The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

LEGENDARY ECCENTRIC

ABOUT 75 YEARS AGO IN COUNTY CLARE, IRELAND, THERE LIVED
AN OLD WOMAN NAMED BIDDY EARLY. SHE WAS AN ECCENTRIC,
AND MANY STORIES GREW UP ABOUT HER. EVERYTHING THAT
WENT WRONG IN THE COUNTY WAS BLAMED ON BIDDY, AND PEOPLE
BEGAN TO CONSIDER HER A WITCH. EVEN TODAY, PARENTS
IN COUNTY CLARE WARN MISBEHAVING CHILDREN, "BIDDY
EARLY WILL GET YOU."

Submitter comment: I COLLECTED THIS STORY FROM FATHER HAYES OF THE PALLOTINE
FATHERS. HE GREW UP IN COUNTY CLARE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; IRELAND ; WYANDOTTE

Date learned: 00001963 WINTER ; 00-00-1888