DOI: 10.7925/drs1.duchas_4921798
title: Brughtheine (B.), Malla

description: A collection of folklore and local history stories from Brughtheine (B.), Malla (school) (Churchtown, Co. Cork), collected as part of the Schools' Folklore Scheme, 1937-1938 under the supervision of teacher Tomás Ó Tighearnaigh.
description: Therese are many old stories of very strong men who lived in this district long ago. / Coghlan, Matthew -- The most remarkable jump in this part of the country is "Sean Óg's Leap" which can still be seen in the townland of Noygue in this parish. / Irwin, Patrick -- David Cowhy of Annagh leaped across the road at Irwin's gate a distance of 23 feet. / Galligan, Eddie -- There is an old story told that long ago there were two brothers drawing hay near Altamira and the horse refused to pull. / Tierney, Tony -- Long ago there was a very strong man named Duggan in Annagh. / Sullivan, William O' -- The Blackbird builds her nest on a white thorn bush. / Sampson, Thomas -- The lark builds her nest on the ground generally in cows' tracks. / Sullivan, William O' -- A bullfinch builds her nest in a brake of briars. / Sullivan, William O' -- A robin builds her nest on the of a ditch. / Sullivan, John O' -- The birds are busy building their nests at present / Galligan, Edmond -- Every kind of animal makes its own peculiar kind of nest for rearing its young. / Coghlan, Matthew -- A hare makes no nest at all. / Sampson, Thomas -- A mouse makes her nest in bits of paper and wisps of hay. / Galligan, Edmond -- Long ago a hurling match was played entirely different to what it is now. / Coghlan, Matthew -- About fifty years ago every place was covered up with snow. / Irwin, Patrick -- When Bill Hickey was in the army he had to be on patrol every second night. / Costelloe, Sam -- There was a ghost seen at a place known as Purdon's gate now the entrance into Connor's wood at Egmont Churchtown. / Coghlan, Matthew -- One night when a bot and an old man were passing Kilbrin graveyard a big woman began running alongside the car. / Coghlan, Matthew -- About ten years ago tinkers saw a white lady standing at a gate in our land in Annagh. / Irwin, Patrick -- Once upon a time there were two brothers living together. / Sullivan, William O' -- Long ago the farmers used be carting to Cork with apples to make cider. / Sullivan, William O' -- One night as Mat Mac Mahon of Imogane was coming home form Liscrarroll he met a white hound at Jer. / Guiney, Francis -- There are a lot of stories told about ghosts-some are true others are not. / Galligan, Edmond -- Long ago there used to be a ghost seen at the Channeleen by local people. / Coughlan, Matthew -- Long ago people had no machines for making things as they have now so it was very hard for them to live. / Irwin, Patrick -- This was another way people had for making candles long ago. / Irwin, Patrick -- One night a man was coming home from a gamble. / Sampson, Thomas -- There is a field belonging to Mr Fitzgerald of Mt. Brigid called Páircín na Cille which means the little field of a church. / Sampson, Thomas -- There is a field belonging to Mr Murphy of Walshestown called the Rock Field. / Sampson, Thomas -- Mr Flannery has a field called the Gallows Field. / Sampson, Thomas -- A part of our "Kiln Field" is known as "Inch a Wee". / Coghlan, Matthew -- In our farm there is a little field called "Páircín-na-Luaicre" which means the little rushy field. / Coghlan, Matthew -- One night my father was coming home from Mr. Brosnans. / Sampson, Thomas -- There is a field in Kilcrogan belonging to Miss Cowhy called, "Páirc-na-gcapall". / Coghlan, Matthew -- There is a field in Coolcoum called "Bual Anáirde". / Coghlan, Matthew -- Annagh- meaning a marsh, is my townland. / Irwin, Patrick -- About thirty years ago a girl saw a leprechaun in my uncle's farm at Moygue. / Irwin, Patrick -- It is said when Our Lord was crowned with thorns one thorn was paining him more than any of the others / Galligan, Edmond -- St. Brigids day is the first of February. / Irwin, Patrick -- There are many old cures, some of which are very good while others are useless. / Coghlan, Matthew -- The cure for sore wars is the leaf of the woodbine ground in the mouth. / Coghlan, Matthew -- A sprain is cured by