School: Páirc na gCrann (roll number 16042)

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1. Old Houses

   

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   In olden times the greater number of old houses were built on the side of a little road leading through the district.
   The people also had their dwelling in little huts in the bogs.
   Usually the houses were constructed by themselves. In formal times when the people were building, it was a custom for all the neighbours to gather together and build each others house. The people built some of the houses under the ground in case any storm might come. Most of the houses were thatched, but some others were roofed with flags.
   Every old house had a bed in the kitchen, and some of them still remain in the district. The bed was commonly called "cailleac" or "Outshot" it was placed in a corner along the side-wall which was left for the purpose when building.
   Generally the fireplace was in the gable wall. There were also some houses within the district which had no chimneys. The fire was then made in the centre of the floor. There was also a hole in the roof to let the smoke out. Generally the chimneys were made of stone and mortar, but those which were constructed in the bogs were built of turf and clay.
   There were also windows in the district which had

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. objects
      1. man-made structures
         1. buildings
            1. residential buildings (~2,723)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Máire Nic Aodhagáin

   Gender

   Female

   Age

   13

   Address

   Cloghvoley, Co. Mayo

   Informant

   Thomas Lavin

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   79

   Occupation

   Farmer

   Address

   Cloghvoley, Co. Mayo