Young Storykeeper Volume III

174 | STORYKEEPERS VOLUME III AGE TEN | 175
THE SISTERS’ REVENGE
Anna Donnelly
Co Armagh
The lighthouse stood like the legendary Finn McCool, a mighty
giant, guarding ships against the rocky cliffs, warning them
to stay away. It was also like a guiding light for Redbeard and
his fearsome crew of infamous pirates as they made their way
towards the Saltee Islands off the coast of County Wexford.. This
lighthouse was to play a huge part in the defeat of the cruel and
heartless pirate.
Redbeard was renowned in these parts for his many attacks
on unlucky ships that came into his path. He had a fiery-red
beard that began just under his eyes and covered his entire face.
He wore his hair braided in many plaits and he was as tall and
broad as two Irishmen put together. A truly heartless man and the
enemy of many an Irishman or woman.
Little did he know that on this wild and stormy night in
November 1682 he was being watched by a young Irish girl who
fancied herself as the next Grace O’Malley.
She had heard many tales of this rebel pirate queen and her
legendary battles to protect her beloved Ireland from the English
crown. There was very little that Aoife could do on her own to
defeat this ruthless and wild crew, so she had hatched a plan with
her sister Eímear and that plan was about to be put into action.
Eímear had positioned herself in the lighthouse nearby and
was waiting for the signal from Aoife for their plan to take hold.
Just as Redbeard began to steer his ship, The Henrietta
Maria, towards the jagged and murderous rocks of Treasure Cove,
Aoife let out a loud pig-like grunt, the well-known sound of the
beloved puffins who inhabited the islands. Within seconds, Eímear
had switched off the only light that Redbeard and his crew had to
guide them on this moonless night. The beam from the lighthouse
suddenly disappeared and the sky darkened. All Aoife could do
was to listen and wait for what was to come.
It wasn’t long before she heard the shouts and cries from
below as the ship smashed and was hurled against the rocks.
The noise was horrendous but as Eímear ran and joined
Aoife all they both felt was a joyous feeling of sweet revenge as
Redbeard and his crew finally came to their end. The loss of their
father, Niall, at the hands of this murderous crew had made the
girls vow that they would not rest until Redbeard was dead.
At the crack of dawn Aoife and Eímear returned to the scene
with their grandfather and as they had thought there were no
survivors and very little of the ship remained. What they did find
though was some of the treasure from Redbeard’s recent raid
scattered across the rocks of Treasure Cove.
To this day the girls are remembered for their heroic act in
story and song and it is believed that treasure is still to be found in
the coves around the coast of County Wexford.
DOUBLE TROUBLE AT THE LIGHTHOUSE
As the night crept in, Steve and Ava were playing outside in their garden.
“Steve, Ava would you like to come to the lighthouse with me now?” asked Dad.
“Yes!” cheered the children.
Steve and Ava’s dad worked as the lighthouse keeper and he had promised them
a sleepover in the lighthouse, just for one night.
As they headed to the coast, Ava whispered to Steve, “This going to be so
exciting!”
Steve and Ava had not realised how big the lighthouse actually was until they
got right up close. It towered above them like the turret of a castle. The wind whirled
around the children, but once they stepped inside it was cool and dry. As they climbed
the steep stairs to set up beds for the night, Ava decided that she wanted to be a
lighthouse keeper!
Later on, Ava pretended to be asleep, but instead she grabbed a torch and lamp
and headed out to make her own lighthouse. Later on Dad noticed that a ferry was
headed towards the spiky rocks on the other side of the headland.
“Why is it doing that?” Steve enquired.
Just then, they noticed a bright light. “That must be what is disturbing the ship,”
exclaimed Dad. “We must investigate!”
Steve and Dad sped towards the light. They were shocked to see Ava was the
culprit! Ava immediately turned off her lights and the ferry turned safely back onto the
right course.
Dad explained to Ava that a lighthouse keeps boats and people safe. It was very
dangerous for Ava to mess with people’s safety and luckily no harm came to anyone!
Ava still wants to be a lighthouse keeper when she grows up.
Conor McCarrick
Co Dublin