School: Scairt Liath, Mainistir na Corann (roll number 2805)

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1. The Castle Ghost (continued)

   

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   he had at home, but his wily host fearing he would not return, refused to allow him out of sight, and sent a messenger for it. When the captive priest was given his prayer-book he began to read for awhile and then whistled. He prayed and whistled a second and a third time. As nothing happened the guests began to get impatient, thinking the priest was only playing for time. Suddenly a terrible rattling of chains was heard and the next moment the subject of the legend stood in the midst of the now speechless group of merry-makers.
   The priest asked the "ghost" where the latter was when he - the priest - whistled the first time and "he" replied that the chains were being opened. When asked where he was at the second whistled "he" said the chains were open, and at the third whistle "he" was on his way home. The landlord became terrified and begged of the priest to banish the spirit. The priest said he could not do so but would confine "him" to one room of the castle. This he did and the rattling of the chains and snoring were often heard from the same room afterwards, which incidentally escaped destruction when the castle was destroyed by dire in the late struggle for independence.
   This tale is often told at wakes in this district but I heard it from my uncle C. Mc Swiney who is about forty-five years.

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Kitty Daly

   Gender

   Female

   Informant

   C. Mc Swiney

   Relation

   Relative (other than parent or grandparent)

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   c. 45

   Address

   Barrykilla, Co. Cork