Irish Traditional Sayings
'As black as Toal's Cloak'
Question - What is the exact origin of this saying?
(Specifically, I want to know who Toal was. I would like to find a
source describing the provenance of the saying, and read about it
myself. I would like to see a use of the saying in context.)

I'm doubtful that this is the real saying: it appears only in one
list, repeated on several web pages.  If this were the true saying, it
would surely appear elsewhere.  Perhaps it is not even a saying at all
-- but I'll leave that to someone with more information.

It might be rhyming slang for "[as] black as [a] coal," but even
then, it is not a common use.

I agree with justaskscott-ga that it doesn't appear to be all that
much of a traditional saying.  Google UK doesn't show at all.

Hi faucon, like others before me, I was unable to find the source the
saying "Toal's cloak"

I did find several references to it, but no source of origin!

Reference only, found near the middle of the page:

As tough as a wheel string. 
As mim as a dog without his tail. 
As black as Toal's cloak 
As bad as Barrington's blood hound to us
  
This was found, just under a recipe for Spotted Dog bread, on a page
that seems to be published by an internet service provider!
http://www.bcpl.net/~cbladey/sweets1.html



Reference only, near the top of the page
http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/~bj333/HomePage.saids.html
and 
http://irish.spike-jamie.com/sayings.html

Toal Geneology
http://www.surnameweb.org/registry/t/o/a/toal.shtml

Just kidding:
If this saying were from the US, I might  think it could have
something to do with this judge:
http://www.thestate.com/mld/state/2002/08/17/news/opinion/3881950.htm


Regards,
crabcakes

The comments section of this question may be of interest to you:

http://www.answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=260080