School: Freshford (C.) (roll number 797)

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1. Fairy Forts (continued)

   

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   there is a large clump of trees on a small hillock. This is believed to have been a rath in olden times. There are a few tress standing in a line on rising ground , then there is a kind of a glen, then another hillock, another glen and so on. This rath has not as many trees as formerly and is infested with rabbits.
   Long ago the fairies used to live in it and on that account many people were afraid to go near it. Another rath may also be seen in this district. It is oblong in shape and has a high stone wall around it with a large red gate in the centre. It was believed long ago that if anyone slept in the rath, some misfortune would befall him.
   There is a story told about two hunchbacks who once went into a rath. One of them went in first, and he heard the fairies dancing and singing. He quietly listened to them and when they were finished he began to sing. The fairies were very pleased and cast a deep sleep on him and when he awoke his hump was gone. The other man came, thinking he would also be cured of his deformity but unfortunately for him, immediately he heard the music, he began to sing and so interrupted the fairies.

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. place-space-environment
      1. legendary and spiritual places (~158)
         1. fairy forts (~5,616)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Cissie O' Neill

   Gender

   Female

   Age

   15

   Address

   Freshford, Co. Kilkenny

   Informant

   Joseph O' Neill

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   48

   Occupation

   Driver

   Address

   Freshford, Co. Kilkenny