Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 5, 1894.djvu/189

 Further Notes from County Lett rim. i8i

time to free her head, which had become entangled in the ropes. He knew then it was his friends the " buckies" who had called him. (Patrick McManus, Aughrim.)

JAMES DOGHERTY AND THE STILL.

On the townland of Lisdrumacrone lived James Dogherty and Ody Mahon. These two had a whiskey-still between them, but it had been lent to friends in Keshcarrigan, and Dogherty and two others went to Kesh one night to bring it home. As they went on the road they heard the noise of horsemen following, and saw a troop of the " good people" coming along, with their little swords glittering in the moonlight. As they swept by they called out three times, "Good-night, James Dogherty!"

Dogherty and his companions were somewhat scared, but went on, and when they arrived at the green at Kesh there was the company drawn up in line. They wheeled round and rode past, saying again, "Good-night, James Dogherty ! " James and his friends then got the still and went home safely. He used to put a pot of whiskey in the fort for the " good people", and they in return led the revenue men astray, so that the still was never discovered. They were doubtless safeguarding its home-coming on the night in question.

Ody Mahon managed later on to incur the displeasure of the little folk, by cutting down bushes in a part of his holding where they had their playing-place. Their revenge took the shape of pelting his house after dark with little clods of earth, pebbles, etc., and finally the family had to quit the place. (Michael Lynch, formerly of Lisdruma- crone.)

A favourite tale is that of how Battle Bridge came by its name : —

STORY OF BATTLE BRIDGE.

There lived near Sheemore (a hill on the Carrick-on- Shannon road), many years ago, a farmer who had a good