Easter Sunday

On Easter Sunday morning we first go to Mass. when we come home we have our breakfast. We make a fire, and we make tea and we have sweet-cakes and eggs in a field if the day is fine.

Theresa Kelly, The Schools’ Collection, National Folklore Collect, Local Area, Festivals, Feasts, EasterTeresa Kelly21 March 2021Easter Sunday, Easter, Feasts, Feast daysComment

St. Patricks day

On St. Patrick's day all the girls wear blue ribbons and the boys gather sham-rock for their jackets.

Festivals, National Folklore Collect, Country Life, Dùchas.ieDúchas14 March 2021Annie M. Reilly, Prison North, Mary Kate Kelly, Patsy Ansbro, Festivals, St. Patricks DayComment

St Stephen's Day

St Stephen’s day is a happy day for all the boys. It falls in the 26th December.

The night before the boys go out with lamps searching for wrens.

Festivals, Gleann an Dúin - Prison, Jimmie Adams, The Schools’ Collection, Dùchas.ie, Country LifeJimmie Adams26 December 2018St. Stephen's Day, FestivalsComment

November's Night

On November's night we all get a couple of stones of apples in Balla.

Annie Reilly, Country Life, FestivalsAnnie M. Reilly28 October 2018Halloween, Hallow's Eve, NovemberComment

St Bridget's Day

On St Bridget's night all the little girls go round to the houses with the brídóga.

Festivals, The Schools’ Collection, Jimmie Adams, Dùchas.ie, Country LifeJimmie Adams20 May 2018St. Bridget's Day, FestivalsComment

May Day

On May Day nobody cleans out a cow-house or throws out ashes

INFORMANT: Mrs Kearns, Age 40, Manulla, Co. Mayo

National Folklore Collect, Margaret Kearns, Dùchas.ie, School Collection, Country Life, Festivals, Feasts, History & FolkoreMargaret Kearns1 May 2018May, MAYDAY, May DayComment

May Day

On May morning the people used never throw out ashes....INFORMANT Patrick Reilly; male, Age; 87, Prison North, Co. Mayo

Annie Reilly, Festivals, Dùchas.ie, School Collection, Country Life, Feasts, Customs & CuresAnnie M. Reilly1 May 2018MAYDAY, May, May DayComment

Homemade Toys

The boys used to make toas - Toas is local slang for marbles.

Informant : Patrick Reilly age 87

Festivals, Dùchas.ie, History & FolkoreAnnie M. Reilly1 April 2018Feast days, Festivals, Traditions, Easter Sunday Comment

Lore of Certain Days

1st crop of wheat is set in February.
Turnips are set in May. Turf is cut in this month too.

Festivals, National Folklore Collect, Dùchas.ie, History & FolkoreMary A. O' Doherty30 March 2018Days lore, Patsy AnsbroComment

Festival Customs

The last week of Lent is a week for great prayer and devotion because it is the week of Our Lord's crucifixion. Easter is a time of rejoicing for His Resurrection from the dead.