rubbing goose grease to the injured joint. / Coghlan, Matthew -- One of the old cures for Rheumatism pains was nettles. / Sampson, Thomas -- The cure for chincough was to go out and ask a man with a white horse what would cure the chincough and whatever he said would cure it. / Sampson, Thomas -- Long ago people had no doctors. / Irwin, Patrick -- A cure for the creasecollar was to look out for a man riding a white horse and say "man of the white horse what would cure the creasecollar" / Galligan, Edmond -- Long ago people used wear no boots or any stockings. / Galligan, Edmond -- There is a churchyard situated in the townland of Kilgrogan. / Coghlan, Matthew -- There is a story told about Kilgrogan grave yard. / Sampson, Thomas -- Long ago people made candles from rendered fat of all animals and sheep's wool or perhaps withered rushes with the skin taken off at one side were used as wicks. / Guiney, Francis -- Long ago when they were about to make flour they had a round stone with a hollow in the middle and grooves at one side of it / Tierney, Tony -- Long ago it was very hard for people to do anything during the night owing to bad light. / Coghlan, Matthew -- When making candles long ago the tallow and all other kinds of fats were rendered in great pots over a roaring fire. / Coghlan, Matthew -- They had no matches long ago. / Coghlan, Matthew -- If a man was going on a journey and he wanted to light his pipe, he just called into the next house and got a light from the fire. / Irwin, Patrick -- Long ago they had a very hardshipping way of making flour / Irwin, Patrick -- Long ago people made their own clothes. / Costelloe, Sam -- About one hundred years ago poor people used to eat potatoes three times a day. / Guiney, Francis -- They used to eat stirabout too; this was made from Indian meal boiled with a little salt added. / Guiney, Francis -- The "White Boys" were a secret society. / Coghlan, Matthew -- In the year 1822 the "White Boys" attacked the Police Barracks in Churchtown. / Coghlan, Matthew -- When the Barrack in Churchtown 1822 was burned by the white boys one policeman named Dunlap happened to be out on patrol and he ran into the White Boys / Irwin, Patrick -- At the burning of Churchtown in 1822 there were three "White Boys" killed in the fight. / Sampson, Thomas -- In the parish of Churchtown there is an old building called the New Barn. / Galligan, Edmond -- The travelling man I know best is Paddy Walshe. / Tierney, Tony -- The travelling man that I know best is Jack O' Brien. / Fisher, Joe -- The traveller I know best is Billy Conway. / Sampson, Thomas -- The beggar woman I know best is Mrs Flynn. / Sullivan, Michael O' -- Long ago people made their own candles. / Galligan, Edmond -- There are many methods employed to catch wild animals and birds. / Coghlan, Matthew -- Blackbirds thrushes and other birds are caught in the crib. / Coghlan, Matthew -- My father showed me how to catch birds in a Fódín. / Irwin, Patrick -- About forty years ago there was a flood in the Summer time. / Guiney, Francis -- It is great fun to be listening to people making bargains at the fair. / Sampson, Thomas -- There was a teacher kept in my Great Grandfather's house at Ballyvahan about eighty four years ago. / Coghlan, Matthew -- There once was a teacher of long ago staying at a certain house. / Coghlan, Matthew -- The graveyard I know best is Kilgrogan. / Irwin, Patrick -- About two miles from the village of Churchtown there is a holy well. / Galligan, Edmond -- Long ago the people lived chiefly on potatoes. / Costelloe, Sam -- Once upon a time a servant boy was working in a big house beside the Black-water / Tierney, Tony -- Halloween Customs / Costelloe, Sam -- Another Halloween Custom / Guiney, Francis -- Halloween Custom / Galligan, Edmond -- Once upon a time all the hares held a big meeting. / Coghlan, Matthew -- People usually get married in Shrove. / Sampson, Thomas -- We had a snowstorm three years ago. / Galligan, Edmond -- During a snowstorm of some years ago the Mail bar which had come from Mallow to collect the mails got stuck half way between Liscarroll and Churchtown. / Galligan, Edmond -- On St Stephen's day boys go out with the wren. / Sullivan, Michael O' -- April 1st is called Fools' Day