School: Baile Dubh (C.) (roll number 2493)

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1. Local Heroes

   

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   There was a man in the village of Ballyduff, a very strong man, whose name was Thomas Sheehy. He was my grandfather. He would carry three sacks of meal together and often did so on a challenge. He was also a great weight-thrower. He threw the half hundred 22 feet backwards and forwards. That was the proof that the ground was level. Half hundred weights were scarce in those days. Stones were that they had to use. On one occasion in the town of Tralee there was a challenge between Thomas Sheehy and a man named Kelleher from Castlemaine. They met in the market and agreed to the weight of the stone, which was between three and four stone. Kelleher had the first throw, so stripped before taking it. The stone was brought to Sheehy who picked it up. When asked to take off his coat and vest his reply was "if I could not beat that with my coat on I would not be much of a man". He only buttoned his coat and threw the stone seven feet more than Kelleher who tried and tried but to no use, and the wager was won by Sheehy. On another occasion in Tralee he was to bring home a ton of meal so when he went to the store at Latchford's the men were gone and the man in charge said, "Tom I have no man to load you". "I'll do it myself", said Tom.

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. agents (~1)
      1. supernatural and legendary beings (~14,864)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Mary Sheehy

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Ballyduff, Co. Kerry

   Informant

   Patrick Sheehy

   Relation

   Parent

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   60

   Address

   Ballyduff, Co. Kerry