Leachta Sheáinín
5th May 1938
About eighty years ago there lived a man in Tavanaghmore, Balla, Co. Mayo. Whose name was Seáinín. He was very fond of card playing late at night.
One night as he was returning home later than usual, he met a man whom he did not know. The stranger asked Seán would he have a game of cards with him. But Seán replied that it was too late and besides that they had no cards or light.
Suddenly a light, a table and a pack of cards and two chairs appeared. Seán was tempted and he sat down and began to play.
They played until it was almost dawn. Once a card fell from Seán accidentally.
He stooped down to pick it up and he saw the cloven feet of his partner. He knew it was the devil he was playing with. So he got up at once and began to run and scream. The devil followed him and the man dropped dead by the roadside. He was found there in the morning.
Every person that passed the place where he died threw a stone on that spot. After a time a great heap of stones was made and from that day to this that place is called Leachta Seáinín or Johns heap of stones.
“INFORMANT: Thomas Kearns, Age 80, Tawnagh More, Co. Mayo”