Anyone know if the text of the story Seamus Ennis used to tell before playing “The Smoky House” (I think it was), and which is recounted in Ciaran Carson’s book Last Night’s Fun, is posted online anywhere?
You know, the one where an odd little man “hires” a young girl, forces her to call common items by fanciful alternate names, only to be woken later by the girl who tries to tell him in her new language that the cat’s tail is on fire and the house will burn if he doesn’t get up and come downstairs immediately? Or something?
I’ve a friend I’d like to share it with, but couldn’t find anything on the Web, and my copy of Carson’s book is nowhere to be found (must be leprechauns).
Thanks in advance,
Aaron
It’s called Don Niperi Septo and is on “Forty Years of Irish Pipering.” I don’t recall the story being in Last Night’s Fun, just the bit about “first you must learn the grip…”
I think one entire “chapter” is a telling of this story, in Carson’s book. But I may be all florgleblasted.
Thanks for the reminder about “40 Years…”, though, as I do believe I have that disc somewhere at home; can share it as it was meant to be shared, in the oral (aural?) tradition.
Danke.
That story always makes me want to adopt another cat just so I can call him “White Faced Simony”. 
A google search for “white faced simony” came up with two relevent hits.
This one is credited to Ennis:
http://artists.iuma.com/IUMA/Bands/Dicky_Deegan/index-1.html about halfway down the page.
This one seems to be a variant, with sources at the end but none are Ennis:
http://www.katedudding.com/master.html
Y’all are great; thanks!
(I shared the recorded version from “Forty Years…” with my friend, but it’s good to have found a version on the web – thanks, Ava.)
I first read that story in my 2nd grade literature book, but sorry, I don’t remember its title.
Good story, though. It’s pretty well-known, I’m sure it’s been written down in several books.
J.