Co.Roscommon - An Athair agus an Mhic

Many years ago, there was a man in Kilvoy who was very rich, but he did not make much interest on it. He wasn't happy with this and decided to set out to America, where there was more money to be made. He gathered all of his riches and sent them to America. He did not go on that boat himself and on the way over the boat sank and the money was sent to the bottom of the ocean.

When he heard that the boat was lost, he refused to go to America. A short while later, he met a small, wizened man and this man asked him why he was so upset. He told the little man that he had lost all of his money. The man told him that he could be as rich as he was again if he gave him the first thing that they met on the way home.

The first thing that they encountered was his own son and he was upset as he couldn't give him up. The man promised him 7 more years with his son and then he'd return to take him.

The son did not know what was going on until the time was nearly up. One day while the son was in the fields, he encountered another strange wizened man and he asked what was the matter.

The son told him the story and the man gave him a bat to hit away anyone who tried to take him. In a few more days, the man returned and gave the money to the father. He tried to take the son away but the son hit him with the bat. Instantly, the man got angry and left. After a few more days, the son left and his father never saw him again. The neighbours saw him frequently and he told them that he was not allowed to return home. The father frequently found money on the shore after this.