School: Balla (C.)
- Location:
- Balla, Co. Mayo
- Teacher: Katie M. Walker
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0096, Page 12
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- (continued from previous page)a friend of theirs Sir John Browne who was at that time living in Sligo. In those days there were no railways so the tea had to be brought from Sligo to Balla in carts.
At first only a very small amount of tea was drunk. The ordinary peasants only bought an ounce and sometimes a half an ounce at Christmas and after Christmas, whatever was left of the tea was put up in the rafters until Easter. Gradually, the people got accustomed to tea-drinking and tea has been drunk in Balla ever since.
They had another drink called possed. New milk was boiled and a little drop of butterbeer milk was put into it while boiling to curd it and a piece of butter was then put into it. That was a treat for a neighbour if he came in.
There were no cups in the olden times. Noggins were used instead. They were wooden bowls with two handles. They are still to be seen in some Irish homes.
The people of long ago brought sound sets of teeth to the grave with them. This was because they ate hard food.
- Collector
- Katie M. Walker
- Gender
- Female
