There are many old ruins in almost every district in Ireland and there is generally a lot of history attached to them.

Abstract: Story collected by David Mc Dermott, a student at An Mhódh-Scoil school (Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford) from informant an unidentified informant.

Original reference: 0893/4/4

Loading...School An Mhódh-Scoil [Vol. 0893, Chapter 0004]

County The Schools' Manuscript Collection : County Wexford Schools

INFORMANT
unidentified
Relation
parent
Gender
male
Age
58
Location
Templeshannon (Civil parish)
Ballaghkeen South (Barony)
Wexford (County)

transcribed at

 

An Mhódh-Scoil [duchas:5006183]

178

My father related this story of the Carraig to me
His address is
Castle Hill,
Enniscorthy,
Co. Wexford.
Age 58 years  Born + has lived in Enniscorthy
Written: 9th March 1938

There are many old ruins in almost every district in Ireland and there is generally a lot of history attached to them:-
The Carraig:- About one and three quarter miles outside Enniscorthy on the right hand side of the Ringwood this old graveyard is situated.
All its space is now filled.
The only way of getting in is by a style and immediately inside on the right hand side is a tomb-stone of interest.
It is known as "The Broken Pillar".
It is erected in memory of a famous Fenian called Charles Farrell.
He died in the year 1912.
His object was to free Ireland but he was killed while trying to do so.  The pillar is supposed to be his work and

An Mhódh-Scoil [duchas:5006184]

179

just as the pillar comes to a point it is broken across as his work was when he died.
In the middle of the grave-yard a tomb-stone lies flat on the ground in memory of someone ho was killed on Vinegar Hill during the 1798 rebellion.
The Castle:- The castle at Enniscorthy was originally built about the year 1220A.D.
It is not known who built it because some books say that Phillip De Prendergast built it and a tablet over the front door says that Raymond Le Gros built it.
It was taken by Oliver Cromwell in the year 1649.
It still holds its former shape.
It is a square building with a round tower at each corner.
Like many other castles it is supposed to contain an underground tunnel which is supposed to connect with the Black Castle on the Wexford road about two miles outside Enniscorthy.  The latter is now in ruins.
The following is a short story of the underground tunnel:- Once an inspector came to search for the underground tunnel.  He had a terrier dog as a pet and he

An Mhódh-Scoil [duchas:5006185]

180

brought it with him to keep him company.  While he was searching the dog disappeared but the man, thinking he was playing with the other dogs belonging to the owner of the castle, continued to search.
After searching for a while he came to a place where, on banging his foot on the ground, hollow noises could be heard.
On hearing these noises he told the owner of the castle about it who on hearing it employed men to dig up the ground but when it was dug up they found nothing but a hole in the ground.
Then the inspector decided to go home again but before going he remembered the dog had disappeared so he called him, but could find no trace of the dog and went home very sad at his loss.
A few days later the people in Brownswood Castle heard a strange scratching noises in the lower parts of the castle.
They dug up the stone under which the strange noises were heard and sure enough the terrier dog appeared.
On finding the dog they wrote to the inspector

An Mhódh-Scoil [duchas:5006186]

181

who was very glad.-
Whether this story is true or not I do not know but it is true that in a place in the Black Castle there is a tunnel-like hole facing towards Enniscorthy.
David Mc Dermott.

Origin information
Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
Date created:
Type of Resource
text
Physical description
p. 178-181
Volume 0893
Note
Collected as part of the Schools' Folklore scheme, 1937-1938, under the supervision of teacher Seán Ó h Eideáin.
Languages
English  
Genre
Folktale
Informant location
EnniscorthyInis CórthaidhEnniscorthyTempleshannonBallaghkeen SouthWexford
Location
https://doi.org/10.7925/drs1.duchas_5134037
Location
University College Dublin. National Folklore Collection UCD .

Original reference: 0893/4/4

Suggested credit
"There are many old ruins in almost every district in Ireland and there is generally a lot of history attached to them."in "The Schools' Manuscript Collection," held by University College Dublin, National Folklore Collection UCD. © University College Dublin. Digital content by: Glenbeigh Records Management, published by UCD Library, University College Dublin <https://doi.org/10.7925/drs1.duchas_5134037>
Note
Collected as part of the Schools' Folklore scheme, 1937-1938, under the supervision of teacher Seán Ó h Eideáin.
Funding
Supported by funding from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Ireland), University College Dublin, and the National Folklore Foundation (Fondúireacht Bhéaloideas Éireann), 2014-2016.
Record source
Metadata creation date: 2014/2016 — Metadata created by Fiontar, Dublin City University, in collaboration with the National Folklore Collection UCD and UCD Library. Original Fiontar metadata converted into MODS by UCD Library.

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