May Adams
HIDDEN TREASURE
“COLLECTOR: May Adams, Prison, Balla, Co. Mayo
INFORMANT: Mrs Adams, Age 40, Prison, Balla Co. Mayo
3th May 1938”
Just opposite Mr Fitzgerald's house of Turlo Co. Mayo there is a lake called Poll an Dailtín. Many years ago, one of the Fitzgerald's had a pot of gold, he went to the lake one day with it and let it down into the water by a chain. He then stuck an iron in the ground and tied the chain to it by a rope so that he would be able to find it when he would want it. Alas when the pot of gold got to the bottom of the lake the iron gave way, and the man could not get it then.
When that Mr Fitzgerald who hid the gold died, his successor wanted to get the gold, so he employed a diver to go down for it. The diver went down several times and the last time he went down he said he saw something awful like a cat and that if Mr Fitzgerald gave him the pot of gold itself he would not go down again.
When Mr Fitzgerald saw that he could not get the pot of gold he got a chain pump and pumped out the water, but he could not get the gold. Then he ordered the people to throw branches and scraws in the place of the water and he made an island of it which covers the pot of gold.
RIDDLES
“COLLECTOR: May Adams, Prison, Balla, Co. Mayo
INFORMANT: Mr Tom Adams, Age 45, Prison, Balla Co. Mayo
6th May 1938””
1. What is the first thing you do when you fall in the water?
2. What is everybody doing at the same time?
3. Why is a dog with a broken leg like a boy at arithmetic?
4. Why is a kiss like a rumour?
5. What gets wet with drying?
Get wet.
Growing older.
Because he puts down three and carries one.
Because it goes from mouth to mouth.
A towel.
SIGNS OF RAIN
“COLLECTOR: May Adams, Prison, Balla, Co. Mayo
INFORMANT: Mary McDonnell, Age 75, Prison, Balla Co. Mayo
6th May 1938”
When a ring encircles the moon and the stars grow pale and dim it is the sign of rain.
It is the sign of rain to see the sea-gulls gathering together in a field.
It is a sign of rain to see the crows lying on a wall.
A FAIRY TALE
“COLLECTOR: May Adams, Prison, Balla, Co. Mayo
INFORMANT: Martin Ansbro, Age 74, Prison, Balla Co. Mayo
6th May 1938”
In the village of Ara Co Mayo there was a man called James Reddington. He was returning home from visiting one night and he met the fairies and they all saying, "A horse for me". The man said, "And a horse for me". The fairies were short of a horse and they gave him a bullock, but they told him not to speak.
The fairies and the man set off in full gallop and never stopped till they came to the river Moy near Foxford and the horses and the bullock jumped the river. The man said "Speak or speak not, that was a good jump for a bullockeen. The moment he spoke the fairies and the bullock disappeared and he found himself riding on a boohalaun and he had to walk home.
NAMES OF FIELDS
“COLLECTOR: May Adams, Prison, Balla, Co. Mayo
18th May 1938”
Cruachán a gcuinrín
Cúl an tobair
Móin fhéar beag
Páirc beag
Sraith
Garra aitinn
Gappa a bhán
Paircín an chapall
Crochán Bhán
Croc na mbúachalán
Gairdín mór
Reológ
Turnóg
Poll a gaiple
Croch a teampaill
Cualán Mhartan
Gort na caora
Croch dubh.
The names mentioned above are on our farm of Prizon, Ball, Mayo, Carra
A MARRIAGE
“COLLECTOR: May Adams, Address, Prison, Balla, Co. Mayo
INFORMANT: Martin Ansbro, Age 74, Dooros, Co. Mayo
18th May 1938”
In the olden times there was a man about to get married. He went to a certain house and asked a wife, he was refused and on the following night he got three men and they armed themselves with sticks and went to the girl's house and took the girl by force. He brought her away and locked her in an old barn till morning and at break of day he took her to church behind him on horse-back, Five donkeys following with two riders on each. They came home from the church in high spirits and the wedding feast began. They had two casks of poteen and loaves, bacon and green cabbage. There was very little tea in those days.
It wasn’t long till a crowd of straw-boys came and demanded porter. They had no porter, but they invited them in and gave them a hearty meal of bread and meat. They danced and enjoyed themselves for an hour and went home. The following day the 'newlywed man' went to the bride's home with his three friends and the sticks and demanded a fortune. All the fortune they could give them was a year-old bullock and a five-pound note.
The married pare went away pleased with the fortune and the happily ever afterwards.
LOCAL GAMES
“COLLECTOR: May Adams, Address, Prison, Balla, Co. Mayo”
These are games which we play at home in the village of Fargureens, Parish of Balla, barony of Carra, Co. Mayo.
