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

The Famine

About 96 years ago there was a great famine in Ireland. The potatoes and all the crops rotted. The people were starving and dying with the hunger.

INFORMANT: Mr Ruane, Age 48, Tawnagh More, Co. Mayo

National Folklore Collect, Farming, Country Life, Dùchas.ie, Margaret Ruane, History & FolkoreMargaret Ruane9 September 2018Mr Ruane, history, social, FamineComment

Local Marriage Customs

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

Dùchas.ie, Country Life, Marriage, National Folklore Collect, School Collection, The Schools’ Collection, Customs & CuresMargaret Ruane8 September 2018Marriage, Local heros, Mrs RuaneComment

Tinkers

These are the names of the tinkers most common in the Parish of Straide, in the Barony of Gallen, in the town land of Tavanagh, Co; Mayo.

INFORMANT: Mrs Ruane, Age 47, Tawnagh More, Co. Mayo

Country Life, Co. Mayo, Gleann an Dúin - Prison, School Collection, Dùchas.ieMargaret Ruane8 September 2018Travelling folk, People, tin, CraftComment

My Home District

My home district is in the Parish of Straide the Barony of Gallen the town land of Tabhanachmóre Co;Mayo.

COLLECTOR: Margaret Ruane, Tawnagh More, Co. Mayo

Margaret Ruane, Local Area, National Folklore Collect, School Collection, The Schools’ Collection, Dùchas.ieMargaret Ruane7 September 2018Place Names, Loughill, Cregg, KearnsComment

Local Cures

Three drops out of a trout's mouth, or the ferrets leavings will cure whooping cough.

INFORMANT: Annie Kelly, Address, Prison North, Co. Mayo

Co. Mayo, Mary Kate Kelly, Dùchas.ie, History & Folkore, History & Folklore, Customs & CuresMary Kate Kelly26 May 2018cures, Annie KellyComment

Fairy Forts

One night there were two boys coming home from visiting. It was about twelve o'clock. They heard lovely music inside; they listened for a while and they began to dance. When they started they could not stop until the cock crew in the morning. After that they were the best dancers in the country. INFORMANT: John Kelly, Address, Prison North, Co. Mayo

Co. Mayo, Story, Mary Kate Kelly, Dùchas.ie, History & Folkore, History & FolkloreMary Kate Kelly26 May 2018fort, folklore, FairiesComment

Bird-Lore

The following are the names of the birds most frequently found in Prison.

COLLECTOR: Mary Kate Kelly, Address: Prison North, Co. Mayo

Mary Kate Kelly, Co. Mayo, Birds, Dùchas.ie, History & FolkoreMary Kate Kelly26 May 2018Bird-loreComment

Local Place Name

My father has a farm of land about 14 acres. It is divided into fields by sod ditches.

Mary Kate Kelly, Co. Mayo, Dùchas.ie, Local AreaMary Kate Kelly21 May 2018localComment

Marriages

A week before the marriage took place the match was made. The two parties met at some house. They agreed for a certain sum of money. About £50 was a good fortune that time. Then a day was appointed for the marriage.

Mary Kate Kelly, Dùchas.ie, Country Life, History & FolkoreMary Kate Kelly21 May 2018Marriage, John Kelly, customsComment

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

Old Forges

There is a Forge in the parish of Balla Barony of Carra Co. Mayo.

The Schools’ Collection, Gleann an Dúin - Prison, Jimmie Adams, Crafts, Dùchas.ie, Country LifeJimmie Adams20 May 2018Tom Adams, Forge, CraftsComment

Old Sayings

INFORMANT: Mary Mc Donnell Age, 76 Address: Prison North, Co. Mayo

Jimmie Adams, The Schools’ Collection, Dùchas.ie, Customs & CuresJimmie Adams20 May 2018old saying, Mary McDonnellComment

Churning

We have a churn at home. We have it two years. It is two feet in length and sixteen inches broad. We make a churning once a week in it.

Jimmie Adams, The Schools’ Collection, Crafts, Dùchas.ie, Country LifeJimmie Adams20 May 2018churning, craft, CraftComment

Fairs

There is a fair held in the parish of Straid four times a year, on the last day of May....

INFORMANT: James McIntyre, Age 60, Address, Knocksaxon, Co. Mayo

Dùchas.ie, School Collection, Country Life, Farming, Shops, History & FolkloreJoe Mc Intyre6 May 2018Fairs, cattle, sheepComment

A Story

Once upon a time there was a man who had three sons.

When the eldest of them was twenty-one his father thought it was time for him to go and seek his fortune, so he gave him a hound a hawk and a filly and his blessing and he set off on his way. He travelled along for a week and a day till he came to a rich farmer's house.

INFORMANT: Tom Adams, Age 47, Prison North, Co. Mayo