Blair Collection > Beside the fire

PAUDYEEN O KELLY AND THE WEASEL. 87
besom by his side. When they came as far as the green
hill of the Doon, the little man said a couple of words
that Paudyeen did not understand. The green hill
opened, and the pair went into a fine chamber.
Paudyeen never saw before a gathering like that which
was in the Doon. The whole place was full up of little
people, men and women, young and old. They all wel-
comed little Donal — that was the name of the piper— and
Paudyeen O'Kelly. The king and queen of the fairies
came up to them, and said :
" We are all going on a visit to-night to Cnoc Matha,
to the high king and queen of our people."
They all rose up then and went out. There were
horses ready for each one of them and the coasli-fya
bower for the king and the queen. The king and queen
got into the coach, each man leaped on his own horse,
and be certain that Paudyeen was not behind. The
piper went out before them and began playing them
music, and then off and away with them. It was not
long till they came to Cnoc Matha. The hill opened
and the king of the fairy host passed in.
Finvara and Nuala were there, the arch-king and
queen of the fairy host of Connacht, and thousands of
little persons. Finvara came up and said :
" We are going to play a hurling match to-night
against the fairy host of Munster, and unless we beat
them our fame is gone for ever. The match is to be
fought out on Moytura, under Slieve Belgadaun.
The Connacht host cried out : " We are all ready,
and we have no doubt but we'll beat them."
" Out with ye all," cried the high king; " the men of
the hill of Nephin will be on the ground before us."
They all went out, and little Donal and twelve pipers
more before them, playing melodious music. When