The Legend of Crotty the Robber - A Tale of Highwayman Justice
William Crotty, or Crotty the Robber, led a gang of thieves in 18th-century Waterford, Ireland, robbing the rich and aiding the poor. Despite his Robin Hood-esque reputation, he met a grim end when betrayed by one of his own men and was executed. The story of Crotty the Robber continues to live on in legends of hidden treasure in the rugged Comeragh Mountains.
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The legend of Crotty the Robber
Who was Crotty the Robber? William Crotty or Crotty the Robber as he was known, was a highwayman who was hanged in Waterford in 1742. He was the leader of a gang who stole from the rich and gave to the poor, a lot like Robin Hood. Crotty and his gang had several hideouts in the Comeragh Mountains in Co. Waterford. When he was being chased by the authorities he was easily able to hide from them in the mountains. Although he gave some of the money he stole to the poor, he also kept some for himself and legend has it that some of this treasure is still hidden in the mountains.
How was he captured? Crotty was very good at hiding from the authorities, so they offered a bribe to some of his men to give them information on where he could be found. The story goes that David Norris, one of Crotty s own gang, took the bribe and gave them the information they wanted. One night in February 1742, Norris kept filling Crotty s cup with whiskey to make him sleepy. Then he wet his gunpowder so that his gun would not fire and stole his dagger. When the guards arrived to arrest Crotty he had no dagger and his gun would not work. He didn't stand a chance.
The execution In March that year, Crotty was put on trial in Waterford City and found guilty. He was executed by hanging and then had his head cut off and spiked outside the County Jail as a warning to those wishing to follow in his footsteps. Many parts of the Comeragh Mountains where Crotty hid are named after him, including Crotty s Lake and Crotty s Lair. Some of the treasure he hid there was found, but there could still be lots of gold hidden in the Comeragh Mountains waiting for someone to find it!
Quick Quiz What was Crotty the Robber s real name? What county in Ireland was he from? In what mountains did he hide from the authorities? Why was he like Robin Hood? How was he caught? Do you know any legends about your local area? Crotty s Lake in the Comeragh Mountains
