St Patrick's Miracle in Kilgeever

transcribed at

St Patrick's Miracle in Kilgeever  [duchas:4368075]

After his prayer and fast on Croagh Patrick St. Patrick visited Kilgeever village. Towards nightfall he sought shelter for the night in a house in the village. The tenant welcomed him and offered him the hospitality of his house.
The Saint noticed that the fire was being "raked" before darkness set in, and the doors and apertures for windows were being covered or shuttered, and he asked for the reasons. He was told that under threat of dire ruin and death fires were extinguished at that hour every evening and that no person dare venture to gaze on the street "while the spirits caroused"
Thereupon, Patrick, despite the pleadings of the household, decided to stay outside and watch for developments. He had not long to wait. A fire appeared at the far end of the village - figures next appeared, and wild scenes

St Patrick's Miracle in Kilgeever  [duchas:4368076]

accompanied by unearthly shrieks and yells converted the peaceful village into pandemonium.
St. Patrick went straight for the fire; as he drew nigh the figures suddenly disappeared and the flames of the fire became more or less subdued. Advancing towards the fire he found that it resembled the fire of a blacksmith's forge it being placed on an elevated hearthstone.
On the hearthstone he saw a "chicken", apparently asleep; he called on the "chicken" to arise with no success. He then said:-
"If you are asleep, "chicken", awake;
And if you are not asleep, may you never wake".
The "chicken", thereupon, stretched its limbs and expired and St. Patrick cast the body into the fire. The stench that arose therefrom almost suffocated people for miles about the place.
Later the place was known as Gleann na Boladh.