Folklore: Local Heroes - A Sword Fighter
Written by: John Crowley,
Ballintoe, Glanworth, Co. Cork.
Told by: Mr. D. Fitzgibbons, 70 yrs.
Ballylegan, Glanworth, Co. Cork.
During Cromwell's stay in Ireland, there lived in Ballylegan, Glanworth Co. Cork, a very strong man named Roche whose skill in swords-manship was noised over all Munster.
There chanced to be a body of Cromwell's soldiers passing north of Glanworth. Roche hearing of their coming gathered together a body of strong men from Glanworth and arranged to attack the soldiers at Hawe's bohreen.
Roche's men were inside both ditches to attack the soldiers. When the attackers saw the soldiers coming and seeing they were out-numbered they fled leaving Roche alone. Roche stepped out on the bohreen with a sword in his hand and said, "I defy any two men single handed and no person will dare pass."
Two men stepped forward but Roche's skill bested them. This continued for some time. The soldiers soon became aware of Roche's slaughter. They surrounded Roche and brought him to the ground. A gallows was put up at the end of the bohreen, and Roche was hanged there.
Credit to the Dúchas project at the National Folklore Collection, University College Dublin.
Please find more of their fascinating work here:
https://www.duchas.ie/en/info/res