part 7

Frederick Ó Daly fell, besides Kandal Ó Loughnan, fifty brave righteous warriors fell by Dennis in that encounter.

He performed deeds of valour which will never be forgotten while a stone remains in Burren and deceit remains in the English.

An Strangach from Ballyculane, though he was full of fight, was flung bottom up right into the middle of the bog.

An Róbhach on a swift dun-coloured fresh horse said powerfully:
"Come ye followers of the potato if shame will permit you."          80

Peadar Ó Muighruin said, and he full of malice: "By Jove! I will break a spear on you no matter how much you love the beans."

They ran towards each other from every part of the plain, you never saw such a fight before since the beginning of every battlefield.

Seventeen strong they ran until their wind was broken; you never saw such turmoil since Eve was made a lover.

He gave Peadar a painful blow in the thigh; and though An Róbhach was strong, he gave him a blow with the back of his hand which tumbled him.

He took his ear off him, oh! what a hateful blow; by the Mass-Book, it was shame that did not let him leave the mound.                85

When with an angry blow he cut the penis off Peadar, the wife of Peadar who was then present said: "may your hands be taken off you.

"May you not be able to stretch to hit any part of a body, may trouble never part from you, may you turn into a cuckold."


....where is all this from? Thought you would never ask:

"An Anthology of the Potato"
editor: Robert McKay
publication: Dublin: Allen Figgis & Co., Ltd., for Irish Potato Marketing Company, Ltd. , (©?) 1961