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
School An Mhódh-Scoil [Vol. 0893, Chapter 0004]
County The Schools' Manuscript Collection : County Wexford Schools
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.
Original reference: 0893/4/4
There are many old ruins in almost every district in Ireland and there is generally a lot of history attached to them.
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