School: Gortloney (roll number 11978)
- Location:
- Gortloney, Co. Meath
- Teacher: Eoghan de Buitléir
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0716, Page 232
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- XML School: Gortloney
- XML Page 232
- XML “Festival Customs”
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- Festival CustomsWritten by: Julia Gilligan, Dromone, 29th Nov. 1938The chief festive customs that are still carried on in this district are those connected with Hallowe'en, St. Stephen's Day, St. John's Day, Easter Saturday, and Shrove Tuesday.For Hallow Eve bracks, which contains rings, are bought in the shops, or made at home. Every member of the family is anxious to see who will get the ring, because this will surely be the first to marry. Again three saucers are placed on the table, one containing water, another clay, and on the third is placed the ring. Each person in turn is blindfold at some distance from the table. He is then requested to walk forward and place his fore-finger on one of the saucers. If he points out the saucer containing the water it indicates that he will soon cross the ocean; if he touches the one containing the clay, it means an early death, while the saucer which hold the ring stands for marriage.
In this locality Shrove Tuesday is called pancake night. On that night everyone makes pancakes.On St. John's Day all grown up boys gather a lot of sticks and turf.(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Julia Gilligan
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Drumone, Co. Meath
