School: Carrickerry (B.) (roll number 11280)

Location:
Carrigkerry, Co. Limerick
Teacher:
Seán Ó Conaill
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0487, Page 373

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0487, Page 373

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  1. XML School: Carrickerry (B.)
  2. XML Page 373
  3. XML “No Person Should Grieve at His Lot”

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  1. Once upon a time there lived two sons whose mother had died and whose father was on his death bed. The father had a large farm and flocks and herds and much of the modern riches which we call money. He willed all this to his eldest son and to the other he willed only the cat in the ash-corner.
    As soon as the youngest son heard what he got he was very angry. But he patiently packed up his clothes to commence travelling to seek his fortune. Suddenly the sleepy eat stepped out of the ashes, stood in the middle of the floor, and drew himself until he was as big as any calf.
    He then stepped lightly to the loft and seizing an old rusty gun flung it over his shoulder and off he set out of the house. The younger son did not see the cat doing that as he was interested in packing up his clothes and was now looking for him. Of course he was surprised at not finding him in the ash- corner.
    Towards evening he was amazed to see that the cat coming home with a bag of birds and every one of them grew feathers of the purest gold. He sold the feathers to a kind for ten thousand pounds which made him rich for life.
    The cat went fowling daily and at the end of a week, the younger of the two sons was the richest man in the world. Some foreign king heard of his riches and
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Folktales index
    AT0545: The Cat as Helper
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Dónal Ó hAodha
    Gender
    Male
    Address
    Carrigkerry, Co. Limerick
    Informant
    Mrs Mary Hayes
    Gender
    Female
    Age
    50
    Address
    Carrigkerry, Co. Limerick