At first two girls sit on a chair one holding the other. Then one girl comes up to the pair that are sitting on the chair and says; "I am one Lord that came from Spain to court your eldest daughter Jane. One of the girls that is sitting on the chair says, My eldest daughter Jane is too young to be controlled by flattering tongues." Then the person that is standing up says,
Be she young or be she old upon my word she is fit to be sold." Then the person that is sitting down says
"Go back go back the spoons are bright and take the fairest lady in your sight".
They continue like that until all in the ring are brought.
Archival information
Sticks Game: the game of ‘cad’, Inish Meadhon Source: Dúchas
They all gather in a ring round the two that are sitting down and they say Geney Joe Geney joe how is she now? She is blueing clothes, blueing clothes and you can't see her now.
Then they all move back and come in again and say the same.
Each time they come in, the person that is sitting says a different thing.
After saying about the blueing, she then says she is ironing. Afterwards she says that she is putting away the clothes.
Then she says she is ill and had the doctor and the priest and she is dead.
Then a great cry rises and four people take her shoulder high and leave her on the ground as if she is buried. First a girl kneels on the ground and as though starts to blow the fire. Another row of girls joined together stand opposite to her.
The first girl in the row says,
What are you blowing the fire for?
To boil a pot of water.
What do you boil the pot of water for?
To scald the forks and knives.
What do you want the knives for?
To cut the heads off your chickens.
Why do you want to cut the heads off my chickens?
They have the thatch of my house destroyed.
The first one of the row tries to save the rest from their enemy, the girl that is going to kill them. As they are caught their heads are cut off.
A STORY
“COLLECTOR: May Adams, Prison, Balla, Co. Mayo
INFORMANT: Mary McDonnell, Age 77, Prison, Balla Co. Mayo
27th May 1938”
In the olden times there was a holy little man. One day he stood at his door and he said it was a very bad day and our Lord put a branch in his hand and He told him to go and stand in a river until that would blossom in his hand.
There was a thief who had stolen twelve cattle and he ordered the little man to get up out of the river and to let the cattle pass.
The little man said that the Lord had commanded him not to leave the river until that branch would blossom.
The thief said, come up out of that, it's I that should be there instead of you.
The man came up out of the river and the thief went down and took the branch. The moment he took it in his hand, it blossomed.
He let the cattle go then and said that it was he that was sinning instead of the little man.
A HOLY WELL
“COLLECTOR: May Adams, Prison, Balla, Co. Mayo
INFORMANT: Mary McDonnell, Age 77, Prison, Balla Co. Mayo
31st May 1938”
Long ago there was a holy well in Galway with a wall round it.
One day a woman washed her feet in it, and the following morning it had changed down to the town of Balla.
That morning a man was up early, and there was a man beside him and he said to him; Tá baile ann sin shíos. The two men went down as far as the wall and found the well inside it.
On the eve of lady day every year, people used to come and perform stations round it. It is supposed that Balla got its name from the wall.
A good while after there was a girl lodging in a house in Balla and she was told to bring water for the tea and to put it in the kettle.
She brought water from the blessed well. It was down a long time on the fire and it wasn't boiling. At last someone asked her where she got the water and she told them where she got it. The woman of the house then threw out the water.
“INFORMANT: Mrs Adams, Age 32, Prison, Balla Co. Mayo
There was a holy well in village of Lough Keiran, Parish of Keelogues Co Mayo long ago.”
One day it was insulted in some way by someone, but it is not known by whom and the next morning it was changed on further to another field.
In the olden time people used to come from many places to it.
Every year people used to come down from Galway to the well riding on horses, and perform stations, for God to protect their crops.
There lived a protestant a good way off from the well and he did not believe any thing about the well. So he brought a blind ass to be cured in it, and the ass got cured and he himself got blind.
A STORY
“COLLECTOR: May Adams, Address, Prison, Balla, Co. Mayo
INFORMANT: Martin Ansbro, Age 74, Dooros, Co. Mayo”
About one hundred years ago there lived a man in England. He heard that there were very old people in Ireland and he came home to see them.
When he landed in Dublin he looked all round him, and he saw no old people there. Then he went out through the country as far as Kildare. He saw a very old man aged 97 years sitting on a wall with a white beard and he was crying.
When the Englishman came as far as him he asked why he was crying and the old man said that his father bet him.
The man said; why did he beat you, because I was pegging snow at my grandfather. It wasn't long until the old man saw his father running after him with a bunch of rods and he said ha-ha my young rascal if I follow you I'll warm you.
POTATOES
Paddy Ansbro
“COLLECTOR: May Adams, Address, Prison, Balla, Co. Mayo
1st June 1938”
When my father goes to prepare land for potatoes he first ploughs the field with a plough drawn by two horses. A short time after he harrows it.
He then drills the land and manures it.
My mother slits the potatoes and she leaves two eyes in every slit.
The slits are then laid on the drills and then they are closed by a horse and plough.
