School: Morette, Portarlington (roll number 899)

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1. The Plain of the Heath - The Heath Races in the Olden Times

   

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   The Heath races in the olden times
   The races have not been held on the Heath for the past fifty years. But before that the races were held regularly yearly. There were large sums of money staked at some of these races, so that trainers brought their horses from the neighbouring counties and sometimes from different counties through out Ireland. The race-goers used to spend the day very enjoyable. But after the races the people who lost their money in backing horses were cranky, and they used to attack those whom they had any spleen against. He would start fighting and the people would back up on their own side. then the people would get very angry with each other and the nearest thing to hand would be pitched at the opposing parties this would lead to a big fight and many people would be wounded, some very seriously. On one occasion a man was known to die from the injuries he received in the

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. activities
      1. social activities (~7)
         1. entertainments and recreational activities (~5,933)
   2. objects
      1. man-made structures
         1. historical and commemorative structures (~6,794)

   Language

   English

   Informant

   Mr Patrick Fitzpatrick

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Morett, Co. Laois