because a lot of people are fooled on that day. / Tierney, Tony -- One "Fools Day" long ago a man named Paddy Casey was thatching at our house. / Coghlan, Matthew -- One day Paddy Egan the servant boy at our house made a fool of Jack Murphy the postman. / Coghlan, Matthew -- Some years ago I was made a fool of on the first of April. / Irwin, Patrick -- During the holidays a very funny thing that I am going to tell you about now happened / Costelloe, Sam -- St. Brigid's day falls on the first of February. / Coghlan, Matthew -- The old people had great faith in the well. / Coghlan, Matthew -- Is is said if you were going a journey and to meet a red. / Guiney, Francis -- If you saw a lump of coal on the road you should pick it up and spit on it. / Galligan, Edmond -- 1. If you opened an umbrella inside in a house you would have no luck. / Costelloe, Sam -- In our old house there is a quarter of a beast hanging in the chimney and it must be there for over a hundred years. / Coghlan, Matthew -- We are now living in a slated house but the old thatched house where my father was born is still standing. / Coghlan, Matthew -- Verses When Tig / Tierney, Tony -- Ink pink burnt paper / Tierney, Tony -- Sally Sally Water / Tierney, Tony -- Each, peach, pear, plum, ¶ Out goes my chum / Costelloe, Sam -- See saw Marjorie Daw sold her bed ¶ and slept in the straw, / Galligan, Edmond -- Long ago houses were made altogether different to what they are now. / Coghlan, Matthew -- Wren Boys Song / Tierney, Tony -- Rhymes for Tig / Coghlan, Matthew -- Rhymes for Tig / Costelloe, Kevin -- When the game called balours is being played all those playing stand by the wall. / Irwin, Patrick -- There was a very good storyteller lived in Mount Bridget and his name was Jim Kirwin. / Sullivan, David -- People say that you should never go into a graveyard unless you have business in there. / Tierney, Tony -- If anything is borrowed for a wake the person who bought it should return it to the owner. / Tierney, Tony -- Deeds are won by a good deal done. / Sullivan, Michael O' -- Most of the people get married in Shrove the time before Lent. / Costelloe, Sam -- My home is in the townland of Ballinaboul in the parish of Churchtown Barony of Orrery and Kilmore in the County Cork. / Galligan, Edmond -- I live in the Townland of Annagh in the Parish of Churchtown and in the barony of Orrery and Kilmore. / Irwin, Patrick -- To night of the 23rd of June is the eve of St. John's Day. / Coghlan, Matthew -- We had a very severe snowstorm about three years ago. / Sampson, Thomas -- Nearly two - hundred years ago Owen-Roe O' Sullivan worked for a farmer in this district. / Coghlan, Matthew -- Owen-Roe taught a class in Annagh. / Coghlan, Matthew -- It was a custom long ago to light bonfires on St. John's night. / Sampson, Thomas -- In my Grandfather's young days the bonfire on St. John's Eve was attended by young and old. / Sampson, Thomas -- Often on the table, ¶ Cut and never eaten. ¶ Ans. Cards / Sullivan, Michael O' -- What is that which a cat has but no other animal has ¶ Ans. Kittens / Costelloe, Sam -- Tis white, tis black and its read all over. ¶ Ans. A newspaper. / Coghlan, Matthew -- As round as a marble ¶ As flat as a pan ¶ Half of a woman ¶ And full of a man ¶ Answer a penny / Galligan, Edmond -- Why is a pigs tail like the letter "k" ¶ Ans. Because it is at the end of Pork / Irwin, Patrick -- Riddle me riddle me ranty O ¶ My father gave me some seed to sow / Tierney, Tony -- As I was walking through a field of corn ¶ I met a thing that was never born ¶ It was neither fish, flesh, feather or bone / Irwin, Patrick -- What is that which your mother looks for and does'nt want to find it. ¶ Ans. A hole in your stocking. / Costelloe, Sam -- Two legs sat upon three legs ¶ With one leg in his lap ¶ In comes four legs ¶ And runs away with one leg ¶ Up jumps two legs ¶ Catches up three legs ¶ and makes him bring back one leg / Costelloe, Kevin -- Tis in the flour ¶ But not in the meal. / Costelloe, Kevin -- What is the difference between a pill and a hill / Costelloe, Kevin -- The graveyard I know best is Churchtown graveyard. It is in the townland of Churchtown. / Galligan, Edmond
description: 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.