School: Lios Dubh (B.)

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1. The Funeral (continued)

   

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   ...was looked on as a very unfortunate incident. However, the spot then became a "fóidín an tseachráin." Any one leaving a foot on it after night immediately went astray and could not under any circumstances make his way. You might be just quite near your own house and still the place would seem as one where you never were. There was but the one remedy, to turn your coat inside out. The spell was broken and you felt quite normal.

   Often a set of women, semi professionals, cried (caoineadh) the whole way from the house to the churchyard. On other occasions it was "singing boys" - they were often grown men singing hymns who accompanied the funeral. If you met a funeral no matter whose you turned and walked some distance with it. Three steps were sufficient and were known as "trí coiscéimí an trócaire"

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. activities
      1. social activities (~7)
         1. rites of passage (~573)
            1. death (~1,076)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Pádhraig Ó Ceallaigh

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Ballynamona, Co. Mayo