³⁵Harbison, Peter. Pilgrimage in Ireland: the Monuments and the People. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse Univ., 1992. 103.
Joe McGowan, quoting John O'Donovan, presents the metaphor of a man chopping wood: "If the axe falls fairly it will split the timber, if not, it will fly out and injure the axeman. A curse, once pronounced as to fall on something or someone and can, 'remain for seven years in the air ready to alight on the head of the person who provoked it. .. causing the loss of health, wealth, or even life... curses, like chickens come home to roost!'" (McGowan, Joe. Inishmurray, Island Voices. Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo: Aeolus, 2004. 145-47.)