Naggeneen on a wine cask with its spigot, facing Mac Carthy and his lantern, Croker1844
This small engraving introduces The Haunted Cellar: the fairy sits astride a wine cask with the spigot over one shoulder while Mac Carthy raises his lantern. It depicts Naggeneen’s particular encounter at Ballinacarthy; the monochrome print does not show the red cap and blue stockings described in the story.
Overview
At Justin Mac Carthy’s Ballinacarthy house, a succession of otherwise satisfied butlers refuse to remain because of the wine cellar. Young Jack Leary promises to overcome the difficulty, then descends near midnight with a lantern and basket. Bottles vibrate outside the door; inside he hears bull-like roaring and sees the casks rock violently. He retreats without wine. The narrative qualifies what Jack can clearly recall, distinguishing his confused report from his master’s subsequent encounter.
Mac Carthy goes down himself and finds a figure about six inches tall astride a pipe of old port, with its spigot carried on one shoulder. The little man wears a red nightcap, short leather apron, pale-blue stockings and high-heeled shoes with large silver buckles. His wrinkled face, crimson nose and sideways grin make a detailed comic portrait. He identifies himself as the household’s Cluricaune Naggeneen and expects to accompany the family if they move. Mac Carthy therefore recognizes that leaving the house would not solve his problem.
For years the owner fetches the wine himself, since Naggeneen seems to respect him personally. After Mac Carthy’s death the cellar is less generously stocked, and the fairy’s revels become less prominent in local storytelling. The ending offers alternative reports: some say he neglects his clothes in grief at its decline, while others say he becomes an aged but cheerful brogue-maker. A purse reputed always to contain a shilling remains uncaptured. These later reports are presented as competing hearsay, not a single observed change of profession. The source’s Cluricaune classification connects the cellar episode with other small-fairy stories while leaving this named character’s costume and household relationship specific.
Origins & earliest records
T. Crofton Croker, Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland, new condensed edition, Philadelphia: Lea and Blanchard, 1844; IX, The Haunted Cellar, pp. 63–70. The edited story names Ballinacarthy and Justin Mac Carthy but gives no individually identified oral narrator.
Records & interpretation
The complete edited narrative distinguishes Leary’s frightened recollection, Mac Carthy’s direct encounter within the story and competing subsequent local reports. The preface describes a condensed selection of forty tales from the earlier three-volume collection.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Fairy Legends IX: The Haunted Cellar, pp. 63–70
Complete cellar encounter, owner’s continued residence and alternative final reports; hosted title page identifies Philadelphia’s condensed new edition, not the original 1825 printing.
Family & connections
A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Primary edited folklore collectionCroker’s Fairy Legends, 1844 edition transcriptionResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
Historical illustrationNaggeneen on a wine cask with its spigot, facing Mac Carthy and his lantern, Croker1844
This small engraving introduces The Haunted Cellar: the fairy sits astride a wine cask with the spigot over one shoulder while Mac Carthy raises his lantern. It depicts Naggeneen’s particular encounter at Ballinacarthy; the monochrome print does not show the red cap and blue stockings described in the story.
