School: Ballinfull (B.)
- Location:
- Baile an Phoill, Co. Shligigh
- Teacher: John Gilbride
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0158, Page 095
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- (continued from previous page)dancing for a few hours.
Then they returned to the bride's house for dinner and a general carouse which lasted till morning.
Often a party of young men upon leaving the public house "ran for the bottle" that is strove to see who could reach the house of the bride first the reward being a bottle of whiskey. This was always an interesting and exciting contest.
If the contracting parties lived far apart e.g. in different parishes then the bridegroom travelled on horseback accompanied by a large cavalcade - two -usually a man and his wife - on each horse.
"Running for the bottle" in this case was a perilous undertaking for the poor wife who never flinched holding on as best she could.
The "dragging home" usually took place a week or so after the marriage. Here also in the house of the bridegroom was a general carouse lasting all night. An oaten cack was broken over the bride's head as she entered the door of the new home often led on a halter placed round her neck by the husband. Hence the "dragging".
She never once visited her parent's home under any circumstances till a whole month had elapsed.
