School: Listowel (B.) (roll number 1797)
- Location:
- Listowel, Co. Kerry
- Teacher: Brian Mac Mathúna
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0405, Page 454
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- 1. You can teach a beagle how to read but still he'll show the beagle's breed.
1a. "How are you?" Wisha, I'm dragging like the townspeople.
1b. {Home in a bunch like Brown's cows. All together like Brown's cows}= Brown had only one cow.
2. "Whipt away," like the Ballygologue verdict.
About 80 yrs. ago a child disappeared from the townland of B.gologue in the outskirts of Listowel. A jury was empannelled and solemnly brought in a verdict of "Whipt away", i. e. by the fairies.
3. "Cúis táire ó Dia Chathainn" said by an old man to a youngster laughing at nothing.
4. You'll get Sal-Graddy when you go home. Sail-ghreadadh.
5. "I'll give you the Key of the Square if you go out to-night". (Quay) i. e. Give you the desk or drown you in Castle Hole near Quay Well.
6. "White trout come with the blossoms of the whitethorn" - with the flower of the felastrum.
7. Salmon come in the Feale with St. Patrick Tide.
8. "The white trout come when the yellow flower is on the cowslip" or the flower on the felestroms.
9. "Big runs" of the white trout in the Feale.
10. "Tis always the cow with the dirtiest tail has the loudest bellow".
11. "He's gooshed ('goosed') - like Tom o' the Height's grandmother".
"Tom the Height" was a half-wit who died some years ago at an advanced age.When he was young he was sent for the priest for his grandmother. The priest said he'd follow Tom to the house. Approaching the house the priest met Tom crying out against him saying, "Ah, Father you can go home again - she's gooshed".
12. "As many papers as Johnny Ginéadha": A very respectable man named John Mc Kenna in olden days had a wart and used go around collecting bits of papers.
13. "He can shoot like the Crack Creagh" An old man (deficient) who used go around the country with an empty gun. He used go into schools examining the pupils. Nobody minded him.
14. "School 'em again" says Dinny Dillane". D. D. was a hedge-schoolmaster who had his school in Roly Chute's field, up the back of Moore's forge at the back of Patrick St. Listowel="Do your work [?]
15. "You're as ignorant as (i) the Kish o' Crogues (ii) as if you came from the top of Cnoc an Óir". i. Cnoc an Áir near B.bunion famous in Fenian poetry.
16. I'm so misfortunate (sic) that "if I had ducks they'd be drowned".
17. "Have you any news?" Wisha I have - Buckley's News (= No news)
18. There's Mangan bangin' = that's the Listowel town clock striking. Mangan of Cork was the maker of the Clock.
