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Show A LEGEND OF THE BAJ5RYS. The castle of the Barrys was situated situ-ated at Shtnacloch, on the banks of the River Bride, between Rathcormac and Glenville, This ruin castle, like almost all others in Ireland, has many ghostly tales connected with it. It underwent a siege at the hands of the Williamites, and its brave garrison made a noble defence, till it was taken at length by treachery, and its defenders de-fenders murdered in. cold blood. The following story was told by an old retainer of the Barrys: In the seventeenth century, when King James of nasty memory, who lost Ireland, came over here, the Wil-j Wil-j liamites army laid siege to Shanacloch castle, which then belonged to the Barrys. It was garrisoned for James by men of the Barrys name only. The great guns were planted at Bush park, and they roared night and day. The! Williamites battered the walls with 1 poor effect. One dark night the besiegers be-siegers stole upon the castle, but the besieged were prepared and gave them such receptions that they retired re-tired helter-skelter and raised the siege. The battle-axes of the Barrys had done dreadful execution on the heads of the Williamites soldiers, and their army retired toward Mallow. On the way they met a man going towards to-wards the casMe of the Barrys. "rfol-loa, "rfol-loa, friend," said the general, "who are you and where might you be going at this rate?" "I am an honest brougue-maker, saving your honor's presence, and carrying this Irish of brogues to the garrison at Shanacloch," said the horseman. "Will you come back tonight?" said the general. "Is it come back your honor means? Troth, if I put my eyes on kippins. the boys wouldn't let me quit tonight. I'll be bail for lathing of whisky there, and hay and oats for this old beast." "Hark ye, friend," said the general. "You don't seem to be overburthened with money, and if you get a fistful of yellow guineas, would you have any objection to do me a trifle of service?" serv-ice?" The brogue-maker agreed to the bargain to betray the Barrys, and let the enemy in at the dead hour of night by opening the castle gate. The garrison, being worn out and fatigued by long, long watching, slept heavily, and the enemies having gained admittance, admit-tance, put every man. in the castle by the sword, or in other ways they wete murdered in cold blood by the act of treachery on the part of their countryman and friends. Eighteen Redmond Barrys were among the slain, the massacre having been finished, fin-ished, the traitor claimed his reward. The general replied that he would give him nil he lmrp-ninpH fnr arA a ti-iflo over, and when he had paid the money down, he struck off the villain's head for betraying the noble fellows whose blood flowed freely through every room of the castle that night a warning warn-ing to future traitors. From that time forward, a headless horseman was seen every night, but It was not said that he ever done the least injury to anyone. He always appeared ap-peared before the old castle, but in the course of time his visit ceased and nothing is heard of him now save in tradition, and stories by old people of the neighborhood. |