The ancient arrowheads, called elf-stones by the people, are used as
charms to guard the cattle.
It is not safe to take an unbaptized child in your arms without making
time sign of time cross over it.
It is unlucky to give a coal of fire out of the house before the child is
baptized. And a piece of iron should be sewn in the infant's clothes, and
kept there till after the baptism.
Take a piece of bride-cake and pass it three times through a wedding-
ring, then sleep on it, and you will see in a dream the face of your future
spouse.
It is unlucky to accept a lock of hair, or a four-footed beast from a lover.
People ought to remember that egg-shells are favourite retreats of the
fairies, therefore the judicious eater should always break the shell after use,
to prevent the fairy sprite from taking up his lodgment therein.
Finvarra, the king of the fairies of the west, keeps up the most friendly
relations with most of the best families of Galway, especially with time
Kirwans of Castle Racket, for Finvarra is a gentleman, every inch of him,
and the Kirwans always leave out kegs of wine for him at night of the best
Spanish wine. And in return, it is said, the wine vaults at Castle Racket are
never empty, though the wine flows freely for all comers.
If a living worm is put in-to the hand of a child before he is baptized, and
kept there till the worm is dead, that child will have power in the after life to
cure all diseases to which children are subject.
After being cured from a sickness, take an oath never to comb the hair on
a Friday, that so the memory of the grace received may remain by this sign
till your death. Or whenever you first see the new moon, kneel down and
say an ave and a pater; this also is for memory of grace done.
People born in the morning cannot see spirits or the fairy world; but
those born at night have power over ghosts, and can see the spirits of the
dead.
Unbaptized children are readily seized by the fairies. The best preventive
is a little salt tied up in the child's dress when it is laid to sleep in the cradle.
If pursued at night by an evil spirit, or the ghost of one dead, and you
hear footsteps behind you. try and reach a stream of running water, for if
you can cross it, no devil or ghost will be able to follow you.
If a chair fall as a person rises, it is an unlucky omen.
The fortunate possessor of the four-leaved shamrock will have luck in
gambling, luck in racing, and witchcraft will have no power over him. But
he must always carry it about his person, and never give it away, or even
show it to another.
A purse made from a weasel's skin will never want for money; but the
purse must be found, not given or made.
If a man is ploughing, no one should cross the path of the horses.
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