The narrative unfolds in a rural Irish setting, where the protagonist reflects on the beauty and sorrow of his homeland while traveling from Emly to Tipperary. He encounters a local farmer who shares a peculiar tale about a gandher (gander) that belonged to Terence Mooney, a hardworking farmer with a large family of daughters. Terence, in his efforts to provide for his daughters, raises various poultry, including a particularly affectionate gandher that becomes inseparable from him. As the story progresses, the gandher's unusual attachment raises suspicions among the neighbors, who speculate that it may be possessed by a fairy or the devil. Concerned, Terence consults Jer Garvan, a fairy doctor, who reveals that the gandher is actually the wandering soul of Terence's deceased father. This revelation shocks Terence, especially since he has plucked the gandher multiple times for its feathers. Jer devises a plan to force the gandher to speak, suggesting that Terence pretend to sell it at market. When the gandher is placed in a hamper for transport, Terence accidentally ends up inside it after a night of drinking. As the boys transporting the hamper travel to Tipperary, Terence awakens and begins to shout, leading to a comical panic among the boys who believe the gandher is speaking. Upon reaching the priest's house, they seek help from Father Crotty, who attempts to exorcise the spirit. In a chaotic turn of events, the priest, Terence, and the gandher all end up in the river, leading to a humorous and chaotic scene. Ultimately, Terence grows fond of the gandher, and the story concludes with him living a long life, leaving behind a legacy that includes the gandher and his family. The tale blends elements of folklore, humor, and social commentary, reflecting on themes of family, identity, and the supernatural within the context of rural Irish life.
By J. Sheridan Le Fanu · First published 1865 · Genre: Fantasy, Folklore, Humor