.q ,

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A..•iHAGH HI SCELLANEA,.

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August 15th

Local tradition links this festival with pilgrimages For instance Lady's Well in Seagoe Rectory

to wells.

grounds was visited on this day down to the 185O's

In the Glebe lands attached to the parish there is

about which time it was filled in.

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though no indication of the site or

documentary evidence regarding it survives.

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The Ancient Order of Hibernians processions which

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generally take place on that day, though not so colourful

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or so well attended as the Orange "walks", are equipped

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though different in politics.

with banners and music and thus somewhat similar in form

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the Virgin 11

a portion still known as Kilvergan - "the Church of

2.~0. Day

(17th March),

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St. Patrick's

Rosettes made of coloured ribbons and called St. Patrick's

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crosses were f?rmerly worn on this day by the men but girls

are said to h~ve worn crosses made of cardboard or thin wood Now both sexes wear

which they covered in coloured wools:

the same type and green seems the favourite colour.

This day formerly marked the beginning of agricultural

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of the stone turned up 11 , and we often heard the old slogan -

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"On Candlemas Day throw the candle away,

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On Patrick's Day throw candle and candlestick away."

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In the county shamrock is worn by all classes and creeds

and the e~re s sion "drowning the shamrock" fully under stood

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and approved - and indeed the story of the saint's use of it

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as an il~ustration of the Trinity equally heartily accepted.

It is a very special day in that it is an occasion on which

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Lent it is perhaps the most appreciated holiday of the year.

Coming as it does before the austerities of

into being.

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old friends meet and new friendships and associations come

On it uthe warm side

for the planting of early potatoes.

activities, and fifty years ago it was the recognized time