This song was composed by Mick Kelly of Churchtown about the victorious Windgap Team in the year 1887. He died in the year 1925.
I
Brace Windgap team and Carrick-beg
I own I often heard it said
Since the deeds of men long dead
They never lost the day.
Since the Gaelic rule came in
In every place they were bound to win
They should rough and tumble and chance begin
And likewise bring the day.
II
At ninety-six the late event
It was at a medal Tournament
There was to them a challenge sent
To cross o'er the winding Suir
To play on Deerpark's splendid grounds
Where gents and ladies appeared in crowds
And after four gigantic rounds
The goal they did secure.

Tullahought is my native townland. It is situated in the parish of Windgap, barony of Kells. it consists of twenty six families and has a population of about one hundred and twenty two. The most common family names are Duggan and Crowley. The place gets its name from "Tulach hocht" because eight hills can be seen from it.
In olden times there was a cemetry where now stands Mr. Power's shop and public house. Two or three old roads ran through it, the "Long Pavement" is still one of its principal roads. "The Slege Dála" which is more commonly known as "Birchwood Boreen" joins the "Long Pavement" with another road.

the chase but, it is said, there was no need for police then for the Windgap men were very well-behaved. Some of the sportsmen got nasty falls over mountains and ditches and some of them returned with broken stirrups and spurs.
When they returned to Bearna-na-Gaoithe the prizes were distributed to the best chasers. The first prize was five pounds which was won by James Hawe of Cussane and other prizes were also distributed. The second prize was an iron plough and harrow and the other prizes were a pair of stirrups, a pair of spurs, a pair of whips and a nice pair of gloves. This would be a very nice game if it were carried

Then they placed some thin twigs across the hole and covered it up carefully with the grassy sod which they had just removed.
Across the centre of the hole they made a mark of damp lime behind which the plucky Comerford stood solid. He had not long to wait when Finn came along eager for the fray. As he approached the selected place Tommy called out "Come on you spalpeen, there was never an upstart of a Giant able to wrestle or fight with the men of Windgap," a reminder that put the Giant in a rage. Flinging off his coat and vest he looked a terrible

it on his intended early visit to the scene of all the unrest and bitterness amongst several of his parishioners.
About two miles further along the same stretch of hills, a better atmosphere prevailed. All the people were friendly with one another and attended frequently at Curraghmore farm - house which was noted for its Sunday night's gatherings. From distant places the boys came and attended the dances. But unlike now there were no "big suppers" and many thought it wise to make provision for the homeward journey. About a dozen of the Windgap boys were regarded as the best dancers to be found anywhere and they never missed a

them Irish, but he taught them writing. They did their writing on slates and chalks and they had to pay the master a few pence every week.
Where the hedge school masters taught was at the side of a hedge where they would have shelter and where they would not be seen. They had no houses but they lodged at the farmers houses.
Many years after the hedge school masters the school teachers used to go from house to house teaching the children. There was a man living in Windgap by the name of Mr. O'Callaghan. I heard my father saying that he was here for a while teaching him.

It was a custom among the people of Windgap, long ago, when throwing our water at night, to cry out the warning, "Take care of the water", for they used to believe that the spirits of the dead might then be wandering about, and it would be dangerous if the water fell on them.
One dark night a woman threw out a pail of boiling water, without thinking of the warning words. Immediately a cry was heard, but no one was seen. However the next night a black lamb entered the house, its back scalded, and it lay down moaning by the hearth and died. It was believed that this was a spirit that had been scalded by the woman, so they carried the dead lamb out and buried it deep down in the earth. Yet, every night at the same hour it walked again into the house, and lay down, moaned and died, and after this had happened many times, the priest was sent for, the spirit was laid to rest in the graveyard, and the black lamb was seen no more. Neither was the body of the dead lamb found in the grave when they searched for it.

There was a shoe mender once named John O'Mahony of Windgap who had made an appointment that he should go to a house on a certain evening. the master of the house was to give him a pair of shoes to mend for him.
At last the evening came and the shoe-maker started off in a great hurry. The distance was about four miles and he arrived at the house at about five o'clock. When he in, there was no one there only the servant girl who greeted him kindly. Then he sat down and the girl told him that the boss was gone to town. He remained about two hours for him to return, but there was no sign of him. He then said that he should go home, but the girl would not allow him and told him to stay another while that the boss should soon be home.
the shoe-mender waited for another while when they though they heard a

companion they began to get afraid and decided to flee from the place. So the castle became vacant. O Driscoll never returned and it is said he came to an untimely end. In later years the castle and property fell in to the hands of the Ormonde family and they retained it till a few years ago.
In the early decades of the last century there resided near Garryricken a family named O Brien. It was composed of the father and mother and a batch of sons. Terry was the eldest and rather wild. When he grew up to manhood he decided to go to America to seek his fortune. This he did and got on fairly well, but was always longing for home and to get back to the scenes of his youth.
One night he dreamed that if he was back in the old land again that very convenient to his old home on the bank of a stream that runs by was buried an immense hoard of golden treaure sufficient to "rise" the three parishes meaning Windgap Callan & Mullinahore, "to rise" meaning to restore to properity as the most of the people were very poor and the

daughter. Phil, James and May. He made cranes brands gates and he repaired ploughs he also made spades. Shoeing horses and donkies was another of his jobs.
There is only one forge man or forge in Windgap now. John Walsh is the smith's name. He makes gates and spades and other implements and he also shoes, horses and donkies. He buys a few bars of iron in Mr. O'shea's shop and out of that he would make a lot of shoes. Then he cuts it up in small portions and puts it on the hop in a fire. This fire is blown by a bellows which is fixed through the hop. When theytare red he shaps them in the form of shoes. Then he puts nail holes in them one by one and strikes them on the anvil. He cools them then in water. People say that the water they are cooled in is good for chilblains and is also good for sore feet.

