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  3. Cluain Cátha

School: Cluain Cátha (roll number 2243)

Location:
Cloncaw, Co. Monaghan
Teacher:
P. Ó Hanluain
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0961, Page 142

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0961, Page 142

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  3. XML “An Old Custom in this Parish”

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  1. An Old Custom in this Parish

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    It was an old custom in this district to go round the fields on May morning and gather all the young rowan tree quicks. Out of each quick a ring was made. One of these rings along with a piece of red rag and a horse-shoe nail was tied to each cow's tail. This was done to prevent the cow being "blinked" by the fairies or by people with an evil eye. Evil-minded people used to walk through the fields on May morning carrying a "Sugan" or straw rope and by saying certain magic words they could take the milk from their neighbours' cows or the butter from the churn. It was necessary therefore to make use of the rowan trees and other things to prevent this.
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    History Edit
    Topics
    1. activities
      1. economic activities
        1. agriculture (~2,659)
    2. events
      1. events (by time of year) (~11,476)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    William Mc Kenna
    Gender
    Male
    Address
    Rossarrell, Co. Monaghan