School: Ballinalee (roll number 1174)
- Location:
- Ballinalee, Co. Longford
- Teacher: Ss. Ó Mainchín
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0766, Page 239
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- XML “Old Houses”
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- Generally the houses long ago were mud walled, and roofed with thatch.
Some mud walled houses are still occupied in the locality.
Timber for roofing was usually got in woods which are plentiful, and sawn at home.
The thatch was oaten straw.
The chimney was in the gable wall and was made from wattles resting on a crossbeam.
Nobody heard of houses without a chimney or of fire being in the centre of the floor.
Window spaces were small, and glass was rarely used, as there was a tax on every pane of glass.
Floors were made of "blue clay". When a man laid down a new floor some of the neighbours were invited to a dance so as to tamp the clay, which set hard afterwards.
Half doors were common long ago but they are very rare now.
Nearly all the old houses had a bed along the wall. This was called a settle bed. It was opened out at night to form a bed and when closed during the day it formed a seat.
Rush or dip candles were used for light. They were made in the houses by the people themselves
Tallow was melted in a vessel called a grisheen(continues on next page)
