The Cairo bulletin., 1911-02-24
Over The Water
Sses 81 We4Sas on
=, fa;r>ks Day
~ i, A. NgTxfSyl.
SNpSTaS&t hs Aresssean sycss AeSes
ssAtfala, aAls,
syE \ Mrva3l

Islanders arc all fishermen, Ia 0ideo
times aNacy wSs les,ejy place and q
hard place 70 ges 10 sad fyam, M
priest lived tRera The ISLANDERS were
all >oad Catholics, ara aot a. have n
l priest handy 10 Aantlsc tNen g. marry
them and to sArlve them subjected
!. tlaem to constant ERALS.
1 The oaiy syersi thiag they had was
the nuns grave" Tong ago during
/ s storm the body OF nan was washed
M ON the Island. That Yves the tirSt
time the people there saw nuns
habit. The leathern giulle and heads
| made them think that there WAS some
/ thing SACRED about the body. They
| prayed to be Instructed What 70 do
with Il, and a voice told them that IL
was the body OF holy nun and they
must bury il where they had found IL.
They did SO, and to this day not beat
I ever puts out 10 fish without u handful
OF earth from the nuns grave" to pre-.
serve the fisheralen from drowning.
Many years ago there lived On Tory
island a young fisherman named Fer
gus Tyrone and n fisher lass named
/ Eileen oConnor. They were a simple
! couple, growing up In a small compass
/ and loving each other with that fer
/ vor which is TO be found in those who
I live lives close 10 nature. They were
I OF the same age. having both been
born ON ST Patrick's day Fergus,
though but twenty years of age at
the time the incident am about to
narrate took place, was n hardy voting
fellow and, however stormy the wealth
er. never feared to 90 out TO fish in
his boat when any other craft was on
the water. But Eileen did not fear
| for him, because she would never let
him go without first taking n handful
of earth and, after praying the holy
nun to protect him. depositing 1t in
the stern of his boat
/ This simple couple wished to be
married on their twentieth birthday,
which was St Patrick's day Of
course. and Fergus had induced
priest from the mainland to agree to
come over on that day and marry
them. Fergus was to row over IN his
boat early in the morning Of the wed.
ding day, take the priest to the island
and bring him back after the cere-
mcny had been performed.
Several days before st. Patrick's
day the lovers began to watch the SKY
for indications Of what the weather
would he. They feared it might be-
stormy and the priest would not come
over, and IL they could not be mar
ried on that St Patrick's day Eileen,
whose heart was set on celebrating
their birthday. their wedding day and
st. Patrick's day together, was re-
solved that they must wait TIL the
next anniversary, which would be a
year
So as the days grew less before the
appointed wedding day they watched
every weather sign in the heavens and
prayed constantly for smooth waters
that there might be no trouble in
bringing the priest over to marry
them. But, whether, as Fergus be-
/ lieyed, he had omitted some penancc
that he should have done or. as Eileen
believed, she had not prayed often
| enough, on the evening of the 10th Of
| March dark cloud appeared in the
west and wind began to rise.
In the morning, though the water
was quite rough, Fergus said he would
go over and see if the father wouhi
| come with him SO, While he went for
the oars, Eileen brought some earth
from the nuns grave" dropped it in
the boat with prayer, and Fergus,
returning, started for the mainland.
He found the good father resolved
not to go with him. He might be oblig
ed to remain a long while on the IS
land. and what would his flock do III
the meanwhile without him?
But TIL marry you all the same,
Fergus, my boy" he said go back
to Eileen, and when it is noon come
down to the shore. | will go out on
to the Hornhead and read the service
But how shall we know what YOU
/ are saylngF asked Fergus.
Then the priest told him that when
the service was begun fire would be
lighted. At another part another fire
would be lighted, and so on till given
number Of fires denoted that the serv-
| Ice was finished and the couple had
been pronounced man and wife.
| Fergus, overioyed, started back for
| the island. The wind had risen, and
Eileen, who stood watching on tho
| shore, feared that every wave would
overturn the boat When 1t came near
enough for her TO see that the priest
was not in it her heart misgaye her,
| but even before Fergus had made fast
he told her of how they were TO be
married after all.
| Shortly before the noon hour we'd
| ding party stood on the shore of Tory
| island watching for fire on Horn
head, a projecting point Of rock on
the mainland. When they saw lame
burst forth they uncovered and knelt
and watched eagerly for the next fire,
which was to mark a new part or the
service. II was an impressive sight,
this bridal party kneeling on the beach
upon which wave after wave rolled IN.
MS though to crown the bride with q
veil composed of their own spray.
Between them and the priest on the
Hornhead the whiteeaps came rolling
/ toward the bride as IL to offer them
selves as an adornment for her bridal