School: St. Patrick's Monastery School, Bruff (roll number 15581)
- Location:
- Bruff, Co. Limerick
- Teacher: Br. Denis
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0509, Page 014
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- A multitude of old customs stories and superstitions enwrap in a legendary cloak the ancient feasts and festivals celebrated in the Irish country districts. The most looked-forward -to of these feasts is Hallowe'en, which marks the end of a busy Autumn and the advent of a gloomy winter. All folk remain indoors enjoying themselves on that night, for outside, according to the stories of the old folk roves the púca, and woe betide anyone that meets him. This unpleasant visitor it is believed, poisons any fruit still on the trees so that it is wrong to eat fruit from the trees after November Night.
Indoors, a tub of water is placed on the floor. Into this apples are thrown and those present endeavour to retrieve them with their mouths to the amusement of the onlookers.
In the same manner they try to catch an apple swinging(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Martin Quilty
- Gender
- Male
