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The Main Manuscript Collection

This collection includes every aspect of the Irish oral tradition. More information

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  1. Evictions

    CBÉ 0220

    people on a holy Christmas morning and they just sitting doen to their breakfast after coming home from mass. 'Twas pig's head and tay they had for their breakfast which was very rare at that time even on a Christmas morning. Well the poor Christmas had to go out bag and baggage and they finishes their breakfast beside an ould lime kiln under a sgeac, and that sgeac is there to this day and it is grew into the shape of a cross, and no matter what way ant one will cut it it will grow back into the shape of a cross again. Well they finishes their little breakfast anyhow, and the women went to some kind neighbour to see would they get shelter from the cold frost and snow and there was wan fine strappin young Kelly in it and he was determined to get back to his little home again by hook or by crook, and he went to a friend of his by the name of Jackman and they made it up between 'em. The landlord put friends and near relations of his own in the house that was lately evicted and begor this made Kelly and Jackman more fierce still. This

  2. Old Customs - Deoch Altaithe

    CBÉ 0463

    The following is an old custom handed down from time immemorial and still continued in my uncle's home (Thomas McHugh [?], [?] Galway) On St. Martin's Night, Christmas Night, New Year's night + Twelfth Night after supper, and after dinner on Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Twelfth Day all members of the family sit around the table and offer thanksgiving to God for the meal they have partaken of, for all God's goodness to them during the year and asking the Lord to bless them in the coming year. Each member blesses himself, the head of the family then says one Our Father, one Hail Mary +

  3. (no title)

    “This is the conclusion of what I sent in, in my last book. It concerns the work that goes on in a farmhouse kitchen.”

    CBÉ 0190

    is also brought home for a few friends are sure to call and it wouldn't do at all if they were let off without a sup. Well Christmas day comes and it is a much busier day than the threshing day.
    I think I described Christmas Day's work before, and I have described all the work of the house for the year.

  4. (no title)

    “This is the conclusion of what I sent in, in my last book. It concerns the work that goes on in a farmhouse kitchen.”

    CBÉ 0190

    the money for some what may she is sure to be in town that day. It doesn't matter what money she gets during the year for chickens butter, eggs, etc. She will spend it there and then on groceries but the turkey money is kept to buy boots shoes, and clothes and whatever else is needed for the daughters and herself. The turkeys are sold about a fortnight before christmas, so the girls get a big day out in town to buy a warm coat or hat and to see the shop windows that are so gaily decorated at this time.
    The next big event is preparing for Christmas. There is a big "clean up" again. It is a very busy time for the bean-a-tigh. The kitchen is white washed, and holly and ivy is put

  5. The Two Sisters

    CBÉ 0220

    not far from Glynn there is a cross called the Cross of Bulgan. Well wan Christmas Eve night there were two fellas coming home from Wexford Town and it was near midnight and they had no lights and the night was black as a sack and freezing cats and dogs. Well anyhow these two were coming home with a cart load of coal and the fella that owned the coal and horse was rotten drunk as is usual on Christmas Eve and his name was Brady. The other wan was sober enough.
    Well the came along fine and cushy anyhow but this other man had some work trying to keep Brady in the car, as he was falling out every few minutes and then when he would get in again he'd blame the man for throwing him out or he'd hit the horse and tell him not to be going over the ditch with him.
    Coming up to Polehore anyhow didn't this man that was sober notice another man sitting on the same side lace as the drunken man was sitting on, and some how or another he didn't like

  6. The Two Sisters

    CBÉ 0220

    the appearance of this man, so he said nothing as the drunken man never noticed him at all although he turned his head in that direction several times.
    When they came to this cross of Bulgan which was on their road home didn't the car overturn, God Bless the hearers, all of asudden, and it turned right over on the middle of the road, well wasn't that curious now. Brady the drunken man was killed out an out but the other man escaped uninjuried. and the third man was nowhere to be found and everyone concluded that it must have been the ould Boy himself.
    Well the next morning was Christmas morning and as the people were going to Mass, there was the coal all over the whole road. To Glynn Mass they were going and I think it was Canon Foley, who was in Glynn at that time and when he turned around to preach and to wish them all ahappy Christmas and a Bright

  7. (no title)

    “This is the conclusion of what I sent in, in my last book. It concerns the work that goes on in a farmhouse kitchen.”

