Local Marriage Customs
Marriages generally take place here either immediately before or immediately after Lent. The Month of May an lá na leanbh Feast of Holy Innocents are considered very unlucky for Marriage. Friday is also considered unlucky.
It used to be the custom for the boys and girls who were on the "look out" to dress up and go to the markets and local gathering during Shrove. The younger members were never allowed go about much until the elder ones were disposed of. Anyone who did not "get off" before Shrove was salted for next year. This custom has died out here now.
Matches are still made and money is almost always given as a dowry. It is considered lucky to give in a cow with the dowry.
Up to about forty years ago the people from Tavanagh in parish of Straide went the the chapel of Straid on horse-back to be married. Coming home they raced and whoever won got a quart of whiskey to divide.
They were always careful to admit the bride first to the house as it was considered unlucky for anyone to enter before her. I have heard it said that the bride should wear "Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue."
It was a custom to cut the wedding cake on the bride's head.
It is considered unlucky for the bride to return to her parents home before a month has elapsed after the marriage.
"Straw-boys" or "clubberas" visit the houses on the night of the marriage feast. They dance and make fun. They dress in straw hats with sugans round their knees, false faces etc.
They expect to get drink and make mischief if they don't.
Now-a-days the people go to the church in motor-cars. If they have friends they too accompany them and after the wedding they go for a drive and then come home to the wedding feast. This procession of cars is called the "drag". The well-wishers of the newly married couple light torches or bon-fires in their honour.
“COLLECTOR
Mary A. O’ Doherty, female
INFORMANT
Patsy Ansbro; Gender; male, Age; 84, Tawnagh More, Co. Mayo
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