From the Dúchas Schools’ Collection and told by James Reynolds from County Sligo.
Cover art and all art by Jessie M. King
Once upon a time there lived a princess who was under a spell of fairies. It is said she could not marry until she found a fairy necklace, which the queen of the fairies gave her for a birthday present. She was an only daughter of a King who once lived in a place called Sligo situated on the banks of the Nigar. The King was not very much annoyed at first but as he began to get old, the thought troubled him that unless the magic necklace was found he would not have anyone to be his heir.
He was so much annoyed in the end that he sent messages to all the princess that if they could get the smallest clue to the fairy necklace, he would give to that one his daughter and would also make him his heir. Once prince the name of King Greatheart loved princess May very dearly. For months and months he searched day and night but would not find the least clue to where the necklace was hidden One night when he was worn out, he went to sleep in an armchair. While he slept, he dreamt that the necklace was hidden in the hollow of an oak tree outside the Kings palace.
When he awoke, he went to the oak tree, put his hand into the hollow of and took from it the tiniest box ever seen. Running into the palace he placed the box in the hands of the princess. On opening it she found a beautiful diamond necklace which would fit no one but herself. Falling on her knees before the prince, she cried joyfully, “Now I can be your Queen, when you have found this for me, my noble, kind and loving King Greatheart.” This tale was told one winters night by an old man the name of “Paddy Bushybeard” so he was called and who lived in an old house on the side of Ballygowley mountain about the year 1646. The story has been widely circulated since then.
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