Travelling Folk
Travelling folk generally called "tinkers" travel from place to place still. They go in bands. The women and children ride in light carts driven by the men. They generally have a drove of donkeys, a few dogs and perhaps a goat with them. They camp in tents in some sandpit or sheltered place and often on the side of the road. They choose a place where either turf or timber is plentiful for fire wood.
They then go to the houses in the district selling their wares. The woman do the selling generally, the men do little jobs of work- making cans, saucepans, soldering damaged pots etc. The women beg for everything that it is possible to think of but they would give their eyes for a "sup of milk" for the child.
They generally come to camp near a town for the fair.
The families which most often visit this locality are Naughans, Wards, McDonghs.
Gipsies travel round too. They live in caravans. They sell wicker-work furniture and floor mats of straw. They tell fortunes.
They set the dogs on St. Patrick and have been cursed ever since.
“COLLECTOR
Mary A. O’ Doherty, female
INFORMANT
Patsy Ansbro; Gender; male, Age; 84, Tawnagh More, Co. Mayo
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