Fireside story from this hills of Donegal over a hundred years ago.

Posted by Jim on December 26, 2020

Séamus Ó Cinnéide

“Sceal chois tineadh o Dun na nGall. By Mo Athairmor

It was a Sunday night, many years ago, and just a month before Christmas. I was sitting by the fireside, my mind half made-up as to how I would spent the hours until bedtime. Thereupon someone knocked on the door, and when I opened it was my neighbor, Cathal Gillespie walked in.”A hundred welcomes,” I said. “I am damn glad to see you.””I know that,” said Cathal. “The nights are long and one doesn’t like to be alone. Wouldn’t it be the night for the pair of us to go Shamus Gallagher’s house and have a good night’s story-telling?””I am satisfied,” said I.I gave some milk to the cat, locked the door and we were both at Shamus’s ten minutes afterwards.There was nobody in the house when we entered except Shamus and his wife, and an old woman from behind the hill, whose name was “Red Nora.” Nora was afraid of ghosts and we were surprised to see her outside her own house after sunset. Shamus’s wife told us she came across the hill in daylight and that she was not going home until morning. “That’s true,” said Nora, “I would not go from here to the barn in the darkness if I were to get Derry City as a present.””It’s a long time now,” said Cathal, since Dennis and myself heard and old story from you. It isn’t possible, Shamus, that you have forgotten them.””I remember every old story I’ve ever heard,” said Shamus, “but I’ve told them so often that I am afraid you are tired of them.””Not so is the case,” said Cathal. “I would like to bet,” he said, “that you have stories that neither one of us ever heard.””I have one story that concerns me,” said Shamus, “and I don’t remember that i have told it for (past) twenty years. I don’t like to forget it, and for that reason I will tell it to-night to pass the time away.””If it has anything to do with ghosts,” said Nora, “I am sitting too close to the door. I’ll sit in the corner by the fire.””Woman dear,” said Shamus, “have no fear, I must say the story deals with ghosts and the very worst of them, but they will not come here tonight.” “That may be true,” said Nora, “but they are not to be trusted.”We all sat around the fire, and Shamus began the story as follows -About the time my story begins I was about seventeen years of age. My father bought a flock of sheep and they went astray among the hills. “Shamus” he said, “you must go in search of the sheep and do not come back without them.”It was getting late (in the afternoon) when I left the house (home). I was only about a mile or so on the other side of the hill that is to be seen from the door when a heavy fog crept in from the sea. I never saw mist in all my life to compare with it. It was so heavy (thick) that it would be possible to drive a nail in it, and I came to realize in a short time that i was lost completely. The darkness of the night came at last and I sat for a while on a rock. “Poor fellow,” said Nora.”Wait till you hear,” said Shamus. “There was a hole underneath the rock and I made up my mind to go in shelter. At that moment I saw a lantern light approaching and my heart left with joy. There was a man carrying the light, and when he came to the place where I was standing I observed he had a donkey’s head and a body shaped like a barrel.””King of Glory!” said Nora,”I am shivering from head to foot, It’s a pity I did not remain at home.””The best part of the story is yet to come,” said Shamus.”Carry on,” said Cathal.”You may be sure,” said Shamus, “that I was in a bad way.” “Come on,” said the ghost, “and spend the night in my house.”I knew very well that I could not escape from him, and I was obliged to follow him. We came to a house without windows, and when we entered the ghost closed the door behind him.”Do you know me,” said the ghost.”I don’t,” I said, “and I hope I won’t.” “Whom do I look like,” he said.”You look like the devil,” said I.”I was waiting for that,” said Nora, “It was the devil certainly.””You’re mistaken,” said Shamus. “I took off my coat and challenged the ghost to fight. I had a good stout stick in my hand, and I gave him a blow on top of the head. “The donkey’s head fell at his feet. “That will be enough Shamus,” he said, “until I get out of this barrel.””Who was it but Brian O’ Donnell’s son, the man who died in America about this time last year.”That’s a strange story,” said Cathal, “and I imagine the greater part of it is true.” “It’s all true,” said Shamus. “A tinker’s donkey died in the neighborhood, and Brian’s son took the skin from off the head and stuffed it with hay. He had no difficulty in doing a thing like that.” “I believe you now,” said Cathal.”The man who would play a trick of that kind,” said Nora, “ought to be drowned.” “I’ll not sleep a wink until morning,” she said.”There are no ghost’s in this country for some years past,” said Shamus. “When I was young” he said, “they were as plentiful as crows. I heard my father say, ‘I hope he is happy with the man above’ that they fought a battle among themselves in the old fort that is behind Nora’s house and that there weren’t many ghosts in Erin from that day to this.””If that is the case,” said Nora, “I’ll sell the house and the bit of land before Christmas. I’ll get a good price for the place and I’ll live like a lady.” “Whatever about the ghost,” said Shamus, “your sister would like to have you come and reside with her.” “What price are you asking?” “Is it worth two hundred pounds?” said Nora.”Not at all,” said Shamus, “You have only seven acres of land.” “Where is your daughter?” she said to Shamus.”She went to evening devotions,” said Shamus, “and she will soon be back.””Good enough,” said Nora. “If Alice permits me to select a husband for her, I’ll give her the house and land. I’ll only ask for a place in the corner, and it is unlikely that I’ll be many years in the way.Nora’s conversation surprised us all, and at that moment Alice walked in. Nora was glad to see her, and she said:”I am making a marriage alliance for you, Alice, and if you are satisfied my house and land belong to you.””Perhaps the man you have in mind would not be satisfied,” said Alice.”It’s easy to find that out,” said Nora. “The man I have in mind is sitting by the fireside.”There was no single man in the house except myself, and I almost fell from the chair. That is the end of the story, except to say that Alice and myself were married a few days afterwards. And Nora was at the wedding.