School: Béal Easa (Buachaillí)
- Location:
- Foxford, Co. Mayo
- Teacher: M. Ó Gábhacháin
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0125, Page 8
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- In Ireland long ago the people used to get married from the 1st January until Shrove Tuesday. This period of the year is called Shrove or "Seraft". Anyone that would not be married in this period of the year and that wanted to be married would be chalked and salted so as to keep for another year. On Shrove Tuesday night there is a sort of a party in every house because the day following that is the beginning of Lent. Long ago a lot of people used to make pancakes on Shrove Tuesday night. This was a custom of the old people long ago and is still carried out by the people of to-day.
There are certain days and months of the year which are said to be unlucky for marriage. Who has not heard the rhyme Monday for health Tuesday for wealth Wednesday the best day of all Thursday for losses Friday for crosses and Saturday no day at all.
The boy that is getting married sends a friend of his to the house of the girl he wants to marry. The friend brings a bottle of whiskey with him and he gives a glass of it to everyone that is in the house at that minute and then he asks the girl will she marry so and so. Long ago the person that used to go making the match would drink the bottle of whiskey if he(continues on next page)
