Sayings, Proverbs, and Humour of Ulster.
Author: BYERS, (Professor) John William.
Belfast: William Strain, 1904. 66 pages. Paperback.
John Byers - son of Margaret Byers who established the girls’ school Victoria College in Belfast - became Professor of Midwifery at Queen’s College, but also had a passion for the myths, customs, beliefs and language of Ulster. In this work, not only does he cover the local expressions and pronunciation of many words, but also many of the superstitions and beliefs prevalent during his lifetime - wraiths, fairy lore, the evil eye, cures, omens, etc. He gives personal anecdotes of his encounters with such beliefs, as well as some told to him by colleagues - “Again, one of my earliest recollections was, when staying at a house in County Down, hearing one of the principal servants request the owner of the house to order away from the premises an old beggar-woman who the country-folk said was possessed of the `evil eye,’ and had the power of bewitching the cows so that they would give no milk.” A thoroughly informative and entertaining read - highly recommended.
ISBN: None/Unknown
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