Famous Horse - The Grey Gallant

transcribed at

Famous Horse - The Grey Gallant  [duchas:4863633]

About two hundred years ago there lived in Lisnamrock Castle, Parish of Ballingarry Barony of Slievardagh, County Tipperary, a member of the Langley family nicknamed Cormac Ruadh. He was a direct descendant of Colonel Langley who got grants of lands in the Cromwellian Settlement of 1653.
Cormac was a fearless horseman, kept a pack of deerhounds, and was noted for the splendid type of horse which he bred. There existed at this time in the County Waterford a deer that had baffled all pursuers. Packs outside the county pursued the deer with the same result.
Hearing of this, Cormac Ruadh got ready and rode to Waterford, taking his pack with him.
Arrived there he went in search of the deer.
The chase started and held for hours. 
In the evening the deer headed for the Suir.
On reaching the river it swam across.
Langley dismounted, swam across with his horse

Famous Horse - The Grey Gallant  [duchas:4863634]

and pack, remounted and continued the chase, killing the animal on the approach of night.
(In crossing the Suir, the deer baffled all other pursuers).
Elated with victory, Langley repaired to a gentleman's house nearby, where he was entertained with great hospitality.
The place was beside the sea.
The black mare on which he rode, was turned out to graze in a field adjoining the sea.
During the night a large grey stallion (sea-horse) was seen swimming inland towards the shore.
The shore reached, he proceeded to where Cormac Ruadh's mare was grazing and covered her, after which he moved towards the shore, entered the sea again, and swam out oceanwards.
Unaware of this happening, Cormac, in the course of a few days, retraced his steps to Lisnamarock Castle.
The black mare was stabled for the winter, and the following May was turned out to graze on the rich pastures of Ballykerrin, Parish of Ballingarry, Barony of Slievardagh, Co. Tipperary, where Cormac

Famous Horse - The Grey Gallant  [duchas:4863636]

had another castle.
After a short time the mare foaled, giving birth to a grey foal.
Cormac was greatly surprised on being informed by a messenger from Ballykerrin of what had happened.
When the foal was two days old he went to see it.
To his intense delight and surprise, he found the foal jumping over its mother's back while she grazed placidly in the field.
When it grew up the horse was named "The Grey Gallant".
Riding on this animal, Cormac was never headed in the chase, winning all steeplechases that were put up.
The fame of the mare spread far and wide, and the story of her achievements was for many years told round the firesides, in the homes of Tipperary.
The story is quite common in the district, but I heard it told fifteen years ago by John Connors, Clashduff, Parish of Ballingarry, Barony of Slievardagh, County Tipperary. He was then aged seventy. He had the story from his father.