School: Coill Mhór (roll number 16780)
- Location:
- Cuilmore, Co. Mayo
- Teacher: Liam Ua Claidhimh
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0123, Page 38
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- XML “Traditions about Churning”
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- When the people used to start churning the first thing they used to do was to put a little salt, holy water and a dead coal under the churn. Salt used to be shaken over it in the sign of the Cross. If anyone came in while it was being made he would not be let out until he helped or they used to say he would bring their butter. Milk would not be given out while the churning was being made until some of it would be put into the churn. After a cow calves the people get the tongs and a red coal which they pass from one to another over her back three times or the fairies would bring the milk of that cow. The first thing she gets to eat is a sheaf of oats which is covered with soot. A penny is put in the bucket the first time.
When a person is finished milking she makes the sign of the Cross on the cow's leg. When a cow has a sore udder after calving the people wash the udder with her own milk. When the calve's for the first time the people give none of the "beasten's" away. If a man(continues on next page)
- Informant
- Mr Peter Conroy
- Relation
- Unknown
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- 54
- Address
- Cuillaun, Co. Mayo
