This evening I went for a drive at the back of the Blackstairs Mountain and by pure chance didn’t I stop to take a photo of some stones in a field and this man appeared - Luke Doran from Ballylisheen in South Carlow. I only had my phone on me and as soon as we started to talk I knew I had the real deal. Here is just 9 minutes of the most glorious material from Luke - material which is so rich you would not believe.
The recording starts with us chatting in general about the place we are standing as we are looking out at what was once 'The Main Road' that connected Carlow to Wexford - a track between Blackstairs and White Mountain.
The chat moves on from there to a story about a famous highway man called Cahir Ruadh (Corrier )who hid out in some caves up on the hill and apparently his stash is yet to be found. This story is found all over North Wexford/South Carlow but great to get it from someone who lived under it.
This then moves onto some of the best May Bush stories I’ve ever recorded in my 20 years. This is not just a memory of putting up a May Bush for decoration etc but he gives the reason why he did it and why he still does it. In his case he puts up the May Bush before the cows go out on a May morning and close to where they walk in a bid to ward off the fairies from milking them and stealing the milk yield. Now that is pure gold.
He also talks about a type of witch skimming the well on the May morning, a story I am very familiar with. Likewise he speaks of finding eggs in the drills of spuds, again another very strong superstition associated with May. And to top it all off, we get talking about blessing the land on May Eve with ‘traan’ water - something very particular to Wexford. The thing is, not only did he remember it, he actually still does it - in fact he did it just a few days ago. Again - pure gold.
Sadly I had to round up the chat quickish as my phone battery was flashing and I didn’t want it to die and and loose the material already recorded. Aileen and the children were with me and like myself, she couldn’t believe how rich the material is. Needless to say, we spent another half and hour chatting afterwards and I'm still buzzing from the experience.
If you have 9 minutes - have a watch and a listen to this. Pure gold and the real deal.
Text: Michael Fortune, 17th May 2021