Stories from the People

transcribed at

Stories from the People  [duchas:5174011]

There was a woman one time living in Feakle whose name was Biddy Early and who was supposed to have been a with.  A man lived near her who had an only son whose mother was dead.  He married again.  He was poor and had only one cow and she got the milk fever and he went to Biddy for a cure.  She asked him "What would he leave the fever on?"  "I have only one son and I'll leave the fever on him."
"Go home and he will come out when you are eating (there) your breakfast.  He will sneeze three times and don't say "God bless him"  (The fairies have no power to do harm if you say "God bless him" 
When people sneeze nowadays it is often said in June "God bless him for fear the fairies would take him."
He went home but said nothing to his wife about his visit.  The boy came out and sneezed twice.  When he was sneezing the third time the stepmother said "God bless us" and the child was saved.
During the day, the man's first wife appeared to the stepmother and laid her hand on her breast and said it was a good thing you said "God bless us when my child sneezed." She then disappeared but the mark of her hand remained as long as she lived.

Stories from the People  [duchas:5174012]

There was a noted witch in the parish of Feakle whose name was Biddy Early and people came from all parts of the country especially Tipperary to be cured.  No matter where you came from, she called you by name coming up to her house.
Two men were visiting her one night and they were drunk and they asked her to get a car to carry them home.  "Sit into that carriage outside," said she.  They did and were at home in a few minutes.  The carriage disappeared and the two changed into mice and ran into a hole in the wall.

Some four or five years ago, there was a big hurling in Limerick between Clare and Galway.  Clare won.  The Galway hurlers were very mad and they called the Clare Hurlers "Biddy Earlies" and said they changed the colour of the ball in the field.
She (Biddy) has a wide spread fame.
I remember when I was in training 40 years ago to have said to me "Oh you come from Biddy Early's place." No fear I was complimented as coming from the Banner County who elected Daniel O'Connell.
I said Biddy Early did not live in our parish (tho indeed she lived near the border of it).

Stories from the People  [duchas:5174013]

There is a bridge in Dromed called "Glory's bridge."  A river runs under it and flows into a small lake 300 years away.
The lake is full of fish and it is very deep.
There are some big eels in it but the people are afraid to pull them up.
The river runs thro Coulselsh and into Doon lake.

Story
There was a man one time whose name was Madden.  He lived with his wife near Feakle.
They used go to Limerick every week and in order to be in early they started in the middle of the night.
They were ready to go one night when the cross was taken from the roost over the door and flung against the ground and the dog was struck against the yard.  That was a warning which he did not like.  He taked his horse and car and went off and when he was near the old barrack, he was pulled off his car and beaten with his own whip but the person who beat him was invisible.  The wife was pulled off and her arm was broken.  They went to Biddy Early for a cure for man's battered hand.  She said "Go back now.  I have nothing to do for you.  You were beaten by the "good people."  He went home and was found dead next morning.