Marriages
19th May 1938
My mother got married on the 4th March 1923 to Michael Kennedy of Rushhill in the parish of Balla.
There was a wedding party in my mother's house the night before the marriage as was the custom.
Then they went on three side cars next morning to the church with fourteen of the nearest friends. After the ceremony they came home. When my grandmother saw them coming she went and made a bonfire and as they drew near she raised up a hay fork with a coal on each prong.
When they arrived at the door of the house they dismounted, and my mother went into the house first.
There was a big wedding party in my father's house that night. Sixty people were invited. Forty straw boys came. My father had four half-barrels of stout and plenty to eat. The straw boys knocked at the door and came in and danced. Then my father gave them drink or they would pull down the thatch.
“INFORMANT: Michael Kennedy, Age 48, Rush Hill, Co. Mayo”
The marriage of my uncle and aunt took place a year ago in the parish of Balla, in the month of April. They had 4 motorcars and thirty of the nearest relations with them.
INFORMANT: Mrs Ruane, Age 50, Tawnagh More, Co. Mayo