Told by Dilly Finnegan (age 26) to Cissy Shaughnessy
Photo: EO’D
There is hardly a district around Ireland that there are not treasures hidden in. In olden times there was a crock of gold hidden in an old graveyard in Kinvara. It was hidden by an old priest. It was hidden many years and nobody could find it.
Early one morning a man got up early and went working. He was disturbed at his work and was told about the hidden treasure. He went to bed that night and he did not sleep well. He was aroused early in the morning out of his sleep. He got up out of bed and he hurried off to the place where the crock was hidden. When he went to dig the crock with all his might a big man appeared dressed all in white. As soon as the man saw him he ran way with fear.
The value of the hidden treasure is supposed to be about twelve thousand guineas. He tried to purchase the crock of gold many times but all in vain, he had no chance of it. He went away from Kinvara for seven years. At the end of the seven years he returned with hopes of finding the treasure. He tried to dig again but the ghostly man sprang at him with terror. He gave him a slap that put the fear of god in his heart. He went home and promised that he would never go to that haunted spot again. A few nights after the ghost came to the bedside of the man. He left his hand on his face and he died that very minute. The print of the Ghosts hand was to be seen on his face. He was buried in the spot where it happened and nobody goes near it because it is haunted.
Told to Maureen Corless Mountscribe or Moneyscreebagh by Patrick Corless – 16th November 1937
In a rock near our house called Cregnagun there is supposed to be a crock of gold hidden. One day some years ago there was a woman going after sheep and she saw a pot of gold with a large cat taking care of it. She wanted to catch the sheep. She went in to catch the sheep and she did not mind the gold until she was coming back. On her return there was no trace of the crock of gold. It is often since there is light seen shining on an old ruin which is quite close to the place where the crock of gold is hidden. Many nights people pass by that place and they see an old woman crying and a big black dog and a cat which is said to be taking care of the gold.
This selection of lore comes from the duchas.ie website.It comprises part of the National Folklore Collection, property of University College Dublin held in trust for the people of Ireland. Content was collected by local children, carefully transcribed under the supervision of their teachers and forwarded with great pride to form part of the Collection.
The Burren and Beyond 