User blog comment:Mools/The king has donkey ears/@comment-194.46.179.159-20101012200002

Yeah, I'm pretty certain it's Irish :) I am Irish, and I remember the story well from reading it as a child.

The king had donkey's ears, and would hire a hairdresser every year, and then they'd never be seen again, as the king would have them killed for finding out his secret. Then one year a man cut the king's hair and learnt the truth, and begged to king not to kill him. The king took pity on him and swore him to secrecy. The man was delighted, but felt that he had to tell someone as it was eating him up inside. He went into a forest and told a tree, then went off guilt free. However, then the tree was cut down and made into a harp. At a celebration in the castle, as the harp was playing, it sang out that 'The king has ass's ears" over and over again. The King was ashamed, but the people accepted him as he was. Then he was overjoyed at being loved for who he was, became happier, and didn't kill any more hairdressers. They all lived happily ever after :)

Wow... I haven't read this story in years, I can't believe I remembered all that! Lol! But yeah, that's the story! I know you didn't ask for it, but I thought I'd share the Irish version :)