School: Balrath (roll number 9770)
- Location:
- Balrath, Co. Westmeath
- Teacher: Bean Uí Oirghiall
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0738, Page 003
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- XML School: Balrath
- XML Page 003
- XML “Local Cures”
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- The older people in this district are never in a hurry to go to a doctor for the cure of small ailments.
They have great faith in 'cures' which have been handed down for generations.
Ring worm:- The seventh son is supposed to have a cure if [for] Ring worm. Immediately after his birth a live worm is put in each of his hands and a bandage put around the hands. The worms are left there till they die.
Willie Mc Cormack a seventh son who lives beside the school and is now about 30 years old has the cure.. Mrs Yourell our teacher saw him after birth and asked why his hands were bandaged as the old woman who was nursing him (Mary Grey) told her the reason.
Methods The sufferer went fasting to the seventh son who had to be fasting also on three mornings. He spat on the ground and touched the sore with his finger after dipping it in the spittle. He also said some prayers. Many people were(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Rose Nugent
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Grangegeeth, Co. Westmeath
- Informant
- Thomas Nugent
- Relation
- Parent
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Grangegeeth, Co. Westmeath
