School: Loch Measca
- Location:
- Caherrobert, Co. Mayo
- Teacher: Máire, Bean an Bhrúnaigh
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0103, Page 401
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- XML School: Loch Measca
- XML Page 401
- XML “Cows”
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- When the people of old were building a house for the cows they put a cat's head in the middle of the building, so that the cows would have plenty of milk and good calves. When they were selling them they always put the hair of a dog on their tails, so that they would get a good price for them.
A black and white cow is a very good color for milk, but they are said to be very cross. Red cows are very quiet, but not good for milk or calves.
Another custom was that two people would get a tongs and a coal and go round the cow three times saying "In Ainm an Athair, agus an Mhic, agus an Spioraid Naoimh" People always put a red string on their cows' tails when they were after calving for fear that the fairies would take away their milk.
- Collector
- Annie Browne
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Inishmaine, Co. Mayo
- Informant
- Mrs Kate Browne
- Relation
- Unknown
- Gender
- Female
- Age
- 68
- Address
- Inishmaine, Co. Mayo
