Play recording: Death of the Children of Cormac Mac Airt, The
view / hide recording details [+/-]
- Teideal (Title): Death of the Children of Cormac Mac Airt, The.
- Uimhir Chatalóige Ollscoil Washington (University of Washington Catalogue Number): 840120.
- Uimhir Chnuasach Bhéaloideas Éireann (National Folklore of Ireland Number): none.
- Uimhir Roud (Roud Number): none.
- Uimhir Laws (Laws Number): none.
- Uimhir Child (Child Number): none.
- Cnuasach (Collection): Joe Heaney Collection, University of Washington, Seattle.
- Teanga na Croímhíre (Core-Item Language): English.
- Catagóir (Category): story.
- Ainm an té a thug (Name of Informant): Joe Heaney.
- Ainm an té a thóg (Name of Collector): unavailable.
- Dáta an taifeadta (Recording Date): 24/01/1984.
- Suíomh an taifeadta (Recording Location): University of Washington, United States of America.
- Ocáid an taifeadta (Recording Occasion): evening class.
- Daoine eile a bhí i láthair (Others present): unavailable.
- Stádas chóipcheart an taifeadta (Recording copyright status): unavailable.
The just king, Cormac Mac Airt, had a son and a daughter. The son died. Cormac was building a new crypt at the time, but because it wasn’t yet finished, he buried his son in the old crypt the following day. Ten years later, his daughter died, and she was buried in the new crypt; and as he was burying his daughter, he decided – as he had the crypt open – to transfer the remains of his son to the new crypt as well. But when he went to the open the old crypt, he found the bones of his son not where he had put them, but right inside the door. They knew from this that the boy had still been alive when he was entombed; and from that time onwards people have waited three days before burying a corpse, just to make sure the person is actually dead.