School: Barnashrone, Mountmellick (roll number 9138)
- Location:
- O'More's Forest, Co. Laois
- Teacher: Bean Uí Fhaoláin
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0833, Page 034
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- [drawing in margin of vertical lines labeled 'prepared rush,' with one quarter shaded on the right edge, labeled 'left unpeeled']
In olden times there were no candles to be bought in town as they are to-day. However the old people managed to make rush candles and this was the method which they used:-
A bundle of rushes were gathered and three quarters of each rush was peeled, the remaining quarter was left unpeeled so that it would be more lasting for a wick. They were then felt on the hob to dry.
When thoroughly dry they were dipped in fat and hung up to dry over a pan which was placed under them, to catch the surplus fat. When this first coat of fat was dry and firm, the candles were dipped a second time and so on until they were of the desired thickness.
My mother described this process(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Annie Bennett
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Cloncanon Upper, Co. Laois
- Informant
- Bennett
- Relation
- Parent
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Cloncanon Upper, Co. Laois
