Biddy Early

'Unlike the crime or detective novels that originated in Britain, Ireland's mystery writing developed differently, reflecting that country's economic, political, and social development. Early 20th-century Ireland was mainly an agrarian society. Apart from the Anglo-Irish ascendancy, most people were unlikely to enjoy the privilege of sitting by the fireside of an evening to read. There was, however, a strong tradition of oral storytelling, including tales of the bogeyman, the banshee, and changeling children. Two such real-life Irish mysteries have their roots in this agrarian tradition.

ï»ï»The Colleen Bawn tells the story of Ellen Hanley. Born in 1803 in County Limerick, by age fifteen, she was known as the Colleen Bawn, meaning pretty girl. John Scanlan, a landowner, persuaded her to marry him. It's unclear whether the marriage was real or bogus. It happened unbeknownst to Scanlan's mother who'd negotiated a match that would bring a dowry. Six weeks later, Scanlan arranged for his manservant, Stephen Sullivan, to kill Ellen. Scanlan was arrested and brought to trial. Because of his social standing, the trial created a sensation. It was assumed he would be acquitted as it was felt that one of the ascendancy shouldn't suffer for a crime against a commoner. However, Scanlan was found guilty and hanged. Stephen Sullivan went into hiding but when found months later, he was also hanged.

ï»ï»ï»Another woman from this rural tradition inspired fear and respect. Her life is chronicled in Biddy Early: The Wise Woman of Clare by Meda Ryan. Biddy was a mystic, born in 1798. She had a magic glass bottle that she used to foretell death and disaster. An attempt was made to try her for witchcraft but at the last minute, all the witnesses refused to testify. Working as a servant on the estate of landlord Sheehy, she joined tenants petitioning him to stop raising rents. She was evicted. That night, three other evicted tenants murdered Sheehy. It was said that Biddy foretold Sheehy of his impending doom as he threw her out of her cottage. She had four husbands and outlived them all. Her last husband was in his thirties, four decades younger than Biddy.' - Siobhan MacDonald