News: The Tipperary Constitution - 1837, County Tipperary, Ireland
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Contributed by Mary Heaphy
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THE TIPPERARY CONSTITUTION - 1837, COUNTY TIPPERARY, IRELAND
July 5th 1837

The unfortunate and deluded peasantry of the neighbourhood
of Tipperary have been excited not a little within the last
week by the humbugging story, got up evidently for a
similar purpose to the "Wild Fire" or the "Blessed Turf" of
the last year, and which has the effect of collecting
thousands together almost at a moments warning, who can be
then be led on to any act of desperation their leaders may
direct. A man named Keating, from near Newcastle, was taken
ill, died, and was buried some short time ago. But a few
nights since he appeared to his Father and brother and told
them he had only been taken by the fairies, and that if
they were resolute, and would bring plenty of whisky, and
some of their neighbours, and each have a black hafted
knife, he would be passing the crossroad at Glendalough, at
12 O'Clock precisely, on St. John's Eve: that they would
first see a little man on a fine gray horse, whom they were
to let to pass, as well as any others, until they perceived
him: he would be mounted on a black horse, they were to get
between him and the rest, cut off the right ear of the
horse, then he would be at once out of the fairies power,
and be let home again to them. Numbers in this town and
neighbourhood either believed it or pretended to believe
it, and went off to the meeting, where, we are informed,
upwards of 1200 people assembled. As may be supposed, no
little man or gray horse appeared, and all returned again,
but what passed there, and why they were called thus
together, is as of yet a secret.

To carry in the humbug, this ghost or fairy appeared on
Sunday night again to his father, and told him all was lost
by a fellow going in their company, who had murdered three
men (Whom he named), but that he would be passing
Ratcliffe's mill, near the Spa, in a few nights again, when
they would have another opportunity.
Tipperary Constitution.