The Dead Boxer The Works of William Carleton, Volume Two

In the early spring of 1720 a broad‑shouldered youth named John O'Rorke wanders from his father's home toward an orchard on the edge of a nameless Irish town. Known by the nickname Lamh Laudher for his prodigious strength, he moves slowly under a pale, cloudless sky, savoring the quiet radiance of the season. As he passes a winding lane, a woman of advanced years steps out of a cabin, her red woollen garb, scar‑marked face, and fierce stare making an immediate, unsettling impression.

He halts, curses the sight, and turns to retreat, only for the woman—Nell M'Collum—to confront him with a sharp retort that reveals a tangled history of violence and resentment. Their terse exchange hints at familial feuds and a past injury that still haunts both, setting the tone for a simmering rivalry. As the sun hangs low over the western hills, the young Lamh Laudher feels a mix of anger and reluctant curiosity, suggesting that their encounter will pull him into a deeper, perhaps dangerous, struggle.