Many years ago there lived in Windgap a cobbler called Thomas O'Shea. He lived in a small house at the bottom of an old boreen behind where Walsh's Public house now stands. He did very well by making and mending shoes but still he was not content and wished every day for a change on his fortune.
Then one night he dreamed of a Leprechaun who would show him where he would find untold wealth. The very next night when his work was finished he arose and went up to Gatsiy-na-gCapall - 'the place revealed to him in his dream' and wandered for hours around the hill until at last he came upon a tiny little man sitting on a piece of rock at his feet. He grasped the little man in his hand who struggled and tried to escape but his struggles were in vain.
"I will not let you go until you tell me where I will find some money or some way of living."
The little man told him to go home and

It was in 1880 the Plan of Campaign first took a serious turn in Windgap.
Brophy's refused to pay their rent and the case was tried in Dublin as a test case for the Land Court. After a while the case was withdrawn and the rent was to be decided by arbitration. The landlord was not satisfied and ordered seizures to be made. Emergency plans had been made for this with the result that nothing was obtained. Seizure after seizurre was carried out but with the same results. An amusing episode of this time can be retold. And unexpected seizure was made and all Brophy's stock was grazing on the hills. It was as cold a night as had ever since been witnessed a dark cold bleak winter's night. The forces of the Crown arrived at about 10 o'clock and the Brophy's were caught napping but steadely saved the situation. They rushed

It was a custom among the people of Windgap long ago when throwing out water at night to cry out the warming "Take care of the water", for they used to believe that the spirits of the dead night be wandering about and might be wet.
One dark night a woman threw out a pail of boiling water, without saying the words. Immediately a cry was heard byt no one was seen.
The next night a black lamb entered the house, it's back scalded, and it lay down moaning by the hearth and died. It was believed that this was a spirit that had been scalded by the water.

A woman hung herself in Coolagh Chapel and she was buried in Hickey's hill Garryhaloo and afterwards she appeared to many.
One night she appeared to Fr. Purcell the Parish Priest of Windgap. He was riding on a white horse and he thought to put her back with the strength of a stone. The horse got into a terrible way and Fr Purcell had to take out the Blessed Sacrament to save himself. That happened on the Carriag-na-gCapall road. Fr. Purcell was not able to go home that night. He gave the day reading until he got to remove her. She is between the Grotto and the wall of Butlerswood yet. The banshee has a path. She goes up the Chapel yard, up through the Grotto, and

front of the cabin. After every dance he used to go around with his hat and the dancers would throw a penny into it. That was his way of living. He was not able to work because he had two round feet with on toes which were commonly called, "Crow Relics." (Cam poiligh)
He was married and had one son. He used to play the bagpipes at every wedding in the locality.
The priests put a stop to the dance and there is a true story told of this man. One Sunday afterwards the curate spoke during the sermon about the small collections the priests were getting in Windgap "Did the people think that the priests could live on the wind," he said. The piper was in the Chapel and on hearing the curate say this, he immediately

Page 181
Taken down by James Butler from his grandfather, James Butler, Inchnaglough, Windgap, Co. Kilkenny, age 80 years:Old CustomsAbout three years ago, we were taking out a floor. My father found a horse's head in the middle of it and it built around with stones. We took it up and we put own some of the boarded (floor) floor. Then we put it back again and my grandfather said the house was built about two hundred years. It is said that it was put there for an echo.

The oldest road in this district came by Scough via Kilkieran, Barna Scoile; Cill beatha to Billy Hawe's cross at the back of Crowleys (mill) to Windgap, Grougue, Kells, Kilkenny to Tara. This road is known locally as the "Slighe deela" which probably is a corruption of the word "Slighe dála" one of the five great roads to Tara in pre-Christian times.
The old raod on which O'Cromwell marched on his way to Carrick came by bearna-Sasanach at back of Thom McGraths, Curragh, at back of John Murphys Glencommon. Recently closed now except portion at back of John Murphy Glen. Closed & present road made in 1848.The Long pavement. re Road by this school paved about yr 1800. It was the old coach road from Cork to Dublin via Carrick Kells Carlow to Dublin. On it Bianconis's coaches travelled

The Land Lord - Local onwardRent was paid in Garryricken beyond Windgap. Special concessions were given to people if the Kicked "a priest's head" off a block during the Penal days.
If a farmer didn't kick it a field was taken off him (perhaps in front of the house) & given to the next farmer that kicked it.

In recent years a marriage to place in
(1) Fr. Brennan's House of Windgap
(2) Mr Ned Crowley's of Shoughawadda

About forty five years ago Doctor Sternal of Ennisnag was making a front entrance and the men employed were Thomas Bambrick Windgap and Michael Cunningham Kells.
When work was almost completed there were two huge cut stones to be erected on each peir top.
When it came to the putting up of the stones the two