Tales, Customs and Beliefs from Laois

Beladd Rath

There is a small rath in Beladd. Some years ago the farmer attempted to include this rath in his ploughed land, and levelled half of it. His son cut his foot in the plough-share and died in a few days of septic poisoning. The farmer's daughter, who was apprenticed to the confectionery business in England, shortly afterwards was burned to death.

In the course of the following year the farmer himself died suddenly. The farm was then put up for auction, and the man who purchased it dropped dead in the street coming home from the auction. No further attempt has been made to level the rest of the rath.