School: Clochar na Trócaire, Leac an Anfa, Cathair na Mart

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1. How Lime is Burned

   

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   Lime is burned frequently in Lecanvey village. The lime-stone is got at the seashore and is quarried first. This is done by breaking the stones into small pieces with stone-hammers and sledges. It takes three or four days to break enough stones to fill the lime kiln.
   The lime-kiln is filled in the following way. The men put a line of turf about two or three feet in depth, to set the lime-stone on fire. The next line consists of the broken stones, about 4 barrow-fulls are required for this. The next line is turf, the next stones, and so on, until five lines of each are in the kiln. After this the men put on either slack, coal, coke or cinders. The next two lines are stone and turf again. When it is filled to the top or water measure as they call it they get screws or a ...... These are built round the stone and turf in the middle. Next they get a couple of ass loads of turf and throw them into the face of the kiln. With this they put a bucket of red coals and in a half hour or so it is on fire. It is left all night burning. In olden days people had to stay up during the night but this is not necessary now, as the kiln is large, and enough of stones and turf are added to last till morning. They have to rise early and keep the fire burning all through the day. The fire is not quenched

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. activities
      1. economic activities
         1. trades and crafts (~4,680)
            1. lime-burning (~280)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Therese O' Malley

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Leckanvy, Co. Mayo

   Informant

   John O' Malley

   Relation

   Parent

   Gender

   Male