Long ago a man from Garryland, Kilmacduagh, Co. Galway went to Scotland.
Garryland woods Photo: EO’D
Before he went he cut a stick in Garryland wood brought it with him. One day as he roaming about a big wood in Scotland he saw a little bothán and he went into it. Sitting at the fire he saw an old man smoking an old clay pipe. When he saw him he said I know where you got that stick, you cut it in Garryland wood and how I know is that my two sons are there minding a pot of gold that is hiden (sic) at the cathair and here is the key of the door and while the people are gone to Mass go to the cathair and you will find the door and you can open it with this key. There my sons are and they are tied to the pot of gold with chains and they are in the shape of two hounds. When they will see you they will jump with joy but do not get afraid. The man went home and found the door and went in. There were the hounds and when they saw him they began jumping about him and he got frightned and ran out without the key. He came back again but could not find the key and the gold is said to be there yet.
Collected by John Burke from his grandfather, Peter Burke, Cahermore.
From The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0036, Page 0257
National Folklore Collection, UCD.
Told to Eileen Fallon, Kinvara by Patrick Fallon (abridged)
Twilight Photo: EO’D
It is believed that there is a treasure of gold hidden in Carnamadra, which is a little village situated about three miles form the town of Kinvara. It was supposed to be hidden by a miser during the time of the trouble in Ireland, which was in the year 1922. He was afraid the Black and Tans would take it because they used to take everything the people had. When the miser died the gold was still hidden in the same place.
Some men have tried to unearth it but they did not succeed. According as they were digging the earth was falling in again. No attempts have been made since to unearth it. The value of the hidden treasure is supposed to be about twelve thousand pounds.
There were, it is said, cries heard where it is buried, after the miser died. There was a white form seen there. People used to say the white form was the miser. The people who live in Carnamadra say the treasure is guarded by the fairies and that no one will ever be able to get it. There were often lights seen where the treasure is hidden. A few years after the miser died his ghost was to be seen guarding the gold. Only people traveling the roads at night ever saw the miser’s ghost.
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.
Told by Dilly Finnegan (age 26) to Cissy Shaughnessy
Morning mist 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 