When the stalks come up through the clay they are scuffed and moulded.
When the stalks are up to a great size they are sprayed with a spraying machine in July.
They are dug up in October and put into pits and covered with soil.
ST STEPHEN'S DAY
“COLLECTOR: May Adams, Address, Prison, Balla, Co. Mayo
3rd June 1938”
St Stephen's day falls on the 26th December, the day after Christmas day.
That day all the boys of the country go out in groups of two, or three different numbers and carrying a wren. They put old torn clothes on them and put disguise on their faces.
The night before they go out with lights through the bushes catching wrens. Then they make nice little boxes for them.
The next day they get up early and dress themselves with the old torn clothes.
When they eat their breakfast they go round to every house and say; Honor the wren.
Old Sayings
“COLLECTOR: May Adams, Address, Prison, Balla, Co. Mayo
INFORMANT: Mrs Adams, Dooros, Co. Mayo
7th June 1938”
It's better to be alone than in bad company. One wasp never stung another. It's better to be born lucky than rich. A watched pot never boils. It's a wise man that carries his coat a fine day. "Time enough" lost the ducks. The hills are green far away. A bird in the hand is worth two on a bush. Necessity is the mother of invention. Plough deep while sluggards sleep. Better late than never. The greater the rogue the more genteel.
Never leave till to-morrow what you can do today.
A good name is better than riches. It's late to lock the stable when the horse is gone. Don't count the chickens till they come out. A new broom sweeps clean. You will never miss the water till the well runs dry. Rome wasn't built in a day. Make the hay while the sun shines. The more hurry the less speed. A rolling stone gathers no moss. The old cat never burns himself.
My Home District
“COLLECTOR: May Adams, Address, Prison, Balla, Co. Mayo
14th June 1938”
My home is in the village of Prizon, Parish of Balla, Barony of Carra, Co. Mayo. There are fourteen slated houses in it and one thatched one.
In they year 1920 there was no house in this village except my house and Mr Connolly's.
There were people in Tavanagh, Parish of Straide in Cregg, Parish of Balla, in Ballymahon, Parish of Balla and in some other places who had poor land and they got new farms here in Prizon.
This village was called after an old Prison, which was down in the Northern end of the village, and its ruins are to be seen still.
About two years ago the late Rev. Canon Reidy P.P. Balla R.I.P. changed its name to Ballycarney. There are five old people over 70 years of age in it who can talk a little Irish.
There are two rivers in it one outside my house and the other outside Mr Connolly's house and there is a water-fall in it.
In this district there is very good land and there is a lake in the east of it.
A Story
“COLLECTOR: May Adams, Address, Prison, Balla, Co. Mayo
INFORMANT: Martin Ansbro, Age 74, Dooros, Co. Mayo
24th June 1938”
A woman and her daughter were going a journey in a train, about one hundred years ago.
Before they came to the Station the woman said to the little girl. "Now when you come as far as the Station don't pass any remark off the Station master's nose. The little girl said;"No Mammie I won't".
When they came as far as the Station the little girl said to her mother, "Mammie you told me not to pass any remark about the station-master's nose and sure he has no nose at all."
Food in Olden Times
“COLLECTOR: May Adams, Address, Prison, Balla, Co. Mayo
INFORMANT: Mary Mc Donnell, Age 77, Prison North, Co. Mayo
1st July 1938”
In the olden time people used only eat three meals a day.
All the men went out before their breakfasts and did about an hour's work, and then they came into a good breakfast of potatoes and milk, or oatmeal stirabout.
After a good while they would come in to dinner which consisted of potatoes, milk, butter, and eggs.
When evening came they had a good meal of oaten bread, and milk which they drank out of wooden noggins.
That is the last meal they would have until next morning. The men would go out visiting when night came and the women stayed at home spinning.
Glenro.
A Story
“COLLECTOR: May Adams, Address, Prison, Balla, Co. Mayo
INFORMANT: Mary Mc Donnell, Age 77, Prison North, Co. Mayo
12th July 1938”
About one hundred years ago a man went out hunting and he saw a hare.
His hound ran after the hare, he hunted her all day long and in the evening she made her escape through the window of an old hut. The man followed the hare into the hut, and when he went in he saw an old woman sitting on a stool.
This hare happened to be a witch. She used to turn herself into a hare and go round sucking milk from cows.
Houses in Olden Times
“COLLECTOR: May Adams, Address, Prison, Balla, Co. Mayo
INFORMANT: Mary Mc Donnell, Age 77, Prison North, Co. Mayo
14th July 1938”
In the olden times there were hardly any slated houses.
The people had only small thatched houses with two or three windows which were made of glass.
The chimneys were made of mortar and stones, and in some houses, there were no chimneys, only holes through the roof, which were called bootheys.
There was always one wooden bed in the kitchen. Those houses were thatched with rye straw.
