Mullanimal cracks a brew on the Bridge, Waterford City
www.UpTheDeise.com, The Waterford People's Website!
21st October 2004
The creature aptly named "Mullanimal" by the locals has had many many names, from "An Diablo Dearg," to "Setanta's Bane." But his true name has never been spoken in modern times. This is not due to any magic or spells cast by uttering the name but rather because we just don't know what it is.
He is recovering quite well by all accounts and seems to be back to his usual speedy self. He has become great friends with Wellboy and a mutual trust has grown over the past few weeks. Recently the two were on the bridge at Waterford City and cracked open a brew, it was quite an old specimin but tasted the same as it used to. You could say they were Dustin Hoffmans.
Mullanimal cracks a brew on the Bridge, Waterford City
Anyway, I digress. Wellboy, didn't fully realise the effect wan or tew sups would have on the crayture. He started speaking jibberish. He started talking about Setanta and all the Heroes of the past such as Fionn and Oisin, Cu Chullain and of other nastier things such as the Banshee and Pookies and Fairies galore. But one thing caught Wellboy's attention.
Mullanimal said, "Monkey Man in Big Tower... Monkey Man has magic hurl... d'enemy cannot have de hurl"
With that Mullanimal conked out...
Wellboy thought to himself, "Monkey man in big tower, whatever could this mean? Perhaps he means Monk Key Man... Yes, Yes, it has to be, Monk Key man protecting the Tower in... Ardmore"
Wellboy put Mullanimal in the car and sped off for Ardmore. When the arrived, Mullanimal hopped on to the wall as if by instinct and proceeded towards the tower.
Mullanimal scales the wall of the Graveyard in Ardmore
When he reached the tower, he fell on his knees when he saw the graves at the base of the tower, he cried out in anger, "Monk key man gone forever," Fiacla is alone forever..."
Wellboy heard all this and realised the creature's name was Fiacla the Irish for Teeth! "Fiacla, Do not worry, you have Wellboy and the people of the Deise now... we are your friends and will always be, so no more sobbing, let's find this Magic Hurl and head back to the city, I need to show you something there..."
Fiacla said, "Fiacla love Wellboy, Fiacla not alone, Fiacla get magic hurley for Wellboy and the Deise!"
Moments later he hopped up and started taking paces from the tower and fell upon a rock which he had placed there almost two thousand years ago. He started digging fiercly and suddenly there was a white flash...
"Fiacla found the magic hurl, it is not lost, we have the power," said Fiacla. He hid the magic hurl somehow and said, "Wellboy, we must go from this place now."
Mullanimal finds the magic hurley
On the way back down, Wellboy and Fiacla spoke about hurling, Fiacla told Wellboy of the games of the past and how it was the training ground for warriors and for weapons used in battle. Wellboy was astounded with the knowlede and told Fiacla that there were still heroes around, men like McGrath, Flynn, Browne, Kelly, Hartley to name but a few, but he felt there was one special warrior that Fiacla should know about seeing as someone in the county named the creature after him. Wellboy spoke of this great hero and Fiacla became very interested and wanted to see him. Wellboy said, I can show you on the telly. Mullanimal agreed, "the great black window, yes."
Mullanimal watches the 2004 Munster final with Wellboy and is
glued to the telly
After watching the match, Fiacla did not speak for for many hours. He seemed to be in a catatonic state. Eventually Wellboy prodded him and he jumped up and tried to strangle him. Eventually, he came out of it and said, "Sorry, Wellboy, Fiacla though you were Langerian."
Fiacla then started hopping up and down shouting "Mullane, Mullane, mighty warrior, equal of many men of renown, Fiacla want to be like Mullane, cut Fiacla's hair now Wellboy, me want to be like him. Me want, Me want."
Then his eyes started glowing red and so Wellboy said, "OK, Fiacla, no problem, let's go to the Bathroom and do this thing!"
Wellboy cuts Fiacla's hair
Wellboy told Fiacla that people around the Deise have been calling him Mullanimal. Fiacla, looked at Wellboy, then looked in the Mirror and said, "Fiacla, no more, now me Mullanimal, Mullanimal with the Magic Hurl!"
He's Mullanimal it's official
Wellboy smiled and said, "One day you will meet the mighty warrior, John Mullane."
Mullanimal looked up slowly at Wellboy and grinned like a little scallywag.
Stay tuned for the next adventure...