    CBÉ 0190

    to Christmas month and the turkeys are "all the talk". They are all strutting around the yard little thinking that their time is getting short. The woman of the house is coaxing them to eat every hour of the day because the heavier and fatter they are the more money she will get for them. The buyers come to the house and give so much per pound for them and a day is named to bring them in to Wexford. A horse and cart is required to bring them in, or perhaps two horses and carts are needed. The turkeys are tied in pairs by the legs and packed side by side in plenty of straw. Then all start off in the direction of the town. When they reach the buyers yard the turkeys are weighed in pairs. The farmers wife receives

  8. Mumming

    CBÉ 0220

    About Eighty years ago, mumming was wan of the most popular amusements in the country. A lot more used to follow them than yor now. They used to practice in barns around the district. They come to your barn wan night and then they'd come to my barn another night and so on. They used to have to go in secret sometimes in order to avoid the big crowds. At Christmas they used to have a big entertainment. They used often mum in the street of Carrig at Xmas. They used to personate Prince George, and Napoleon, the Emperor of Russia, and St Patrick. Twelve used to be in the set, and the Captain and he'd introduce them all wan by wan.

  9. The Redmond Eviction

    CBÉ 0221

    that kiln that this poor family had their Christmas breakfast. But what was worse than this the landlord himself was up on top of the kiln looking down at them and a gun in his his hand and he making fun of them. So you may be sure it wasn't a very pleasant breakfast for the poor Redmonds. Redmond himself was furious and he told his wife that that he would do for the Maddock before night. The wife told him not to do anything that he would be sorry for. He said that he certainly wouldn't, that he couldn't do anything half bad enough on the Maddocks. He went off and he borrowed a gun from a neighbour and came back and hid it. When it was dinner time and the wife made the dinner and they had it again in the lime

  10. The Redmond Eviction

    CBÉ 0221

    kiln. The Maddocks were in his house spending their Christmas there, that was for nothing the only for real mockery. Redmond sent word to them that he was going to shoot them that night Maddock the Landlord wasn't a bit put out over it. he sent for two policemen and they came and they were spending a very enjoyable night. They had kegs of porter and whiskey and they were playing cards and all kinds of games. A knock came to the door about ten oclock a a policeman went out and opened it and then a musket barrel was placed up to him and he was ordered out of the house in a minutes notice. He walked out and Redmond told him not to look around or he would shoot When the policeman was a little bit down the yard he looked around

  11. Halloween Customs and Games

    CBÉ 0106

    Long ago in this parish Halloween was looked forward to the whole year round! There was as much excitement about it as there would be about Christmas. There used to be a lot of games played on that night. Old and young used to take part in all these games, and some of them were indeed very foolish and childish.
    There was one certain thing that used to be looked forward to with great interest. The bean-a-tighe would make a vegetable dish called colcannon made with potatoes, cabbage, and parsnips. The people from the neighboring houses would be invited to supper on that night and all the unmarried people would be eating the colcannon. The colcannon would

  12. (no title)

    “This is the conclusion of what I sent in, in my last book. It concerns the work that goes on in a farmhouse kitchen.”

    CBÉ 0190

    up. The putting up of the holly and ivy is generally the children's work. They are now on holidays of course and they are here there and everywhere, and all must get a day in town to see the windows and buy their toys, that they are saving up to buy since the harvest time. It is a busy and exciting time for everybody as the days are so short and so much work to be got through.
    About a week before Christmas the woman of the house goes to town to buy what is needed for the great day. The "makings" of the pudding and the sweet cakes and a small "drop of whiskey" which is so dear now that very little of it comes to the house at all. A dozen of stout

  13. The Redmond Eviction

    CBÉ 0221

    The Redmond Eviction
    I have heard the true story of the above eviction. These people were living in Tomfarney, and they were very poor, being hardly able to live. The hadn't what, would make up the rent for themselves and of course the Maddocks came this night Christmas eve night and turned them out of their home. There was a man and his wife and a couple of children. They had to seep in an old kiln. These are very plentiful in this country, people used to burn lime in them long ago. Anyhow there is a place in under them and a person could sleep in it without getting wet. Redmond and his wife and family went to this kiln and settled their bed there. When they awakened in the morning the wife made the breakfast and it was there in

  14. The Redmond Eviction

    CBÉ 0221

    again and I'll finish him and then you can bring me back and you can shoot me or hang me or strangle or do whatever you like with me, and when you have finally killed me you can take out my heart and roast it or boil it and then you can eat it and you'll be eating the heart of an Irishman".
    The kiln where the Redmonds slept on Christmas eve is there still and there is a secae growing over it and it is very strange about it. This secae grew firstly in the shape of a man looking down in the kiln with a gun in his hand, just the same as the night when Maddock was looking down at the Redmonds. This secae was cut sometime after this and it grew into the shape of a house over the Redmonds. Then it was cut again and it grew in the shape