A Story
“COLLECTOR: May Adams, Address, Prison, Balla, Co. Mayo
INFORMANT: Martin Ansbro, Age 74, Dooros, Co. Mayo
15th July 1938”
About three hundred years ago a man named Pat Bourke went out visiting. It was about twelve o'clock when he was coming home, and he saw a Leprechaun sitting under a mushroom mending shoes. Pat asked the Leprechaun for a pot of gold and he told him that there was a pot of gold under a tree which grew on a rath nearby.
The Leprechaun said There are a lot of trees on the rath and you will not know which of them the gold is under. So, I will tie red ribbon on the tree which the gold is under.
The man went home for a spade and when he came to the rath again there was no ribbon on the tree at all and he did not know which tree to dig under.
He started to dig under every tree and under one tree which grew on the side of the rath he got a pot of gold. He set all the trees again.
About six months after he met the Leprechaun again and he asked him why he didn't put the ribbon on the tree and he said; "Look over at the rath now and see the big red ribbon on the tree, you must have been blind when you didn't see it.
The man looked over to the fort and he saw no ribbon at all, and when he turned around to speak to the Leprechaun he was gone.
Date: 1941 Location: Altnabrocky, Co. Mayo Photographer: Séamus Ó Duilearga
Archival information: River at Alt na Brocaí. Source: Dúchas
Landlords
“COLLECTOR: May Adams, Prison, Balla, Co. Mayo
INFORMANT: Mary Mc Donnell, Age 77, Prison, Balla Co. Mayo
15th July 1938”
Sir Robert Lynch Bloose who lived in Ball about 35 years ago was a Land-Lord. His wife Lady Harriet was born in Westport.
She was a catholic before she got married but her husband was a protestant and she became a protestant after she got married.
Sir Robert owned a big farm around Balla.
Lady Harriet was very good to the poor and she was very charitable. She used to weave a lot of blankets and divide them round among the poor people.
At Christmas the Land lord used to kill a beef and divide it with his tenants.
They had about 20 servants and they used to give employment to a lot.
Song
“COLLECTOR: May Adams, Prison, Balla, Co. Mayo
INFORMANT: Mrs Adams, Age 33, Prison, Balla Co. Mayo
15th July 1938”
“I am a bold tinker”
I am a bold tinker my name it is Reilly.
I work at a trade that is very well known.
Mending cold metal makes a fellow feel dreary
And only for that I'd leave porter alone.
One fine summer's morning when passing through Balla
Disposing of hardware some strainers and tins
When turning a corner
I met the lime-burner
To wet both our whistles we went into Mr Ellins
The neat fire-side being so nice and so cosy
The liquor being good and the people being kind
In drinking the liquor, The moments flew quicker
And sorrow and care it was soon left behind.
That very same evening when passing the barracks
I met Sergeant Cronan I am sorry to say
When passing him by sure I staggered and stumbled
He gave e free lodging and nothing to pay.
'Twas all very fine until the next morning
He gave me a ticket inviting me down to view the prime bird
That comes up to our courthouse
That very same chicken fined me a half-crown.
I was going to jail when I hadn't the money
And kind Fr Murphy being passing the way
On hearing my ditty on me he took pity
And out of his pocket the money did pay
So now my kind friends I'm just going to leave you
I've got no more time or no money to spend
I'll go down to the crossroads to join John McDonagh
That stole Revilles turf his old kettles to mend.
Old Ruins
“COLLECTOR: May Adams, Prison, Balla, Co. Mayo
INFORMANT: Mary Adams, Age 77, Prison, Balla Co. Mayo
20th July 1938”
There are three old chimneys in the north of this village, Townland of Prizon, Co Mayo. They are about three hundred years old.
It was Toby Bourke, who built Prison, where the three chimneys stand now.
One day a woman brought her son who was very cross to Toby to be quietened and he said; I will quieten him, and he hung the little boy.
A while after the woman came for her son and she found him dead.
It is only just the ruins of the prison that are now to be seen.
A Story
“COLLECTOR: May Adams, Address, Prison, Balla, Co. Mayo
INFORMANT: Martin Ansbro, Age 74, Dooros, Co. Mayo
21st July 1938”
There was once a man named Sean. He was a shoemaker by trade and he was very poor.
He used to go out visiting every night. He used to hear the old men talking about Leprechauns and saying that if anyone would catch one he would tell them where the pot of gold was hidden.
Sean knew where there was a leprechaun and one night he went to where the little man was a little after twelve o'clock, because he had heard that they were not to be seen until after twelve o' clock when the moon was shining bright.
He saw the Leprechaun sitting under a mushroom mending shoes and Sean stole up behind him and caught him round the waist. The little man screamed for mercy, but Sean did not let him go.
At last he told him he would let him go if he told him where the pot of gold was hidden.