The Irish standard., 1899-10-14

any information be obtained about
them
The belief in death warnings or
onens is general, and some OF these
are from the actions of animals, as four
magpies seen together. the appearance
OF ravens about house. Others are
OF supernatural character. 1t is said
that when boat is to be drowned"
man without head is sometimes to
be seen in it, Before death occurs in
house the sounds of someone making
coffin may be heard outside at night.
Near village or hamlet (Creggs) in
Lettermullen is a curious rock in which
local rumor says that a child's voice is
heard crying previous to the death OF
any of the children of this village. The
death coach is believed in by most, and
a man from this district is said to have
seen it on his way to County Mayo,
and to have died shortly after 1t is
thought, also, that in some cases before
person dies his apparition or wrath
may be seen by some of the neighbors
to walk past them and suddenly vanish;
as apparitions of various kinds are thus
still matter of common faith, the peo-
pie do not like to be out after nightfall
on this account. The spirit OF the per-
son last buried in graveyard has to
watch until the next funeral. Mr..
Michael Lavelle was informed by some
OF the people that Mayo-man cannot
be harmed by ghost con account OF
St. Patrick" Among the appearances
seen in these islands is norman, of
whom the fishermen talk much. He is
said to have been drowned man, and
men who claim to have seen him de-
scribe him as having long black hair,
flat face, double chin, and webbed
hands. Another water monster said to
be sometimes seen is the water horse,
or Each Uisge, which is said to haunt
two OF the lakes, and of which several
stories are told. If, on this creatures
energcncc from the water a man sees
it first, the apparition will do him no
harm, but if. on the contrary, the water
horse should first set eyes on the man,
the latter will certainly die within the
year. A story is told OF a woman who
lived in a house besjl, tic largest and
most soutlerly OF the lakes in !Garum-
ma who happened to come suddenly
across one OF these creatures which
shook himself so as to sprinkle the
water shaken off over the woman, who
became paralyzed in consequence.
There is thought to be a connection
OF some sort between the people bear
ing the name OF Connccly and seals.
They boast that they "have seals blood
i'll them, and that is why they are such
good swimmers The belief in this
connection is mentioned by O'Dono-
van, who states that there was an old
tradition, 'that at distant period OF
time several OF the clan Conncelys
acConghaile), an old family OF lar
Connaught were by Art Magick' meta
morphoscd into seals!' 1t does not,
however, seen to be the case. in these
islands that the killing of seal is
looked upon as a very unlucky and
llcinous action, as is the case in some
other places on the west coast.
Many OF the people retain belief i'll
fairies, and some claim to have seen
them. The usual story is told as to
their origin, j. e., that they are fallen
angels who must wander the earth until
the Judgment. They are malicious if
provoked, and lurtful to men and ami
mails.
Means are sometimes adopted to pro-
pitiate the good people The hearths
are swept up at night and clean water
is left out for them, and when making
potcen some leave little of the first
shot out in jug for them. Fairies
are believed to pass from one place to
another in the daytime i'll whirlwinds.
Fairy or phantom boats are also said
to be seen from time to time, and fairy
piper is said to be heard at times play
ing in one Of the large granite boul-
ders.
The belief in the evil eye prevails in
the district, and one woman is dreaded
as having this malign power. 1t is said
that the "bad-cye" is acquired by per-
son through the priest having forgotten
some minor part in the rite OF baptism.
The effect of the evil eye cannot be in
tentionally produced, but only comes
by chance. A story is told of an old
woman who met girl and said she
wondered that she could carry such
heavy basket. The girl, when she got
home, was seized with severe pains and
died soon after, and her death was
ascribed to the effect OF the bad eye"
The first time an infant is taken out,
people spit upon it to protect it from
this evil influence and from the fairies
On St. Brigid's Eve and November
Eve peculiar shaped cross of wood, in
the form of the suastica, is sometimes
nailed to raftcr to keep off fairies and
avert other evils. al
Bonfres are lighted in Garumna, as
in most other places, on June "a. On
St. Johns Eve (bealtinne) in Letter