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School: Cluain Féinne (roll number 13710)

Location:
Cloonfane, Co. Mayo
Teacher:
Seán Mac Conghamhna
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0115, Page 311

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0115, Page 311

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  3. XML “Making of Candles and Starch”

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  1. Making of Candles and Starch

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    In olden times people made their own candles. The way they made them was, they pulled the thick rushes and hung them up near the fire to dry.
    When they were dry they would leave them all about a foot in length. Then they peeled them and left a little of skin on the outside of them so they would not break.
    Then they melted some fat meat and drew the rushes one by one through the tallow and it stuck to them and dried and one by one they made them.
    They also made starch long ago from potatoes . They scraped the potatoes in a basin. Then they kept straining
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    History Edit
    Topics
    1. activities
      1. economic activities
        1. trades and crafts (~4,680)
          1. candle-making (~728)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Martin Lavin
    Gender
    Male
    Address
    Fauleens, Co. Mayo
    Informant
    Mrs Lavin
    Gender
    Female
    Age
    56
    Address
    Fauleens, Co. Mayo