School: Lisnabo, Newtownforbes (roll number 15460)

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1. Local Poet (continued)

   

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   one being he annoyed the neighbours around by destroying their crops and when sold to a Co Roscommon man he swam across the Shannon.
   There is also a story told about the Pheasants Nest. Owen was supposed to have taken the eggs from their nest for his own use.
   Mot of his songs were composed in his own house. and when there was any dance or party Owen was always sure to be there, for he amused the crowds with his funny Songs, and even at those parties, he would make up some funny little rhymes about the lads and Lassies in the gathering.
   Owen lived to be about 70 or 80 years of age, as far as I can gather, he was buried in Longford graveyard.
   Some people looked on Owen as a Saint, he being only three foot six, or four feet high. His beard was almost down to the ground and he had long hair like the Saints of old.
   Others said he was a sort of Prophet, because he used to foretell things for people suitable to their age and sex, and young children thought he was a ghost, they used to run for their lives from him.
   He used to wear a little black swallow tail coat with brass buttons, and a red cap with a great big tassel hanging from it, down on his shoulder. He also wore a pair of patent leather boots. and a pair of white gloves. Owen was pure English speaking.

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. genre
      1. poetry
         1. folk poetry (~9,504)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Dorothy Dixon

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Aghareagh, Co. Longford

   Informant

   Mr W. Mc Caddow

   Gender

   Male