  15. Eviction on Christmas Eve and the Result

    CBÉ 0463

    During the Famine, the Landlord _ S__ had an eviction on Christmas Eve on a poor Widow living at Grandlahon.
    O - Y - (Uncle of Y -, who was shot, was Agent to the Landlord S_) travelled to Grandlahon to see that the eviction was carried out. A force of Police were also present at the eviction. The P.P. interfered in the Widow's favour - asking - "that she would be left in the shelter of her house until after Xmas." Y- scoffed at the Priest and ordered the widow's home pulled down - The Priest, sad at heart at seeing the poor Widow on the road, weeping over the ruins of her cabin, turned to Y -. "You can look your last on B- lough as you're passing through it on your way home."
    Before Y- had, on his way home reached B- Lough, he got a stroke

  16. The Hard Times

    CBÉ 0189

    My grandfather often told me about the hard times, when he was young. Tea, and bread, were rare. In fact they used never have tea, only at Christmas and Easter. Stirabout was the usual food amongst the farmers. Wan day he was working, helping a neighbour at the hay. John Redmond was the neighbors name. It was[?] a very hot day in the month of June, and they were very thirsty.
    Anyway, in the afternoon, out comes the woman of the house. "Mary O" they used to call her. She had a bucket of milk and some bread.
    They ere al delighted for bread and milk was a real treat, and they all fell to at once.
    "Begol" says wan of the men, " 'tis damn good"
    "Musha then", says Mary O, yous wouldn't get it only the calves.

  17. Long Ago

    CBÉ 0189

    Long ago when I was a young man we used to spend a day binding for a schilling.
    The food we had was cutting stirabout and biates three times a day and butter that used leaping out of the cans. We never had tea, unless maybe Christmas Day.
    The men used to mous with seythes and hooks and the women and young chaps used to the binding
    Farmers, long ago, would never give a drop of milk to anyone on the 1st of May, for fear of the pisreogs.
    During Lent the people used take no milk with the porridge. Then used have big barley dumplins, and big wheat dumplins and water.
    In the time of the Harvest

  18. Tadhg an Gheimhridh

    CBÉ 0407

    maybe, at Christmas & Easter & round Michaelmas & St Martin's Day. Many used to have Tadhg a' Germhridh in every home that time. The man of the house used to get his sally rods & slip them - No - he didn't peel 'em - He'd made a cross out of them with the bark out & make 3 crosses on each beam with black thread. Then he'd get a good tough piece of a sgeoch & point it. He'd run the point through the middle of the cross & put a piece of meat on top of it. That was put up in the thatch then & left there until it was needed.
    "Needed? What do you mean?"
    "There was a cure in th meath. If the ass had gauls or broken [?] it was the grandest thing in the world to heal them or it the cow got a [?] or had a stiff 'elder" all you had to do was to pas sthe bit of meat to it & it would be as right as [?] in "the morning". Or if a person had oighean on the back of his hands, or any sore or bléin, Tadhg a; Geimhridh ;ud cure them.
    Poor people wd. often say, when the times were bad victuals scarce: We had Tadhg a Geimhridh in the house all the winter*
    * cf. "July an chabáiste", "Conncubhg mor sa Chúmne"

  19. (no title)

    “I remember it well: one Christmas night...”

    CBÉ 0407

    M Quirke
    "I remember it well: one Christmas night
    To a hearty good supper she(1) did me invite:
    To a sup of sour milk that would physic a snipe
    And give wan an awful disorder".
    (1) farmer's wife.
    Composed by a 'travelling man', one Mickey Roche who was from around here although my brother, Paddy Quirke met a man

  20. Lament for the Martyr-Priest of Mullaghfarna

    CBÉ 0485

    The oars are set, but the oars men wondering, If the Saggarth who's gone will find way of returning.
    But no more aroon; no more for ever. At Christmas or Easter shall come back Mavrone:
    For Mass or for christening return he'll never, Till Judgment Day cometh, the saggart is gone.
    No more in the sheeiing, or station or meeting:
    No more on the hillside, his smile and his greeting;
    The bride and the bridegroom, shall wait and be lorning,
    For the Saggart who's gone to know no returning.
    No more now aroon: no more now for ever At morn or eve shall come back Mavrone: The Saggart is gone and Alas; gone for ever: Neither morning nor evening, shall bring back, Mavrone.