School: Balscadden (roll number 9492)

Location:
Balscaddan, Co. Dublin
Teachers:
P. Ó Séaghdha Francis Shaw
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0783, Page 152

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0783, Page 152

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  1. XML School: Balscadden
  2. XML Page 152
  3. XML “Road Making”

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  1. With the exception of the old Coach Road, all the bye roads and "boreens" were made during the Famine period. This was relief work and no money was paid out to the workers. The men worked from early morning to dark night and then walked about three miles for their pay. This pay was oaten meal to make porridge. There was practically no other food for the people then. It was common for a boy to work for a farmer for half-a-crown a quarter (three months). He was glad to work for food and clothes. The cross roads are a great land mark in a country place. All local gathering take place there, and on warm days (Sundays) the men sit on the grass patch in the centre, and play cards. Here the cross road's dance took place every Sunday evening in Summer and on Patron Day, 15th August, hundreds assembled from other parishes, to dance. The of pitch and toss was also played at our Crossroads, but now the new local hall is used for all these sports.
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Topics
    1. activities
      1. social activities (~7)
        1. entertainments and recreational activities (~5,933)
    2. objects
      1. man-made structures
        1. public infrastructure
          1. roads (~2,778)
    3. events
      1. events (by time of year) (~11,476)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Eileen Finn
    Gender
    Female
    Informant
    Mr Lynch
    Gender
    Male