Irish Laws, Old Irish Laws

?The Big Little Book of Irish Wit & Wisdom? Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, New York

If an accident occurs while a building is under construction no fine is due for injury to the bystander who is present only out of curiosity. Should the owners of the building have knowledge of danger or defect, however, full payment shall be made to those present on legitimate business and to beasts.
(But only half payment to idlers.)

?The Big Little Book of Irish Wit & Wisdom? Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, New York

The blacksmith must rouse all sleeping customers before he puts the iron in the fire. This is to guard against injuries by sparks.
(Those who fall asleep again will receive no compensation for injuries.)

?The Big Little Book of Irish Wit & Wisdom? Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, New York

If the head of the blacksmith?s hammer flies off the handle and injures a customer, neither the smith nor the striker of the hammer is liable ? unless they knew the head was loose.

?The Big Little Book of Irish Wit & Wisdom? Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, New York

If a chip of wood from the carpenter?s axe hits a bystander the carpenter is exempt from liability.
Unless he deliberately aimed the chip at the bystander.

?The Big Little Book of Irish Wit & Wisdom? Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, New York

The mill-owner is exempt from liability for injury to a person caught between the mill-stones.

Another good reason for not becoming a monk!

?The Big Little Book of Irish Wit & Wisdom? Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, New York

If your land has neither fence nor stone wall you must restrain your beasts lest they damage your neighbour?s property.

For goats a shoe of leather goes on each leg, for yearling calves put on a spancel. The pig which does the most damage of all, must wear a yoke.

?The Big Little Book of Irish Wit & Wisdom? Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, New York

The fine for the hen?s trespass into the neighbour?s herb garden is one oat cake plus a side dish of butter or bacon.

To keep you hen at home you shall tie a with around her feet.

?The Big Little Book of Irish Wit & Wisdom? Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, New York

If your neighbour does not repay the debt he woes you, you may prevent him from going about his daily business. A withe-tie (for all to see) goes on the blacksmith?s anvil, the carpenter?s axe or the tree-feller?s hatchet. He is on his honour to do no work until he has righted the wrong.

A more likely fine is: chicken for dinner.

?The Big Little Book of Irish Wit & Wisdom? Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, New York

If the poet or the physician is in debt, immobilize his horse whip, for both ride their circuits on the backs of horses.

?The Big Little Book of Irish Wit & Wisdom? Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, New York

Five fold are crimes

The crime of the hand, by wounding or stealing.

The crime of the foot, by kicking or moving to do evil deeds.

The crime of the tongue, by satire, slander or false witness.

The crime of the mouth, by eating stolen things.

The crime of the eye, by watching while an evil deed is taking place.

?The Big Little Book of Irish Wit & Wisdom? Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, New York

The fine for killing a bond person held as security for a loan (or for killing a slave) is twenty one cows; for killing a free farmer of Erin the fine is forty two cows. For killing a noble the fine for homicide is paid, plus an additional amount determined by his rank in society. Fines are doubled for malice aforethought.

?The Big Little Book of Irish Wit & Wisdom? Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, New York

For stealing your pigs or your sheep, for stripping your herb garden, for wearing down your hatchet or wood axe, you may take your neighbour?s milk cows to the public animal pound for three days. If he does not want his cows taken to the pound for his crimes or his bad debts, he may five his son as security instead.

?The Big Little Book of Irish Wit & Wisdom? Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, New York

Blush fines are payable for insults offered to all persons of every rank except the ne?er-do-well, the squanderer, the selfish man who thinks only of his cows and his fields (and not of other people), the buffoon who distorts himself before crowds at a fair and the professional satirist.