Dark Celtic history - The legend of Moddley Dubh

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Dark Celtic history - The Moddey Dhoo
by Jeff McDonald
In the days when Charles II was King in England, and Charles, Earl of Derby, was King in Mann. Peel Castle stands tall on the Isle of Man, it was originally constructed by Vikings and The castle stands on St Patrick's Isle which is connected to the town by a causeway, it was always garrisoned by soldiers during this time. The guardroom was just inside the great entrance of the castle and a passage used to lead from it, through one of the old churches, to the Captain of the Guard's Room. At the end of the day, one of the soldiers would lock the castle gates and carry the key through the dark passage to the Captain. The soldiers used to take turns to do this. About this time a big black dog with rough curly hair was seen, sometimes in one room, next time in a different room. He did not belong to anyone there and apparently, no one knew anything about him. But every night, when the candles were lighted in the guard room and the fire was burning bright, he would come down the dark passage and lay himself down by the hearth. He made no sound but lay there until the break of day when he would then get up and disappear into the passage. The soldiers were at first terrified of him but after some time they were used to the sight of him and lost some of their fear, though they still looked upon him as something more than mortal. Whilst he was in the room the men were quiet and sober, and no bad words were spoken. When the hour came to carry the key to the Captain, two of them would always go together - no man would face the dark passage alone.