Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 4 1886.djvu/266

258 No doubt it was St. Brigid. . . . . I often think of calling on Father C—, and joining the Catholic Church."

He is dead now, but his son, who inherits his liberal spirit, has made an excellent road to St. Brigid's Well. And the peasants thereabouts tell the strangers that linger on that romantic way the story I have told you.—S. D., in Ave Maria.—Derry Journal, March 12th, 1885.

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The fishermen on the Munster and Connaught salmon rivers have a great respect for the sea-swallow, as they say that whenever they are numerous salmon will be plentiful that year. I do not know the reason why both should come together; it is of course possible that there may be some sort of food which both the birds and these fish prey on, which has attracted both. That such, however, is the fact I could never prove.

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On the evening of November 27, between 6 and 7 o'clock, there was a considerable fall of stars at Ramelton, co. Donegal, very brilliant, although the night was overcast and cloudy. They seemed to be coming from the N.N.E. They caused great excitement while they lasted, as some thought the end of the world had come, others that there was a riot and great bloodshed in Derry at the election, then going on, while one man insisted that they were only rockets sent up by the people of Derry to celebrate the victory of Mr. Lewis.

March in Ireland is the hardest time on cattle, and every one looks forward for the first of April. The legend goes, that there was an old cow nearly starved with the cold and want of food on the 31st of March, and she said: "To the devil I pitch you March, April has come." March, however, heard her, and went to April and borrowed six days from her, and before they were out the old cow died. This year the "borrowing days" have been as bad as could be, both for man and beast.