I may as well take this opportunity to record the following:
In Innisbofin, co. Galway, the people have a very firm belief in fairies. Mr. Allies, who resides there, informed me that one old man told him that he saw a number of fairy girls, dressed in brown, around him one day when he (Mr. Allies) was shooting rabbits. Mr. Allies offered £50 if a fairy could be shown to him, and £100 if he took a photograph of one. Mr. Allies has not yet paid away any money. Mr. Allies and his brother were quarrying a rock by the side of the harbour, and at last the men refused to work at it any longer, as it was so full of the "good people" as to be hot. This was two or three years ago. Mr. Lane gives an amusing instance of the solicitude of the old women for Mrs. Allies' baby (see p. 358).
My first batch of folk-notes are those contributed by Miss Emily Fitzgerald, with the aid, for Donegal, of Miss Sinclair:—
Valencia.—In illness the " old people" say any improvement taking place on Friday or Sunday is unlucky. Not likely to last.
Cure for Erysipelas (Kerry, Valencia).—To arrest erysipelas, the name of the patient must be written round the part affected in the blood of a black cat, a cat that has not a single white hair.
"Febrifuge" (Valencia).—The first egg laid by a little black hen, eaten the very first thing in the morning, will keep you from fever for the year.
Cure for Erysipelas (Donegal).—Rub the part affected with butter made from the milk of the cows belonging to a married couple, who both had the same name before their marriage. — Miss Sinclair, Bonny Glen, Donegal.
Cure for Erysipelas (Donegal, Arranmore).—Send the son or daughter of a couple who each had the same name before their marriage to the bog for bog-water, and bathe the part affected with it.—Idem.
Apply the blood of anyone of the name of McCaul to the affected part.—Idem.
