The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

NED OF THE HILLS

IN THE WORDS OF JIM LAMB, WHEN WE WERE LITTLE GRANDPA LAMB USED TO
TELL US THE STORY OF NED OF THE HILLS. NED WAS A REVOLUTIONARY HERO
WAY BACK IN HISTORY. OH, THIS IS A SAD, SAD STORY. NED WENT UP TO
THE HILLS OF IRELAND TO ESCAPE THE POLICE. THE ENGLISH HAD PUT A
PRICE ON HIS HEAD. ONE NIGHT HE STAYED WITH A COBBLER. THE COBBLER
CUT OFF HIS HEAD BECAUSE THE ENGLISH, YOU SEE, HAD PUT A PRICE ON HI
ACTUAL HEAD. THE COBBLER BROUGHT THE HEAD IN ONLY TO FIND THE PRICE
HAD BEEN LIFTED.

Submitter comment: THIS IRISH LEGEND OF THE SECULAR HERO NED OF THE HILLS WAS TOLD BY M
GRANDPA LAMB TO HIS CHILDREN IN DEARBORN. GRANDPA LAMB, BEING FROM
IRELAND, WAS A GREAT STORYTELLER AND HE TOLD THE LEGEND OF NED OF TH
HILLS MANY TIMES TO MY UNCLE JIMMY LAMB.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Date learned: 00-00-1939 ; 11-22-1979