School: Coralstown (roll number 1314)

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1. Coralstown Poets (continued)

   

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   But Lucifer he tried to trap,
   Upon our holy Saint.
   By sending imps in reptile shape,
   The blessed isle to taint.
   And certain sure, these imps impure,
   Would press him hard and sore.
   Had he not sought the hallowed spot,
   Since known as Ballymore.
   'Twas thus according to the book,
   One evening fair in May.
   St. Patrick took his pastoral crook,
   On Scudys banks to stray.
   Upon the sand along the strand,
   He wandered far, when lo!
   Against a stone, or stick, or bone,
   He struck his sacred toe.
   Machoop he said, then bowed his head,
   To seek what made him owe.
   When from the sand his good right hand,
   A knotty blackthorn drew.
   And couched in mystic characters,
   A legend strange it bore.
   Which Patrick gave in Gaelic verse,
   That day in Ballymore.
   Dear Saint divine from Palestine,
   It was thus the legend ran.

   (continues on next page)

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Annie Geraghty

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Ballinla, Co. Westmeath

   Informant

   Philip Geraghty

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Ballinla, Co. Westmeath