School: Cill Ríchill
- Location:
- Kilreekill, Co. Galway
- Teacher: Mícheál S. Ó Gaoithín
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0054, Page 0189
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- Long ago the old people used to make Saint Brigid's crosses the week before St. Brigid's day. They used to make them two different ways, either with two narrow boards or with plaited straw. The straw cross was the most common. The cross would then be hung over the door in the front of the house. An ear of oats, and a big potato would be stuck on to it with a scollop and left there, until the oats and potatoes would be sowing. Then the ear of oats would be the first oats to be sown and the potato would also be the first to be sown. This was done with the prospect of having a good crop of oats and potatoes. That custom does not exist still now.
Holly is still used at Christmas to decorate the houses. Holly with red berries is procured if possible. It is put up at Christmas Eve, and taken down after the twelfth day. Ivy is also used with the holly.
A green hawthorn bush is decorated with eggshells and primroses on May day, and placed outside the door. It is said anybody that gives away milk or butter will have no butter or milk again for the rest of the year.
- Collector
- Michael Cormican
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Newgrove, Co. Galway
