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School: Birr (St. Brendan's)

Location:
Birr or Parsonstown, Co. Offaly
Teachers:
S. Ó Conchobhair R. Ó Huigín
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0821, Page 040

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0821, Page 040

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  1. XML School: Birr (St. Brendan's)
  2. XML Page 040
  3. XML “Local Marriage Customs”

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  1. Local Marriage Customs

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    Local Marriage Customs
    Marriages mostly take place around Shrove Tuesday. Matches are made in our district and money is given to the bride or bridegroom as a wedding present. If it is a country wedding the farmer nearly always give stock. Some people remember marriages taking place in the bride or bridegroom's house. This was about 12 years ago. A wedding feast is nearly always held. If at the feast the bride cuts the bottom part of the cake it is unlucky. Many "strawboys" used come to the house in which the marriage was held. They were all dressed in straw and they had straw on their legs, on their bodies and on their heads. But their faces were covered with soot.
    When they came in they always used start to eat all
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    History Edit
    Topics
    1. activities
      1. social activities (~7)
        1. rites of passage (~573)
          1. marriage (~4,283)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    T. Murray
    Gender
    Unknown
    Address
    Birr or Parsonstown, Co. Offaly